CHAPTER 2
Jedite and Titus were explaining their new plan to Queen Beryl. "Your majesty we have come up with an idea to exploit all the energy the humans invest in their over-emotional responses to love," began Titus.
Jedite continued. "We have enlisted the help of Soldier Fro. The three of us have infiltrated the local radio station and created our own program called the Midnight Love Hour. Through our broadcasts we will take advantage of those simple humans."
"I have heard about how strongly they express their love," agreed Queen Beryl. "Just try not to fail me like last time. Your bungling almost cost Morga her life. If your own love energy was anywhere near strong enough I would be sorely tempted to sacrifice you both to the Negaforce. But you can be grateful you don't follow the extreme example of the Earth people."
Jedite and Titus nervously gulped and trembled for a moment. What had happened to Morga really wasn't their fault strictly speaking. But they knew better than to argue with Queen Beryl.
"Th-thank you Queen Beryl."
"We, uh, we will succeed."
Over the next few weeks the radio station was full of confusion. They kept receiving fan mail for a program they were not broadcasting and nobody could understand it. But what they didn't know was that every night Jedite, Titus and Fro hypnotized them so that they didn't know what was happening and Jedite himself broadcast the Midnight Love Hour while Fro and Titus saw to it that everything went smoothly. Jedite promised to read one lucky letter addressed to a long lost love each episode and each person whose letter was read out would receive a special present in the mail with their compliments. This went on smoothly as planned. Many people were tuning in religiously every midnight and the presents were posted out day after day. Even Serena thought the show was romantically fun to listen to.
One day at school Serena and all her friends had a big teacher, Miss Haruna, had sent in a letter and it had been read out and she had received a beautiful flower brooch. They had all been so thrilled for her but while she was trying to teach their class, she suddenly began to yawn and collapsed fast asleep at her desk. When nobody could wake her they sent her off to hospital in an ambulance. Everybody was very worried. Except silly Serena. "Hey. What's all the big deal? She only fell asleep. What's so dreadful about that?"
"But Serena." Molly protested. "It was impossible to rouse her. Isn't that worrying?"
"So she was so deeply tired. So what? Anyway it is a shame that we wasted our time coming to class. If we'd known this would happen we could have all slept in."
Molly and also Melvin screamed, "You crazy unfeeling doofus!"
"What did I say?" Serena whined.
Meanwhile Jedite complimented Titus and Fro on the success of their operation. "With each new person we send a flower too we gather all the more precious energy to feed the Negaforce. Queen Beryl will reward us greatly."
Titus added, "And our show is so popular that we're bound to gain enough energy to eventually free the Negaforce."
"Then the Negaverse will rule the universe," chimed in Fro.
Later on the way home from school Molly told Serena that she had made up her mind to write a love poem and send it in to the Midnight Love Hour.
"But Molly. You have no boyfriend."
"I know Serena. But I'm just going to pretend and do it anyway just for the fun of it."
Serena thought that sounded like fun and thought she'd try it herself.
Suddenly she heard a familiar voice that irritated her. "Hi Meatball Head."
"Oh no," she groaned.
"Hello Darien." Molly said.
"Darien? You know this jerk Molly?"
"Hello Molly. And what's it to you who knows me Meatball Head?"
"Shut up. How dare you call me Meatball Head?"
Darien said nothing but poked his tongue out cheekily at Serena, wished Molly a nice day and walked off.
When Molly went home she composed her poem in fifteen minutes but try as she might Serena couldn't come up with even one line. She had a real cry about it especially when Luna admonished her for having wasted her time when she should have been studying her schoolwork.
But later that night Serena and Luna were listening to the radio and heard that Molly's poem had been chosen. Serena was thrilled for her best friend and the next day at school Molly opened the parcel she'd received showing all her friends the flower brooch. But when she pinned it on she suddenly declared she felt tired and wanted to go to sleep and in two seconds she did. Everyone was shocked. Even Serena this time. She went to see Molly at the hospital with Luna. She was sound asleep and even Miss Haruna had not once woken up. Serena finally began to think that this situation was serious. Luna said "This is too much of a co-incidence Serena. Both victims received the same flower brooches from that new radio program. Tonight you and I must infiltrate the radio station. It must be the Negaverse."
"As you say so Luna."
That night at quarter to midnight they quietly snuck out of Serena's bedroom window without waking her family and they made their way to the radio station. But when Serena saw the guard at the gate she asked Luna what could they do. "I doubt he'd agree to let a kid like me inside in the middle of the night."
"I know." Luna jumped up and somersaulted in the air and something fell at Serena's feet.
"What's this? It seems to be a pen of some sort." Serena bent down to pick it up.
Luna explained with a cheerful grin. "Serena this may look like a fancy pen but you can't write with it. Instead it's a magic disguise device. You just say Disguise Power and tell it whatever you want to transform your appearance as."
"Hey. That is so cool. Thanks Luna." Serena held the pen in her hand. "Here we go. Disguise Power. Turn me into a sophisticated talent agent."
The magic made Serena look like an adult talent agent and she approached the guard. Unfortunately Serena stumbled on the high heels she was wearing and fell down. Fortunately she hadn't hurt herself and the guard allowed her to go inside with her pet after helping her to her feet.
Inside Serena and Luna discovered that everybody was fast asleep except for three people. Luna told Serena it was definitely the Negaverse and she burst through the doors pushing past Titus and Fro and straight into the broadcast room while Jedite was on the air. She sat right down grabbing the microphone off him and began to warn all the listeners that they could not trust the people behind this program and they should burn any flower brooches they may have received before they had all their energy zapped out of them. Jedite was furious. "You meddling pest."
"Look out!" Luna shouted. "Those women are his accomplices. They're coming to get you."
Fro and Titus charged through the door. "You're off the air and you'll soon be dead." Titus hissed.
Fro's human-like body suddenly changed into a monstrous form similar to Morga.
"I would suggest transforming now Serena," said Luna.
"Yeah. Yeah. Moon Prism Power."
Sailor Moon appeared in place of the talent agent and swore that she would punish all of them in the Name of the Moon."Big talk pretty girl. But your words don't impress us in the least," said Jedite.
"Get her Fro but remember what we told you," commanded Titus. "Watch her carefully and be ready to duck."
"Yes I understand and I obey. Sailor Moon I will destroy you." Fro rushed to attack with her long sharp claws and explosive breath. Sailor Moon and Luna retreated as the blast blew a hole in the wall where they'd been standing and they quickly jumped outside. Fro followed and Sailor Moon desperately ran back and forth dodging and crying in terror.
"Remember your tiara," yelled Luna.
"MOON TIARA MAGIC!"
As the tiara flew at Fro she dodged.
"Ha ha. You missed me Sailor Moon."
Watching the fight Jedite and Titus were very delighted. Fro was doing a very good job of watching out for herself. But then Sailor Moon did something completely unanticipated.
She drew out her hand and quickly pulled it back and before Fro knew it the tiara was drawn backwards hitting her in the back. "Aaaarrrrgh!"
Fro's head was jerked backwards by the impact and her body was cut clean in half as the tiara tore through. Then both pieces disintegrated.
Horrified Jedite and Titus turned to look at each other. They both said "Uh-oh" at the same time. They had sensed that the damage inflicted by Sailor Moon had been thorough this time. Unlike Morga who was still healing back at the Negaverse, Fro would never be returning. Queen Beryl was going to be in a rage.
Misinterpreting this exchange between her two remaining enemies Sailor Moon offered them mercy. "If you two surrender I'll spare your lives."
To this they obstinately sneered. "What makes you think we'd stoop so low as that?" Titus scoffed. In truth they knew Queen Beryl would be angry enough about the loss of Fro. If they even thought about surrendering seriously their own lives wouldn't be worth it.
Sailor Moon gritted her teeth. "So be it. MOON TIARA MAGIC!"
But she had a terrible shock when Jedite raised his hand and stopped her tiara. As it fell to the ground Sailor Moon had a panic attack. She stumbled and fell backwards as Titus and Jedite began to step towards her. "Luna! Help! I don't know what to do!"
"Show her that trick of yours Titus."
"Okay Jedite." Raising her hands and crossing them Titus made herself scary and intimidating.
"Eeeek! Where did your nose and mouth disappear to? And how did your eyes go all red?"
"Sailor Moon!" Luna moaned.
Just as the evil pair were almost up to Sailor Moon a rose suddenly stuck in the ground in front of them and Tuxedo Mask's voice called out. "Don't give in to them Sailor Moon!"
Titus and Jedite stared around but couldn't see any sign of anybody. "I dread what Queen Beryl is going to say to us. But still we'd better retreat for now until we know for sure what we're up against Titus."
Titus sighed resignedly. "I agree my love."
Hand in hand they rose into the air and transported themselves back to the Negaverse. Sailor Moon looked at the rose then noticed Tuxedo Mask at a distance flying through the air and she called out her grateful thanks to him.
Later rumours continued to circulate about Sailor Moon since the radio staff people claimed that they had woken up to be told by her that things were back to normal and they were going to be all right. Miss Haruna and Molly also recovered and were back at school the next day. Serena was very happy, except when Miss Haruna caught her trying to write a mushy love note to her hero Tuxedo Mask in class and she received a detention. She wailed and cried. "Why, oh why me?"