CHAPTER 7

Serena and Luna were walking down the street and they met Amy. "Hello Amy."
"Hi there Serena. Luna how are you?" She bent down to pick up Luna for a cuddle to her delight. She purred happily in her arms.
Just then several police cars came driving past them. "What's going on?" Serena wondered out loud. Before Amy or Luna could comment Molly and another girl came running up.
"Hey Serena. Amy." Molly panted.
"Molly." Serena greeted her but the other girl immediately spoke up.
"All those police are on their way to the Cherry Hill Temple. Strange things are going on."
"What sort of strange things?" Amy asked. Luna was all alert listening.
Molly elaborated. "We heard that the bus leaving the Cherry Hill area near the Temple has been vanishing taking loads of female students from different schools with it. It has happened at least three times before and this is the latest incident."
Serena was horrified. "People disappearing in buses? That's major creepy."
"I've been to visit the Temple. It's a very nice place," said Amy.
"That's where we're going now," said the other girl.
"What? Are you crazy?"
"Chill out Serena." Molly held up her hand. "We hear that you can buy good luck charms there. Besides we won't be catching the bus."
At the mention of good luck charms Serena's attention was caught. "Good luck charms. That sounds cool."
"Why don't you two come with us?" The other girl invited.
Amy handed Luna to Serena. "No thank you. I have too much homework."
"I'll come along." Serena was glowing with excitement.
"Okay. Let's go." Molly led the way, the other girl behind her.
As Serena began to follow Luna whispered in her ear. "Don't you have homework yourself?"
Serena was momentarily taken aback but recovered and whispered in reply. "Oh yes. But it can wait."
Luna just sighed and rolled her eyes.

Meanwhile at the Temple the young priestess, Raye by name, was praying in front of her sacred fire. Things were not good with all the disappearances connected with the Temple and she was also worried about her grandfather's health. She begged desperately for a fire reading but nothing was forthcoming.

All this time Jedite and Titus were under cover as Temple workers. While Jedite swept the floors Titus was selling good luck charms to visiting girls. Grandfather was trying to be sociable but he was so near-sighted he kept getting who he was addressing mixed up. He wouldn't wear his glasses. "There's nothing wrong with my vision." That's what he always said to his granddaughter. When Serena and her friends turned up he said, "Oh you're back again are you? Well be careful not to miss your bus."
Raye appeared behind him and sighed. "Grandfather. Those are not the same girls. The other three took their charms and left. And you reckon you don't need your glasses?"
While Raye argued with her grandfather Serena marveled at Raye. "She's really something isn't she? Such a strong presence. I almost want to study about Temple life."
Molly and Serena's other friend were amazed at what she said but soon they had a bigger shock.
Hiding behind a bush Jedite waved his hands at the departing girls activating the Negacharms they were wearing. Immediately their energy began to drain. Raye sensed something sinister was happening and lashed out at Serena knocking her to the ground with one of her counter charms. But as soon as she'd done it she realized she had jumped to the wrong conclusion. Serena was not the source of the evil power she sensed. "Oh goodness. I'm very sorry." She apologized with embarassment and concern."Grandfather can you and also both of you please help me carry her inside and place her on my bed?" Titus had observed this from her stall nearby and looking the other way managed to conceal her amusement.

Inside Raye explained. "I sensed that something evil was happening and I thought it was coming from you. Usually I don't make mistakes but this time I did."
Fortunately Serena was only stunned more than anything else and when she recovered she accepted Raye's apology. Suddenly an irate woman burst through the door demanding to know where her daughter was. "She told me she was coming here to buy some good luck charms and catch the bus back home. And now I'm told that the bus has vanished. Where is she?"
"I'm very sorry." Raye politely explained. "We don't know anything about your daughter or any of the other disappearances."
"Don't give me that back talk. Where's my daughter?"
Raye snapped. "I told you we know nothing. Why don't you go to the police? They're trying to find the solution to this mystery."
Taken aback the woman softened. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to accuse you of anything. I-I'm just worried about my dear Lizzie."
She started to cry and Raye gave her a tissue and put her arm around her shoulders comfortingly.
Serena and her friends were very sympathetic too and Luna thought to herself, "This must be the Negaverse."

Later she forced Serena to leave her friends behind at Titus' sales counter though she grumbled about wanting to buy a charm.
"Serena this is no time to think about charms. I'm getting strange vibes around this place. Let's go get Amy. It may be the Negaverse."
"All right." Serena sighed.
Shortly afterwards Serena, Amy and Luna were standing in the area where the buses were said to have disappeared. "Okay you two. Watch out for anything suspicious."
"Hey Luna, Serena." Amy pointed to the bus stop. "Look at all those girls waiting for the bus. They all have those same charms on their wrists. And they look like they're half asleep."
"Aw. I wanted one of those charms too." Serena moaned as they ran over.
"Do you think that's a good idea Serena?" Amy asked. "You already have the natural tendency to fall into your own trances when you daydream. Do you really want to make it worse?"
"Hey Amy. I'm in love with that dreamy Tuxedo Mask. What's wrong with that?"
But before they could argue Luna pointed out the bus coming round the corner and pull up to a stop. As the girls all began to get on board like zombies she said, "Get a good look at the driver and maybe the conductor if you can."
Suddenly Serena noticed her two friends among the line-up. "Hey Molly. I thought you said you two weren't taking the bus. Molly?" She called out the other girls' name too but neither of them paid her the slightest attention as they climbed inside one by one. Finally as the last one entered the driver and conductor turned to look at them with evil scary faces. "Let's get on." Luna declared but Serena refused and hugged the bus stop sign screaming in terror. While Luna and Amy tried to reason with her the doors shut and the bus drove away. It had only gone midway down the street when there was a flash of light and it vanished along with Molly and all the other girls. Luna and Amy were wide-eyed and open-mouthed while Serena flipped out in terror.

Leaving Amy and Luna behind she ran all the way back to the Temple where she met Raye feeding breadcrumbs to some of the birds. "Raye! Raye!" She panted. "I just saw your Temple bus disappear!"
Raye began to look annoyed. "Why does everybody call it our Temple bus? It doesn't belong to us. It just drives by here on its route."
Serena nervously gulped. "Hey. I'm sorry. But I saw it vanish with my own eyes. I just thought you might know something about it."
"Why do you think I would?"
"Well it had a bunch of girls on it, including two of my friends from school. And furthermore they all had those good luck charms you sell."
"Those stupid charms are all the idea of our caretaker Jed and his wife Tweetus. I'm getting sick and tired of being questioned and accused by people all the time. Grandfather and I had enough of that from the police."
Serena was really getting nervous by this time. "Heh. Heh. I guess I made a mistake. So long." With that she ran away again though she wondered to herself. "Jed? Tweetus? Where have I heard those names before?"
"Don't come back." Raye called after her but then she heard more activity of excited girls around the charm stand where Jedite was currently assisting Titus to sell them. She thought to herself. "It is true though that all our troubles began when those two first came to work for us. I must consult the sacred fire once more."

Kneeling in front of the flames she begged with all her heart. "Please oh fire. Show me the truth this time. Are Jed and his wife really the source of all the plagues that have befallen us? I must know so I can confront them about it." In response the fire flared up and the faces of Jedite and Titus appeared in the midst looking wicked and cruel. Raye had the answer she sought so she went straight to the caretaker's quarters. The charm stall had closed business for the day and she found them both sharing some tea and biscuits together when she barged in.
"The game is up Jed. I know that you and Tweetus are behind these disappearances. What do you have to say for yourselves?"
Jedite and Titus only looked at each other and smiled. Next thing Titus transformed herself to Raye's shock and summoned up a small wave of water drenching her. "You're pathetic." She sneered.
Before she could respond in any way Jedite opened up a strange portal adding. "You are powerless to stop us." With that Raye was sucked into the portal screaming while Jedite said, "She'll be trapped in our secret dimension forever. Perhaps Morga and Kigaan will even get all her energy too?"
The fiends both laughed as the portal closed ominously.

In the meantime Luna had Serena back at the bus stop. Amy had errands to run for her mother but she had promised to join them as soon as possible. Serena was still scared about getting on that bus but the thought of her two friends from school was also concerning her.
"Here comes that bus Serena. And this time we must not miss it."
But as it pulled up and began letting all the new girls on Serena had another panic attack and held onto a post while Luna tugged at her skirt. "No! No Luna!"
"Serena! What about all these poor girls? And your two friends?"
At the mention of that Serena suddenly said, "Yeah right. But at least let me have a disguise." Then she suddenly sprang up knocking Luna onto her back while her skirt was still in her mouth. While Luna grumbled at her Serena held up the magic disguise pen and cried "Disguise power. Change me into a flight attendant or,,,something."
When she transformed she looked just like a flight attendant. "Serena this isn't an aeroplane."
"Sorry it was a spur of the moment. I had no time to think."
"Well never mind. Hurry the last of the girls is boarding."
Serena and Luna threw themselves quickly through the doors.
"Hey. No animals allowed," said the conductor raising one eyebrow.
"Who cares about your rules? I'm quarantining this bus. These girls all look sick." Serena insisted that the driver pull over.
"We have no time to argue. Let's just take them with us too." The conductor told the driver and she hit the pedal just as Tuxedo Mask jumped up and grabbed onto the back of the bus.
Amy arrived just then but too late and was horrified to see it vanish as it zoomed down the road in a flash just like before.

In the strange parallel dimension Luna and Serena jumped off the bus. So did the driver and conductor. Serena was crying. "Put a sock in it and transform now!"
"Okay. J-just one last sob Luna." Serena sniffed and wiped her face with a hanky. "Moon Prism Power."
When she transformed into Sailor Moon so did her opponents. The driver was a new monster but Sailor Moon recognized the conductor. She gasped. "I thought I'd gotten rid of you."
"I vowed I would return and I have. Now you must fight me and Kigaan as well." Morga was recovered to full strength and her powers were as strong as ever. She commanded all the many girls who were standing around in stupor to turn on Sailor Moon who backed up against the bus.
"Luna. Help me."
"Oh no. Here we go again," moaned Luna in exasperation.
Suddenly a rose stuck in the ground by the Negaverse soldiers feet. As they were distracted the girls all halted their advance.
Tuxedo Mask stood on top of the bus. "Sailor Moon. No matter what your enemies throw at you, you must learn to believe you can win."
"You again." Morga snarled.
Then a new voice called out. "What is this place? How'd I get here?"
"It's Raye," cried Sailor Moon as she came stumbling along in confusion.
"Get her Kigaan." Morga yelled.
In response Kigaan moved with lightning speed seizing Raye around the neck and began to choke her.
Tuxedo Mask called out once more. "You must save her Sailor Moon. You can do it."
Sailor Moon threw her tiara. "MOON TIARA MAGIC!"
"Look out Kigaan. That's the weapon she used that almost killed me."
"I'll take care of it Morga."
Kigaan nimbly sidestepped the tiara and actually caught it with one hand while retaining her chokehold on Raye with her other arm. "You thought you could destroy me with this little frisbee?" She laughed and Morga was impressed. As she came near to examine the weapon in Kigaan's hand Sailor Moon thought of another surprise move. "Tiara trap them both but release Raye."
Suddenly the tiara stretched itself wide open and clamped around Morga and Kigaan's bodies carefully working its way around Raye leaving her free and making Kigaan let go of her. Both of Morga's arms were pinned and so was one of Kigaan's. Only the arm that had been strangling Raye was waving around loose while they struggled. They were trapped close together so it looked like they might have been going to dance cheek to cheek.

"Sailor Moon. Go and get Raye and bring her to me." Luna commanded. Obediently Sailor Moon ran over to where Raye had collapsed on her knees gasping for breath while the soldiers desperately jerked back and forth finally falling over each others' feet and crashing to the ground with furious curses. She helped Raye to her own feet and walked her over to Luna. Although nobody else had noticed it Luna's sharp feline eyes had seen a symbol appear on Raye's forehead just like what had happened with Amy. She knew what it meant. Jumping up and somersaulting in the air as usual she produced a power stick. "Here Raye. This is for you."
Raye was amazed to hear a talking cat. But Luna said there was no time for explanations. "Just trust me. Take this stick and say Mars Power."
"All right. Mars Power." Raye transformed into Sailor Mars before Sailor Moon's eyes. "I can feel power coursing through my body. I can toast those monsters thoroughly."
All this time Morga and Kigaan had been rolling over and over unaware of what was taking place. As they struggled to a standing position once more and made a combined effort to break the tiara's grip Sailor Mars cried out, "Mars Fire Ignite!" With a whoosh the two soldiers found themselves in a raging inferno that reduced them both to ashes in ten seconds leaving only Sailor Moon's tiara.
"Wow. That was awesome." Sailor Moon rushed over to pick up her tiara and screamed dropping it as her hand was burned. "Yeow!"
"Don't you know you should never pick up hot things?" Raye wrapped the tiara up in two thick handkerchiefs while Serena blew on her hand and sucked her fingers.
"We have a new problem to worry about. Like how do we get out of here anyway?" Luna declared with concern.
Serena was aghast. "What? Oh no."

Amy was clutching her power stick as she stood by the bus stop. Her eyes shut tight and she thought to herself, "Please in the Name of Mercury, bring back my friends to me." As her stick glowed suddenly with a bright flash one after the other first Sailor Moon appeared by her side. Then Luna. Followed by Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Mask. Then finally all the girls including Molly and Serena's other schoolfriend appeared among a huge crowd in the street. Tuxedo Mask decided he'd better leave quietly and Sailor Moon was distressed and disappointed that he suddenly launched himself into the air and out of sight before she could talk to him.
But Molly and all the other girls were very confused. But they gathered that they had been saved from some dreadful fate by Sailor Moon and her two friends. Stories about Mercury and Mars began to circulate as well and people were becoming very curious about these mysterious female warriors.

Jedite and Titus were in big trouble once more. They had realized something went wrong when their connection to their allies was suddenly terminated and they had observed things from a very high rooftop. "We have failed again Jedite. The Sailor Scouts have killed Kigaan and Morga and there's a third one now as well. What will we do?"
Jedite was pale as he held her. "We could run but we could never hide. We must go back to Queen Beryl." He threw his arms around her and whimpered while she sobbed and they transported.

This time Queen Beryl would not let them off so easily. For ruining the plan she herself had come up with plus losing Kigaan and also Morga after she had been restored to complete health she handed them over to the Doom and Gloom Girls to be tortured with thumbscrews. Jedite and Titus whimpered in agony as the thumbs of both their hands were pressed down in excruciating pain. Tears were pouring down their cheeks. Then when the Doom and Gloom Girls began to pull their shoes off they realized what else they had in mind.
"No please." Titus wailed.
"Not our toes as well." Jedite begged to no avail. The big toes of both their feet were secured in further thumbscrews and as they were crushed they could bear it no longer. Their screams and howls echoed through the chamber corridors to the ears of merciless Queen Beryl. She smiled in sadistic satisfaction.

Later that day Queen Beryl decided to pay an unannounced call upon her worthless servants in their personal quarters. When she barged in she caught the Dream Dolly in the act of rubbing soothing ointment on their thumbs and big toes. "What is the meaning of this Dream Dolly?" she demanded.
"Y-your Majesty. I only wanted to help them heal from their punishment. Titus is my friend. I care for her and Jedite." Dream Dolly was very nervous. Sweat poured down her face. "Queen Beryl. Please don't do anything to her." Titus pleaded and Jedite was trembling with shock.
Queen Beryl thought for a moment then she laughed. "Of course. It's all right. But since Dream Dolly is so precious fond of you two I think she should be appointed to go on the very next mission you set yourselves."
"What?" Titus gasped. Jedite and Dream Dolly's eyes popped almost out of their heads.
"Yes you heard me Titus." Queen Beryl chuckled. "Dream Dolly should want to do anything to help her friends succeed on their next assignment to save them further pain. She will serve our cause like any good soldier. That is my command."
Dream Dolly was frozen. Her finger with ointment on it was right next to Titus' bare foot where she sat on her chair.
"Dream Dolly dear. You had better finish caring for your friends so they will feel better and be ready to train and brief you." Beryl spoke silkily.
"Er. Yes Queen Beryl." As Dream Dolly applied the ointment to Titus' toe Queen Beryl thought callously to herself.
"I won't mind too much if Dream Dolly is killed. If these two idiots lose somebody they consider a well-cherished friend it will be further punishment for them."