I have fixed all of the problems in this chapter and added things … so it would be a good idea to reread it all. Still taking votes for who is Conal's wife!
DISCLAIMER:
Labyrinth and all that is connected to it belongs to someone other than me!!!
Though the characters not appearing or named in the movie or any other work of fiction are of my creation.
Then … Now … and For Eternity
Chapter Two:
Reunions and Explanations
Sarah and Jareth materialized in the library out of the sights of the others. Sarah giggling softly at an obvious argument going between two of the ladies that had the rest wishing that they were anywhere but there right then.
"You are so mean!"
"And you're a flake!"
"And you're both annoying. Now can we get to the business of catching up rather than stating the obvious?" Sarah and the rest laughed at how the girls were startled.
"Sarah! Man, how we've missed you!" The blonde rushed up and hugged the new Queen tight.
"And I've missed all of you too, Serena. Good thing that we're such best friends, after the thawing it would be nice for the Aboveground and the Underground to have some kind of relationship." Sarah and Serena both grinned.
Serena winked at that thought. "And what better a relationship than two Queens like us who are dear friends?"
Jareth's confused face made both his wife and her friends' chuckle.
"Jareth, I think that I had better do a more thorough set of introductions this time. This is the Moon Princess Serena. Over there is Earth's Prince Darien. They are Inner Senshi Princesses Raye, Mina, Lita, and Amy of Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury. Our new sister was once known as Outer Senshi Princess Molly of Axtar." Sarah pointed out her friends in turn.
Then a small girl with pink pigtails twisted in a similar style to the Moon Princess walked into Sarah's point of view and stomped her little foot. "Hey, what about me?!?!"
"Rini! When did you get here?" Sarah quickly gathered the little girl into her arms and spun around.
"Mommy said that I was going to be needed, so I got sent back. I barely made it for the wedding and coronation last night."
Sarah walked up to her husband with the child still in her arms. "And this Jareth is Princess Serenity Rose the first of Crystal Tokyo and all of the Aboveground in the Thirtieth Century."
Jareth found himself very overwhelmed by it all. "I think that we need to sit down and start all of this from the beginning, say from about the time I lost my big brother."
Over a Thousand Years Before
Earth was once a magickal world. Humans, Fae, and creatures now considered myth and fantasy all lived on the planet in harmony. All of these races worked together to keep control over the races known as Limims, Dark Vampires, Daemons, and Dark Sidhe.
Nephrite was the eldest son of the King and Queen of the Goblins. He enjoyed a close relationship with his young brother Jareth.
Their mother had given up her human bloodline to be equal to her husband and to be certain that their children would be of pure blood. Both young men while born pure Fae (rarely found in those days as pure Fae were in few numbers), they both fell in love with mortals. At first their father's parents were not happy with the matches until they met the young ladies – both being Senshi Princesses.
Princess Molly was considerably younger than Nephrite, half his age to be exact, but obviously adored the Fae Prince General. The moment her transport landed in the Goblin Kingdom, the Princess rushed into his arms. She was from Axtar – the furthest planet in the system – and was the only child of its rulers. She was also one of the guardian Sailor Senshi of the Moon Princess Serena's Royal Court.
Princess Sarah was the Sailor Senshi of planet Ephesos, a planet of the purest magick. The Royal family of Ephesos was all humans, and each of them traditionally grew up on the Moon or on Earth until the girls turned seventeen and the boys whenever they were to ascend to the throne. When she descended from her transport neither she nor Jareth held back their happiness as she ran into his arms before he spun her around.
Both couples were not only courting, but had officially become betrothed only the weekend before. Molly's family had accepted that she would be ruling with Nephrite over the Goblin Kingdom, and had handed the crown of Axtar over to her little sister. While Jareth was going to be the ruler of Ephesos with his bride, thanking the Exalted Spirit it was a planet with the purest faith and trust in magick in their Solar System.
The four of them were left to their own plans until the evening's ball. Sarah and Jareth played in the room that was filled with staircases and different perspectives. They would often play in this room because of its many hiding places.
Nephrite and Molly wandered around the hedge maze the Princes' mother had created for much the same reason. The couple would often spend hours lounging in the garden in the center of the maze.
The four of them peacefully planned out the rest of their lives. Yet, none of them knew just how short the peaceful times of the Silver Millennium and the reign of the new Moon Kingdom's Queen, Serenity, was to be.
A week before Sarah and Jareth were to be wed, Queen Serenity and Princess Serena held a ball on the Moon to announce and present Serena to her future husband – Prince Darien of Earth's human realms. The girls went to the Goblin Kingdom to escort their future mates to the celebrations that fateful night.
Jareth made the girls shimmer with laughter as he told them stories of the times he and Nephrite had with the human Prince. The three had been good friends, more so when their grandfather recognized the human realms and their capital city of Elysian as his valued allies (though all of the other races had by then recognized Elysian as the High Kingdom of Earth and its ruler as the High King).
Nephrite would join in now and again, but the vast majority of his time was spent watching his love. Six months before they would be properly wed. He wasn't sure just how he would stand it.
The night before he had the nightmare again. She was lying at his feet dead, and only then did he feel a sense of shame. Before he saw her lying in that pool of her own blood, he was slaughtering hundreds if not thousands. No … he was certain that her death was not from his own hands. Still he had a feeling of dread … as if his visions were inevitable. He would turn and lose her. He had to find a way to not be caught in that battle against his beloved.
"Nephrite, what's wrong?" Molly sighed as she nestled close to him.
Only then did he realize that he had been in his own thoughts for some time. They were nearing the docking area on the Moon. "Just a bad dream, that's all."
"We could skip the ball." Honestly, Molly would prefer to spend the evening in Nephrite's arms. The only reasons she even agreed to be at the function were 1.) Serena and Darien were friends of hers and Nephrite's and 2.) Molly would be able to dance with her soon to be husband.
For a moment Nephrite seriously considered the idea. A full night alone with his love with no one interrupting every five to ten minutes; yet, he couldn't do it to his friend and High Prince. "Though that would make the evening perfect in my eyes, we cannot do that to our friends."
"We'd better head to the Castle Antechamber before you two sneak off without Jareth and I." Sarah smirked at the pair. She had the same thought in her mind the whole of the trip from Earth, but knew her duties to Serena demanded her to be at the ball just as they did for Molly.
Nephrite raised an eyebrow as he wrapped an arm around his fiancée's shoulders. "If I remember correctly, the two of you only have a week before you tie the knot. Molly and I on the other hand have another six months to wait out, and suffering through being supervised through our every meeting by those who are looking to catch us in a compromising position so that our wedding will be canceled."
Jareth grinned over at his beloved brother. "Well, once Sarah and I are back from our honeymoon, at the least a large part of your visits to one another would most likely be oversaw by myself or Sarah … when we aren't doing so together."
"I don't believe it! We might actually get a decent kiss in without an interruption! Thank you dear little brother … little sister." Nephrite nodded to them both in turn.
At first the two couples were caught up with the traditions and reveling, but eventually Nephrite had a moment of quiet to contemplate that awful dream. General Jedite had already defected to Lady Beryl's service. Why no one knew for certain, but that could not be focused on right then.
Generals Zoicite and Malachite both held the same strange air and look in their eyes that Jedite had only weeks before he left. This made Nephrite worry. He was simply waiting for the news that the pair had also turned.
Nephrite knew that Zoicite had gone to speak with his King and had been turned down. Nephrite had unintentionally eavesdropped on his and Malachite's conversation only nights before, but had yet to tell anyone of it.
Zoicite sounded in tears. "Mal, it's not fair! It's not like I would appear any different! Only a select few would know of it and our vows. But, he treated me as if I were an abomination for asking!"
"I know Zoi. But, we cannot go through with our plans without his consent. Even if we gave up our positions, we would be shunned and rejected everywhere." Malachite sounded as if he was ready to give up.
Zoicite whined like a female. "But why? How can it be so wrong for us to love one another as we do? All I want is to give you a child born of our love for one another!"
"I know Zoi, as do I wish to give you the same. And I know that you want to feel our babe growing within your belly. But, there is no other place to turn at the moment. Come here and allow me to comfort you as we always have."
Nephrite could hear the pair kissing passionately, but did not stay to hear any more than that. The idea of the two men he served with in that way made him unnerved. What they did in their rooms was there business, but right now wasn't the time for them to be planning a family!
Lady Beryl of the Limims had declared war on the known Universe, claiming she was a Queen and boasting of having some ally and a power called the Negaforce. Not even Nephrite and Jareth were planning on any children with their wives to be until after Beryl had been knocked back down to below her birth station as punishment.
Even as the guests mingled and came up to congratulate himself and his brother (along with their future brides), Nephrite could feel that things were about to change for the worse. The looks in Zoicite and Malachite's eyes had indeed changed, but only to that darkness he had seen in Jedite's only an hour before the news was out that the young General had turned.
It looked as if he and Molly would not be married as soon as the six months they had been hoping for. In fact, Nephrite began to wonder if Jareth and Sarah would be free to marry the following week, as bad as things were looking.
He determined that he'd ask to join his and Molly's wedding day with Jareth and Sarah's in a double ceremony as soon as was possible.
Two days later not only was Nephrite's engagement to Molly called off by the Goblin King, but so too was Jareth and Sarah's impending wedding. Both men were enraged, and neither was ready to forget their loves without a fight.
"Why have you broken my engagement to Princess Sarah?" Jareth roared as he and Nephrite both exploded into the throne room.
King Gavin glared at both men, as if the answer was painfully obvious. "I have found a better match for you on this planet! Lady Beryl is of high rank and has showed developing new powers which will make our kingdom the highest of all the kingdoms! Endymion the ninth and his precious son Prince Darien will learn just who is the more powerful!"
"Let me get this straight! You are revoked our weddings because you want to be High King? You selfish bastard! I will marry none but my Sarah!" Jareth knocked off all of the things on the table before the three of them.
Nephrite too growled. "And I will only marry Princess Molly!"
Gavin slammed his fist onto the tabletop, eyes glowing with his rage. "One of you two will marry Lady Beryl! The other will be matched with Princess Serena! And there is no negotiating this. An further refusals will cost you both your standing to the throne."
Both Nephrite and Jareth growled at the evil man before him. It was Gavin's reign that had brought the humans to distrust all of the Earth spirits from the Goblin Kingdom. The brothers had agreed to work hard to make things right once one or the other ascended to the throne, but now they knew the old man before them had to be taken down and soon.
"May I speak for us both elder brother?" Jareth merely glanced towards Nephrite.
Nephrite continued to give the old man before them a defiant stare. "Go right ahead little brother."
Jareth wore a smirk that put any following it to shame. "You will have to fear no refusals old man, for we both renounce our claims to the throne!"
Without a word of protest from Nephrite both men left the King of the Goblins standing there in a stunned shock. Now there was no heir to the throne!
Sarah and Molly both looked up at their husbands in shock. That both men had been so willing to give up all they had for them was humbling to say the least.
"The two of you gave up everything for us?" Molly stuttered out.
Sarah looked up at her husband with a new view of him. And then a sudden understanding of reality came to her. "Did you remember who I was when I went through the Labyrinth to regain Toby?"
Jareth nodded. "The dream ball. Now does it remind you of anytime before?"
"My sweet sixteen birthday party … the one your grandmothers planned for me! Oh Jareth, I knew it felt familiar. And then I …" Sarah was on the verge of tears, and their first day of marriage was too soon in Jareth's eyes for her to cry pain filled tears. He covered her lips with his own for a moment.
Molly snuggled in closer to Nephrite. After all how often did one find a guy who'd give up everything for love twice over? The others discreetly looked in other directions for a moment, until they heard Sarah sigh away her tears before they fell.
Then Nephrite continued the tale.
The brothers created a movement against the Goblin King on two fronts. Jareth gathered a group loyal to himself and Nephrite, creating a large rebellion within the Goblin Kingdom. Nephrite remained loyal to Darien and the high king, gaining support from the other kingdoms of Earth and many of the other planets as well.
Under mysterious circumstances, the Goblin Queen – their grandmother – died one night. The next day she was buried and that night King Gavin took Beryl for his bride. And thus is how Beryl gained the title of Queen. The very next morning King Gavin was laid to rest next to his first Queen after dying on the honeymoon.
The moment he heard of it, Nephrite rushed in with his three friends – Zoicite, Malachite, and Prince Darien. The problem was that was exactly what the Queen wanted. All four were caught, but before they could be interrogated the three General teleported the Prince back to Elysian and safety. Beryl didn't take kindly to it, seeing as she wanted Darien.
She eventually convinced Malachite to join her – after turning Zoicite into a woman. She promised that once they took over the Universe the couple would be free to have children, but had to serve her faithfully until that time as payment for giving them what they had wanted for so long. Then she hinted that the process used to change Zoicite's sex could be used to kill her if they refused. Though they hated to turn on their friends and Prince, Malachite was not ready to sacrifice his beloved.
Beryl tried to catch Nephrite into the same trap by promising him his Molly, but he'd prefer to have his love's hand honorably or not at all. She tried angering the proud warrior with taunts of how his brother and High Prince had not bothered to rescue him. She showed him images where the two were sitting on the Moon joking with the Moon Princess about him.
Then she showed him a scene where his brother said that he couldn't wait to be the High King. That cinched it! Nephrite knew that his brother had no such aspirations, and reminded Beryl of how Jareth was the one who denounced their standings to the Goblin Throne. Then Zoicite began to say that she rather die the horrible way Beryl had described than betray the true High King. Malachite decided that he'd wait forever to be with her again if it meant they could honorably be together.
Beryl's plans had backfired in her face. With no other alternatives she ordered that the three be brainwashed the same way their Prince Darien would also be one day. It took most of the magick of the Goblin Kingdom and the support of her Negaforce, but after three weeks of battling for their free will all three Generals joined Beryl.
After Gavin was declared dead, Jareth opened a portal to the Underground and sent all of the magic carrying species there … along with the vast majority of their kingdoms. He could not bring all of vast Kingdoms of Magicks, yet maybe it would be a blessing. For there would one day come believers who would empower the species with their faith. Yet he refused to follow without his only love … Princess Sarah.
Jareth used up so much of his power that once he got to his safe grounds, Jareth collapsed from exhaustion. His last thought before oblivion overtook his senses was his beautiful Sarah. There he remained until the next morning.
After he fell into unconsciousness, Beryl launched her attack on the Moon Kingdom. Sarah and Molly were the first two to fall in the battle. Almost as if the false Queen had been aiming specifically for them.
Just as in his nightmare, Nephrite came across Molly's cold and broken body as he tore through the many he had once called his friends. She was lying in a pool of her blood and her eyes still had the tears she was crying as death carried her away.
It was enough to bring the former Prince and honorable General back to reality. Despite all that he had tried, he hadn't been able to avoid his worse nightmare. Molly was dead, but not at his hands.
As Serenity exiled the Generals and Beryl within the Negaverse, Nephrite alone accepted his punishment with thanks to the good Queen. He had nearly nudged off all of Beryl's influence, but accepted that he was forced into the witch Queen service until his Molly forgave and accepted him back.
The next morning Jareth rushed to the Moon Kingdom, only to find that the Moon Kingdom was destroyed. The only one left was Queen Serenity … and the poor woman was dead.
Jareth gasped as he used his powers to reveal what was the fates of his love, would have been sister-in-law, and brother. He collapsed into soul wracking sobs, and remained so for well over two hours.
After that Jareth respectively buried Queen Serenity in a place that he knew both she and her daughter had adored – the gardens.
Then Jareth created the Labyrinth – in part to keep Beryl out of the Underground if she ever returned and got past the protection spells he placed against her, and to test for his beloved Sarah (the only woman he would ever think of marrying). The living protection/test was ordered to only allow the true Princess Sarah to defeat its ruler – Jareth.
After that he settled in his castle and waited for Sarah to summon him.
Turning in his arms to look into her husband's eyes. "You created the Labyrinth to search for me? You knew I would defeat you, and still answered my call?"
"Sarah, I didn't know you would win for sure. I hoped with all of my heart that you would … that you were my lost love reborn … but it had been so long. To be honest I had begun to give up my hope. I knew that Queen Serenity sent you to Earth in the future with the others, but a thousand years is a long time alone my love." Jareth sighed.
Sarah smiled at him. "I love you, Jareth. And I'm glad that you still wanted me for your wife after everything."
Serena cleared her throat to gain the couple's attention. "I want to thank you for giving my mother a proper burial, your majesty."
"Princess, I think that we can forgo the titles in private conversation. Sarah respected and admired you then, and I can sense that she still does now. I am grateful to get to know you once again. So will you use my given name rather than my title?" Jareth smiled genuinely to the Moon Princess.
Serena chuckled, "if you will call me Serena. Sarah is my dear friend, and I hope that we can become friends too."
Jareth smiled and nodded. Then he saw the pained look on his brother's face. "Nephrite, what's wrong?"
"Over the centuries, the four of us Generals were turned against each other – except for Zoicite and Malachite, they held onto their love … especially so once Zoicite was turned into a woman by Beryl and Metalica. I don't even know what happened to them." Nephrite cuddled with his wife – his Molly.
She looked up at her husband, happy that she was at his side again. "Well, Beryl eventually killed Zoicite for trying to kill Darien."
"And I had no choice but kill Malachite when he attacked the girls and me." Serena explained gently.
"I figured they would be dead. I want to at least try and save Jedite. He was put into what Beryl called Eternal Sleep. She trapped him in a crystal and set him off in a storage room." Nephrite's eyes held a determination Sailors Moon, Mars, and Mercury all remembered along with Molly very well.
Once the Scouts and his brother and sister-in-law all agreed to help, Nephrite explained exactly what happened to him that fateful night.
"Sorry." He sighed as his strength began to leave him.
Molly's face was covered with tears, as her look turned to that innocent girl that had taken his heart. "'Bout what?"
"Don't think we'll be having a chocolate parfait." Nephrite coughed out.
Molly knew what her love was saying but didn't want to believe it. "Oh . . . oh, please . . ."
Nephrite laughed at the irony of it all. He had fallen in love, and here he was dying in that love's arms. He reached up with his hand that was connected to his injured arm, and stroked her cheek lovingly. How beautiful she was. "Sorry I lied to you again, but this time I didn't mean to. Forgive me."
She just cried onto his blood-streaked hand. He never wanted to hurt her like this. Nephrite could feel an old connection to this girl he adored just as he felt the last of his life force bleed out into those filthy thorns. He wanted to weep hard, but he was too weak to do it – besides, he knew that she would cry enough tears for them both before long.
Nephrite didn't want her to grieve forever; he wanted that beautiful smile to return … he wanted others to hear that shimmering laugh. But still he didn't want to disappear from her memory. "Don't forget me. I just want you to know you're in my heart."
After that he lost consciousness. He could still hear her weeping as he fell heavily against her body. "Nephrite . . . no, don't go."
But, he couldn't stop it. He was turning into stardust, and what part of him that had already been drawn into the early morning sky was being channeled to someplace he didn't recognize, but still was relieved to be going to. Nephrite knew that he would be able to watch over her even if he couldn't be there with her.
"We'll get a doctor, and everything'll be all right. Nephrite, hang on. I don't want you to go, Nephrite. No, don't leave me." Molly wept as he left her behind.
As his body faded in her arms, he could still hear her words and tears. It hurt that he couldn't stay with her, but he knew that the Scouts were there, and he felt sure that would keep his Molly safe after he left. Finally, he was on his way to his family … yes, he had family that missed him!
Oh, he was going to his real home! The family that he lost when Beryl twisted his mind! His little brother! His Kingdom and home! But her scream filled his happy heart with pain.
"NOOOOO!"
The next thing he remembered was collapsing in dirt, and a familiar voice. "Naugh what be going on now? Prince Nephrite? Guagh! Yer back! Don't ya worry yer majesty, I's 'll get ya to da castle!"
After that was darkness. Nephrite was asleep for four days. Once he finally opened his eyes, it was late at night.
Groaning, he tried to sit up … but he was still too weak. Yet, his movement caught the attentions of another in the room. "Easy big brother, it will be a time before you regain all of your strength. Nice to have you home, Nephrite."
"Where am I? Molly? Gods she must be in such pain. I didn't get to tell her how much I love her. Who are you? You look so familiar … but. Jareth?" Nephrite rambled out in a rush.
Jareth smiled, so his brother was still in there somewhere. And he had found his love again … and obviously lost her just as Jareth had his beloved Sarah. "Yes, it is me. So you found Molly again?"
"Yeah." Nephrite's body was wracked with coughing for a moment, and the settled higher on the pillows. "She helped me see the truth about Beryl. I was leaving the Negaverse for her. I was going to take her out for a chocolate parfait. But Zoicite sent three of her youmas to attack me, when they tried to kill her I beat them once and then one called Grape stab me in the shoulder with her thorny hand. She left the thorns in to suck away my energy. Molly almost got them out, but one of the others fired bombs at us and I had to protect Molly. I died in her arms."
Jareth shook his head in an attempt to hide his tears. Like himself Nephrite had come so close to regaining his true love, and lost her again just the same. "You didn't die my brother. Your body reverted to star dust as a last ditched effort to save yourself. When you came back together you landed outside of the Labyrinth. Your body knew where to find us and that only here will you heal properly … in time. But with all of your injuries and loss of strength, I'm afraid that Beryl might win this one."
"Jareth, what do you mean?" Nephrite was slowly remembering the kid he used to play with and the man he'd trust with anything.
Jareth wondered if he should explain it now. Then decided if he were in his brother's position, he would want to know the truth. "Beryl placed a spell on the Underground to keep us here, just as I place spells to keep her out. If you cannot regain you strength enough to return Aboveground in thirteen days, then you will be trapped here until someone summons you with the right words."
"I don't need to ask … I know that I'm too weak as it is. It will take me months just to walk around the castle by myself. How long have I been unconscious?" Nephrite was taking it hard inside. He wanted to go in and rip Beryl apart for all the suffering he, Molly, and his people had suffered through over the years.
"This is the fourth night. I am so sorry my brother." Jareth was happy to have Nephrite back … but the cost was so high.
"It's alright. Could I ask a favor of you … I know I don't deserve …"
"None sense. You are my brother. Anything I can do to make things easier."
Nephrite smiled weakly. "I have to know that she'll be alright without me. I know the Sailor Scouts are there, but I …"
Jareth shook a hand at first, and then produced a crystal. "Say no more, my brother. Ask it to show you whatever you like. I keep watch over my Sarah the same way."
"Show me Molly Baker."
Molly was whimpering through another rough sleep. Clutched in her hand was the orange bandage soaked in Fae blood. "She wrapped my arm with that because when I first rescued her from the youmas I got a cut on my arm. Oh Molly, I never meant to cause you all of this pain."
Remembering some of his old abilities, Nephrite touched the crystal and gave Molly's mind the suggestion to remember the good times they might have shared if they had been given the chance to. That calmed her sleep, and Molly even smiled just slightly. But the energy it took to do it knocked Nephrite out.
Seeing this as a way to help, Jareth linked the pair's dreams – as he often would in the coming weeks. That was until Nephrite remembered how to do it on his own. Once the sun set all the creatures of the Goblin Kingdom and the Labyrinth knew to leave Prince Nephrite alone to his sleep. Though none of them knew that sleep was the only place he was completely happy.
Right after her first dream, Molly felt better. He was all right now, and with his family again. Nephrite even showed her around his home.
But what had made everything in her world better was that he told her how much he loved her. She wasn't sure before if he had feelings for her, but now she knew.
When he explained that he wasn't dead only in a place separated from her world by magick, she was happier than she had been for a long time. But, she still hurt that he couldn't get out again to be with her because of the spells used to keep that evil Queen Beryl away. At least he would be safe, and they could be together in her dreams.
Molly hadn't been paying attention to Serena and Melvin's ramblings. Rather she had been lost in memories of her dreams. They always ended perfect, her snuggling in his arms in the middle of a huge bed with the sun setting. He asked her to smile and laugh in her world, because he was using crystals to keep an eye on her from time to time and he didn't like to see her sad. He asked her to live each day as if he was only gone on a trip and would be home in a few days.
Nephrite wanted her to live in the sun, well then she would do it; if only to make him happy. "You guys wanna go for a walk?"
"You wanna go out?" Serena gasped.
Molly still hurt on the inside. He was not there, but he wanted to see her smile. "Yeah, It's such a beautiful day. We should enjoy it."
Serena couldn't believe it but there was a smile on Molly's face. For the first time in a week, Molly Baker was really smiling!
"Then later, let's go see the new Sailor V movie." Molly could see that Serena hadn't been expecting this to happen.
Serena didn't know how far to push. Was it too soon? "You feel up to it?"
"Yeah, it's about time, don't you think?" With Melvin there Molly didn't want to tell Serena the whole truth. It would probably be a long time before Molly would ever tell anyone about the dreams she was having.
Eventually the trio was walking down a quiet street next to a cemetery. The truth hit Molly hard. If Nephrite hadn't been born a Fae, he would be in a place like this. It was hard to keep her tears from falling. "I wonder if Nephrite can see me right now. Oh Serena, I miss him so much."
"It's okay, Moll. Don't cry." Serena said softly.
While Serena and Melvin talked, Molly wandered into the cemetery. She didn't know why she was going in there. Little did she know that Nephrite and his younger brother Jareth were encouraging her movements.
They knew that the Rainbow Crystal was in the priest and that Zoicite would soon be there to collect it. Seeing that Serena was with Molly, Nephrite saw a double chance; a way to help Molly and alert Sailor Moon to the crystal that was about to be stolen.
Molly seemingly walked straight to the priest without any idea of why. Then it hit her hard … all of the pain and doubts she had been feeling surfaced again with her fears. "Excuse me, sir."
"Hmm?"
"Do you have a minute? I really need to talk to somebody. I have a close friend, but he's gone now, you see." Molly didn't want to say the Nephrite was dead, because she knew that he wasn't. Still, no one would believe her if she explained about the Underground and all. No … gone was the only way to explain it.
Molly held up the Fae blood soaked bandage she had made for Nephrite out of a piece of her pajama top. "We didn't know each other for very long, but we became really good friends."
Looking at the material, she realized why she wanted to talk to the man … what made her so upset in the first place that day. "And this is the only thing of his I have, but I'm . . . afraid that I might forget him or . . . he'll forget me."
Jareth helped Nephrite speak to Molly through the mortal. "You'll never forget him if he's in your heart. Now, he wouldn't want you to be sad forever, would he?"
"No, but there's nothing left for me now. I just feel so alone." It was as if he was there with her but not any place she could see him. Molly sensed Nephrite's magick very strongly … and the magick of another.
It hurt Nephrite that she would feel that way. He never meant to cause he pain. He had to make her see that she had a life to lead, and that one-day they could be reunited. That until then their dreams would have to be enough for them both. "But you're not alone. I saw you earlier with your friends."
"Huh?"
"They seem to care about you very much." Nephrite sent through the priest.
Molly realized what the man was saying. "Oh . . ."
"It's times like these you really need their support." Nephrite held back slightly before he could add on, 'and their protection'. Zoicite would be there any moment now.
"I understand." Molly smiled slightly. She had figured that Nephrite was trying to get her to live through the days, and was talking to her through the priest somehow.
Then that woman interrupted. "Forget Nephrite."
"You knew Nephrite, too?" Molly asked. It had been dark and she didn't get a good look at the woman who attacked them.
"That loser? Got what he deserved."
Nephrite was about to tell Molly to run, wondering where the hell was Sailor Moon. Then Molly remembered who she was looking at. "You're the one! You attacked Nephrite!"
"You DO remember. Appropriate that I should run into you in a graveyard, hmm?" Zoicite mocked at Molly.
Eventually Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter did show up. During the fight, the weak nerd she and Serena had been accompanied by saved Molly. He was cut on his arm, and Nephrite realized he had a way to move Molly on in her life.
He made the remnants of his blood that were on the cloth absorb into Molly's skin and become one with her own body. Giving her slightly higher tolerances than most mortals, as well as other little gifts – like linking them heart to heart.
She felt his love for her, and how lonely he too was since they were torn apart. Molly smiled softly knowing that she no longer needed the bandage to remember her love … she just knew that he was within her. She had seen the blood come to life and seep into her skin. A part of him was within her, and that meant the world to Molly. They would never forget one another, now that they were so closely connected.
Seeing the wound on Melvin's arm, Molly got the sense that Nephrite wanted her to help the nerd for the sake of honor. The two of them sat on a nearby bench with Serena, as Molly used Nephrite's bandage to cover Melvin's wound.
"There you are, Melvin. Sure it's not too tight?" Molly asked.
Melvin looked at the fabric, and then at Molly with stars in his eyes. "No, it's perfect, thanks."
Instantly Molly and Nephrite both began to regret the good deed. How would she keep the nerd away now?
Serena saw it and was stunned. "Hey, that's Nephrite's."
"I know, but he'd want me to use it to help Melvin. He saved my life." Molly fought hard to keep a sneaky grin off of her face. If Serena only knew just how Molly knew for certain what Nephrite wanted.
After that day, Molly bounced back from every attack at twice her old healing speed. Then she began to learn how to send her thoughts to Nephrite despite the magickal barriers that should have kept them apart.
Molly forced herself to stomach being around Melvin only to keep Serena off of her back – and get the nerd out of that ridiculous costume. But he took it the wrong way!
Next thing Molly knows Melvin is sending her half dead flowers, awful so-called poetry, stupid downloads from the Internet, but then to get stupid inchworms!
Thankfully, Nephrite could still contact the youmas who ran his business while he remained trapped at home. He would send beautiful flowers, jewelry, even sent Molly and her mom out for dinner.
Molly still cried from time to time, but not near as often as at first. One night … the one year anniversary of the night they were torn apart … that was the worse of nights – for them both. She confided the true story to the exchange student she and her mom was hosting from America – Sarah Williams.
When Molly brought up the name Jareth, Sarah started. "Molly are you sure that Nephrite's brother is named Jareth?"
"Yeah and he's the King of the Goblins. I can't go and see Nephrite right now, and he doesn't want me to try summoning him either. He said something about a rebellion he and his brother are trying to avoid. But, I miss him so much!" Molly sighed before breaking down into tears.
Sarah held the girl close. "I know the feeling."
The following day, Serena and Molly found out that they too were Sailor Scouts! Molly was Sailor Axtar and Sarah was Sailor Ephesos. The pair empowered the Scouts to a level none of the others had ever dreamt of.
A week before Sarah was to return home, both girls had their memories of being Scouts blocked by Luna's mind meld. Luna set it so that they would remember when they needed it.
That point was used the day Sarah got married. She remembered the past and how long her husband had been waiting for her. Molly, on the other hand, remembered the moment she saw Hoggle.
"Ms. Baker?" he asked timidly. He knew who she was and her true title, but didn't know what the girl before her remembered him as well.
"Hoggle? It has been a very long time! I'm glad to see you've made it this far. How have you been?" Molly chuckled as she smiled and knelt before him.
That stunned Hoggle. "I's fine. I's been told to come get ya for Sarah's wedding to King Jareth."
"Well it's about time the two of them got hitched! So, did you get to become Jareth's personal assistant like he promised?" Molly asked as she hurriedly wrote a note for her mom, and left it on her pillow. That proved she was the Princess the dwarf remembered well.
Hoggle stood tall at that moment. "Naw, I's the royal chancellor!"
"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Molly chuckled as she hugged Hoggle.
Sorry it took so long, but I have way too many muses!
For those who have not figured it out this is a Sailor Moon/Labyrinth crossover.
Jareth's brother is former Negaverse General (Dark Lord) Nephrite!
And Sarah's friend is Molly Baker (or Osaka depending on the storyline you go by).
Thanks for the few guesses – but no one was correct.
Does anyone want to guess who Conal's wife is before I tell?