Note: When I first became aware of Sailor Moon, it was through the dub
by DiC, which is still the silliest name for a company ever. Still,
better the dub then what Saban wanted to do with it.
I want to stress that these were written from 1997 to 2000 and that the Chronicles has since been abandoned for various reasons. Which is probably a good thing since there was supposed to be a hundred fics that made up the Chronicles. I've even thrown in the unfinished Book 9 so you can see just how woefully ignorant I was of the SM universe.
Crystal Dawn. Our Story so Far:
The Senshi have once more been summoned to Crystal Tokyo. When Pluto used her forbidden attack, an alternate reality was created. A reality where the sailor Senshi failed and were killed. A reality where the Black Lady and her Father, Prince Darien, lead the forces of the Negaverse. The death of Queen Beryl at the hands of Prince Darien caused a rift to open. The rift was a doorway that led directly into the Crystal Tokyo Throne room.
Zoisite, Malachite, Nephrite and Jadeite made short work of the palace Guards. The Senshi retreated to the depths of the palace to summon help. But something went wrong.
The Senshi of the past arrived, along with Molly, Serena's best friend, and David, computer genius who is unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair. He is also Mina's Boyfriend. But, the Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Venus of Crystal Tokyo were sent back.
The Senshi are surprised to be back in Crystal Tokyo. Even more surprised when they realize that While Serena and Darien aren't with them, Molly, David, and the Moon Scepter are. Transforming, the Senshi, with Uranus in charge, return to the Throne Room to stop the Negaverse forces. Molly and David Follow.
During the Battle, Molly, who still carries the Torch for the Nephrite of her reality, acts to save him from one of Mars's Fireballs. Touched by her act, and remembering the love his Molly had given him unconditionally before her death and his return to the Negaverse, Nephrite defends her from the hands of Jadeite.
In an attempt to turn the tide, Pluto once more uses her Forbidden Attack, weakening the floor where Venus tries to defend David from the Negaverse Forces. An unforeseen and (unseen until later) side effect of the attack is a developing vortex, leading to various parts of the world of our Senshi at utterly random times, opens and slowly grows in the throne room. The floor caves in, and Venus and David Fall. Her last sight of the throne room is the Senshi, the Royal Family, Nephrite, and Molly being imprisoned in a cage of Dark Energy.
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Venus rolled over and opened her eyes. Her Sailor Suit was gone. Except for the orange band that she wore around her neck as Senshi, she was dressed in the parka and heavy jeans she had been wearing before Pluto had sucked them into the Time Warp that had spit them out onto the floor of the throne room. Pluto. . .oh yeah. she was dead. Again.
You would think that after the first time, she would learn not to use that forbidden attack. It was called a forbidden attack for good reason. She shook her head to clear it and then stopped because of the headache. Ouch.
She removed the band and put in a pocket. Fat lot of good it did her now. Then she looked around. She was in a huge Cavern made entirely out of Crystal. It reminded her of when Bertie tried to freeze herself to death. Except it wasn't as cold. Small comfort. A low moan reached her ears. Behind a slab of crystal that came up to her waist, David lay face down underneath his wheelchair.
"David! Are you all right?" She shoved the chair off him and cradled his head. "David, answer me, please." His eyes opened and locked with hers.
"Ooooh. Now there's a sight I like waking up to. Hello Mina."
"Are you okay?"
"Aside from bumps and bruises. Yeah. Where's my chair?"
"Over here." She righted the chair and wheeled it back. "It was lying on top of you."
"Well that explains my backache." With a little effort, she got him back in his chair. "Thanks Mina, where are we?"
"I don't know. I think this is some kind of vault or basement." David frowned and ran his finger along the slab.
"More like a Basement Vault. I don't think this place has been used in years, decades, perhaps centuries. But I doubt it."
"Why? It's dusty."
"But it's not dusty enough. To the casual observer, this place has been abandoned, but the dust is too thin."
Mina leaned against the slab. "So now what?"
David pointed behind and to her right.
"You wheel me over there so I can take a look at that." She followed his finger. On the other side of the room was what looked like a Computer terminal and a circular dais. Mina grabbed the handles of his chair and pushed him over to the terminal.
"You know about computers?" She teased.
"Yeah." he deadpanned as his fingers danced over keys. "Hey, this is weird." He looked over at Mina, who was examining the dais. "Mina, I think you should see this. It's written in symbols but I can read it."
"What does it say?"
"Whosoever holds the Moon Crystal and speaks the words Moon Power shall don the armor of the Crystal Knight. Champion of the Queen of the Moon Kingdom." He sat back. "The Crystal Knight. Wow." Mina was also impressed, but for different reasons.
"Where is this, Moon Crystal?" David's fingers danced over the keys again.
"There. On the side of the dais. The octagon crystal with the Moon on it." She pulled it out and handed it to him.
"Thanks." He stuck the crystal in his jacket pocket and continued to type.
"Hmmmmm." He hit more keys and the view on the monitor changed to that of the throne room. They were in trouble. The Senshi were either out cold, or just about there. The Royal Family sat in one corner. Rini and Darien were both out, but the Queen was hanging on.
Jadeite and the others were playing with the Moon scepter. The Wise Man and figure in dark robes were conferring. Darien and the Black Lady looked bored. The Screen blanked and returned to diagrams.
"According to this, that dais is an elevator to the throne room. Just step on it." Venus nodded and pulled out her wand.
"VENUS STAR POWER!" Venus bounded onto the elevator and it began rise. David waved good luck and turned back to the console. Touching keys, he brought up the throne room. He was worried about Mina, the last thing he wanted was for her to get hurt. But she was a Senshi. This was her job.. Frowning, he fingered the Moon Crystal and settled back to watch.
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Venus crouched down as the elevator reached the end of it's climb. As soon as she could see the throne room, she leaped.
"Venus Love Chain,.........Encircle!" Darien and the Black Lady found themselves pressed against each other. Zoisite, however, was quicker on her feet.
"Zoi!" But Venus had already hit the floor and was back in the air again via a pile of cushions. She landed by the far wall, snatched a sword from a wall hanging and bounded into the air again. Zoisite met her in mid air. A single slash of the sword knocked it from Venus's hand. Then Zoisite dazed her with the flat of her sword.
Venus rolled over. Her headache was worse this time, and iguanas were doing a country line dance before her eyes.
"Mina, are you okay."
"Y-yeah. I'm fine. Venus sat up, and instantly regretted it. She was in the cage of Dark Energy. Neo-Queen Serenity was sitting by her.
"Be as still as you can. The cage drains energy from you. The more you struggle, the more energy it drains." Venus sat back.
"You were very brave."
"Thanks."
"Now we have no hope. But at least David might get away. Where is he?"
"In this funky cellar beneath this room. He found something called the Moon Crystal."
"So that's where it has been these many years."
"You know about it?"
"Only what......No, the timeline must be preserved. I can't tell you." Venus sat up and looked where she thought the camera might be. 'Moon Power' she mouthed 'Moon Power' Then she sat back down.
"Can he help us?"
"If he saw that."
"But will he?"
"He'd better. If we die, I'm gonna kill him."
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Jadeite stood before them.
"Drop the Cage Malachite."
"But-"
"They're not going anywhere. The cage has made them weak." Malachite made a dismissive gesture and the cage vanished. Nephrite was jerked from the floor and landed at Jeddite's feet. Jadeite chuckled, reaching a hand down to grab Nephrite's hair.
"First, we remove a traitor."
"Nobody's moving anything Jadeite. Except me." David, reclining in his chair was riding the elevator into view. "And I'm taking out the trash. You want a fight? Well here I am!" Now that the cage was gone, Venus felt her strength returning.
"Venus get everybody out! This is my party!" Zoisite leapt into the air.
"Zoi!" David slammed into the rear wall.
"David! Venus screamed. "No!" Strong hands clamped on her shoulder.
"You can't interfere." Venus turned to the Queen
"But they'll kill him!" David dodged another blast by rolling.
"Venus!" he screamed "Get out of here!" Venus could feel a tear roll down her cheek.
"But, David! I-"
"I know! I feel the same way! Go!" With one last look back, Venus ran. Neo- Queen Serenity shook her head, and touched the control for the blast door.
Malachite smiled as he lifted David off his feet.
"Any last words?"
"Actually, yeah." David held up the crystal. "MOON POWER!" A lightning bolt stabbed down, throwing Malachite off his feet. Electric bolts crackled, paintings and wall hangings fell to the ground. When the smoke cleared David had been replaced by an awesome sight. The Crystal Knight was huge. Taller than the other world Darien, who was the tallest one there, he was well over seven feet.
In the center of his chest, the symbol of the Moon Glowed brightly. The fingers ended in razor-sharp points. One hand clutched a lance. Each end had a razor sharp blade
"Step right up, hurry, hurry, hurry! Everybody gets a chance to die. Sorry, C.O.D.'s not accepted, D.O.A's only. All Major credit card and Organs accepted, Operators are standing by."
The lance lashed out at a Negaverse soldier. It caught him just under the chin and hurled him off his feet.
He went through the rest of the Guards with a similar efficiency. Then he moved on. Zoisite and Malachite were dispatched by the flat of the lance to the side of the throat. The Amazons required nearly a minute to deal with. Diamant, Esmeraud, Safiiru, Rubeus, the four sisters, and Eudial attacked as one. Jadeite just stood to one side and watched.
Prisma went down clutching her abdomen, trying to keep the intestines in. Avery and Catsy were dispatched in a similar Fashion. Only Bertie managed to make it out a window. But she would never look out of her right eye again.
Eudial and The Knight circled. Sword and Lance clanged together again and again. Eudial swung at his knees. The lance went vertical. The lower end blocked the slice, the top end slammed into Eudial's head between her eyes.
Eesmerood and Demando found their arms tied together, literally. Safiiru had to try and put his lungs back inside his chest, stumbling back and knocking himself, Emeraudes and Diamant into the vortex Pluto's attack had opened.
Rubius took the wisest course and teleported out minus a leg. Darien stepped away from the wall and drew his sword.
"You are good. Your savagery surpasses Malachite's. He was into pain too." Darien removed his cape and jacket. "They were amateurs. I am the Champion of the Negaverse. You will die on the point of my sword." The Knight's visor glowed.
"Two words: Darien Kabob." Darien only smiled.
"We shall see."
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It was a scene out of Dante's Inferno. Fires burned. Darien and his opponent noticed nothing. The others had either left, or died of their injuries. The Wise Man and his robed companion watched from the dais. Jadeite and The Black Lady watched from the walls.
Deep inside the Crystal Knight's mind, David struggled against the Bloodlust that had cut him off from his transformed and armored body. He and the Knight circled on a battlefield straight out of Hell. Volcanoes erupted. Lava moved past their feet. The air was thick with soot and dust. Lightning struck.
"This is insane! We should be working together, not fighting!" David coughed. The Knight made an encompassing gesture.
"You are weak, you are not me. You are handicapped, useless."
"I am not useless, you are me, I am you. We have to work together. The senseless violence you're committing has to be stopped."
"I am decimating the Negaverse."
"By killing them?" The Knight chuckled.
"If I have to. You don't understand the true nature of the Moon Crystal do you? I am your rage and hate. Given form. I cannot rest until the Enemy is destroyed. Then and only then, can I turn back into you. But I'm not going to. I hate you. I hate your weak body. I hate the fact that Mina doesn't deserve you. I hate that you can't descend steps like a man should. That she has to get stuff when you go shopping. That she and her friends have to defend you from the bullies. That you are weak." David laughed.
"You don't get it do you? She feels the way about me because I respect her. Because I treat her like a human being. That is why she's with me. Underneath that armor you're me to. What would she think if she saw you acting like this?" David held out his hand "Let me help. We are the Crystal Knight. Not you, not me. Us." The Knight held out his own hand. The instant their fingers made contact, David found himself looking out of the visor.
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Deep inside the palace, Venus paced. "What's taking him so long?"
"Chill out Venus." Mars looked up from her game of Chess with Mercury.
"Mars is right" Mercury said. "We're all to weak to fight anyway." Jupiter nodded agreement. She stood up. For a second she was bathed in a green light that seemed to come from everywhere, within her, and no where. Lita hunched into her jacket.
"Man, it's cold." Lita tucked her wand away in an inside pocket. "How can we get some heat in here?" Mars dragged some pieces of wood from a corner where a chair had been broken.
"Mars, fireball, IGNITE!" The Fire burst to life. Lita tossed scrap wood on the fire to make it burn brighter. Nephrite began breaking up some of the furniture to add to the fire. Uranus and Neptune sat in the corner, their hands squeezed tightly. Venus slammed one fist into the wall.
"They'll kill him!"
"Most likely." Nephrite commented, trying to figure out the best way to turn a chair into manageable firewood pieces.
"Shut up Nephrite, you're not helping!" Neptune turned back to Venus.
"Venus. Calm down." She put a hand on the Senshi of Love's shoulder. "Believe me, I know how you feel. There was a time I thought I had lost Uranus. My heart was broken. I couldn't eat, drink, or sleep. But she came back. I love her Venus."
"When I lost Darien to the Negaverse and then when his memory was erased, I was a wreck." Neo-Queen Serenity said as she joined them
"I know Serena." Venus looked up. "I was there, remember?"
"Yes. Without you, Without all of you. I think I would have gone mad. But when it was all over, as we walked down the aisle, I realized something. Darien and I were meant to be together. Even a thousand years nor the Negaverse could separate us."
"So?" Neo-Queen Serenity, held on to Venus's shoulders.
"So, If you and David are meant to be together, you will be. It's as simple as that." Venus turned away from the wall, fists balled and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"And what if we're not?" The Queen averted her eyes.
"I-I don't know."
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The Crystal Knight was having a Tough time of it. Darien was a tough opponent and having been bound to a wheelchair for the past three years of his life had left the Knight a little confused as to proper Martial Arts. He was relying on Ten Years of Ninja Films and Chuck Norris movies. But it wasn't easy. He was mostly concerned with keeping his balance.
"I'm surprised at you. I would have expected you to fall by now." Darien Taunted. "You weakling." The Knight Parried and Blocked.
"I am not a weakling. If I was, I'd be dead."
"True."
"Besides" The Knight blocked another thrust. "Sailor Venus and I have a date Saturday to go see Revenge of The Killer Vampire Bunny Nun Mutants."
"I remember seeing that." Darien said as he thrust and slashed. "Wasn't bad. Lousy acting though. Made it even funnier."
"With a title like that, what did you expect? Robotech?"
"At least that was good. Lisa Hayes, what a cutie."
"Somebody as evil as you, I'm surprised you would notice."
"Hey, just because I conquer planets doesn't mean My Hormones don't work."
"Whatever."
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The King stood up and wrapped his cape around Neo-Queen Serenity. "She's right. You can't go off Half-cocked hell-bent on a rescue mission. You're too weak, we all are." Everyone nodded agreement.
"Oh Nephrite? Can't you do something? Like you did with my cousin Katie? Increase their energy or something?"
Saturn looked at each of them. Her feelings on the matter clear
"It doesn't matter." Nephrite looked up from his watching molly. "It doesn't work that way. Molly believe me, If I could, I would in an instant."
"But why?"
"When I increased Katie's energy level to it's peak, it was to create a monster. I don't think I could increase the energy of the Senshi without creating monsters."
"But could you try?"
"Yes I could try. But when Katie's Monster appeared, she fainted. That would leave us with eight fully charged Monsters, and eight unconscious Sailor Senshi."
"Oh your right, but what are we gonna do?"
"What about one?" Everybody looked up. Venus stood tall. "Increase my energy. I'll go."
"Are you sure?"
"If it can save David, I'll do it."
Nephrite stood up, beckoning to Venus.
"Stand before me." Venus did so. "Forces of the Negaverse, increase this girl's energy to it's maximum output!" Venus found herself charged with energy. She turned on her heel and bolted for the throne room.
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The Crystal Knight was tiring. He really needed practice. But he had none and Darien was giving no quarter. If didn't have some kind of help. He was gonna lose. The Lance slashed through Darien's sleeve, and drew blood. Darien only smiled.
"First Blood To you." They separated and circled. The Fire was out of control. Flames raged. Darien wasn't even sweating. What was burnable was burning. The Knight kept seeing Father Tellerman at the sermon. Father Tellerman. Good old Father Tellerman. He did love to preach about Fire and Brimstone. Too Bad the Knight couldn't smell anything in this armor.
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Venus Charged through the Place. The song "My Only Love" Running through her head. She had never felt more alive. Or more dedicated. Up the ramps, through the halls, navigating strictly on instinct that was coming from God- knew-where. She made a short prayer for guidance and strength. Amy may be the Catholic of the team, But Venus was 90% Atheist. But right now, she needed all the help she could get. She spun on her heel and moved down a corridor then spun right and dashed through a doorway that she would have missed under normal circumstances.
David, I'm coming. Hang on darling.
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The Knight was in fact hanging on, for his life. The fire had eaten away some of the floor and he and Darien were fighting on a Chandelier. In an effort to maintain Balance, One hand held on to the Chain that suspended the Chandelier from the ceiling. Unfortunately, one of the beams that the chain was tossed over was on Fire. He would have to time this carefully. The Beam began to crack, the Knight leapt for the Floor. Too late, Darien followed and missed, plunging into the hole created by the fire.
Without really knowing why, The Knight grabbed Darien's Collar and yanked him to a safe spot of floor. But it was too late. The Negaverse Champion had second and Third-Degree burns.
"Why? Why did you save my life?"
"Because, that's what I do."
"You are weak. But thank you." Then his eyes opened wide and he gasped. Protruding from his ribs was a Crystal Shard. A few feet away, The Black Lady stood, two fingers stroking her cheek, a slight smile on her face.
"You killed your own Father?"
"He Lost."
The Knight stared. "You killed your own Father because he lost a battle?"
"Yes," she walked over to stand next Darien's body. "Good-bye Father." His eyes fluttered.
"Daughter, you did this?" She nodded. "I taught you too well." His head turned to the right, and he lay still. The Knight crossed himself and started to recite a prayer, but was interrupted when the Lady blasted him. He flew against the wall. Under the impact the wall cracked.
Then everything blew straight to hell.
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The fire had reached a forgotten stack of bombs and blew out the wall, filling the skies of Crystal Tokyo with thick black smoke and dropping glass and crystal shards on the people below. The Lady threw energy blasts around. The Knight wilted under the relentless barrage.
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Venus burst through the door. Seconds later she was followed by the others. But they were in no shape to fight. Only Molly, Rini, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune were not present. Saturn, Molly, and Rini were making their way through an escape tunnel to an escape craft hidden outside Crystal Tokyo that would take them Moon City. A secret outpost buried under the remains of the old Moon Kingdom where they hoped the heir to the throne would stay alive long enough to retake the throne. The craft was in constant readiness to launch. Neither the Senshi nor the King and Queen expected to survive.
Already, Crystal Tokyo was almost deserted as per their orders. Uranus and Neptune were on their way to a Fusion Reactor Buried under Crystal Nucleus when Crystal Tokyo was founded. If The Senshi lost, Uranus and Neptune had orders to blow the reactor. The explosion would blow Crystal Tokyo, and everyone in it well into the next millennium. Hopefully, it would also take whatever remnants of the Negaverse with them before they escaped through the rift.
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Uranus and Neptune arrived at the Reactor Control Center.
"Now what?" Uranus touched several buttons.
"We wait."
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The Knight was having a far less interesting time. The Lady was far more ruthless than her father and cared nothing for the code of battle. In other words, she fought dirty. Swordplay combined with energy blasts, punches, and kicks. She took full advantage of his inexperience on two legs.
"You're not like your Father." The Knight Parried and dodged a kick. She snarled.
"My Father was a fool." The Knight Blocked a swift energy-jab aimed at his head. The others were busy Fighting Jadeite, who had decided to Join in. Mars had picked up a sword and parrying Jadeite Blow for Blow. Jupiter and Mercury threw attack after attack. The Wise Man turned to his robed companion.
"They Fight Well." He said. His Companion turned to look. From the depths of the hood, What might have been eyes glowed.
This Battle is not over until it is over. The Wise man bowed his head.
"Yes Master."
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The Knight stared down the point of the sword at his throat. The Lady, smiled. Venus had collapsed, her monster had the other Senshi. She raised the sword high.
"Good night, Knight." She raised the sword higher, then brought it down.
"Rini! Stop!" The sword slammed into the ground right next to his head. That had sounded like Serena, but the queen was out. The Lady was staring into the back of the room .The fires were mostly out. The ones that were left, lit the room with an Erie glow. The Lady smiled.
"So You're back among the sane." From out of the shadows, a woman stepped. Her clothes were filthy and torn. Her long Blond Hair was dirty and tangled. But her face had a determined look. The Black Lady leaned on her sword. "Hi Mom. Long Time, no see."
"Put the sword down Rini, or you're Moon dust."
"Moon dust?" The Lady laughed, "Mom, do you know how lame that sounds?" Unnoticed, the Knight got to his feet. Eyes darting back and forth. Two Serenas? then he mentally kicked himself. Of course, the other Rini had to have a mother.
"Sadistic bunch of Bastards." He observed to no one in particular. "She was probably better off dead."
"I don't know where I've been. But I'm not going back." The Knight seized The chance that the Black Lady's distraction offered to snatch her sword and pin her arms behind her back. But he had forgotten to brace himself. With a twist of her upper body she threw him across the room. He landed at the base of the steps that led up to the throne. The Lady sneered.
"I often wondered why Dad kept you around and didn't kill you like he killed your friends. I can still hear their delightful screams."
"Moon Crystal Power!" Sailor Moon Faced her daughter. "Rini, surrender. This isn't you."
"Oh yes it is....." She unleashed blasts of Energy that threw Moon around like a rag doll. She finally landed dangerously close a burning pile of Tapestries. The Lady smiled thinly. "I know it's Tradition to argue with your mom as a teenager, but since you were a Blubbering Vegetable while I was going through Puberty," A Ball of crackling energy formed around her Hand. "Let's make up for lost time." The impact lifted Moon off the floor to slam into a wall.
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Venus stirred. The others were unconious. Mars was Bleeding from a nasty Gash in her forehead. Jupiter's arm was at an odd angle. Either Broken or dislocated. Probably both. Mercury was the worst off. What wasn't broken was bleeding. She would be in the Hospital for weeks. Assuming she survived this hellhole long enough to get there. Hell, that was assuming they all survived. Right Now, the idea of Survival was notoriously laughable. David's armored form was still. This other Sailor Moon was being whipped. Some things were the same, no matter what your dimension. She began a slow crawl to where he lay. Her leg hurt. Probably broken. She started to get up to a sitting position and winced. God, she still had that damn headache.
David slowly swam back to reality. This armor may have been impenetrable, but being knocked about in it hurt. Venus's face appeared.
"Pssst. David? Can you hear me?"
"I hope never not to be able to hear that voice that makes my heart soar."
"Flirt. Can you move?"
"I think so. Are you okay?"
"Broken Leg, bruises and that damn headache." Venus looked over her shoulder. The hole in the wall caused by the bomb explosion looked out over the city. In the distance, she saw a dot lift off from the hills and blast into the sky. That would be Saturn, Molly, and Rini, bound for Moon City. She wished them luck.
Sailor Moon opened her eyes and got to her knees.
Darien Being Captured by the Negaverse. Him Laughing as Beryl tortured Mina, Amy, Raye and Lita. Raye screaming as the Negaverse soldiers took turns with them. Being Paraded in front of Darien in versions of their Scout uniforms that nobody would even consider worth being termed demeaning. Darien having her chained to his bed. Then, the capper. Rini, sweet, two year old Rini, stabbing her in the knee with a pair of scissors.
After that, she didn't remember much but dim images and an overwhelming feeling of dispair. Then she woke up and the first thing she had seen was Rini all grown up, threatening some guy in armor. Something, perhaps some old remnant of Sailor Moon, had galvanized her to action. She looked at her knee. It was still there, a nice big scar.
Oh yes, now she was getting tossed around by her own daughter. Oh thank you Metallia. You steal my man, You steal my daughter, You kill my friend. Oh yes, I owe you.
Something deep inside her snapped.
I owe you big time.
"Moon Crescent Beam Smash" Her hands unleashed a bolt of energy. It slammed into the Black Lady's back, lifting her off her feet and hoisting her off her feet and into the wall. Face first. She rolled to the floor. Blood gushing from her nose. It stopped after a few seconds. She got up. Her eyes radiated pure fury.
"Okay, I was going to kill you nice and quick because you're my mother. Now, I'm going to peel your skin off and then dip you in salt." A metal hand slammed into her shoulder. Fingertips cutting her shoulder. She spun around as much as the hand would allow. The Crystal Knight. That stupid, tin-plated metal encased Git.
"Let go of me you armored buffoon!" She snapped trying to twist out of his grip. He lifted her of the floor.
"I ought to throw you out that hole in the wall. But I'm not a killer."
"Tell that to Prisma, Avery, Catsy, Eudial, and Safiiru! They were my friends, my mentors. And you killed them. YOU METAL SON OF A BITCH!" She twisted up and kicked him in the face. He didn't even react. She got a look through the dark, smoked glass, of the visor. She could see his eyes. They were not human, more reptilian. That, for the first time, scared her. She had finally met fear, and decided she didn't like it.
David was also experiencing new emotions.
Do it. The Knights Voice whispered. Kill her.
I can't.
Yes you can.
He toughened his resolve. This was not going to end in death. Sailor Moon had turned the Rini of this Dimension into a good girl, maybe the same for her. The Lady smiled.
"I know what you're thinking. You're wondering if the Moon Scepter can be used to turn me into a goody-two shoes." She twisted around and fired off a blast. Sailor Moon screamed and was still. She turned back to the Knight. "Sailor Moon needs the Imperium Sliver Crystal to transform. she's too weak to do it any other way. The only other person in the room who can become Sailor Moon is out cold." She laughed coldly. "The Senshi are battered and broken. Uranus and Neptune are three miles underground and six miles away. Saturn, the most powerful among you, is gone. Sailor Pluto, is dead." She twisted out of his grip. The claws serving nerves and tendons in her shoulder. "I seem to be at a crossroads. Do I hurl Myself out the side of this building? Or do I simply Teleport out of here?"
"Noooooo." Sailor Moon had dragged herself up on her elbows. "Rini. Please, God no, don't jump. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." She slumped back to the floor. The Black Lady shrugged as best she could and jumped. The Knight got to the hole just in time to see her vanish.
"The Timestream has been warped. She has gone back in time." Sailor Pluto stood at the doorway. "If she gets ahold of a Star Point, Crystal Tokyo will no longer be here." She walked over to where Jadeite stood next to the Monster.
"Seize him" She ordered, jabbing her staff in his direction. "Do not release him until I tell you otherwise."
"Yes, Mistress." The Monster whirled and grabbed Jadeite.
"Oh Bravo." The Wise Man Clapped his hands. "Bravo." Jadeite Sneered. "Bravo yourself. Who are you anyway?" The Wise Man stood up and withdrew his hood. His Face was scarred and disfigured.
"You're-You're me!"
"I'm the Jadeite of this reality you idiot, and there is only room for one" He fired a burst of energy that fried the captive Jadeite. "There." He turned and waved a hand. The Rift sealed it's self shut. "That oughta do it." Then he and his robed companion vanished.
"They have also escaped into the Timestream." Pluto waved her staff and a Glowing doorway appeared. "Sailors Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars require medical attention. If sailor Mercury dies here, Time will be undone."
"Wait. The other Sailor Moon was awake. "Here. One hand held the Imperium Sliver Crystal. "I'm done for. Take it Crystal Knight. Take it." He took it, and stuck it in his belt buckle. He glowed. "You now have the power of all the Senshi. Use it wisely." She slumped. The Knight put two fingers to the side of her neck. After a Moment, he looked up.
"She's Dead Jim. Sorry, I always wanted to say that." Venus cracked a smile Then winced. "As soon as I get back, I'm getting a years supply of Tylenol."
The Knight Scooped Up Mars And Mercury. Pluto waved her staff and Molly appeared. Venus Sat down in David's wheelchair. The King Lay Jupiter on her Lap. The Knight turned and Darted through the portal. Pluto Handed Venus the Moon Scepter and Molly pushed her through the doorway.
-------------------------------- Two Months Later.
David bit into his apple as Mina sat down on the steps. Her leg was encased in a cast that ran above her knee.
"Stupid crutches." David hid his chuckle behind a bite.
"Oh they're not that bad."
"Too true, but I still hate using them."
Raye fingered the bandage on her forehead..
"At least we got out of that alive."
"Yeah. But Amy..." Lita shifted her arm in the sling. "She got trashed."
"When are they going to release her from the hospital?"
David wound up and pitched the apple into the woods surrounding Raye's Temple.
"I spoke to her yesterday. Gave her a few pointers on chairs. She's supposed to get out today."
"Okay dudes and Dudetts. I got the Party stuff!" Chad set the cake down on the table. "I got the streamers, banner, and the Balloons.
"Great." David rolled to the table. "Hang the Banner. We'll start with the streamers." He grabbed the roll and threw it over a rafter.
--------------------------------
Amy winced as the minivan bounced on a rough stretch of road.
"Amy, are you sure you want to do this? The Doctor said you should rest." "I'm fine Mom." Doctor Anderson reached over and patted Amy's arm cast.
"I'm sure dear." Amy tried to make herself more comfortable. The van hit a really nasty pothole and she almost cried out. To take her mind off the pain, she began reviewing her multiplication tables, backwards.
--------------------------------
Lita winced and shifted her arm in the sling.
"Wow, this hurts."
"You're complaining? I'm the one who's got this itchy cast on." Venus used a back scratcher to reach beneath the cast. "Ahhhhhh."
"Yeah. Well at least you have a cast to hold your leg in place. My arm is shifted out of position. Broken and dislocated. That means I can't have a cast because the extra weight would pull it out if the socket again." David wheeled up next to the table.
"C'mon you guys, I saw the van coming up the road. Let's hurry."
They were waiting outside when the mini-van pulled to a stop. Chad ran over to the van. Together, he and Doctor Anderson hauled Amy's chair out of the van and up into the temple.
David put on the brakes and locked his wheels. Amy was a mess. Her two months in the hospital had let her hair grow out. It was now longer and hair washings had removed the blue dye. One arm was up and encased in a cast. Her ribs were taped, she dual black eyes and a concussion. One leg was broken in three places and she had broken her foot in the other. But she would make a full recovery.
Raye was her hands. Amy was having so much fun, she almost forgot about the pain.
Hours later, they were all in the woods. Serena and Darien had showed up just minutes ago and she was pushing Amy's chair. Mina pushed David's. Lita was explaining to Molly about the Senshi. Nephrite, who had returned to the identity of J. Maxsfield Stanton, walked at the rear. For the first time he felt contentment. At peace with himself and the world. He promised himself to walk in the woods daily. The Senshi kept watching him by occasional glances. Nobody really trusted him. Not even Molly. He sighed. He would earn their trust.
They finally came to a clearing. David called a halt.
"We need to confer and I wanted to do it away from Chad, Amy's mom and Raye's granddad. But we're missing two." At that moment, Greg and Bertie ran up.
"What's up guys? I can't stay long, Avery's in charge today and she's driving us crazy."
"Amy. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Greg." David cleared his throat.
"Okay, I'm going to make this as brief as possible. Two months ago, Mina, Lita, Amy, Raye, Molly and Myself were yanked out of the snow fair and into Crystal Tokyo. It was being invaded. Now this is where it gets tricky.
The invaders were from an alternate Negaverse. Not the one where Bertie came from. But another one, a more violent one. Their history parallel ours up to a point. Like here, Darien was captured and Converted by the Negaverse. That's where it split. In that reality, The Senshi failed to turn him back, and, as far as we can determine from captured soldiers, The Senshi there were captured, tortured, raped mentally and physically, then most likely killed. Nine months after that, the alternate Sailor Moon gave birth to Rini.
At the time, she was almost at the edge. At two years old, that alternate Rini Stabbed her mother in the knee with a pair of scissors. This was the breaking point and she retreated so far into herself that she was a little more than an animal." The other's faces wore expressions of varying degrees of horror and disgust. Even Darien was horrified. He and Serena had death grips on the other's hand. David took a deep breath and continued. "We can confirm the deaths of the alternate Sailors Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter. Sailor Venus escaped the torture and rape and presumably is still alive.
Sailor Saturn swapped sides and now works for Queen Metallia. The soldiers have no idea of her location. Senshi Pluto, Uranus and Neptune vanished the night before their execution. Presumably, Pluto used the remains of her power to get them out of jail. Nobody knows where or when they are. It's possible they're in our reality and hiding. With makeup and plastic surgery these days we may even know them. They could be our parents. Chris might even be Doctor Anderson. It would explain a few things. The similarity in haircuts, why you two hit it off so well." Amy scowled.
"That's not funny."
"Is it?" He faced Serena. "Your mom reminds me an awful lot of Rose."
"Yeah....." Darien shrugged. "But Chris and Rose are. . ."
"Yeah, I know. I said it was possible. I also said they might be in our reality. Only Luna and Artimes can sense a Senshi. But they're not here." Bertie looked up.
"I still don't understand what this has to do with us." She gestured at Greg. David pulled out a notebook.
"Most of the Alternate Negaverse soldiers were killed. These people are unaccounted for. These are from that Alternate reality. The Black Lady, Rubius, Demando, Esmerelda, Zoisite, Malachite, 231 assorted soldiers, the Seven Shadows. . .and Bertie."
"What? You mean there's another me out there? And another Rubius?" Bertie's eyes darted around. "My Rubius was bad enough, this one's more violent? And what about this other me? If she's more violent, than I was, and I was pretty bad, she'll come after me! They both will!"
"Not for a while. They were all badly injured. Rubius is missing a leg, Bertie lost an eye, Zoisite and Malachite are probably hiding from The Black Lady, who's out an arm. Demando and Esmerelda were tied together by their arms, so at the very least, they're off the active list for a loooooong time, if not dead. With the exception of The terrible two, and those soldiers, we don't have much to worry about." Lita frowned.
"What about Jadeite and that robed guy?" "Oh yes. The wise man is Jadeite." Bertie frowned and got up to pace.
"I met Jadeite once. Back when I was with the Negaverse. He struck me as pure evil. So was Malachite, and Zoisite.........And you." Her finger stabbed at Nephrite. "You were with Malachite. You trained the other three. But you died. Zoisite told me."
"This Nephrite is from that Alternate Negaverse I mentioned. He's kept his powers, but he's on our side." Greg rubbed his temples.
"I can't blame you. I'm having a bit of a time wrapping me head around myself."
His accent of his native Wales was creeping in and he paused to clear his throat. "As I was saying. We got Alternate Versions of The Negaverse's worst inhabitants running amok in our reality. And if they encounter their duplicates. . .Well, that gets us into Quantum Physics and temporal probability. I have a hard enough time with Basic Algebra."
Darien frowned. "So we have Some of our worst enemies getting ready to run amok. What about the past?" Mina nodded.
"Didn't I hear Pluto say something about the Timestream?"
"Yeah. That's why Nephrite and I have to leave."
"Leave?" Mina Gasped. "Why?"
"Somebody has to track down the duplicates and deal with them before they start screwing around with Reality. Between Nephrite's powers and my own, we should be able to stop them before they Start. I hope." Mina jumped up.
"No. You Can't go. I won't let you!"
"Mina, I have to. This is the only way. Somebody has to stop them. I have a way to spend the summer, and Nephrite can redeem himself."
-------------------------------- Three months later. . .
Mina kicked a stone. It bounced across the drive way. Lita looked up from her Harley.
Raye jumped from the steps and almost fell. Lita chuckled. Mina sniffed.
Lita looked up and then walked over to where Mina stood. "Aw, c'mon, Mina," Lita said. "David is doing fine."
"I want to believe that, I really do."
Molly stepped out of the door and down to where Mina stood. Music drifted out of the temple. "I'm worried about Nephrite-Maxsfield. They have been gone for so long." She cocked her head. "Listen." Then they heard it to. The sound of a car coming up the road at high speed.
Molly's face split into a grin. "I know that car. Only one car sounds like that! Maxsfield's!" The Lamborgini came to a stop. Even through the tinted windows, Mina could see that only the driver was the car's sole inhabitant. Her hand squeezed Molly's shoulder.
The driver's side door opened and Nephrite stepped out. Mina' breath caught in her throat. Molly ran to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. For a moment, he held her there. This his eyes met Mina's, and, for a second, time stood still. He took a small cloth bag out of his pocket and tossed it at her. Mina caught it, and opened it.
The air was filled with a wail of anguish and pain. It was an inhuman cry. Raye caught her as Mina collapsed. Her cry faded and she sobbed. Raye looked at Lita with questioning eyes. Lita shrugged and opened the bag. Raye watched as Lita's face went from confusion to Horror, Grief and understanding. With shaking hands, Lita emptied the bag into her hand.
The Moon Crystal, The Imperium Sliver Crystal, and a jewelry box. Raye's glance said it all. Lita opened the box. Inside was the biggest diamond ring she had ever seen.
"W-what-what Happened?" Lita asked. Maxsfield took a deep breath.
"We were in London. David saw this ring in the window. He bought it. He spoke of nothing else then giving it to Mina when we got back.
We were the way to the car, when we saw the Black Lady bounding from rooftop to rooftop. We followed her to a warehouse on the Thames. It was a trap. She tried to kill him and succeeded, getting herself killed in the process. With his dying breath, he asked me to bring those items back. . .and to take over the role of The Crystal Knight."
"Can I please be left alone?" Mina Held out her hand for the bag's contents. Wordlessly, Lita handed them over then retreated to Nephrite's car. The others followed. At the car, Maxsfield planted his hands on the car's hood.
"If he had been a Negaverse warrior, he would be one of Beryl's own. He was a noble fighter. But he wasn't a Negaverse warrior. Still. . ." His eyes flashed he spun around and jabbed his hand out at a nearby tree. It immediately disintegrated. "He was my friend." Lita looked over at Mina. She was on her knees, the crystals and the ring in her lap. She was sobbing heavily.
She slipped the ring on her finger. Lita scuffed gravel with her foot.
"Boy, she really is bummed about David isn't she?" Molly wrapped her arms around Maxsfield's arm. He smiled down at her.
"But isn't there a way to bring him back or something? Like with what happened after Beryl?"
"I wish it were that simple Molly." Raye leaned against the car's hood "But we really aren't sure how the Imperium Sliver Crystal works. The only ones who know for sure are Serena and Amy."
"Yeah. Amy's at that computer seminar and Serena's out of town with her family."
"What about Luna and Artimes?" Molly looked back and forth. "I mean, they were part of the Moon Kingdom. They were Queen Serenity's most trusted assistants." Lita looked around.
"I think they took Diana into the woods, teach her wilderness survival or something." Raye nodded.
"I got up early today and saw them." At the sound of sobbing they turned. Mina was curled up in a ball. Her shoulders shook.
Abruptly, she stopped shaking and sat up. Her eyes were locked on the Moon Crystal. It was glowing, pulsing to some inaudible rhythm. Above her a circular distortion appeared. Mina's eyes darted back and forth between the crystal and the distortion. Lita and the others approached it. Slowly. Nephrite thrust Molly behind him. From far away, they heard a yell.
"You guys hear that?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
Nephrite's eyes began to glow. The yell got louder. Then something flew out of the distortion and crashed to the ground. Then something else flew out and the portal closed.
"David!" Mina Shrieked and wrapped her arms around the Crystal Knight's neck.
"You!" Snarled an new voice. Mina spun. The Black Lady, both arms fully healed, was getting up. She looked pissed. Then, Lita, Raye and Nephrite stood in front of Mina and The Knight. Imposing themselves between them and the Black Lady. The Lady snarled again and Vanished. The Knight pawed at his chest until the lightning bolt flashed and David was restored. Mina immediately kissed him for a long time.
The other Senshi were soon making bets on how long it would be before they came up for air.
The only three who didn't were Molly, who was staring at David in shock, Maxsfield, who was determinedly not watching, and Lita, who had visions of brown hair floating through her head for no reason she could figure out. A bit later the kissing couple returned to the rest of the world.
David grumbled, "Aw nuts. I go to the afterlife and back, and my legs still don't work."
"That's okay. I love you no matter what works."
"What about. . .?" David's grin was wicked.
"Well. . .. . ." Mina blushed. "That would be nice if it worked, but it doesn't matter." She leaned down and they kissed.
Again.
After they came up for air, David's face assumed a thoughtful expression.
"Oh yeah.........It works."
--------------------------------
"First One A has acquired First Power."
"Continue Monitoring ."
"First One A has encountered First One B, no contact, no conversation."
"Continue monitoring on First One A, if First One A attempts contact or conversation with First One B outside of normal parameters. . . ."
"Terminate First One A."
I want to stress that these were written from 1997 to 2000 and that the Chronicles has since been abandoned for various reasons. Which is probably a good thing since there was supposed to be a hundred fics that made up the Chronicles. I've even thrown in the unfinished Book 9 so you can see just how woefully ignorant I was of the SM universe.
Crystal Dawn. Our Story so Far:
The Senshi have once more been summoned to Crystal Tokyo. When Pluto used her forbidden attack, an alternate reality was created. A reality where the sailor Senshi failed and were killed. A reality where the Black Lady and her Father, Prince Darien, lead the forces of the Negaverse. The death of Queen Beryl at the hands of Prince Darien caused a rift to open. The rift was a doorway that led directly into the Crystal Tokyo Throne room.
Zoisite, Malachite, Nephrite and Jadeite made short work of the palace Guards. The Senshi retreated to the depths of the palace to summon help. But something went wrong.
The Senshi of the past arrived, along with Molly, Serena's best friend, and David, computer genius who is unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair. He is also Mina's Boyfriend. But, the Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Venus of Crystal Tokyo were sent back.
The Senshi are surprised to be back in Crystal Tokyo. Even more surprised when they realize that While Serena and Darien aren't with them, Molly, David, and the Moon Scepter are. Transforming, the Senshi, with Uranus in charge, return to the Throne Room to stop the Negaverse forces. Molly and David Follow.
During the Battle, Molly, who still carries the Torch for the Nephrite of her reality, acts to save him from one of Mars's Fireballs. Touched by her act, and remembering the love his Molly had given him unconditionally before her death and his return to the Negaverse, Nephrite defends her from the hands of Jadeite.
In an attempt to turn the tide, Pluto once more uses her Forbidden Attack, weakening the floor where Venus tries to defend David from the Negaverse Forces. An unforeseen and (unseen until later) side effect of the attack is a developing vortex, leading to various parts of the world of our Senshi at utterly random times, opens and slowly grows in the throne room. The floor caves in, and Venus and David Fall. Her last sight of the throne room is the Senshi, the Royal Family, Nephrite, and Molly being imprisoned in a cage of Dark Energy.
--------------------------------
Venus rolled over and opened her eyes. Her Sailor Suit was gone. Except for the orange band that she wore around her neck as Senshi, she was dressed in the parka and heavy jeans she had been wearing before Pluto had sucked them into the Time Warp that had spit them out onto the floor of the throne room. Pluto. . .oh yeah. she was dead. Again.
You would think that after the first time, she would learn not to use that forbidden attack. It was called a forbidden attack for good reason. She shook her head to clear it and then stopped because of the headache. Ouch.
She removed the band and put in a pocket. Fat lot of good it did her now. Then she looked around. She was in a huge Cavern made entirely out of Crystal. It reminded her of when Bertie tried to freeze herself to death. Except it wasn't as cold. Small comfort. A low moan reached her ears. Behind a slab of crystal that came up to her waist, David lay face down underneath his wheelchair.
"David! Are you all right?" She shoved the chair off him and cradled his head. "David, answer me, please." His eyes opened and locked with hers.
"Ooooh. Now there's a sight I like waking up to. Hello Mina."
"Are you okay?"
"Aside from bumps and bruises. Yeah. Where's my chair?"
"Over here." She righted the chair and wheeled it back. "It was lying on top of you."
"Well that explains my backache." With a little effort, she got him back in his chair. "Thanks Mina, where are we?"
"I don't know. I think this is some kind of vault or basement." David frowned and ran his finger along the slab.
"More like a Basement Vault. I don't think this place has been used in years, decades, perhaps centuries. But I doubt it."
"Why? It's dusty."
"But it's not dusty enough. To the casual observer, this place has been abandoned, but the dust is too thin."
Mina leaned against the slab. "So now what?"
David pointed behind and to her right.
"You wheel me over there so I can take a look at that." She followed his finger. On the other side of the room was what looked like a Computer terminal and a circular dais. Mina grabbed the handles of his chair and pushed him over to the terminal.
"You know about computers?" She teased.
"Yeah." he deadpanned as his fingers danced over keys. "Hey, this is weird." He looked over at Mina, who was examining the dais. "Mina, I think you should see this. It's written in symbols but I can read it."
"What does it say?"
"Whosoever holds the Moon Crystal and speaks the words Moon Power shall don the armor of the Crystal Knight. Champion of the Queen of the Moon Kingdom." He sat back. "The Crystal Knight. Wow." Mina was also impressed, but for different reasons.
"Where is this, Moon Crystal?" David's fingers danced over the keys again.
"There. On the side of the dais. The octagon crystal with the Moon on it." She pulled it out and handed it to him.
"Thanks." He stuck the crystal in his jacket pocket and continued to type.
"Hmmmmm." He hit more keys and the view on the monitor changed to that of the throne room. They were in trouble. The Senshi were either out cold, or just about there. The Royal Family sat in one corner. Rini and Darien were both out, but the Queen was hanging on.
Jadeite and the others were playing with the Moon scepter. The Wise Man and figure in dark robes were conferring. Darien and the Black Lady looked bored. The Screen blanked and returned to diagrams.
"According to this, that dais is an elevator to the throne room. Just step on it." Venus nodded and pulled out her wand.
"VENUS STAR POWER!" Venus bounded onto the elevator and it began rise. David waved good luck and turned back to the console. Touching keys, he brought up the throne room. He was worried about Mina, the last thing he wanted was for her to get hurt. But she was a Senshi. This was her job.. Frowning, he fingered the Moon Crystal and settled back to watch.
--------------------------------
Venus crouched down as the elevator reached the end of it's climb. As soon as she could see the throne room, she leaped.
"Venus Love Chain,.........Encircle!" Darien and the Black Lady found themselves pressed against each other. Zoisite, however, was quicker on her feet.
"Zoi!" But Venus had already hit the floor and was back in the air again via a pile of cushions. She landed by the far wall, snatched a sword from a wall hanging and bounded into the air again. Zoisite met her in mid air. A single slash of the sword knocked it from Venus's hand. Then Zoisite dazed her with the flat of her sword.
Venus rolled over. Her headache was worse this time, and iguanas were doing a country line dance before her eyes.
"Mina, are you okay."
"Y-yeah. I'm fine. Venus sat up, and instantly regretted it. She was in the cage of Dark Energy. Neo-Queen Serenity was sitting by her.
"Be as still as you can. The cage drains energy from you. The more you struggle, the more energy it drains." Venus sat back.
"You were very brave."
"Thanks."
"Now we have no hope. But at least David might get away. Where is he?"
"In this funky cellar beneath this room. He found something called the Moon Crystal."
"So that's where it has been these many years."
"You know about it?"
"Only what......No, the timeline must be preserved. I can't tell you." Venus sat up and looked where she thought the camera might be. 'Moon Power' she mouthed 'Moon Power' Then she sat back down.
"Can he help us?"
"If he saw that."
"But will he?"
"He'd better. If we die, I'm gonna kill him."
--------------------------------
Jadeite stood before them.
"Drop the Cage Malachite."
"But-"
"They're not going anywhere. The cage has made them weak." Malachite made a dismissive gesture and the cage vanished. Nephrite was jerked from the floor and landed at Jeddite's feet. Jadeite chuckled, reaching a hand down to grab Nephrite's hair.
"First, we remove a traitor."
"Nobody's moving anything Jadeite. Except me." David, reclining in his chair was riding the elevator into view. "And I'm taking out the trash. You want a fight? Well here I am!" Now that the cage was gone, Venus felt her strength returning.
"Venus get everybody out! This is my party!" Zoisite leapt into the air.
"Zoi!" David slammed into the rear wall.
"David! Venus screamed. "No!" Strong hands clamped on her shoulder.
"You can't interfere." Venus turned to the Queen
"But they'll kill him!" David dodged another blast by rolling.
"Venus!" he screamed "Get out of here!" Venus could feel a tear roll down her cheek.
"But, David! I-"
"I know! I feel the same way! Go!" With one last look back, Venus ran. Neo- Queen Serenity shook her head, and touched the control for the blast door.
Malachite smiled as he lifted David off his feet.
"Any last words?"
"Actually, yeah." David held up the crystal. "MOON POWER!" A lightning bolt stabbed down, throwing Malachite off his feet. Electric bolts crackled, paintings and wall hangings fell to the ground. When the smoke cleared David had been replaced by an awesome sight. The Crystal Knight was huge. Taller than the other world Darien, who was the tallest one there, he was well over seven feet.
In the center of his chest, the symbol of the Moon Glowed brightly. The fingers ended in razor-sharp points. One hand clutched a lance. Each end had a razor sharp blade
"Step right up, hurry, hurry, hurry! Everybody gets a chance to die. Sorry, C.O.D.'s not accepted, D.O.A's only. All Major credit card and Organs accepted, Operators are standing by."
The lance lashed out at a Negaverse soldier. It caught him just under the chin and hurled him off his feet.
He went through the rest of the Guards with a similar efficiency. Then he moved on. Zoisite and Malachite were dispatched by the flat of the lance to the side of the throat. The Amazons required nearly a minute to deal with. Diamant, Esmeraud, Safiiru, Rubeus, the four sisters, and Eudial attacked as one. Jadeite just stood to one side and watched.
Prisma went down clutching her abdomen, trying to keep the intestines in. Avery and Catsy were dispatched in a similar Fashion. Only Bertie managed to make it out a window. But she would never look out of her right eye again.
Eudial and The Knight circled. Sword and Lance clanged together again and again. Eudial swung at his knees. The lance went vertical. The lower end blocked the slice, the top end slammed into Eudial's head between her eyes.
Eesmerood and Demando found their arms tied together, literally. Safiiru had to try and put his lungs back inside his chest, stumbling back and knocking himself, Emeraudes and Diamant into the vortex Pluto's attack had opened.
Rubius took the wisest course and teleported out minus a leg. Darien stepped away from the wall and drew his sword.
"You are good. Your savagery surpasses Malachite's. He was into pain too." Darien removed his cape and jacket. "They were amateurs. I am the Champion of the Negaverse. You will die on the point of my sword." The Knight's visor glowed.
"Two words: Darien Kabob." Darien only smiled.
"We shall see."
--------------------------------
It was a scene out of Dante's Inferno. Fires burned. Darien and his opponent noticed nothing. The others had either left, or died of their injuries. The Wise Man and his robed companion watched from the dais. Jadeite and The Black Lady watched from the walls.
Deep inside the Crystal Knight's mind, David struggled against the Bloodlust that had cut him off from his transformed and armored body. He and the Knight circled on a battlefield straight out of Hell. Volcanoes erupted. Lava moved past their feet. The air was thick with soot and dust. Lightning struck.
"This is insane! We should be working together, not fighting!" David coughed. The Knight made an encompassing gesture.
"You are weak, you are not me. You are handicapped, useless."
"I am not useless, you are me, I am you. We have to work together. The senseless violence you're committing has to be stopped."
"I am decimating the Negaverse."
"By killing them?" The Knight chuckled.
"If I have to. You don't understand the true nature of the Moon Crystal do you? I am your rage and hate. Given form. I cannot rest until the Enemy is destroyed. Then and only then, can I turn back into you. But I'm not going to. I hate you. I hate your weak body. I hate the fact that Mina doesn't deserve you. I hate that you can't descend steps like a man should. That she has to get stuff when you go shopping. That she and her friends have to defend you from the bullies. That you are weak." David laughed.
"You don't get it do you? She feels the way about me because I respect her. Because I treat her like a human being. That is why she's with me. Underneath that armor you're me to. What would she think if she saw you acting like this?" David held out his hand "Let me help. We are the Crystal Knight. Not you, not me. Us." The Knight held out his own hand. The instant their fingers made contact, David found himself looking out of the visor.
--------------------------------
Deep inside the palace, Venus paced. "What's taking him so long?"
"Chill out Venus." Mars looked up from her game of Chess with Mercury.
"Mars is right" Mercury said. "We're all to weak to fight anyway." Jupiter nodded agreement. She stood up. For a second she was bathed in a green light that seemed to come from everywhere, within her, and no where. Lita hunched into her jacket.
"Man, it's cold." Lita tucked her wand away in an inside pocket. "How can we get some heat in here?" Mars dragged some pieces of wood from a corner where a chair had been broken.
"Mars, fireball, IGNITE!" The Fire burst to life. Lita tossed scrap wood on the fire to make it burn brighter. Nephrite began breaking up some of the furniture to add to the fire. Uranus and Neptune sat in the corner, their hands squeezed tightly. Venus slammed one fist into the wall.
"They'll kill him!"
"Most likely." Nephrite commented, trying to figure out the best way to turn a chair into manageable firewood pieces.
"Shut up Nephrite, you're not helping!" Neptune turned back to Venus.
"Venus. Calm down." She put a hand on the Senshi of Love's shoulder. "Believe me, I know how you feel. There was a time I thought I had lost Uranus. My heart was broken. I couldn't eat, drink, or sleep. But she came back. I love her Venus."
"When I lost Darien to the Negaverse and then when his memory was erased, I was a wreck." Neo-Queen Serenity said as she joined them
"I know Serena." Venus looked up. "I was there, remember?"
"Yes. Without you, Without all of you. I think I would have gone mad. But when it was all over, as we walked down the aisle, I realized something. Darien and I were meant to be together. Even a thousand years nor the Negaverse could separate us."
"So?" Neo-Queen Serenity, held on to Venus's shoulders.
"So, If you and David are meant to be together, you will be. It's as simple as that." Venus turned away from the wall, fists balled and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"And what if we're not?" The Queen averted her eyes.
"I-I don't know."
--------------------------------
The Crystal Knight was having a Tough time of it. Darien was a tough opponent and having been bound to a wheelchair for the past three years of his life had left the Knight a little confused as to proper Martial Arts. He was relying on Ten Years of Ninja Films and Chuck Norris movies. But it wasn't easy. He was mostly concerned with keeping his balance.
"I'm surprised at you. I would have expected you to fall by now." Darien Taunted. "You weakling." The Knight Parried and Blocked.
"I am not a weakling. If I was, I'd be dead."
"True."
"Besides" The Knight blocked another thrust. "Sailor Venus and I have a date Saturday to go see Revenge of The Killer Vampire Bunny Nun Mutants."
"I remember seeing that." Darien said as he thrust and slashed. "Wasn't bad. Lousy acting though. Made it even funnier."
"With a title like that, what did you expect? Robotech?"
"At least that was good. Lisa Hayes, what a cutie."
"Somebody as evil as you, I'm surprised you would notice."
"Hey, just because I conquer planets doesn't mean My Hormones don't work."
"Whatever."
--------------------------------
The King stood up and wrapped his cape around Neo-Queen Serenity. "She's right. You can't go off Half-cocked hell-bent on a rescue mission. You're too weak, we all are." Everyone nodded agreement.
"Oh Nephrite? Can't you do something? Like you did with my cousin Katie? Increase their energy or something?"
Saturn looked at each of them. Her feelings on the matter clear
"It doesn't matter." Nephrite looked up from his watching molly. "It doesn't work that way. Molly believe me, If I could, I would in an instant."
"But why?"
"When I increased Katie's energy level to it's peak, it was to create a monster. I don't think I could increase the energy of the Senshi without creating monsters."
"But could you try?"
"Yes I could try. But when Katie's Monster appeared, she fainted. That would leave us with eight fully charged Monsters, and eight unconscious Sailor Senshi."
"Oh your right, but what are we gonna do?"
"What about one?" Everybody looked up. Venus stood tall. "Increase my energy. I'll go."
"Are you sure?"
"If it can save David, I'll do it."
Nephrite stood up, beckoning to Venus.
"Stand before me." Venus did so. "Forces of the Negaverse, increase this girl's energy to it's maximum output!" Venus found herself charged with energy. She turned on her heel and bolted for the throne room.
--------------------------------
The Crystal Knight was tiring. He really needed practice. But he had none and Darien was giving no quarter. If didn't have some kind of help. He was gonna lose. The Lance slashed through Darien's sleeve, and drew blood. Darien only smiled.
"First Blood To you." They separated and circled. The Fire was out of control. Flames raged. Darien wasn't even sweating. What was burnable was burning. The Knight kept seeing Father Tellerman at the sermon. Father Tellerman. Good old Father Tellerman. He did love to preach about Fire and Brimstone. Too Bad the Knight couldn't smell anything in this armor.
--------------------------------
Venus Charged through the Place. The song "My Only Love" Running through her head. She had never felt more alive. Or more dedicated. Up the ramps, through the halls, navigating strictly on instinct that was coming from God- knew-where. She made a short prayer for guidance and strength. Amy may be the Catholic of the team, But Venus was 90% Atheist. But right now, she needed all the help she could get. She spun on her heel and moved down a corridor then spun right and dashed through a doorway that she would have missed under normal circumstances.
David, I'm coming. Hang on darling.
--------------------------------
The Knight was in fact hanging on, for his life. The fire had eaten away some of the floor and he and Darien were fighting on a Chandelier. In an effort to maintain Balance, One hand held on to the Chain that suspended the Chandelier from the ceiling. Unfortunately, one of the beams that the chain was tossed over was on Fire. He would have to time this carefully. The Beam began to crack, the Knight leapt for the Floor. Too late, Darien followed and missed, plunging into the hole created by the fire.
Without really knowing why, The Knight grabbed Darien's Collar and yanked him to a safe spot of floor. But it was too late. The Negaverse Champion had second and Third-Degree burns.
"Why? Why did you save my life?"
"Because, that's what I do."
"You are weak. But thank you." Then his eyes opened wide and he gasped. Protruding from his ribs was a Crystal Shard. A few feet away, The Black Lady stood, two fingers stroking her cheek, a slight smile on her face.
"You killed your own Father?"
"He Lost."
The Knight stared. "You killed your own Father because he lost a battle?"
"Yes," she walked over to stand next Darien's body. "Good-bye Father." His eyes fluttered.
"Daughter, you did this?" She nodded. "I taught you too well." His head turned to the right, and he lay still. The Knight crossed himself and started to recite a prayer, but was interrupted when the Lady blasted him. He flew against the wall. Under the impact the wall cracked.
Then everything blew straight to hell.
--------------------------------
The fire had reached a forgotten stack of bombs and blew out the wall, filling the skies of Crystal Tokyo with thick black smoke and dropping glass and crystal shards on the people below. The Lady threw energy blasts around. The Knight wilted under the relentless barrage.
--------------------------------
Venus burst through the door. Seconds later she was followed by the others. But they were in no shape to fight. Only Molly, Rini, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune were not present. Saturn, Molly, and Rini were making their way through an escape tunnel to an escape craft hidden outside Crystal Tokyo that would take them Moon City. A secret outpost buried under the remains of the old Moon Kingdom where they hoped the heir to the throne would stay alive long enough to retake the throne. The craft was in constant readiness to launch. Neither the Senshi nor the King and Queen expected to survive.
Already, Crystal Tokyo was almost deserted as per their orders. Uranus and Neptune were on their way to a Fusion Reactor Buried under Crystal Nucleus when Crystal Tokyo was founded. If The Senshi lost, Uranus and Neptune had orders to blow the reactor. The explosion would blow Crystal Tokyo, and everyone in it well into the next millennium. Hopefully, it would also take whatever remnants of the Negaverse with them before they escaped through the rift.
--------------------------------
Uranus and Neptune arrived at the Reactor Control Center.
"Now what?" Uranus touched several buttons.
"We wait."
--------------------------------
The Knight was having a far less interesting time. The Lady was far more ruthless than her father and cared nothing for the code of battle. In other words, she fought dirty. Swordplay combined with energy blasts, punches, and kicks. She took full advantage of his inexperience on two legs.
"You're not like your Father." The Knight Parried and dodged a kick. She snarled.
"My Father was a fool." The Knight Blocked a swift energy-jab aimed at his head. The others were busy Fighting Jadeite, who had decided to Join in. Mars had picked up a sword and parrying Jadeite Blow for Blow. Jupiter and Mercury threw attack after attack. The Wise Man turned to his robed companion.
"They Fight Well." He said. His Companion turned to look. From the depths of the hood, What might have been eyes glowed.
This Battle is not over until it is over. The Wise man bowed his head.
"Yes Master."
--------------------------------
The Knight stared down the point of the sword at his throat. The Lady, smiled. Venus had collapsed, her monster had the other Senshi. She raised the sword high.
"Good night, Knight." She raised the sword higher, then brought it down.
"Rini! Stop!" The sword slammed into the ground right next to his head. That had sounded like Serena, but the queen was out. The Lady was staring into the back of the room .The fires were mostly out. The ones that were left, lit the room with an Erie glow. The Lady smiled.
"So You're back among the sane." From out of the shadows, a woman stepped. Her clothes were filthy and torn. Her long Blond Hair was dirty and tangled. But her face had a determined look. The Black Lady leaned on her sword. "Hi Mom. Long Time, no see."
"Put the sword down Rini, or you're Moon dust."
"Moon dust?" The Lady laughed, "Mom, do you know how lame that sounds?" Unnoticed, the Knight got to his feet. Eyes darting back and forth. Two Serenas? then he mentally kicked himself. Of course, the other Rini had to have a mother.
"Sadistic bunch of Bastards." He observed to no one in particular. "She was probably better off dead."
"I don't know where I've been. But I'm not going back." The Knight seized The chance that the Black Lady's distraction offered to snatch her sword and pin her arms behind her back. But he had forgotten to brace himself. With a twist of her upper body she threw him across the room. He landed at the base of the steps that led up to the throne. The Lady sneered.
"I often wondered why Dad kept you around and didn't kill you like he killed your friends. I can still hear their delightful screams."
"Moon Crystal Power!" Sailor Moon Faced her daughter. "Rini, surrender. This isn't you."
"Oh yes it is....." She unleashed blasts of Energy that threw Moon around like a rag doll. She finally landed dangerously close a burning pile of Tapestries. The Lady smiled thinly. "I know it's Tradition to argue with your mom as a teenager, but since you were a Blubbering Vegetable while I was going through Puberty," A Ball of crackling energy formed around her Hand. "Let's make up for lost time." The impact lifted Moon off the floor to slam into a wall.
--------------------------------
Venus stirred. The others were unconious. Mars was Bleeding from a nasty Gash in her forehead. Jupiter's arm was at an odd angle. Either Broken or dislocated. Probably both. Mercury was the worst off. What wasn't broken was bleeding. She would be in the Hospital for weeks. Assuming she survived this hellhole long enough to get there. Hell, that was assuming they all survived. Right Now, the idea of Survival was notoriously laughable. David's armored form was still. This other Sailor Moon was being whipped. Some things were the same, no matter what your dimension. She began a slow crawl to where he lay. Her leg hurt. Probably broken. She started to get up to a sitting position and winced. God, she still had that damn headache.
David slowly swam back to reality. This armor may have been impenetrable, but being knocked about in it hurt. Venus's face appeared.
"Pssst. David? Can you hear me?"
"I hope never not to be able to hear that voice that makes my heart soar."
"Flirt. Can you move?"
"I think so. Are you okay?"
"Broken Leg, bruises and that damn headache." Venus looked over her shoulder. The hole in the wall caused by the bomb explosion looked out over the city. In the distance, she saw a dot lift off from the hills and blast into the sky. That would be Saturn, Molly, and Rini, bound for Moon City. She wished them luck.
Sailor Moon opened her eyes and got to her knees.
Darien Being Captured by the Negaverse. Him Laughing as Beryl tortured Mina, Amy, Raye and Lita. Raye screaming as the Negaverse soldiers took turns with them. Being Paraded in front of Darien in versions of their Scout uniforms that nobody would even consider worth being termed demeaning. Darien having her chained to his bed. Then, the capper. Rini, sweet, two year old Rini, stabbing her in the knee with a pair of scissors.
After that, she didn't remember much but dim images and an overwhelming feeling of dispair. Then she woke up and the first thing she had seen was Rini all grown up, threatening some guy in armor. Something, perhaps some old remnant of Sailor Moon, had galvanized her to action. She looked at her knee. It was still there, a nice big scar.
Oh yes, now she was getting tossed around by her own daughter. Oh thank you Metallia. You steal my man, You steal my daughter, You kill my friend. Oh yes, I owe you.
Something deep inside her snapped.
I owe you big time.
"Moon Crescent Beam Smash" Her hands unleashed a bolt of energy. It slammed into the Black Lady's back, lifting her off her feet and hoisting her off her feet and into the wall. Face first. She rolled to the floor. Blood gushing from her nose. It stopped after a few seconds. She got up. Her eyes radiated pure fury.
"Okay, I was going to kill you nice and quick because you're my mother. Now, I'm going to peel your skin off and then dip you in salt." A metal hand slammed into her shoulder. Fingertips cutting her shoulder. She spun around as much as the hand would allow. The Crystal Knight. That stupid, tin-plated metal encased Git.
"Let go of me you armored buffoon!" She snapped trying to twist out of his grip. He lifted her of the floor.
"I ought to throw you out that hole in the wall. But I'm not a killer."
"Tell that to Prisma, Avery, Catsy, Eudial, and Safiiru! They were my friends, my mentors. And you killed them. YOU METAL SON OF A BITCH!" She twisted up and kicked him in the face. He didn't even react. She got a look through the dark, smoked glass, of the visor. She could see his eyes. They were not human, more reptilian. That, for the first time, scared her. She had finally met fear, and decided she didn't like it.
David was also experiencing new emotions.
Do it. The Knights Voice whispered. Kill her.
I can't.
Yes you can.
He toughened his resolve. This was not going to end in death. Sailor Moon had turned the Rini of this Dimension into a good girl, maybe the same for her. The Lady smiled.
"I know what you're thinking. You're wondering if the Moon Scepter can be used to turn me into a goody-two shoes." She twisted around and fired off a blast. Sailor Moon screamed and was still. She turned back to the Knight. "Sailor Moon needs the Imperium Sliver Crystal to transform. she's too weak to do it any other way. The only other person in the room who can become Sailor Moon is out cold." She laughed coldly. "The Senshi are battered and broken. Uranus and Neptune are three miles underground and six miles away. Saturn, the most powerful among you, is gone. Sailor Pluto, is dead." She twisted out of his grip. The claws serving nerves and tendons in her shoulder. "I seem to be at a crossroads. Do I hurl Myself out the side of this building? Or do I simply Teleport out of here?"
"Noooooo." Sailor Moon had dragged herself up on her elbows. "Rini. Please, God no, don't jump. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." She slumped back to the floor. The Black Lady shrugged as best she could and jumped. The Knight got to the hole just in time to see her vanish.
"The Timestream has been warped. She has gone back in time." Sailor Pluto stood at the doorway. "If she gets ahold of a Star Point, Crystal Tokyo will no longer be here." She walked over to where Jadeite stood next to the Monster.
"Seize him" She ordered, jabbing her staff in his direction. "Do not release him until I tell you otherwise."
"Yes, Mistress." The Monster whirled and grabbed Jadeite.
"Oh Bravo." The Wise Man Clapped his hands. "Bravo." Jadeite Sneered. "Bravo yourself. Who are you anyway?" The Wise Man stood up and withdrew his hood. His Face was scarred and disfigured.
"You're-You're me!"
"I'm the Jadeite of this reality you idiot, and there is only room for one" He fired a burst of energy that fried the captive Jadeite. "There." He turned and waved a hand. The Rift sealed it's self shut. "That oughta do it." Then he and his robed companion vanished.
"They have also escaped into the Timestream." Pluto waved her staff and a Glowing doorway appeared. "Sailors Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars require medical attention. If sailor Mercury dies here, Time will be undone."
"Wait. The other Sailor Moon was awake. "Here. One hand held the Imperium Sliver Crystal. "I'm done for. Take it Crystal Knight. Take it." He took it, and stuck it in his belt buckle. He glowed. "You now have the power of all the Senshi. Use it wisely." She slumped. The Knight put two fingers to the side of her neck. After a Moment, he looked up.
"She's Dead Jim. Sorry, I always wanted to say that." Venus cracked a smile Then winced. "As soon as I get back, I'm getting a years supply of Tylenol."
The Knight Scooped Up Mars And Mercury. Pluto waved her staff and Molly appeared. Venus Sat down in David's wheelchair. The King Lay Jupiter on her Lap. The Knight turned and Darted through the portal. Pluto Handed Venus the Moon Scepter and Molly pushed her through the doorway.
-------------------------------- Two Months Later.
David bit into his apple as Mina sat down on the steps. Her leg was encased in a cast that ran above her knee.
"Stupid crutches." David hid his chuckle behind a bite.
"Oh they're not that bad."
"Too true, but I still hate using them."
Raye fingered the bandage on her forehead..
"At least we got out of that alive."
"Yeah. But Amy..." Lita shifted her arm in the sling. "She got trashed."
"When are they going to release her from the hospital?"
David wound up and pitched the apple into the woods surrounding Raye's Temple.
"I spoke to her yesterday. Gave her a few pointers on chairs. She's supposed to get out today."
"Okay dudes and Dudetts. I got the Party stuff!" Chad set the cake down on the table. "I got the streamers, banner, and the Balloons.
"Great." David rolled to the table. "Hang the Banner. We'll start with the streamers." He grabbed the roll and threw it over a rafter.
--------------------------------
Amy winced as the minivan bounced on a rough stretch of road.
"Amy, are you sure you want to do this? The Doctor said you should rest." "I'm fine Mom." Doctor Anderson reached over and patted Amy's arm cast.
"I'm sure dear." Amy tried to make herself more comfortable. The van hit a really nasty pothole and she almost cried out. To take her mind off the pain, she began reviewing her multiplication tables, backwards.
--------------------------------
Lita winced and shifted her arm in the sling.
"Wow, this hurts."
"You're complaining? I'm the one who's got this itchy cast on." Venus used a back scratcher to reach beneath the cast. "Ahhhhhh."
"Yeah. Well at least you have a cast to hold your leg in place. My arm is shifted out of position. Broken and dislocated. That means I can't have a cast because the extra weight would pull it out if the socket again." David wheeled up next to the table.
"C'mon you guys, I saw the van coming up the road. Let's hurry."
They were waiting outside when the mini-van pulled to a stop. Chad ran over to the van. Together, he and Doctor Anderson hauled Amy's chair out of the van and up into the temple.
David put on the brakes and locked his wheels. Amy was a mess. Her two months in the hospital had let her hair grow out. It was now longer and hair washings had removed the blue dye. One arm was up and encased in a cast. Her ribs were taped, she dual black eyes and a concussion. One leg was broken in three places and she had broken her foot in the other. But she would make a full recovery.
Raye was her hands. Amy was having so much fun, she almost forgot about the pain.
Hours later, they were all in the woods. Serena and Darien had showed up just minutes ago and she was pushing Amy's chair. Mina pushed David's. Lita was explaining to Molly about the Senshi. Nephrite, who had returned to the identity of J. Maxsfield Stanton, walked at the rear. For the first time he felt contentment. At peace with himself and the world. He promised himself to walk in the woods daily. The Senshi kept watching him by occasional glances. Nobody really trusted him. Not even Molly. He sighed. He would earn their trust.
They finally came to a clearing. David called a halt.
"We need to confer and I wanted to do it away from Chad, Amy's mom and Raye's granddad. But we're missing two." At that moment, Greg and Bertie ran up.
"What's up guys? I can't stay long, Avery's in charge today and she's driving us crazy."
"Amy. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Greg." David cleared his throat.
"Okay, I'm going to make this as brief as possible. Two months ago, Mina, Lita, Amy, Raye, Molly and Myself were yanked out of the snow fair and into Crystal Tokyo. It was being invaded. Now this is where it gets tricky.
The invaders were from an alternate Negaverse. Not the one where Bertie came from. But another one, a more violent one. Their history parallel ours up to a point. Like here, Darien was captured and Converted by the Negaverse. That's where it split. In that reality, The Senshi failed to turn him back, and, as far as we can determine from captured soldiers, The Senshi there were captured, tortured, raped mentally and physically, then most likely killed. Nine months after that, the alternate Sailor Moon gave birth to Rini.
At the time, she was almost at the edge. At two years old, that alternate Rini Stabbed her mother in the knee with a pair of scissors. This was the breaking point and she retreated so far into herself that she was a little more than an animal." The other's faces wore expressions of varying degrees of horror and disgust. Even Darien was horrified. He and Serena had death grips on the other's hand. David took a deep breath and continued. "We can confirm the deaths of the alternate Sailors Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter. Sailor Venus escaped the torture and rape and presumably is still alive.
Sailor Saturn swapped sides and now works for Queen Metallia. The soldiers have no idea of her location. Senshi Pluto, Uranus and Neptune vanished the night before their execution. Presumably, Pluto used the remains of her power to get them out of jail. Nobody knows where or when they are. It's possible they're in our reality and hiding. With makeup and plastic surgery these days we may even know them. They could be our parents. Chris might even be Doctor Anderson. It would explain a few things. The similarity in haircuts, why you two hit it off so well." Amy scowled.
"That's not funny."
"Is it?" He faced Serena. "Your mom reminds me an awful lot of Rose."
"Yeah....." Darien shrugged. "But Chris and Rose are. . ."
"Yeah, I know. I said it was possible. I also said they might be in our reality. Only Luna and Artimes can sense a Senshi. But they're not here." Bertie looked up.
"I still don't understand what this has to do with us." She gestured at Greg. David pulled out a notebook.
"Most of the Alternate Negaverse soldiers were killed. These people are unaccounted for. These are from that Alternate reality. The Black Lady, Rubius, Demando, Esmerelda, Zoisite, Malachite, 231 assorted soldiers, the Seven Shadows. . .and Bertie."
"What? You mean there's another me out there? And another Rubius?" Bertie's eyes darted around. "My Rubius was bad enough, this one's more violent? And what about this other me? If she's more violent, than I was, and I was pretty bad, she'll come after me! They both will!"
"Not for a while. They were all badly injured. Rubius is missing a leg, Bertie lost an eye, Zoisite and Malachite are probably hiding from The Black Lady, who's out an arm. Demando and Esmerelda were tied together by their arms, so at the very least, they're off the active list for a loooooong time, if not dead. With the exception of The terrible two, and those soldiers, we don't have much to worry about." Lita frowned.
"What about Jadeite and that robed guy?" "Oh yes. The wise man is Jadeite." Bertie frowned and got up to pace.
"I met Jadeite once. Back when I was with the Negaverse. He struck me as pure evil. So was Malachite, and Zoisite.........And you." Her finger stabbed at Nephrite. "You were with Malachite. You trained the other three. But you died. Zoisite told me."
"This Nephrite is from that Alternate Negaverse I mentioned. He's kept his powers, but he's on our side." Greg rubbed his temples.
"I can't blame you. I'm having a bit of a time wrapping me head around myself."
His accent of his native Wales was creeping in and he paused to clear his throat. "As I was saying. We got Alternate Versions of The Negaverse's worst inhabitants running amok in our reality. And if they encounter their duplicates. . .Well, that gets us into Quantum Physics and temporal probability. I have a hard enough time with Basic Algebra."
Darien frowned. "So we have Some of our worst enemies getting ready to run amok. What about the past?" Mina nodded.
"Didn't I hear Pluto say something about the Timestream?"
"Yeah. That's why Nephrite and I have to leave."
"Leave?" Mina Gasped. "Why?"
"Somebody has to track down the duplicates and deal with them before they start screwing around with Reality. Between Nephrite's powers and my own, we should be able to stop them before they Start. I hope." Mina jumped up.
"No. You Can't go. I won't let you!"
"Mina, I have to. This is the only way. Somebody has to stop them. I have a way to spend the summer, and Nephrite can redeem himself."
-------------------------------- Three months later. . .
Mina kicked a stone. It bounced across the drive way. Lita looked up from her Harley.
Raye jumped from the steps and almost fell. Lita chuckled. Mina sniffed.
Lita looked up and then walked over to where Mina stood. "Aw, c'mon, Mina," Lita said. "David is doing fine."
"I want to believe that, I really do."
Molly stepped out of the door and down to where Mina stood. Music drifted out of the temple. "I'm worried about Nephrite-Maxsfield. They have been gone for so long." She cocked her head. "Listen." Then they heard it to. The sound of a car coming up the road at high speed.
Molly's face split into a grin. "I know that car. Only one car sounds like that! Maxsfield's!" The Lamborgini came to a stop. Even through the tinted windows, Mina could see that only the driver was the car's sole inhabitant. Her hand squeezed Molly's shoulder.
The driver's side door opened and Nephrite stepped out. Mina' breath caught in her throat. Molly ran to him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. For a moment, he held her there. This his eyes met Mina's, and, for a second, time stood still. He took a small cloth bag out of his pocket and tossed it at her. Mina caught it, and opened it.
The air was filled with a wail of anguish and pain. It was an inhuman cry. Raye caught her as Mina collapsed. Her cry faded and she sobbed. Raye looked at Lita with questioning eyes. Lita shrugged and opened the bag. Raye watched as Lita's face went from confusion to Horror, Grief and understanding. With shaking hands, Lita emptied the bag into her hand.
The Moon Crystal, The Imperium Sliver Crystal, and a jewelry box. Raye's glance said it all. Lita opened the box. Inside was the biggest diamond ring she had ever seen.
"W-what-what Happened?" Lita asked. Maxsfield took a deep breath.
"We were in London. David saw this ring in the window. He bought it. He spoke of nothing else then giving it to Mina when we got back.
We were the way to the car, when we saw the Black Lady bounding from rooftop to rooftop. We followed her to a warehouse on the Thames. It was a trap. She tried to kill him and succeeded, getting herself killed in the process. With his dying breath, he asked me to bring those items back. . .and to take over the role of The Crystal Knight."
"Can I please be left alone?" Mina Held out her hand for the bag's contents. Wordlessly, Lita handed them over then retreated to Nephrite's car. The others followed. At the car, Maxsfield planted his hands on the car's hood.
"If he had been a Negaverse warrior, he would be one of Beryl's own. He was a noble fighter. But he wasn't a Negaverse warrior. Still. . ." His eyes flashed he spun around and jabbed his hand out at a nearby tree. It immediately disintegrated. "He was my friend." Lita looked over at Mina. She was on her knees, the crystals and the ring in her lap. She was sobbing heavily.
She slipped the ring on her finger. Lita scuffed gravel with her foot.
"Boy, she really is bummed about David isn't she?" Molly wrapped her arms around Maxsfield's arm. He smiled down at her.
"But isn't there a way to bring him back or something? Like with what happened after Beryl?"
"I wish it were that simple Molly." Raye leaned against the car's hood "But we really aren't sure how the Imperium Sliver Crystal works. The only ones who know for sure are Serena and Amy."
"Yeah. Amy's at that computer seminar and Serena's out of town with her family."
"What about Luna and Artimes?" Molly looked back and forth. "I mean, they were part of the Moon Kingdom. They were Queen Serenity's most trusted assistants." Lita looked around.
"I think they took Diana into the woods, teach her wilderness survival or something." Raye nodded.
"I got up early today and saw them." At the sound of sobbing they turned. Mina was curled up in a ball. Her shoulders shook.
Abruptly, she stopped shaking and sat up. Her eyes were locked on the Moon Crystal. It was glowing, pulsing to some inaudible rhythm. Above her a circular distortion appeared. Mina's eyes darted back and forth between the crystal and the distortion. Lita and the others approached it. Slowly. Nephrite thrust Molly behind him. From far away, they heard a yell.
"You guys hear that?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
Nephrite's eyes began to glow. The yell got louder. Then something flew out of the distortion and crashed to the ground. Then something else flew out and the portal closed.
"David!" Mina Shrieked and wrapped her arms around the Crystal Knight's neck.
"You!" Snarled an new voice. Mina spun. The Black Lady, both arms fully healed, was getting up. She looked pissed. Then, Lita, Raye and Nephrite stood in front of Mina and The Knight. Imposing themselves between them and the Black Lady. The Lady snarled again and Vanished. The Knight pawed at his chest until the lightning bolt flashed and David was restored. Mina immediately kissed him for a long time.
The other Senshi were soon making bets on how long it would be before they came up for air.
The only three who didn't were Molly, who was staring at David in shock, Maxsfield, who was determinedly not watching, and Lita, who had visions of brown hair floating through her head for no reason she could figure out. A bit later the kissing couple returned to the rest of the world.
David grumbled, "Aw nuts. I go to the afterlife and back, and my legs still don't work."
"That's okay. I love you no matter what works."
"What about. . .?" David's grin was wicked.
"Well. . .. . ." Mina blushed. "That would be nice if it worked, but it doesn't matter." She leaned down and they kissed.
Again.
After they came up for air, David's face assumed a thoughtful expression.
"Oh yeah.........It works."
--------------------------------
"First One A has acquired First Power."
"Continue Monitoring ."
"First One A has encountered First One B, no contact, no conversation."
"Continue monitoring on First One A, if First One A attempts contact or conversation with First One B outside of normal parameters. . . ."
"Terminate First One A."