CHAPTER 28

Luna had called a secret emergency meeting of the four girls at Raye's Cherry Hill Temple that evening. Serena had had to sneak out of her bedroom window in the usual way while her family thought she was asleep and so likewise had Amy and Lita. They all sat outside the temple with Raye awaiting Luna's arrival while Grandfather and Chad were sleeping soundly. Serena yawned. "Why couldn't we have an emergency meeting during school? Luna has no respect at all for sleep."
But just then Lita said, "Wait. Here comes Luna now. Who's that white cat with her?"
"Hey! Isn't that the very same crescent moon symbol on that cat's forehead that Luna has?" Raye asked pointing her finger in wonderment.
The girls were all amazed to see Luna approaching with a bright white male cat by her side. They were even more astonished when she spoke, "I'd like the four of you to meet Artemis. He is an old friend of mine I used to know centuries ago on the Moon Kingdom. Like me he was entrusted with the task of finding the Moon Princess and all of you though we went our separate ways searching. I'll let him speak now."
Artemis moved in front of Luna to address the girls. "Hello everybody. I was very pleased and proud of Luna's accomplishments when she and I happened to bump into each other earlier today. I have spent ages and ages searching and never found any of you but Luna has brought you all together. She and I think you all may as well know. Somewhere there is a fifth Sailor Scout."
Serena, Amy, Raye and Lita all gave a big gasp. "Do you think you have any idea where to find her?" Serena asked.
Artemis continued, "I'm afraid not. Luna and I will try our best to keep looking but in the meantime the four of you need to stick together to stand against the Negaverse."
Luna chimed in, "Remember the Negaverse have released their Shadow Warriors from at least four of the Rainbow Crystals. Possibly five if they managed to catch up with Tuxedo Mask the other day and capture the crystal he was running off with."
"And Luna tells me you have one crystal hidden in a jewellery box in your bedroom Serena," added Artemis. "It is your responsibility to guard that crystal so that the Shadow warrior in it stays trapped. We don't want the Seven Shadows to recombine all their power."
Amy, Raye and Lita all promised Artemis and Luna that they would co-operate and so did Serena. Artemis replied, "I have heard about certain fights among the team from Luna so let me emphasize to those in question that unity is vitally essential. Do I make myself clear?"
Raye nodded along with the others. She really did mean well but Serena secretly thought to herself, "I'll try to be united of course. But it's not my fault if that brat Raye keeps up her habit of being so disagreeable."

Meanwhile in the Negaverse Queen Beryl was threatening Zoicite and Titus over their recent failure. "How could you have allowed Tuxedo Mask to escape with the last Rainbow Crystal?" she roared making them tremble. "He has two of the crystals now and the Sailor Scouts have one more. You only brought back four of them. We can't rescue the last of our Shadow Warrior force without those crystals. Should I let the Doom and Gloom Girls play with you for awhile?"
Upon hearing this both of them had difficulty standing due to their legs shaking like jelly from intense fright. But other voices cried imploringly to Queen Beryl to be merciful and give them a chance to prove themselves by recovering the outstanding crystals from the enemy. Queen Beryl frowned momentarily in annoyance as her people crowded round her throne on bended knee. Malachite and the Plant Trio were pleading for Zoicite and Ramwoir and the Dream Dolly for Titus. They all broke out into nervous cold sweat realizing how brash they were to do this even though they had been moved to it out of concern for their respective personal friend. Would Beryl lose her temper and have them all punished?

But then she smiled and turned on her greasy charm. She thought, "I do want those crystals as soon as possible. Perhaps it would suit my purposes to forego my sadistic pleasure and let them try to bring them to me. I can always have them thrashed half to death after they deliver. Oh wait. I want Titus dead anyway. Ah well maybe I'll see Zoicite half tortured to death but Titus can be killed painfully slowly."
Of course she said none of this out loud but this is what she did say, "How very sweet to see that you both have friends who want you to succeed and gain my favour. Very well then. I give you no more than five days to rescue the other Shadow Warriors. Good luck to you both."
Zoicite and Titus really did fall down on their faces with surprised relief and everybody felt much the same way. Some of them felt sure they would have collapsed just like Zoicite and Titus, if they hadn't all been down on one knee. Then they all got to their feet and cheered as the two women struggled to also stand and stagger over to hug their own friends. Malachite kissed Zoicite affectionately and they hugged while Queen Beryl reveled in the gullibility of her own army forces.

Back at Serena's school Melvin was asking Serena for advice. He had approached her earlier that day and said, "Pardon me Serena. Could you meet me privately in our classroom during recess please?"
Initially Serena had responded with less than enthusiasm. "Melvin. I'm really not interested in,,," she had begun but he cut her off.
"It's nothing like that at all Serena. I've come to accept the fact that you are not truly interested in me that sort of way. I've moved on from my obsession with you. Honest I have."
"Then what do you want to see me alone for?" Serena asked slowly with curiosity.
Melvin began to blush and shuffle his feet as he explained with his fingers interlocked in front of his chin. "Well you see. Ever since the incident when Molly and I were attacked in the graveyard and I was hurt trying to save her and then she personally put that covering on my wounded arm for a bandage, I have felt deeply attracted to her. I want her now, not you Serena. But I'm so shy and unsure of what to do to make my feelings known to her. I don't want to make a botched-up mess of it. That's why I'd like you to help advise me please."
Serena was very surprised but also very delighted that Melvin was now interested in somebody else. She thought how wonderful it would be to make a serious couple out of him and Molly to ensure she got him fully off her back. So she grinned broadly and agreed to try to help Melvin making him raise his arms above his head and cheer, "Hooray! Hooray!"

Therefore she met with him in privacy as agreed in their vacant classroom at recess. "Seems to me Melvin," she spoke straight to the point, "that in order to win Molly's heart you need to be dashing, heroic and romantic."
Melvin was a little dubious. "Do you really think I can fit that description Serena?"
Serena was adamant. "Of course Melvin. All you need is the right kind of romantic clothes to give you confidence."
"And what sort of clothes do you think are romantic Serena?" Melvin asked.
Serena had the perfect romantic image in her mind. She closed her eyes, placed her hands on her cheeks and pictured her crush, hunky Tuxedo Mask. "I strongly suggest that you wear a top hat and a black tuxedo with a cape." She sighed dreamily and as Melvin thought about this he began to become fascinated by the image.
"That's awesome Serena. I can't wait for Molly to see me like that!"
Serena snapped out of her momentary daydream and added, "Don't forget about your heroics. You must promise to protect her. Save her from any danger with daring courage."
Melvin was getting very excited and he jumped around waving his arms and hollering, "Yahoo! My new look will sweep Molly right off her feet!" Nothing's going to stop me! I'm taking control of my destiny! Thank you Serena!"
"Don't mention it Melvin," Serena smiled with great satisfaction.

Later at the Negaverse Titus and Zoicite were making their plans with their various friends all nearby observing them.
"Another Shadow Warrior will soon be liberated General Zoicite," Titus declared with absolute confidence.
"Yes. It's all so very simple," Zoicite agreed. "All we have to do is to abduct Nephlite's old friend Molly once again and hold her ransom for the crystal the Sailor Scouts have."
Titus was almost jumping for joy. "Tonight we make our move."
"Precisely. She won't be expecting any attack at all," Zoicite rubbed her hands in anticipation and then she flew into the arms of her lover Malachite. He held her tightly to him, kissed her forehead and fondled her hair.
"I'm so very proud of you my lovely Zoicite. I know you will succeed."
She closed her eyes and rubbed her cheek against his chest as she responded to his words, "And we'll be one more step closer to achieving our dreams dear Malachite."
Gureepu, Housenka and Suzuran all came forward and embraced their best friend as she separated herself from Malachite to give them some attention.
"We're so excited for you Madame Zoicite."
"We love you."
Zoicite cuddled them all in one group hug and smiled, "I love you too. Malachite and I will give you special honours when we help Queen Beryl unleash the Negaforce. We will treat you well."
Malachite grinned and agreed with what she said, "We will indeed."
The Plant Trio were so extremely delighted and thanked both of them enormously.
All this time Ramwoir and Dream Dolly had been giving comfort to Titus. She had begun to sob again as she thought about Jedite.
Ramwoir smiled, "Don't worry Titus. I have faith you'll free all the Seven Shadows. Then our queen will keep her promise and restore him to you."
"Y-you really think so?" Titus wiped her red eyes and blew her nose or at least where her nose should have been. She had never been in her human form at all since Beryl had awakened her from eternal sleep.
Dream Dolly hugged her and looked up into her face her eyes radiating with joy, "Of course Titus. You will have helped the queen assemble her strongest force together once more. She will have no reason not to reward you in spite of all your past failures."
Ramwoir moved in to join them in their hug and she agreed with what Dream Dolly had said, "That's right. Queen Beryl would not fail to reward anybody's success. You'll see. Jedite will be together with you again."
"Oh how wonderful," Titus sobbed again but this time with joy. "Then I'll win for myself and my dear Jedite."
Ramwoir and Dream Dolly laughed with merriment and hugged her all the more tightly while Zoicite and the Plant Trio were still hugging in front of Malachite. Neither group had been listening to what the other was saying at all.

So that night Zoicite and Titus materialized inside the jewellery shop owned by Molly's mother. They tip-toed through the connecting door to the staircase leading up to the residential quarters where Molly and her mother lived. As they creeped upwards they whispered eagerly to each other, "When Sailor Moon hears we have Molly she will try to rescue her Titus."
"And then we'll get that crystal off her General Zoicite."
But when they were halfway descended they heard somebody ring the doorbell and Molly's voice call out, "Who is it?"
They were both shocked to see the figure standing at Molly's door dressed in a top hat and cape. They both flew into the air backwards down to the bottom of the stairs landing on their feet as agilely as a pair of cats.
"Is-is that Tuxedo Mask?" Zoicite hissed.
"It doesn't quite look like him my general. But those are the sort of clothes he wears." Titus was rather nervous.
Zoicite went on to say, "I don't like the look of this. Maybe Tuxedo Mask has set a trap for us. Let's retreat for now and wait for a better opportunity."
Titus reluctantly agreed and as they vanished the figure they thought was Tuxedo Mask shrieked and fell on his backside in terror. "I recognize those figures. They attacked us in the graveyard."
Molly opened the door and cried, "Melvin. What's going on? Why are you dressed like that?"
Yes it was indeed Melvin. He had arranged with his parents and Molly and her mother to spend the night at her house in the spare bedroom and somehow on the way he had managed to go shopping and buy the very sort of clothes Serena had told him about with all the money he had been saving from his weekly pocket money for special emergencies.
"Molly!" As he got to his feet he gasped, "There were a couple of intruders here but fortunately I think I scared them off with my new clothes."
Molly was confused but she recovered her posture and said, "Well those clothes certainly are a new image for you Melvin but I think you were surely imagining things. But come inside and we'll have dinner. Mum's been preparing all your favourites since she knew you were visiting us."
Melvin licked his lips and followed her inside. "This is great Molly. And I want you to know that you can call me Tuxedo Melvin from now on."
"Tuxedo Melvin?"
"That's right. And I'm going to protect you from all danger. If those intruders come back Tuxedo Melvin will chase them away once more," he brandished a rubber mallet from the toy store. "You're so very lucky you invited me to spend the night with you."
Molly was getting uneasy. She thought to herself, "Melvin is one of my best friends but I hope he isn't losing his marbles."

The following day Molly told Serena all about Melvin's strange behaviour while they were walking together after school. "I tell you Serena. I think I liked him better the way he used to be. He was so weird at my house when he spent the night there."
Serena said, "But I think you should just give him a chance Moll. He's probably trying to prove he's not just a computer nerd or a geek."
"But Serena. I wish he'd just be himself. He never was nerdy or geeky to me personally. I thought he was just a little shy I admit. But he was an okay person. He was himself then. This new Melvin is just too strange and unlike him."
As Molly bowed her head with a sigh Serena felt rather nervous. She had meant well but perhaps she had not given Melvin the best appropriate advice after all.

Suddenly who should they meet on the street while they were walking but Serena's old crush Andrew the manager of the video game arcade. "Hey there girls."
Looking up into his smiling face Serena replied cheerfully, "Hello Andrew."
"Hi Andrew," Molly added.
Andrew reached into his pocket and pulled out two ticket stubs. "You're just the person I was hoping to run into today Serena. How do you fancy going to see the Wacky World Wrestlers Show on Saturday tomorrow?"
"R-really?" As Serena beheld the two tickets in Andrew's hand she became very excited. She thought Andrew was asking her to go with him. Just when she was thinking he had sure gotten over his girlfriend very quickly since she had flown to Africa he had suddenly handed both of them over to her.
"Here you are. I'm very happy they won't be wasted."
Serena and Molly were both surprised. "You're not going?" they asked simultaneously.
Andrew shook his head. "Unfortunately I'm expecting Rita to contact me on Skype tomorrow. But I don't know what time she will be available."
Serena felt momentarily gloomy. It had been too good to be true but they said goodbye to Andrew and he went on his way as the pair of them continued in their own direction.
"So who are you thinking of taking with you Serena?" Molly asked. Upon hearing her voice Serena knew what she needed to do.
"I'm not taking anybody."
"You mean you're only going to use one of the tickets?"
"Molly I'm not even going myself." She thrust the tickets into her friend's hand. "I'm giving them to you and you're taking Melvin."
"What?" Molly was taken aback.
"Come on Molly. Remember he did save your life didn't he?"
Molly admitted that was true. "But,"
Serena pleaded, "Please give him a chance Molly. I'm sure he can act normal in public."
Molly had to admit that Melvin had pretty much been normal at school that day. Of course that may well have been due to the fact that the teachers would never have allowed him to wear his extravagant clothing. Especially not Miss Haruna. She would have blown a gasket at him and Melvin was wise enough to be sensibly cautious in this matter. Still maybe Serena was right and he would act normally at the exhibition.
So she accepted the tickets and said, "Very well Serena. When I get home I'll call him and give him the invitation."
"Good on you Moll."

Molly did keep her promise in spite of her reluctance and she phoned Melvin as soon as she arrived at her home.
"Hello?" Melvin answered on the third ring.
Molly swallowed down the last lingering trace of her trepidation and delivered her message, "Hey Melvin. It's Molly."
"Molly! What can I do for you?"
"Well Melvin. I have tickets to the Wacky Wrestlers. Would you like to go with me tomorrow?"
Melvin was thrilled, "The Wacky Wrestlers? Oh joy Molly! I'd love to see them with you so very much."
"That's great Melvin. Meet me here at my house tomorrow after breakfast and we can go there together."
"Wonderful. I'll look forward to it. See you then Molly."
"I'll be anticipating it also Melvin. See you tomorrow."
As she hung up the phone Molly was smiling. It seemed that all her fears really were unfounded.
But she would not have felt so had she known what Melvin was thinking to himself. "I'll take my uniform with me in a backpack. Then if I get the chance I'll challenge the Wacky Wrestlers to take on Tuxedo Melvin and make Molly really impressed with me."

And so the next day Molly and Melvin joined the crowd that gathered in the amusement park grounds to watch the Wacky Wrestlers dressed up in their funny full-body costumes, charge at and attack each other on the public stage set up. There were three of them and they took turns to challenge each other one on one while the third stood off at the side. The audience cheered, gasped and applauded as they leaped into the air and kicked knocking each other down.
Molly was very happy. So far Melvin was dressed in his usual clothes and he had not said or done anything weird. In fact he even offered to buy her a burger and milkshake when it was getting time for lunch.
But Zoicite and Titus were hovering in the air invisibly and they had another plan. "Okay Titus. As soon as we make ourselves visible you know what to do."
"Yes Commander."
As the pair appeared floating in mid-air before anybody could register them Titus had swooped down and seized Molly in a bear hug grip and Zoicite had followed her pushing Melvin roughly aside. Molly screamed and so did everybody else.
The Wacky Wrestlers responded promptly and jumped off the stage to intervene. "Hey you! Leave that girl alone!" one of them shouted but Zoicite raised her palms and shouted "Zoi!" sending all three of them flying backwards crashing into the stage and collapsing in a crumpled pile.
All the other people shrieked and ran away in terror. Melvin also ran away but he wasn't fleeing. No sir. He ran into a nearby mens' restroom so he could quickly change into his tuxedo.
In the meantime poor Molly was struggling and yelling, "Let me go! Let me go!"
"Not a chance Molly dear," Zoicite produced a strong cord while she said this with which she proceeded to help Titus tie Molly's hands behind her back.

But meanwhile at Serena's house she was relaxing in her bathtub when she received a big shock. Nephlite's ghost shimmered into sight in the bathroom before her making her gasp and sit up splashing water onto the floor. She only just managed to avoid screaming and alerting her family to a difficult situation. "What do you think you're doing? Have you no decency?" she hissed angrily.
Nephlite wasn't even looking directly at her though. His eyes were focused on the floor as he replied, "A thousand pardons Sailor Moon. But I must let you know that Molly's in danger."
"What? Molly in danger?"
"Yes. Zoicite and Titus are kidnapping her at the Wacky Wrestlers Show and they plan to hold her captive in exchange for the Rainbow Crystal you hold."
Serena quickly jumped out of the bath and dried herself. Getting dressed she ran upstairs to her room and pulled the Rainbow Crystal out of its hiding place in her jewellery box up on the top shelf of her bedroom cupboard pushed up at the very back.
Nephlite appeared behind her in her room and asked, "Are you ready? You need to hurry?"
"Yes I am. I must take the crystal with me so that they'll see it and not hurt Molly while I try to trick them. I must do this alone. The other Scouts would not understand the necessity of this. Especially Raye."
Serena knew that Raye would strongly object to taking the Rainbow Crystal from its safe hideaway and that Luna would insist on calling the other Scouts for help. Fortunately Luna was currently on the street with her friend Artemis searching for the fifth Sailor Scout they had told them about.
"That's fine. Hurry and transform then. We must go immediately before they flee with Molly," Nephlite urged and Serena transformed.
"Moon Prism Power."
With the crystal tucked into her sailor uniform's pocket Sailor Moon jumped out of the window and ran away after quickly making sure nobody would notice her and Nephlite floated along after her.

In the meantime Titus and Zoicite had Molly firmly bound. "She is our prisoner General Zoicite," Titus was clutching at the cord pinning her arms in place behind while Zoicite proceeded to tie a second piece of cord around her legs.
"We will take her away with us Titus and then give our demand to Sailor Moon," declared Zoicite while Molly sobbed and whimpered.
But just then a voice called out, "Stop right there!"
Zoicite, Titus and Molly all turned towards the sound of the voice. It wasn't the voice of Sailor Moon. It wasn't even any of the other Sailor Scouts.
"Melvin!" Molly shouted in horror.
Melvin stood there dressed in his flamboyant clothes brandishing his rubber mallet in one hand and his backpack in the other. "Tuxedo Melvin is going to stop you two witches."
"What?" Zoicite exclaimed in disbelief. "Was that YOU we saw the other night when we were planning to kidnap this girl at her home?"
Melvin set his rubber mallet down and reached into his backpack. "It was indeed. I chased you away and protected Molly from you and I'm protecting her again right now."
Titus moaned sarcastically, "To think we were scared to see this insane twit dressed up like Tuxedo Mask."
Melvin remained defiant as he pulled out a handful of crumbed pork sausages. "I'll send these sausages crashing into your heads. That will teach you a lesson."
With that he sent them flying and reached into his pack throwing handful after handful at the two women. They were slightly taken aback as they were hit but Zoicite growled, "You really think this will incapacitate us? Titus show him what he's really up against."
Molly screamed Melvin's name again as Titus squirted him back several feet with her water power. Melvin struggled to get back to his feet and charge but a second jet of water really picked him up and threw him even further away landing with a splat on his stomach. He groaned with pain and rolled over on his side screaming, "Ow! Oh it hurts! I think I've broken my ribs!" he struggled to his feet gasping, "You can't do this to my girl. Not my girl Molly."
But the pain was too much and he fainted clutching his ribcage in agony.
"Oh Melvin. Do I really mean that much to you?" Molly cried out despairingly.

Just then Sailor Moon arrived. "Hold it Zoicite and Titus. I'm Sailor Moon. The Champion of Justice. I will right wrongs and triumph over evil. And that means you."
"Wait a minute Sailor Moon. Aren't you forgetting something?" Zoicite asked. "We have Molly here."
Titus responded by pulling Molly to her feet and turning so that Molly's horrified face was looking straight at Sailor Moon. She threw her arm around Molly's neck in a stranglehold. "That's right. Don't try anything if you want her to live," she added to Zoicite's words with dire threat in her voice.
Sailor Moon was pulled up in dismay. "Don't hurt her," she begged.
Zoicite jumped into the air and soared over to Sailor Moon landing in front of her with outstretched arm. "Titus will choke her to death on my command Sailor Moon. Unless you hand over the Rainbow Crystal in your possession. You'd better have brought it with you."
"I can't let you have it," Sailor Moon was desperately trying to think of a ploy but the situation was helpless.
"Titus. Begin to slowly squeeze." Titus acted immediately as Zoicite began to speak and Molly started to gasp for breath.
Zoicite held her hand out and said, "It takes up to 15 minutes to die of slow strangulation. You'd better comply right now for her sake."
Sailor Moon was shocked but as Molly continued to choke and cough she knew there was nothing else. "Okay! Okay!"
She reached into her pocket and withdrew the Rainbow Crystal making both Zoicite and Titus widen their eyes eagerly.
Zoicite grabbed the crystal out of Sailor Moon's hand. She gloated, "Thank you so very much."

Then several things happened in quick succession. Zoicite's hand was struck by the tip of a cane making her drop the crystal. With a cry of pain and alarm she turned to behold the real Tuxedo Mask standing a few feet away. He had magically extended his cane to hit her and as it was withdrawing back to its normal size he shouted in determination, "You're not getting that crystal!"
Sailor Moon was so glad to see him and called out, "Thank goodness. You're just in time."
Zoicite sent a barrage of her energy towards him which he deflected by twirling his cane around rapidly in an expertise circular rotation.
Sailor Moon took advantage to make a move to pick up the crystal and try to run away with it, but Titus saw what she was doing and raised her other arm keeping hold on Molly's neck with the other one. She wasn't choking Molly anymore. Only keeping her captive by her side. Not that Molly could have run away in any case with the cords still tightly bound around her legs and also her arms behind her back. But she cried out just as Titus shot a jet of water, "Watch out Sailor Moon!"
Sailor Moon desperately tried to dodge the attack while she was running and stumbled falling flat on her face. The water missed her passing over her prone body. But the crystal flew out of her hand and bounced away. "No! My crystal!"
Zoicite and Tuxedo Mask both reacted to her cry. Tuxedo Mask used his cane to quickly halt Zoicite in her tracks. Stretching it out once again he struck the ground at her feet before she could chase the crystal, then used it to pole vault himself over in front of her to fight. She seemed to turn herself into the essence of energy that she fought with and as it quickly zoomed over in front of Tuxedo Mask he swung his cane at it constantly making noises such as "Hah! Yah! Ho!"

Titus began to choke Molly again. "Sailor Moon don't you try anything or this girl will die."
As Titus said this Nephlite materialized behind her and ran his ghostly fingers down her back. His touch was so chilling that Titus jumped in surprise and released Molly letting her collapse to the ground while she threw her arms wide open.
"Now's my chance," Sailor Moon thought as she grabbed her tiara and sent it flying at Titus. "MOON TIARA MAGIC! Die once and for all Titus!"
Titus tried to run out of the way but Nephlite held her in place his hands tight around her arms. Though he was a spirit he concentrated hard with all his psychic energy and Titus couldn't move. She screamed with all her might and struggled in vain. It looked like Nephlite was going to help Sailor Moon destroy Titus. But at the last minute to Sailor Moon's consternation, her tiara suddenly changed direction and went flying backwards very slowly, then zoomed up into the air and came back down landing way out of her reach on top of the Wacky Wrestlers' stage.
"Hey!" she cried out feeling rather annoyed. "I thought you were supposed to be on the side of good now?"
Nephlite didn't answer her. He just spoke into Titus' ear. "Titus."
She turned her head to look into his ghostly face. She gasped, "General Nephlite! Aren't you d-d-dead?"
"Yes I am. But don't be afraid Titus. I have no desire to hurt you. Listen. You still love Jedite very much don't you?"
Titus trembled and stammered, "Y-yes."
"Well if you truly understand what love means then try to realize how I feel about Molly. I came to care for her very much before I was killed by Zoicite and her friends, with all my heart. That's why I am protecting her. But I know you care for Jedite in the very same way. Therefore I don't wish any harm to befall you either. Please do not hurt Molly again."
Titus took in what he was saying and said, "V-very well General Nephlite. I still must help General Zoicite gather the Rainbow Crystals to save my poor Jedite. But I promise I won't hurt Molly anymore. Let me have the crystal and she will live."
"Nephlite do you really believe what she is saying seriously?" Sailor Moon was exasperated at this unexpected turn of events.

But while Sailor Moon was having this heated exchange with Nephlite and while Tuxedo Mask was still battling against the energy particles he believed to contain Zoicite she suddenly materialized next to the crystal and picked it up. Rising into the air she cackled maniacally, "Tuxedo Mask you are still so gullible. I can't believe you fell for my distraction so easily."
Tuxedo Mask turned with a gasp of dismay and Sailor Moon was aghast.
"No! She's got my crystal!"
While Sailor Moon shouted and waved her hands in despair Tuxedo Mask tried to throw a rose in Zoicite's face. But too late. She teleported herself away saying, "Follow me Titus. We have what we need."
Zoicite had been so busy concentrating on catching the crystal she had never noticed Nephlite's ghost or anything that had happened involving Titus other than when Titus had made Sailor Moon fall over and drop the crystal.

Titus bent down and began to untie Molly. "I'll release her before I go back to the Negaverse. Molly can go free now."
Molly was bug-eyed looking at the spirit of her deeply missed friend, "Nephlite. You have helped to rescue me once more. Thank you."
Nephlite smiled at her, "I will always look out for you Molly. I solemnly promised. But you'd better go to your friend Melvin now."
Melvin was groaning in agony where he still lay. The pain in his ribs kept him from rising.
To Sailor Moon's amazement Molly ran over to him to comfort him as soon as Titus finished freeing her.
"Titus. Why did you do that?" she demanded to know but it was Nephlite who answered.
"Sailor Moon. I can sense how very deep Titus' feelings are for Jedite. I always knew they loved each other but now that I'm a ghost I can read the inside of people's hearts like an open book. I can tell the difference between creatures that have no trace of even the remotest capacity for reasonableness and those that do. And I knew that Titus could be reasoned with."
Titus blushed. "It's true. Sailor Moon this does not change the fact that we are enemies but I can relate to the way Nephlite says he still feels for Molly. I'll do whatever it takes to get my boyfriend released from his eternal sleep, just like Nephlite says he will do anything to help Molly in any sort of danger. So be warned. I will get those two crystals that he still has," she pointed at Tuxedo Mask who frowned and stared at her silently. "And if I have to hurt either him or you Sailor Moon to do so I warn you fairly in advance."
Sailor Moon said, "So I guess this means we say goodbye for now." Then she shut her eyes and added reluctantly, "But I suppose I should also say thank you for letting Molly go."
Titus blushed even brighter than before and put her hands against her face. "Y-you're welcome. So can I really leave now General Nephlite?"
"Yes you can Titus," Nephlite concurred. "But let me say just one thing. Consider this question carefully when you go. Do you really think you can trust Queen Beryl? Think about it."
Titus did a little start as she took in what Nephlite said and replied, "I will think about what you've said." Then she de-materialized.

"Sailor Moon make sure Molly gets Melvin safely to hospital. Now I must leave also."
Sailor Moon still couldn't quite believe everything that had just taken place but she gave her solemn word before Nephlite vanished.
Tuxedo Mask also strode off leaving her alone with her friends. Sailor Moon was shocked by his words. "You should have watched that crystal more closely. Now I need to get five of them off those Nega-creeps. And I will. The Silver Imperium Crystal must be mine."

Later after Sailor Moon had called for an ambulance and Molly had testified to the latest heroic actions of their city's sailor-suited warrior girl Serena was crying in her bed that night. Luna and Artemis stood by her pillow and spoke to her gently. "Hey. Artemis and I are no longer upset with you Serena. We understand that you did what you needed to do. It's just unfortunate that you were unable to protect the crystal."
Artemis added this to Luna's words, "Though the other Scouts do wish that you had at least told them so they might have been able to observe in hiding ready to back you up they admire your bravery all the same. Well all except for Raye that is."
Raye had chewed poor Serena's ear off calling her an irresponsible little nitwit and other hurtful names though the others had desperately attempted to calm her down.
"Are you crying because of Raye Serena?" Luna asked with deep concern.
Serena sobbed, "N-no. It's not because of that Luna." She pulled out the Moon Locket from under the bedclothes and let the music play. "It's Tuxedo Mask. I want to believe we can still trust him, b-but he was so cold and hard when he declared that he wanted the crystals for himself." The tears kept pouring as Luna and Artemis both gasped and looked at each other with their eyes wide open.