CHAPTER 20

Nephlite sat in his chair at his lonely isolated cottage deep in thought. "I'm so confused. Why did I save Molly anyway? Surely it must have been because she appears to be crucial to my locating the Silver Imperium Crystal? Yeah. That must be it. But still I wish I understood this strange feeling I have deep down in my heart whenever I think about her."
He sighed and rose to his feet putting his hand in his pocket and pulling out the magic prism. "Anyway I do have far more urgent matters to consider. If I don't figure out why my prism responds to Molly the way it does and how it will lead me to the crystal soon Queen Beryl will send her torturers after me."
He gave a little shudder at the thought of what they could or would inflict upon him. But looking at the prism he added, "I need a back-up plan to try to win Beryl's favour. If I destroy Sailor Moon then maybe, just maybe, Queen Beryl will be merciful even if I don't find the crystal. I know. Sailor Moon acted as if she knew Molly very intimately. So perhaps Molly knows who Sailor Moon really is? I shall capture Sailor Moon through Molly and with luck she will also lead me to the crystal."

Nephlite was making these plans about the same time that Malachite, Zoicite and the Plant Trio had been having their briefing with Yasha by his bedside in the hospital wing. As he re-pocketed the prism Zoicite materialized in hiding behind a pillar just in time to hear him say, "I'm off to check out Molly." Then he made movement to get inside his car and Zoicite watched him go.
"Going to check on that Molly are you Nephlite," she thought to herself with savage hatred. "We will keep a very close watch upon you."

Earlier that night the Sailor Scouts had returned Molly safely to Mrs. Baker at their home. They had assured her that they had saved and purified her from the sinister influences that had drawn her out in the dark hours and she didn't need to worry about her daughter anymore.
"What about that Maxfield person? Molly's friend Serena thought he was somehow involved?"
Mars and Mercury held their tongues while Sailor Moon quickly thought and replied, "Actually she was mistaken. Maxfield Stanton was nowhere to be found when we located Molly. He was not in league with the forces that attacked your daughter at all."
Molly, who was fully conscious once more, also kept silent. Though the look in her eyes told Sailor Moon she was extremely grateful to her for protecting her friend from implication.
Molly's mother deeply thanked the Scouts as she hugged Molly and when they were gone Molly gave the silver gem she had taken back to her mother. Next they both changed into their pajamas, kissed each other good night and went to their respective bedrooms to sleep.

But while they slept Nephlite drove up in his car and parked it outside the jewelery shop. Exiting the vehicle he levitated himself up to Molly's window. Floating outside her curtain he looked at the prism in his hand. "It's glowing once more. It must be reacting to Molly." Then a thought struck him. "Could the Silver Crystal actually be hidden inside Molly's body?"
With that he teleported himself straight through the curtains materializing beside Molly's sleeping form. Holding the prism above her he released it. It floated in the air and emitted beams of light that lit up Molly's body under her covers and illuminated her insides trying to pick up any unusual object. But she looked perfectly normal and Nephlite snatched the prism sharply. "No, the crystal definitely isn't inside her so why does it react? This is a big mystery."
Just then Molly awoke. Seeing Nephlite she sat bolt upright and gasped. "Maxfield?"
Nephlite quickly bent over and placed his finger to his lips. "Shush Molly. Don't wake your mother."
Then he straightened up and spoke to her. "Maxfield Stanton isn't my real name Molly. I won't lie to you any longer. My name is Nephlite."
Molly stared wide-eyed listening to him. "You are an amazing girl Molly. I must tell you something."
"All right Nephlite."
Nephlite resumed. "What Sailor Moon told you is the truth. I am an extra-terrestrial Molly. And a member of an alien invasion force. But love is such a very rare thing within our army. Even among our allies there is bitterness, distrust and betrayal. Most of us at heart are really out for ourselves and we won't let each other stand in the way of our goals. But all of us deep down are deadly scared of our leader Queen Beryl. She has no iota of love. She doesn't even know the meaning of the word. She won't hesitate to inflict painful torture upon any of us if we cross her path the wrong way. There were two of our members who did in fact love each other with all their hearts. Queen Beryl tormented them horribly and in the end sealed them up inside huge blocks of crystal for all eternity. While she was doing that they actually pleaded with the Queen for mercy specifically for the other respectively. They both said, "Do this to me by all means but please let my lover go." I couldn't understand why they would say that but Molly. You've taught me the real meaning of love. Now I know what those poor people meant to each other and I know what it means to feel love. From now on I want to join forces with the Sailor Scouts and fight against the Negaverse."
Molly was crying as she took all this in.
Nephlite continued, "You must help me Molly. If you know who Sailor Moon is please tell me so I can find her."
Molly sobbed. "I'm sorry Nephlite."
"Don't you believe me?"
"Yes I do believe you. But I know nothing."
"I see. You can't help me then."
With that Nephlite turned and disappeared. Molly leaped out of bed and pulled the curtains open. "Wait. Come back." There was no sign of him at all.
She began to sob while Nephlite hung invisible beside her window.
"If she does know who Sailor Moon is she will contact her after this encounter," he thought to himself.

But although Nephlite wasn't aware of it Zoicite had been floating outside the curtain listening to everything he was saying to Molly. She had exited the scene at the point when Molly was sobbing and telling Nephlite she believed him but didn't know who Sailor Moon was. So just as she dematerialized he had taken his leave of Molly missing Zoicite by about five seconds.
Zoicite rematerialized on the roof of a neighbouring building where she could look down upon Molly's window from a discreet distance.
"That idiot," she spoke venemously. "It's true what Yasha said. He's taken a liking to that girl."
"What a fool he is Madam Zoicite," sounded a voice behind her. She turned around and smiled to see her three best friends. Suzuran was the one who had spoken.
"Glad you've arrived girls. Nephlite is more than a fool even. He's a traitor. I overheard him asking that girl to tell him who Sailor Moon is so he can offer to join her side and oppose the Negaverse."
"What? The nerve of him," Gureepo was disgusted.
"Why don't we attack him now and take him back to accuse him before Queen Beryl?" Housenka was shaking her fists in fury but Zoicite raised her hand and smiled.
"Wait girls. Let's not be too hasty. Nephlite has the potential to be a very powerful opponent and besides we need to somehow gather proof to back up our accusation."
Turning her head back to Molly's bedroom window she said, "I know. As soon as we have a chance let's kidnap his young friend and use her to lure him into our trap. He's currently hanging around in the air outside her curtain. He's invisible to human eyes. But I can see him. When he leaves, we will snatch her."
"A good idea Madam Zoicite. We will teach him a good lesson." Gureepo replied admiringly. Then the four of them began to laugh together in anticipation of their success.

As for Molly she was very upset. "How can I find Sailor Moon? I don't know how to contact her." She was in despair as she thought about what Nephlite had said to her. Not knowing what else to do she pulled out her mobile phone and called Serena's home number. It rang and rang until Serena's mother and father staggered out of their bedroom yawning. "Who could be calling this time of night?" Serena's dad muttered as he answered it. "Hello."
"It's Molly. I'm very sorry to call this late but I desperately need to talk to Serena." Molly began to sob and despite his annoyance at being woken up Serena's dad was suddenly very concerned.
"Hold on. We'll wake up Serena for you Molly. We know you've been through a recent terrible ordeal."
He stayed on the phone while Serena's mum raced up the stairs to rouse her from her bed.
Serena was immediately awake when she heard Molly was crying and she zoomed literally to the phone. Luna who had been sleeping on her bed followed behind her alert and ready for whatever they had to face.
Serena took the phone from her dad and gasped puffing for breath. "Molly. What's the matter now?"
"I'm sorry to call you so late Serena but I need help."
"Please tell me everything."
Molly sat down on the floor by her window where Nephlite was silently listening to her. "Well Maxfield Stanton's name is really Nephlite and he was here a short moment ago. He asked me to contact Sailor Moon. I think he's in terrible danger. But I don't know how to help him." Molly began to sob bitterly.
"Molly. Are you crying?" Serena's parents' eyebrows were raised in distress when Serena asked this to Molly.
"I-I know it's very late Serena. Bu-but could you please come o-over here immediately? I need a friend's company if nothing else."
"Yeah sure Molly. I'll be there as quick as I can."
"Th-thank you Serena."

As soon as they hung up Serena turned to her shocked parents. "I must go see Molly. Even though it's late she's in a terrible state."
Her parents looked at each other and mutual understanding passed silently between them.
Serena's dad spoke up. "I'll drive you to Molly's apartment. You can spend the rest of the night with her."
"Thank you dad."
Luna rubbed against Serena's legs and she picked her up. "Luna wants to come to. She'll be good company for us both."
"Very well. Let's go," directed Dad.
But back at Molly's apartment Nephlite thought to himself, "Serena." Could this girl really be Sailor Moon? He determined to set a trap to find out.

And so while Serena's dad was driving her and Luna, Nephlite made his move meeting them a couple of blocks away from Molly's home. Suddenly the car seemed to freeze up and to Serena's amazement her dad was frozen too at the wheel. "Dad. What's going on? Can you hear me?" She tried shaking his shoulder but he was just like a statue.
"This is strange Serena. Perhaps Nephlite has cast a spell upon your father and the car?" Luna suggested.
"Ooh. That Nephlite." Serena wrenched open the car door in rage and threw herself out. "I don't know what his game is but I'll show him a thing or two."
Luna ran off calling over her shoulder, "I'll round up the other two girls as fast as I can to help us."
Serena yelled in a bad fury. "Moon Prism Power."
To her astonishment as soon as she transformed the car door she had left open suddenly shut by itself and her dad suddenly came back to life, yawned and said, "Now that I've dropped off Serena at Molly's it's time for me to go home and back to bed." Then he turned the car around and Sailor Moon had to quickly jump aside with one of her amazing powerful leaps to avoid being run over. He didn't even seem to see her as he drove off in the direction of Serena's family's house.
"What is going on?" She cried.
Then to her shock a familiar voice answered her. "I made him think that he had seen you all the way to Molly and now I know that Sailor Moon is really Serena."
Sailor Moon gasped as Nephlite suddenly materialized before her eyes. "I was watching your transformation in hiding."
"You tricked me into revealing my identity to you!"
Sailor Moon broke out in a cold sweat. "Listen Nephlite. Please don't tell anybody. Wouldn't it be fun to share a personal secret between the two of us? What do you say Nephlite?"
Nephlite snorted with laughter. "Oh I can keep the secret all right."
"Hey thanks Nephlite. I'm surprised at how agreeable you're being about this."
Nephlite raised his palm. "In ten seconds you'll be taking your secret to the grave and I promise I'll keep quiet in respect of your memory."
"Wait a minute,,,," But Sailor Moon had no time to make any protest before lightning burst from Nephlite's palm and tore huge chunks out of the road as she ducked and weaved screaming. "YEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWWLLLLL!"
She fell onto her hands and knees as Nephlite briefly paused and turning her head to look him in the eye she told him, "Hey. Quit clowning around." She tried to sound defiant but Nephlite could see that she was trembling where she was crouched on all fours like a nervous dog.
"You're finished Sailor Moon." He raised his hand to deliver another deadly attack before she could get back on her feet.

But suddenly a rose flew past Nephlite's line of vision distracting him as it stuck in the ground. He looked up and saw Tuxedo Mask standing on top of a nearby wall. He leaped off and landed in front of Nephlite with the greatest of ease and grinned behind his mask. "Still picking fights with innocent girls I see Nephlite. How about a real challenge?"
Sailor Moon was overjoyed to see her hero and Nephlite chuckled as he raised his palm once more. "You're on Tuxedo Mask."
However he sensed energy flowing into his prism. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out with a perplexed exclamation of "What the?" As he stared at it he saw a vision of Zoicite and the Plant Trio materializing inside Molly's bedroom and dragging her away with them while she cried out, "Help! Help me Nephlite! Where are you?"
Tuxedo Mask taunted. "Why are you hesitating Nephlite?"
Cold sweat broke out on his face and he said, "I have no time for this right now. I can take care of you anytime Sailor Moon now that I know your true identity." With that he dematerialized.
Sailor Moon became panicky. "What will I do? Nephlite knows who I am?"
Tuxedo Mask smiled at her. "Don't worry. Nephlite has things of his own to be concerned with. I'll see you later."
As he ran away Sailor Moon gulped nervously. "I sure hope he's right."

Nephlite materialized inside Molly's bedroom to find it deserted with a note on the bed. He picked it up and read the grim message. "Come to the old deserted run-down hotel on the corner of West Maple Street in one hour. Unless you give us the Silver Imperium Crystal we will torture Molly to death."
In his anger he crushed the note in his fist and it went up in flames.

Molly was tied up in a corner of the unused dilapidated hotel with Zoicite sneering at her while she trembled and whimpered. The Plant Trio were standing nearby. They were all waiting for Nephlite.
"Do you think he'll show up Madam Zoicite? Will he actually try to rescue this little brat?" Suzuran asked.
"Time will tell girls." Zoicite leered at Molly wickedly. "But I'm looking forward to all the delightful fun the four of us are going to enjoy if he doesn't turn up within the hour."
"Ha ha! Listen to her pathetic cringing whines," laughed Gureepo.
"We'll give her every reason to make even worse noises before it's all over for her," added Housenka.
"And even if that idiot does come we will just kill him when he gives us the crystal and we'll still have our fun and games," finished Zoicite and she laughed with the Plant Trio.
Just then the door slowly opened and they all turned their attention as Nephlite entered.
Molly shouted, "Look out Nephlite!"
Nephlite jumped out of the way as Housenka threw a handful of exploding seed pods at him. Suzuran attempted to stun him with her sonic blast but he resisted its effect with all the will power he could muster and punched her hard in the belly sending her to the floor in a crumpled heap.
"Get him girls!" Zoicite screamed and Housenka gathered another bunch of her seed pods and threw them at Nephlite.
As they exploded she asked, "Have I wounded him?" But the damage if any had only been minimal as the dust cleared and Nephlite charged with a war cry crippling Housenka with a similar punch.
"Gureepo. Use your thorn attack," cried Zoicite and Gureepo transformed her arm into a sinister sharp bunch of thorns and stretched it out at Nephlite as he was running at her. But he ducked and let it fly over his head slamming into the wall. Before Gureepo knew it Nephlite had swung his leg in a hard kick to her shin and while she was trying to hop on one foot with the pain he delivered a second kick to her other shin so that she fell to the floor.
That only left Zoicite and while she prepared to summon up an attack of her own Nephlite made a long double-edged sword magically appear in his hand. In panic Zoicite backed up against the wall with nowhere to go and gasped as Nephlite raised the sword and thrust its tip into the wall missing her ear by inches. As Nephlite held the sword threateningly close to her throat and her eyes bulged in fear he growled in her face. "See here Zoicite. I don't even have the Silver Imperium Crystal but even if I did I'd never let you have it and if you and your friends ever threaten this poor innocent girl again next time I'll kill you all. Understand?"
With that he grabbed Zoicite by the collar and threw her across the room to land on her back with a crash and a groan.
Turning to look at Molly he stared pityingly at her, then carefully used the sword to cut her ropes and picked her up carefully in his arms. Walking past the four adversaries laying on the floor he carried her out the door and into the dark night of the city.

As he walked through the streets with her in his arms Molly thanked Nephlite for saving her. "You don't have to thank me Molly. To be honest I don't fully understand why I saved you. You know I was just lying to you and using you right from the moment I first met you Molly. I thought you were nothing more than a tool to gain success in my mission for our invasion plans. But when you were kidnapped by those other members of our army I couldn't stand it. I guess deep down I genuinely cared about you and never realized until the crunch came."
Molly looked into his eyes and smiled. "You don't need to apologize. Your true feelings came through for me in the end. I'm so happy to be with you."
Nephlite blushed as she snuggled against him. But suddenly she realized that there was a tear in the arm of his jacket and also a cut in his arm which was stained red with blood. "Oh no!" she gasped. "Nephlite. You're hurt."
He tried to shrug it off. "It's nothing."
Molly wouldn't take it lightly though and she made him put her down. "No Nephlite. You were wounded while fighting to save me. Come on. Duck in here."
She led him by the hand into the park. Nephlite hesitated remembering how he had set his soldier Petasos upon the gardener Mr. Baxter a long time ago. But Molly urged him. "Come on Nephlite. Before those monsters catch up with us." She dragged him deep inside and under a tree. There she directed him to remove his jacket and tearing off a piece of her own pajamas she created a make-shift bandage and tied it around his arm where he'd been cut.
While she was making it secure she said, "You know in just the next block from here there's a twenty-four hour, seven day cafe where they serve the most delicious chocolate parfait."
"Chocolate parfait? I've never eaten anything like that before."
Molly beamed at him. "I've had a secret dream ever since I met you about us eating chocolate parfait together. Right from the moment I first laid eyes on you at the tennis club court where my friend Katie was playing. But I guess it will never happen, will it?" She sighed but Nephlite thought for a moment then climbed decisively to his feet.
"Who says it'll never happen? Come on. Let's do it."
"Really?" Molly was overcome with surprised happiness.
"Yeah. Sure. Let's go there now."
"R-right now?"
"Why not right now? You yourself said the cafe was open 24/7 didn't you? And I've always been in the habit of carrying around some earth money in my cover as a wealthy businessman."
Nephlite flashed a big wallet out of the pocket of his jacket as he picked it up and Molly jumped to her feet hugging him. "Oh Nephlite! I'm so very happy."
Nephlite's heart was all a-thrill as he allowed Molly to lead him by the hand through the park on the way to the cafe. She had made him see things in a very different light compared to the dark realm of Queen Beryl.

Meanwhile back where Nephlite had left them Zoicite and her friends slowly recovered and rose groggily to their feet. "That Nephlite." Zoicite gnashed her teeth and shook her fist. "We're not going to let him get away with this. Are we girls?"
The Plant Trio all spoke as one. "No Madam Zoicite."
"We must track him down and get the crystal off him and make him feel our wrath. He won't save that kid from us either. Seeing them both die is going to be a pleasure for us all."
The Plant Trio roared, "Destroy them both!"
"Follow me!" Zoicite led the others from their hide-out and into the street to search for their prey.

Nephlite and Molly arrived at the cafe. They were quite an unusual sight to the two people working at the counter. A teenage girl barefoot and in pajamas and a grown man with some kind of bandaged wound on his arm. But they had money to pay for their purchases so they served them their chocolate parfaits and they sat outside at a table. Nephlite took his first spoonful very slowly and took his time swallowing savouring the sweet taste.
"How do you like it Nephlite?" Molly asked.
"Mmmm! It's really lovely. Best thing I've ever tasted." Nephlite began to tuck in with a broad smile.
In no time the two of them had finished their treats and were preparing to take their leave of the cafe.
"I'd better see you safely back home Molly."
"Okay. But will you be safe? What if those bad creatures come after you again?"
"Don't worry. I can take care of them. If they dare to show their faces I'll do the same as I did when I rescued you."
"Oh Nephlite. You're so brave."
"I know. I'm so very glad you came into my life Molly. I'm telling the truth now. I want to team up with the Sailor Scouts and help them destroy the forces of Queen Beryl."
Molly was so very thrilled to hear Nephlite say this. But all of a sudden Nephlite sensed they were not alone. Looking up he saw Gureepo floating in the air nearby and he quickly pushed Molly out of the way as more thorns flew out of Gureepo's arm. This time sadly they did not miss Nephlite and he was stabbed through the shoulder with five terrible barbs. Molly screamed as Nephlite collapsed on his backside and the thorns snapped off Gureepo's arm as it returned to normal. The cafe workers also screamed and ducked behind their inside counter though in reality they were in no immediate danger. All the attention was upon Nephlite and Molly. Zoicite and the other two Plant soldiers appeared out of then air. Zoicite crowed triumphantly. "Gureepo got you. Now her thorns will drain all your energy until you dissolve into wisps of smoke."
Gureepo landed on the ground and pointed her finger demanding, "If you don't want the girl hurt give us the Silver Crystal!"
In spite of his pain Nephlite smiled imagining what could possibly happen when Queen Beryl told them it wasn't the crystal at all. Pulling his prism out of his pocket he threw it at Zoicite who caught it in both her hands. "Fine. It's yours. Now get out of here Molly."
"No Nephlite. They can't be trusted to let me go." Molly threw herself at Nephlite who tried to push her away.
"Molly. Don't be foolish."
But Molly would not be deterred. She forced herself in front of Nephlite, grabbed two of the thorns and began to pull. Gureepo scoffed. "The stupid girl. She will never be able to pull my thorns out."
Molly was bitterly weeping. "Nephlite. Please don't die."
To Zoicite's surprise the prism she was holding began to react soaking up Molly's love energy for Nephlite, but rather than weakening her it seemed to give her increased strength. The Plant Trio gasped as ever so slowly two of the thorns began to come loose.
Gureepo yelled, "Impossible!"
"I don't believe it either but you girls destroy them both quickly!" Zoicite shouted in desperation.
Housenka obliged by launching some more of her exploding seedpods. "Watch out!" Nephlite screamed throwing himself on top of Molly shielding her, taking the full brunt of the blast himself. As the explosions rocked the walls of the cafe the two workers whimpered and shook like jelly behind the counter where they were concealed.
Nephlite had his shirt literally blasted off his back and he was burned and cut badly. The thorns had been pushed back into his shoulder when he had thrown himself to cover Molly. He had protected her but she was crying histerically.
"Go. Leave me." Nephlite groaned.
"No Nephlite. I won't go."
"Finish them off girls." Zoicite's voice rang out loud and clear.

But just then Luna and the Sailor Scouts tracked them down in turn the same way they themselves had tracked down Molly and Nephlite. "Stop!" Sailor Moon cried out. "In the name of the Moon I shall punish you for attacking innocent people."
"And in the name of Mercury I shall punish you too."
"And I'll punish you also in the name of Mars."
Mercury and Mars stood on opposite sides of Moon and the three of them prepared to attack and defend themselves while their angry faces seemed to blaze daggers from their eyes.
"Girls. Show them who's going to punish who," screamed Zoicite and the Plant Trio all struck together making the Scouts jump aside in different directions. Sailor Moon shrieked as Gureepo's dangerous thorns missed her foot by only inches. Suzuran attempted to use her Sonic Blast to stun all three of them at once. She did momentarily affect Sailors Moon and Mars but Sailor Mercury was stronger.
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!" The force of her bubble spray froze Housenka's exploding fireballs in mid-air and they fell harmlessly to the ground. The Plant Trio themselves were all consumed by the spray and they were blinded and stopped dead in their tracks with intense cold. They shivered in each others' arms in panic.
"W-where did th-th-th-they g-go? M-m-madam Zoicite! H-h-h-help us!" They stammered while their teeth chattered and they could see nothing.
By now the other two Scouts were recovered from the Sonic attack and they both combined their powers like when they tried to destroy the Dream Dolly back when Jedite and Titus had been targeting people in the Dreamland amusement park.
"MOON TIARA MAGIC!"
"Mars Fire Ignite."
As the tiara combined with the magic fire creating a spinning flaming frisbee Zoicite cried in horror, "Oh no. My friends."
She desperately ran toward the Plant Trio. Raising one hand and crying out "ZOI!", summoning up every reserve of strength she had she deflected the Sailor Scouts' weapon extinguishing the fire by the force of her will and making the tiara stop spinning and fall to the ground. The Plant Trio had seen what was happening as the Bubble mist began to dissipate and realized that they owed their lives to Zoicite. Puffing Zoicite ran all the way up to them still holding Nephlite's prism in one hand. "Let's get out of here girls. We have the crystal."
"Oh, thank you Madam Zoicite. Thank you." With enormous relief and gratitude they all threw their arms around Zoicite and as she transported back to the Negaverse she took them with her.

Sailor Moon and her friends had far more important things to worry about than their enemies escaping however. The two cafe workers had slowly gotten back to their feet and come outside when they realized that the Sailor Scouts had driven away the monsters but as soon as they saw Nephlite they ran back in calling out, "Hang on. We'll call an ambulance for him."
But Nephlite knew that he was now beyond all possible help and while Molly cried on his uninjured shoulder he looked up at the Scouts who were standing nearby and spoke, "Sailor Moon. I can assure you that your secret identity will remain secret now."
"W-what are you saying?" Sailor Moon asked in a faltering voice.
He ignored her and spoke to Molly, "Thank you."
"What for?" Molly asked.
"For introducing me to such a tasty sweet dish for my very last snack."
"Oh no please," Molly moaned as the meaning of Nephlite's words struck home.
He gave a short laugh and stroked her cheek wiping off a tear. "I'm sorry but I can feel myself slipping away fast but I'll never forget you Molly."
Molly began to weep bitterly as he continued, "Please never forget me. I want you to know you're in my heart and I'll always be watching over you."
Then he slumped down and began to slowly dissolve as Molly wailed.
"No Nephlite. Stay with me. The people inside the cafe are getting an ambulance. They'll take you to hospital and everything will be all right. Nephlite. I don't want you to go."
But while she was crying and pleading inevitably Nephlite's body turned into smoke that rose up into the air and dissipated leaving only the piece of Molly's pajamas that she had torn off to bandage his arm with.
Molly's grief-stricken cries rose to the air along with the smoke and the Sailor Scouts all had tears in their own eyes. Even Luna was crying.

But unseen by anybody a ghostly figure resembling Nephlite briefly appeared behind the Sailor Scouts and Luna looking sadly at Molly's form hunched over with her face on the ground. The spirit spoke softly so none could hear. "I will be keeping watch over you Molly. Whenever you are in trouble I will alert Sailor Moon to help you." Then it faded and was gone.