Tsukino Usagi

"There sure are a lot of cops on the streets today," Usagi remarks idly as she walks home from the Hikawa Shrine. After Ami healed herself she ended up crashing then and there, and Rei had offered to let Usagi stay as well since she was already there. Usagi had taken her up on the offer, but come the next morning her old phone had almost half a dozen calls from Miharu-san, which was never a good thing so she figured it would be best to leave as soon as possible.

Luna accompanies her, and though Usagi hadn't really been talking to the cat she replies anyways. "Princess D, from the Kingdom of Diamonds, is visiting Tokyo this week."

"The Kingdom of Diamonds…?" Usagi mutters, trying to recall anything about the kingdom. She knows it's not very large, one of those countries squished between the coast and China or South Korea or something.

"They're one of the world's largest precious-stone producing countries," Luna says, and Usagi can hear the exasperation clear in her voice. "Apparently their legendary secret treasure is going to be on exhibition at a dinner party later tonight, for the first time in the world."

"Fascinating," Usagi mutters, though her tone implies she thinks it's anything but.

"Usagi-chan," Luna scolds. "This isn't something you should dismiss so quickly. Don't forget that part of your role as a Sailor Guardian is to find and protect the Moon Princess."

Usagi glances over to give the cat an unimpressed look. "And what, you think this Princess D is the Moon Princess we're looking for?"

"It's possible," Luna says emphatically. "She does possess a legendary treasure, which could be the Legendary Silver Crystal."

"I doubt it," Usagi says dismissively.

"You don't know for sure," Luna argues.

Usagi huffs, annoyed, and pauses at the doorstep of her house to tell Luna, "And you can't assume that just because she's a princess she's our princess. Now, time to act like a normal cat." She takes a moment to steel herself for whatever punishment her parents will give her for staying out all night before entering the house.

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It turns out her parents aren't home that Thursday, and the reason Miharu-san called so many times was just that she was worried for Usagi. She apologized, telling the housekeeper that she'd just spent the night at a friend's, and after a light scolding about calling she's free. Just as Usagi is debating whether or not to take a nap, she gets a call on her mobile. At first she's surprised the thing is even charged, given she's taken to using her communicator for everything, but she quickly gets over that to answer it. "Hello?"

"Usagi-san?" she hears, and it takes her a moment to place the voice as Osaka Naru's.

"Hey, Naru-san, what's up?"

"Um…are you…do you wanna meet up for lunch?" the other girl haltingly asks. It makes Usagi's brows furrow in concern. There's just something about her classmate that sounds…off. She agrees before really even deciding whether she wants to meet up with the girl or not.

"Sure, I can do that. Crown Parlor?" she suggests.

"Yeah, that's fine. I'll see you soon, Usagi-san." Without another word the phone clicks as she hangs up, leaving Usagi to wonder what that was really about.

"What did she want, Usagi-chan?" Luna asks, her head cocked to the side curiously.

Usagi shrugs, absently standing to change her clothes into something fresher before she leaves. "Naru-san wants to talk."

She doesn't need to see the cat to hear the disappointment in her tone. "You should be focusing on this upcoming ball."

"Just because you think it's important doesn't mean it actually is," Usagi retorts. "We can talk about it with Ami and Rei-chan later. I need to talk to Naru-san. If this is about Sanjoin Masato…" she trails off. She hadn't had the chance to see Naru after the whole fake Tuxedo Mask incident, what with school out for summer break, so she had no idea how she was faring from the whole thing. Hell, she had no clue what happened before she showed up, and by then Naru was already unconscious.

With her mind made up she left her room to head to the café, throwing a parting, "I'll see you and the others later, Luna," to the cat as she went. She didn't linger to hear her response.

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By the time Usagi arrives at the Crown Parlor Naru is already there sipping at a cream soda. "Hey," Usagi says, giving the other girl a cheery smile she doesn't entirely feel. There's something…somber about Naru's expression, and it's reflected in the way she replies. "Is everything okay?" Usagi asks, taking her seat.

Naru looks down at the table. "Not really," she admits. Usagi doesn't need Ami's intelligence to know this is definitely about Sanjoin Masato.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Usagi presses. She has to know what happened before she arrived at the mall three nights ago.

Her classmate shrugs. "I'm not even really sure there is anything to talk about." She pauses, evidently gathering her thoughts and Usagi lets her do so. She orders her own drink in the meantime, waiting for the other girl to finally speak her mind. Eventually she admits, "I went to the MS mall to meet Tuxedo Mask."

Usagi blinks slowly and tries not to let it show that she already knew that. "Oh," she says instead, hoping she sounds curious enough. "Sakurada-sensei warned us not to," she says, forcing exasperation into her tone without trying to make it seem like she's scolding the other girl. If she gets her upset she'll never admit to what happened.

Luckily enough, Naru only seems to feel sheepish about disobeying their teacher's instruction. "I know. But I had to know if it was Sanjoin-sama or not."

"And was it…?" Usagi presses.

She hesitates, but then Naru slowly nods. "I knew it immediately," she whispers. "Mask or not, I'll always know Sanjoin-sama."

Usagi is hard-pressed to hide her horror about this whole situation. 'Not good, not good, not good,' is all she can think, too worried about Naru getting entangled in things she has no business being in to properly reply to the girl's admission. Naru doesn't seem to notice either way, on a roll now that she's finally speaking.

"I even told him I love him!" Naru flushes brightly, to Usagi's incredulous stare. "But then he got all weird," she continues, her expression darkening slightly. "He asked me to transform into Sailor Moon. Well, demanded, really, but I don't know why he thought I would be her."

"Yeah," Usagi forces out a chuckle, "that would be weird."

"You don't think, maybe…they're enemies," Naru asks. "I just – Sailor Moon saved me, you know, back when some monster tried to rob my mom's store. She seems so good, I can't imagine her fighting with Sanjoin-sama."

"I –" Usagi begins, but then falters, wondering how much she could give away. "I don't think they're fighting," she finally says. "Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask aren't enemies." 'At least, not with the real Tuxedo Mask,' she mentally adds.

Naru sighs, apparently satisfied with Usagi's agreement. "I just don't know what to think, Usagi-san. I don't know what Sanjoin-sama wants from me." Her head hangs dejectedly for a moment. "I don't even know how to contact him."

Usagi is silent for a moment, trying to quickly think of how to dissuade her from ever seeing him again. It won't be easy, given how attached she is to him – she admitted to loving him! – but she has to try, for her sake. "Perhaps…it would be better if you didn't." Naru immediately frowns, and Usagi hurries to explain so the girl won't outright dismiss her. "I'm just saying this because they're probably involved in dangerous things, and you don't want to get in the middle of that. I mean, look at what happened when you were robbed."

Her expression loses some of its heat, but she doesn't seem too dissuaded. "I know, but if I can I want to help Sanjoin-sama." Usagi's hand twitches as she struggles not to slap a hand to her forehead because of Naru's stubbornness.

"Well, if you're so dead set on it," Usagi concedes, and she can't believe she's saying this, "then it might be safer for you to wait for him to contact you first." Internally though, she's desperately hoping Nephrite won't ever bother with her again. He knows she isn't Sailor Moon, so he has no reason to involve her anymore unless he enjoys playing with her emotions, and she hopes that isn't the case.

"You think he will?" Naru asks, her expression brightening exponentially from before. Usagi is almost taken aback, but she manages a half-hearted shrug. "I hope so," Naru sighs dreamily. "Hey, you think he'll be at that ball at the Kingdom of Diamond's embassy?"

"I…don't know?" Usagi replies.

"I'm going, you know," Naru continues. Seeing Usagi's surprise, she elaborates. "My mom owns a jewelry shop so we got a special invitation, and I'm going in her place because she's got a date planned for tonight. Oh, I hope he shows up. It would be so romantic if we could get to dance at a fancy ball."

"Yeah."

Naru goes on to gush about the dress she'd purchased just for the dance and Usagi listens with half a mind. Her communicator vibrates in her pocket and she surreptitiously pulls it out underneath the table. There's a text from Rei – well, Luna, using Rei's phone – about a meeting at the shrine in a couple of hours. Usagi already knows what the cat wants to talk about and she isn't looking forward to it, but she can't avoid it any longer.

She chats with Naru for a bit longer, in no rush to head to Hikawa Shrine, and the girl isn't half-bad company anyways. She only ever really talks with Ami and Rei-chan, and it's mostly about Guardian stuff. Usagi doesn't really consider herself the type of girl to gush over dresses and shoes, but the change is nice and Naru is more interesting than she'd given her credit for. Perhaps they really are friends.

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Three hours later, when the four of them are gathered at Rei's shrine that afternoon and Ami agrees with Usagi's argument, she feels justifiably smug. "Just because they share a title doesn't mean they're the same person," Ami says matter-of-factly. "And unless you have more evidence than that for this theory, we have no reason to even consider it." They look at the cat expectantly.

"Well, I don't…" she admits, looking at the ground.

"Nothing out of the ordinary, like with us?" Usagi asks.

Luna shakes her head. "I'd have to actually meet her to feel something like that, but even so I doubt I'd feel anything at all, anyways. The seal on the princess's powers is much stronger than the ones on yours."

"Is it because she's the princess?" Rei asks.

"That, and because she's supposed to be in possession of the Legendary Silver Crystal," Luna adds.

Usagi makes an aborted movement. "You mentioned that earlier, the Legendary Silver Crystal. What is it?"

At that question Luna turns oddly serious. "It's a resource of unlimited power. If enemies get it, it would be a catastrophe. Our princess will be in danger."

"Do you think we could track that, if it's a source of power?" Ami asks, looking vaguely interested. But Luna shakes her head.

"It will be hidden just as well, if not better, than the princess."

"That's so unhelpful," Usagi groans. "How are we supposed to find them if they've got these seals on their powers? It'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"That's not as hard as you'd think it is," Ami interjects. "I believe the more apt phrase would be, looking for a needle in a stack of needles. That's far closer to what this seems to be." Usagi scowls.

"For now," Luna says. "But when all the Sailor Guardians are awake the seal will be broken, and then we will know where the Legendary Silver Crystal is. However, I still think it would be in our best interest to see this Princess D."

"I thought we already established that she probably isn't the Moon Princess," Ami retorts.

"Even so, it's better to be safe than sorry," Luna insists. "If we go to the ball, we can confirm whether or not she is the princess once and for all."

Ami shakes her head. "I think it's a waste of time. How are even supposed to get into the party?"

Luna looks expectantly at Usagi, who meets her look with a confused one of her own. "What do you expect me to do, steal an invitation?" she asks incredulously.

"No, Usagi-chan," Luna says with a roll of her eyes. "Your disguise pen, remember?"

"Well, yeah, that'll take care of my costume," she says. "But they aren't going to let me in just because I look like I'm dressed for the party."

"We could sneak in," Rei suggests, and the three look at her. "What?"

"Why are you actually considering this?" Ami asks incredulously. "It's a waste of time."

She shrugs amicably. "Luna might be wrong, but she might be right, too, and if so we should be prepared. Besides, we know the Dark Kingdom is trying to gather energy, and if they're aware of what the Legendary Silver Crystal is then there's a chance they might be after it as well."

She looks at her two fellow Guardians in turn, and unbidden Naru's words echo through Usagi's head. ''Hey, you think he'll be at that ball at the Kingdom of Diamond's embassy?'

"If Luna made the connection between the Legendary Silver Crystal and this legendary treasure of the Kingdom of Diamonds, don't you think our enemies might make it as well? If they try to attack, we'll already be there to intercept them."

Ami's eyes narrow as she considers Rei's words. After several minutes she finally lets out a displeased sigh. "Fine. I can agree with Rei-chan that, should the enemy attack, it would be better if we were already there. But that still poses an issue of how we're actually getting inside the party.

"Well that's easy," Rei says, drawing their attention back. "We sneak in," she shrugs. Her suggestion is met with blank stares.

"What do you mean?" Usagi asks.

"The security at the embassy will be exceptionally thorough given the visiting royalty," Ami points out.

"But we're Sailor Guardians. We aren't normal teenagers, not by far," Rei reminds her. "We can leap to the tops of buildings and traverse the city solely by rooftop. I think sneaking inside won't be as hard for us as it would be for anyone else."

"That is true," Usagi admits. It's not something she really noticed when she was doing it, but the things she's capable of while transformed into Sailor Moon are far greater than what any normal person should be capable of. To have it so blatantly pointed out makes them seem so much…more than she actually feels. "Rei-chan has a point."

Ami looks between the two of them, an incredulous expression on her face. "You're both insane," she remarks.

Usagi shrugs. "It's our best chance, really."

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Chiba Mamoru

He knows he's dreaming. This foggy courtyard is a place he's been several times before, and though he can't see much the place has a familiar feeling he knows instinctively. He walks forward, because where else is he to go, when a high voice rings out through the fog. "The Legendary Silver Crystal…Find the Legendary Silver Crystal…"

He looks towards the voice, and through the clouded air he can just barely make out a thin figure in a billowing dress, though the details are indistinguishable. He knows that figure too. She's a recurring character in these dreams as well. "What is the Legendary Silver Crystal?" he asks, as he always does. He has yet to receive an answer. She either runs away when he tries to approach, or Mamoru wakes up.

This time it's the latter. He sits up abruptly in bed, the wind coming through an open window blowing his curtains wide open. Despite the cool air he's sweating through his t-shirt, and Mamoru slumps over, resting his head in his hands. "That damn dream again…I have to find that crystal."

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Tsukino Usagi

Four hours later, after evening has fallen, the trio stands atop a nearby building overlooking the foreign embassy. Even from their distance they can see well-dressed people streaming into the building. Of course, from their vantage point it's also easy to pick out the numerous security guards watching the entrances and patrolling the perimeter.

"Do you have a plan, Mercury?" Usagi asks. They transformed before leaving the Hikawa Shrine, and now their smartest Guardian has her goggles on as she finds them a place to sneak into.

"I think so," she says moments later, the goggles disappearing to wherever they came from. Mercury points to one of the corners of the building. "There. The patrol leaves it unguarded for almost three minutes, and there's a service door that'll get us into the building."

"We'll have to be quick," Mars mutters.

Usagi nods in agreement. "On your signal then."

They wait a couple more minutes until Mercury gives them the go ahead and as one they leap off the building to the area she designated before. 'Rei definitely has a point about us not being normal,' Usagi thinks as they fly through the air, the wind whipping her twin pigtails all around. She shudders to think of the tangles she'll have to brush out when this is over. Moments later, they land soundlessly on the ground before quickly moving on. When they're finally inside all three of them breathe a sigh of relief.

"Now on to the fun part," Usagi mutters as they drop their Guardian transformations. From inside her hoodie pocket she draws the disguise pen. "Moon Power! Change us into…princesses at a masquerade ball!" She tosses the pen into the air, and from it emanates a warm light not unlike their transformations. When it dissipates all three of them are wearing dresses, with matching masks covering their eyes.

"Do you remember the plan?" Ami asks as they start walking towards the main hall where the party is being held.

"You and I are going to look for the princess and see if we can figure out if she's the Moon Princess, and Usagi-chan will head to the ballroom and keep an eye out for any enemies," Rei answers. Usagi nods.

The trio stops outside the main doors where they can barely hear the music. Ami gives Usagi a serious look. "Try not to get distracted by a handsome boy or something. We're supposed to be working," she sternly reminds her.

Usagi rolls her eyes as she replies, "Yeah yeah, I know." If anything is likely to distract her, it'll be her worry for Naru, she thinks, but she doesn't tell Ami that. After one last look her companions depart for the stair case around the corner. Usagi watches them go for a moment before stepping up to the large double doors. She takes a breath to steel her nerves and then pulls them open. Hardly anyone pays her any attention as she walks in, trying to project an air of confidence she barely feels.

The room is full but not too packed, with people mingling in the corners while others waltz around in the center of the room. The atmosphere seems pleasantly light, not hint of evil wrongdoings anywhere, and Usagi isn't too sure what to do with herself. She spies some ladies nearby standing with drinks in their hands, and then promptly decides to get one for herself, and maybe she'll spot Naru hanging around somewhere in the room too.

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Nephrite

'Well, well,' Nephrite thinks, spotting a familiar figure standing at the side of the room. 'Osaka Naru…' he recalls, thinking of the girl who confessed her love just a couple nights ago. 'Perhaps she can be of use again.' He walks over to the girl, pasting a smile on his face as he steps up before her. "Miss, would you give me the honor of a dance?" he says with a bow, holding out a hand for her to take.

She looks surprised for all of a second before she recognizes him even with the mask on his face. "Sanjoin-sama," she says breathlessly, taking his hand in the same breath.

"Are you here alone?" he asks. "I'll admit, I didn't expect to see you here. Come, I'd love to dance with you." He doesn't give her much of a choice, using his grip to pull her closer to him as he leads her to the dance floor.

"Oh, Sanjoin-sama," she gasps, flushing brightly from his proximity.

He can see in her eyes how enchanted with him, and he sneers internally. 'So easily fooled with flowery words and false praise. Yes, I think she'll serve me well.'

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Tsukino Usagi

Usagi nearly spits out her drink when she finally spots Naru – on the dance floor with Nephrite. "Shit," she curses under her breath, startling the older woman standing next to her. She shoots the lady a look, uncaring of how "uncouth" she may seem. The woman leaves, anyhow, leaving Usagi to watch her friend undisturbed.

That is, until a man suddenly steps backwards, forcing Usagi to quickly sidestep to avoid a collision, only to cause another. Her arm glances off another woman's passing by and she spins, blurting out a quick, "Sorry!" The woman excuses her and carries on, but Usagi can't help noticing that there's now a sizeable stain across the bottom of her skirt. "Shit," she curses again under her breath, her eyes scanning about for a quiet place to hide in. She heads back into the hallway to look there – and to avoid anyone seeing her ruined dress – and once she's out of sight she frantically pats at her pockets. "Handkerchief, where'd my damn handkerchief go?"

It's nowhere to be found and Usagi lets out a disappointed sigh. Her dress is ruined, or soon to be. There's no way she'll be caught dancing in a stained dress like this. 'So much for enjoying the party,' she thinks glumly, moving further down the hall and away from the ballroom.

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Tuxedo Mask

He peeks around the corner at the door where he knows the Princess of the Kingdom of Diamonds is residing. There are two guards out front, though that's not a big deal. He's almost getting ready to break in when he catches sight of movement from the corner of his eye, and the figure seems familiar enough that he turns to look. There's a girl, and from his brief glance she looks almost exactly like the girl from his dreams.

Abruptly the scenery from his dream flashes across his vision, the girl's silhouette backlit by some light to give her slightly better definition. Before he can talk himself out of it he's leaving the legendary treasure to follow the girl through the halls. She vanishes into a room for several moments, and while he waits outside he can't help but wonder what the hell he's doing. The treasure was right there, and yet he left it for some girl! Angry, he abandons his hiding spot to return to the princess's room, only to get sidetracked by a new group of guards heading that way as well, forcing him to detour back to the ballroom. This was not how this evening was supposed to be going!

He lingers around the edges of the room, biding his time until he can attempt to head back for the legendary treasure, when he spots the girl again. She's hanging back by one of the stone pillars lining the room, clutching self-consciously at a part of her dress that he can see is a little damp. But that isn't what really strikes him. Now that he can plainly see her he immediately recognizes her, even with the mask over her eyes. The twin blonde pigtails are very distinctive, and the only other person he knows with that trait is his sometimes-comrade Sailor Moon. She's almost the spitting image of the feisty young fighter.

He begins to make his way over to her. He knows he already admitted to a connection between them, and he'll concede to himself that, if any girl is going to distract him tonight, Sailor Moon is the most forgivable. His approach goes almost unnoticed as her attention is drawn to the ground, and when he holds out a gloved hand she gasps in surprise. "Would you do me the honor of a dance?"

She startles a bit after hearing him speak, and then her eyes go wide with recognition. "Tuxedo Mask…" she gasps under her breath. He isn't surprised she recognizes him. He's wearing his normal outfit, save for the billowing cape and top hat. It's only further proof that this girl is Sailor Moon.

But she does take his proffered hand, and with a small smile he leaders her out to the dance floor. A new waltz is starting up and Tuxedo Mask hurries to get into position, guiding her hands to the proper places. Then the music starts in full and they begin moving.

Moments into their dance Sailor Moon begins speaking. "I was thinking about you just now. I was hoping I'd see you again."

"Were you now?" he remarks, intrigued. There's something about this whole thing – the party, the dancing – that feels familiar to him, and he wonders if she feels the same thing.

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Mizuno Ami

Ami and Rei make their way through the embassy, both of them trying to project an aura of confidence so they're less likely to be questioned about wandering around. So far they've been lucky and haven't run into anyone yet, and Ami can only hope their luck holds.

"Look," Rei whispers, drawing her attention. She points around the corner and down the hall to where a familiar figure – though Ami can't quite place her – stands in front of two guards. It looks as if she's trying to get them to let her in. "I bet that's the princess's room."

They watch as one guard enters, though the girl forces her way in anyways. Whatever happens in the room, the princess must be fine with the girl's presence because a moment later the guards are back at their post outside of the doors. "Great. I doubt we'll be able to get in now. That won't work twice."

"What should we do then?"

Ami purses her lips as she thinks. "Maybe distract them away from their positions? I'm not sure. I highly doubt we'll be able to take them out ourselves."

But, as they're contemplating what to do a shrill scream rings out from inside the room. The guards are instantly moving, bursting through the door to the princess. In the next moment, the princess rushes through them, knocking them both aside as she sprints down the hall. She passes the hall Ami and Rei are hiding in quickly, but it's enough that Ami notices the horrid purple pallor to her skin and the possessed gleam in her eyes. She shares a look with Rei before they wordlessly draw their transformation pens.

"Mercury Power Make Up!" "Mars Power!"

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Tsukino Usagi

'What is this feeling?' Usagi thinks as she twirls around the dance floor with Tuxedo Mask. 'It's so strange…I feel as though Tuxedo Mask and I have danced together before, a long time ago.' Eventually, though, the song comes to an end and Tuxedo Mask steps away, bowing politely. She curtsies in response, and with a single nod of acknowledgement he turns his back on her and heads into the crowd. Her hand clenches by her side, the only outward sign that she doesn't want him to go, but she doesn't follow or ask him to stay.

Then an alarm rings out through the embassy, bringing everything and everyone at the party to a halt. 'Usagi-chan!' the familiar voice of Sailor Mercury rings out in her head. 'The princess is being possessed! She's heading for the balcony.'

'So Rei-chan was right about our enemies,' she can't help thinking as she rushes over to the balcony. No one seems to know what's going on, so it's thankfully empty. And then Usagi spots the princess. It's immediately clear that something's wrong with her, if the color of her skin is any indication. The princess approached the balcony, holding what looks to be a tiny chest over her head as if she's going to throw it over.

Usagi glances over the balcony and isn't surprised to see Nephrite waiting down below. That must bet the legendary treasure, and she sure as hell isn't letting him get his hands on it. She lunges for the princess once she's close enough, trying to grab ahold of the chest. "Get ahold of yourself, Princess D!" she snaps as they struggle. For such a skinny looking girl she's being remarkably difficult.

"Let go of me!" the princess snarls, and with a rough shove sends Usagi tumbling over the railing herself.

Usagi's eyes widen as panic clogs her throat, keeping her from shouting for help. Her mind runs a mile a minute. They were only on the third floor; she's made that kind of jump before. But this building is taller than the average, what with the ballrooms and such inside. It's more like the fifth floor now, but even still, she should be fine, right? No, she realizes, horrified. She's not Sailor Moon right now. A fall from this height, in this human body of hers, that'll surely kill her, if not seriously injure her.

And then she's no longer falling. Her shoulder jerks painfully as someone snags her arm and she glances up gratefully, only to find Tuxedo Mask tightly gripping her hand as they both hang over the balcony edge, his other hand the only thing keeping them from falling. "Tuxedo Mask…" she whispers in awe.

"Hold on," he grits out, and she feels his hand spasm around hers. She grows concerned, worried about how much longer he'll be able to hold up them both. Then, ever so slowly, she starts to lift into the air. There's nothing she can do to help, until at last he's got her up high enough that she can grab onto the floor of the balcony. Using what little strength she has she helps lift herself up until she's able to hold herself on the edge. Tuxedo Mask quickly relinquishes her hand to grab the banister, pulling himself up and back over. Then he moves to help Usagi the rest of the way, holding her hand while she finagles with her skirt over the balcony railing. She breathes a sigh of relief when her feet are back on firm ground

"Thank you," she says, flashing him a genuine smile as she looks up at her savior. Much of his expression is hidden behind the mask at his eyes and the rest of his face reveals nothing, but she imagines there's some warmth in his eyes when he looks at her.

"Well, we can't have Sailor Moon dying on us while evil is still out there," he says, and the softness of her expression freezes at his words. Now she looks at him with panic, but he doesn't seem concerned. "You should join your friends; they need you right now." Sure enough, in the distance she thinks she hears Mars' Fire Soul attack.

"Wh-what?!" she splutters. Then she curses, "shit," because she knows Luna is not going to like hearing this. But he seems to be watching her expectantly, and really, if he knows then there's no reason to hold back now. Usagi grimaces as she shouts, "Moon Prism Power Make Up!" Then she stands before him transformed, but before either can say anything she hears distant shouts.

"Go on," he encourages her.

She grimaces, hesitating for one more moment before shaking her head and vaulting over the balcony she'd nearly fallen from. Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars are in the courtyard facing off against Nephrite, the princess nowhere to be found. "Nephrite, we've got you cornered now!" she says, idly noting Tuxedo Mask landing in the grass behind her. Unfortunately, the man doesn't seem willing to take his chances against the four of them because with one last curse he turns and flees, easily jumping the high fence surrounding the property.

"Stop, Nephrite!" Tuxedo Mask shouts, running past Usagi to chase after the man.

But then Sailor Mercury steps forward, holding her arm out to block his path and bringing the man to a halt. "Hold on. Just who the hell do you think you are?" she asks, though her tone is far from gentle.

Tuxedo Mask seems reluctant to answer, if the way he hesitates is any indication. "I'd like to know that as well," he mutters in response, and Usagi takes a step towards him out of concern. "That's why I need to know the secret of the Legendary Silver Crystal," he tells her more confidently now.

"How do you know about the crystal?" Ami pushes. "Are you our enemy, or an ally?"

"If we're after the same thing, I might just be your enemy," he retorts hotly, and it sends a pang through Usagi's heart.

'No,' she thinks, 'we can't be.'

Tuxedo Mask seems fed up with her questioning after that because before Ami can open her mouth again he's leaping over the fence in hot pursuit of Nephrite. All three of them are helpless to stop him. "Damn it," Ami curses, scowling fiercely in the direction he disappeared in. Then she rounds on Usagi. "Come on, we need to heal the princess."

"I think she's back in the ballroom," Usagi says, taking a running leap back for the balcony. 'Up and down, up and down,' she thinks, amused by how many times she's been over this balcony now. Princess D is back on her feet facing the gathered guests, a dark aura surrounding her person.

"I'll turn anyone who gets in my way into a sacrifice for our great ruler!" she threatens the crowd. There's several gasps and cries of fear as she throws her hand out. People quickly fall under the onslaught of energy she unleashes on them.

"Alright, Princess D!" Usagi shouts, drawing the possessed girl's attention. "Give us the Legendary Silver Crystal, or in the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"

"This is my treasure!" she snarls, clutching the box closer to herself.

It looks like she's going to make a break for it, in Usagi's opinion, but Rei is already ready with a talisman in her hand. "I call upon the power of Mars, evil spirit, be exorcised!" She whips the paper at the princess, attaching it neatly to her turned back and she slumps over unconscious. Then the thing possessing her finally appears, seeping from her prone body into a massive black shape hovering above them with Nephrite's face.

A large spectral hand rises from the writhing shape, unleashing a steady torrent of dark energy on them. Usagi falters under the onslaught, the dark energy nearly burning where it presses against her, suffocating her. "What is this?" she gasps out, though it's like inhaling hot ash and she coughs to try and rid herself of the feeling.

"I'll try," Sailor Mercury grits out, moving her hands into position. "Mercury Bubble Spray!" The attack disperses across the area, growing in density until the black energy is almost entirely diffused, giving them space to breathe again as it and the mist cancel one another out. "Finish it, Sailor Moon!"

"Don't have to tell me twice," she mutters under her breath, reaching for her tiara. "Moon Tiara Action!" She throws it right at Nephrite's spectral face, and this form of his must not be as strong as any monster because it easily tears through his form, destroying the entire thing until there's no wispy black smoke left. Finally, the chaos is over and Usagi breathes a sigh of relief. "What a party," she remarks to her companions.

Ami gives her a look. "I'm not sure how your night went, but that seemed pretty standard for a monster encounter."

"You don't have to be jealous that I got to dance and you didn't," Usagi teases her.

"Guys," Rei interjects, "I don't think Princess D is the Moon Princess we're looking for." Usagi and Ami look over to their final companion, who's over by the prone princess as she's starting to stir.

Usagi shares a disappointed look with Ami. "You think it's worth sticking around to see the legendary treasure?"

"Not at all." Ami shakes her head.

"So this was a bust," Usagi groans. "But I guess it's a good thing we were here anyways."

Rei nods. "That could've been a lot worse, I think."

"Right. Well, we should head back to the shrine, then. Luna will want to know what happened," Usagi decides. The other Guardians nod in agreement and then they're off again, this time leaving the embassy for good.