CHAPTER 37

It had been four days since the Scouts had helped out Sailor Moon at the holiday resort. Serena was due to arrive back home today with her family after their vacation break. But relaxing was the very last thing Serena would be doing after the long drive home.

At Amy's house the phone rang and she answered it. "Hello. Amy speaking."
"Amy. It's Greg."
"Greg? Where are you calling from? You sound so close!" Amy was so thrilled at hearing the voice of her dear friend.
"My parents and I are just here to spend a weekend break."
"How wonderful! Why don't you come to visit me?"
"I'm sorry. I can't Amy. But please turn on the television. It's urgent."
Amy could sense by Greg's tone that something was wrong so she complied. "Okay Greg."
She walked over to the television set and switched it on while still holding the phone to her ear. When she saw what was being broadcast she gasped.
The announcer's voice spoke up, "If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of these three people please contact the police."
"Greg. I recognize those people," she cried as she stared at the photos displayed on the screen.
"Exactly Amy. Peggy Jones the artist, Game Machine Joe and the priest, Father Duncan Peters. They were all Rainbow Crystal carriers like me and they've all been kidnapped by the Negaverse."
"You say the Negaverse has kidnapped them Greg?"
"That's right Amy. I can tell you Rita Blake overseas in Africa and the cat known as Hercules have also been captured. They're after me too. I had a vision of the Negaverse trying to round up the carriers of the Rainbow Crystals."
Amy couldn't believe her ears. "Where are you calling from Greg? I'll get my friends and we'll come and protect you."
"Thanks Amy. But I feel in my heart I must handle this alone as far as my own protection is concerned. It's more important that you and your friends concentrate on saving the others. Good luck."
"No wait. Don't hang up Greg," but even as Amy was desperately trying to convince him to listen to her she heard the click of the receiver cutting off her contact.
Immediately she pulled out her personal communicator and called her friends to organize an emergency meeting at Raye's temple.

Meanwhile in the Negaverse Queen Beryl was briefing Malachite and the remaining members of her army. Yasha was absent having been assigned to a bed in the hospital ward to rest his broken ribs and Pollux's arm was still in a sling while she stood next to Castor. Queen Beryl had secretly decided that in the light of the couple of injuries recently sustained she had better let the Plant Trio live for the time being. They did not suspect the potential danger they were in. That Queen Beryl was considering having them killed on the sly because she blamed them for the trouble she'd been previously having in keeping Darien under control.
"Prince Darien is doing so well since you and Yasha brought that water sprite's magic wand back Malachite." Beryl spoke with silky pleasure in her voice, "He has been loyally gathering the Rainbow Crystal hosts while you and the Plant Trio have been busy searching for Jedite, Titus and the Dream Dolly."
"Yes your majesty," said Malachite. "But there's one thing none of us can understand. I speak for all of us including Yasha in his absence as I humbly ask exactly why are you wanting to gather up the seven hosts of the Rainbow Crystals anyway? I mean, we have already recovered the seven Shadow Warriors who were trapped inside the crystals. I thought the whole point was now recovering the crystals which are currently in Sailor Moon's possession fused together as the Imperium Silver Crystal in order to empower our loyal shadows as they lead us invincibly into battle. What point does the current course of action serve your majesty?"
Queen Beryl was amused by this inquiry. "That is a very good question Malachite, and yes, there is an answer. And it's a more simple answer than any of you can possibly imagine."
She smiled as she went on to explain, "You see the Negaforce has told me that once we capture all seven of the carriers inside the piece of dark crystal that I gave to Prince Darien we will be able to sacrifice their combined life force and harness the resultant energy to empower our seven loyal shadows to combine into one giant invincible Shadow Warrior. The Sailor Scouts won't stand a chance. We won't even need the Imperium Crystal and we'll get it anyway after Sailor Moon is dead."
Malachite and the others all gasped in awe and they began to grin evilly at the thought of this amazing revelation.
Queen Beryl brought them to attention by striking the end of her staff upon the floor twice.
"Listen to me! Now that you understand what is going on I want you to return to your task of tracking down those three wretches and destroy them. Prince Darien only has two more carriers to capture. Then we will be ready to put our plan into effect."
"Yes Queen Beryl," said Malachite.
"You can depend on us," The Plant Trio all asserted with bows and Castor and Pollux also vowed to help as much as they were able with Pollux's broken arm.
Queen Beryl grinned as they all bowed down to her. She loved seeing her subjects willing and ready to obey her. They were like her toys. Toys to play with as she pleased and even smash if they gave her an excuse for her sadistic pleasure. She chuckled wickedly to herself.

At that moment even as Amy and her friends were having their emergency meeting at Raye's home, Greg was wandering the city streets trying to keep on the run when he met Darien. Darien was dressed in a dark tracksuit top and pants and his eyes were concealed behind very large dark sunglasses. "Hello Greg," he grinned with malice. "I could sense that you were very close by."
Greg tried to play dumb. "Excuse me. Do I really know you?"
Darien was relentless. "It's pointless trying to deny the facts Greg."
"What facts? What are you talking about?"
"Come off it Greg. I know you're supposed to be a psychic. That means you can see into the future. You know who I am and why I'm looking for you."
Greg knew Darien couldn't be fooled. "Yes that's right. You want to take me back to the Negaverse along with the other six former crystal hosts."
Darien laid one hand on Greg's shoulder while he withdrew the shard from his pocket with his other hand. The shard in which five of the other six hosts were already trapped helplessly. "Exactly Greg. So there's no use trying to fight against me."
"Oh, I don't need to fight you my friend." Greg became angry and defiant. "I can see the future indeed and it tells me that I'll run away from you without striking a single blow."
"What nonsense are you saying boy?" Darien demanded.
"It's really very simple. Just like this," then Greg raised his voice attracting the attention of the city crowd surrounding himself and Darien.
"Help me! Somebody stop this man! He's harassing me!"
The next thing Darien knew an angry crowd of men and women surrounded him while Greg ran away. Cursing Darien re-pocketed the shard very fast before pushing, shoving and even punching and kicking his way through the people as some of the males particularly attempted to restrain him. He broke free at last and chased after Greg as angry voices cried out things like, "Somebody call the police!" and "Why that nasty man! The poor boy!"
Greg was already far ahead and ducked out of sight around a corner. He didn't dare keep still though. He kept moving in the shadows.
Darien growled furiously, "Your little trick worked Greg. But I'll get you still. No matter how far you run, you'll never be able to hide."

As Greg was running for all he was worth Amy caught sight of him. Lita had taken charge of the situation at their meeting and had told Amy that the two of them were going to go and comb the city searching for Greg while the others stayed behind to keep a close watchful eye on Raye's grandfather. Raye was very worried by the thought of the Negaverse coming to capture him though none of them suspected that it was exclusively Prince Darien who was rounding the crystal carriers up. They were also concerned that if the Negaverse came to get Grandfather they might also discover the three former members of their army who were in hiding at the temple.
So Amy and Lita had been diligently scouring the city and Amy was almost at the point of discouragement when she was positive she had caught a glimpse of Greg zipping through a crowd of people on the opposite street across the road from them. "Lita! I just saw Greg!" she pointed with her finger in the direction he had run.
"Are you sure it was indeed him Amy?"
"I'd stake my life on it Lita. Come on. We must try to catch up with him."
The two girls carefully crossed the street and ran as fast as they could.

As Greg tried to elude Darien by ducking into a darkened alley he had a surprise awaiting him. As he ran toward the light at the other opening he saw not one figure ahead of him but two. As he got closer he exclaimed, "Sailor Mercury!"
"Who else were you expecting Greg?" she had her arms wide open as she spoke as if she were ready to hug him and Sailor Jupiter next to her grinned broadly.
Amy and Lita had ducked into the shadows where they had transformed and then cut ahead of Greg by leaping and running over the rooftops with their superhuman agility and stamina.

But before anybody could say anything else a voice called out from above, "If you think these little girls can protect you, think again Greg."
They all looked up with a gasp to see Darien standing on the railing of a building's fire escape. He jumped off to land poised for battle in front of Mercury and Jupiter while Greg stood behind them. He was dressed differently from when Greg had first met him. He now had elegant robes and big strong boots. A sword hung in its sheath by his side.
"It's Darien!" Sailor Jupiter cried.
"Correction. I'm Prince Darien, the Negaverse's strongest warrior. And I suggest you both back off if you don't want to get hurt."
Darien said this through clenched teeth and he also had a steely glint in his eyes. Mercury and Jupiter were horrified to behold the intense spell that had been cast over their former ally.
But Sailor Jupiter was quick to take action. "Sailor Mercury! Take Greg and get him to safety while I keep Darien occupied."
"But I can't leave you alone," Sailor Mercury protested.
"But somebody has to take charge of Greg Mercury. We can't both fight."
Sailor Mercury knew this was true and in her heart she cringed at the thought of anything happening to Greg. "Very well but be very careful. Come on Greg."
With that she grabbed Greg by the hand and pulled him away while Sailor Jupiter took up her combat stance.
"Okay traitor. This is the end of the line for you. We will never let you capture Greg for your nefarious purposes."
"You think you can defeat me easily? Give me your best shot," Darien sneered.
"You asked for it. Here it comes. JUPITER THUNDER CRASH!"
But Darien nimbly dodged the blast and it zoomed halfway through the alley and dissipated harmlessly.
Darien mocked her effort so she undertook to try hand to hand combat instead.
She threw punch after punch but Darien side-stepped them all. While she was puffing and panting to catch her breath he laughed.
"Very impressive. But you didn't land a single blow."
Sailor Jupiter gasped, "I'm only just getting warmed up."
"Well it's my turn now. You'd better keep your guard up."
With that he ferociously attacked her with karate style thrusts and she had to keep stepping backwards very fast in order to be able to help herself avoid his dangerous outstretched fingertips. She needed to jerk her head quickly to the right and the left back and forth while he relentlessly kept up his charge. But while she was making her way backwards she ran into a garbage bin and fell over. As she struggled to get to her feet amid all the spilled contents of the bin she suddenly realized that Darien was gone.
His disembodied voice said to her, "You're pathetic. It's lucky for you my priorities are to bring my targets back to Queen Beryl as soon as possible or else I would have really thrashed you. So long sucker."
"Traitor," Sailor Jupiter muttered as she slowly rose to her feet.

Meanwhile as Sailor Mercury was running with Greg right behind her she called the others on her communicator. "This is Sailor Mercury. Somebody please come in. It's urgent."
Mina answered the call. She, Luna and Artemis were all at attention but Serena and Raye were fighting over another brand new Sailor V book. Just like that time long ago before they ever knew Lita, Mina or Artemis, before the events that had transpired at Dreamland Park, Serena wanted to borrow a Sailor V book before Raye was finished with it.
"I'm only halfway through reading it Serena. Give it back to me."
"You're such a selfish snob Raye. I'll read it very fast and then you can finish it."
The others just ignored them in the background as they spoke to Sailor Mercury.
"We read you Sailor Mercury. Are you in trouble?" Luna asked.
"I'll say. Greg and I are okay at the moment. But we just left Sailor Jupiter to battle it out with Darien."
Upon hearing this Raye suddenly let go of the book they were fighting over and Serena fell over backwards with a crash.
"What did she just say?" Raye was astounded.
So was Mina. "Darien? Isn't he in his Tuxedo Mask identity?"
"No he's not. He's dressed like a royal warrior and he's calling himself Prince Darien of the Negaverse. Queen Beryl's control over him must be at its strongest yet."
Serena staggered to her feet dazed from more than just the fact that she had struck her head on the floor. "Oh no no no no no. It can't be true."
Raye's book lay on the floor completely forgotten by Serena now.
"I must get my wand. Oooh," she tried to stagger out of the doorway but stumbled and crashed again on her side moaning piteously to all the other's dismay.
"Raye! Mina! Get a towel and soak it in some water! Serena must get her bearings back!" Artemis promptly ordered and the girls complied.
While Serena groaned and called out Darien's name they dragged her back inside onto Raye's bed and began to sponge her face and head with the wet towel.

Getting back to Sailor Mercury and Greg, while they were running Greg suddenly called out, "Sailor Mercury wait!"
When she stopped and turned to look at him he pointed towards the vacant Dreamland Park that was all closed for the night. "I have an idea. We can hide in the amusement park. Everybody's gone home and it's all deserted. Nobody would expect us to hide there."
"Good idea Greg," agreed Sailor Mercury. They made their way over keeping to the shadows and making sure that nobody was observing them, she picked up Greg in her strong arms and gave a tremendous bound over the top of the wall and inside the quiet, dark grounds behind the locked doors.

As they made their way through the park towards the big ferris wheel Greg made a big confession, "You know something Amy? While I was still living in town I always wanted to ask you to come here with me."
Sailor Mercury was surprised, "Right here at this park?"
"That's right. On a date."
"R-really? But why didn't you?"
Greg looked slightly embarrassed, "Well I was too scared to ask because I feared you'd turn me down and it would ruin our friendship."
"But this is weird Greg because I felt the same way. I dreamed about asking you to come here with me and I never did for the exact same reasons."
"We both have lousy timing Amy. We should have come here long ago while it was open and the Negaverse wasn't threatening me. I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?"
Amy hugged him tightly. "Of course I can Greg if you can forgive me too."
"Oh Amy." He hugged her back and they shared a tender moment that was long overdue.

As for Serena, she began to feel much better after Raye and Mina had sponged where she had bumped her head for a few minutes. "Okay. I'm ready now."
She slowly sat up on the bed.
"Are you sure you're all right Serena?" Luna asked and in answer she sprang up off the bed and unfortunately landed on Raye's bare foot with her shoe.
"Aaaaarrgh! Serena!" Raye sat down on her bed and began massaging her toes. "Will you be more careful you clumsy clod?"
Serena felt very bad. "I'm so sorry Raye. I didn't mean it."
Raye softened upon hearing Serena honestly apologize rather than try to deny her responsibility so she looked at her and smiled. Luna and Artemis were relieved as well. The last thing they needed was another fight right now.
Artemis took charge. "Okay now listen. I'm going to be staying here with Raye and Mina so we can protect Grandfather, Chad and our refugees if perchance Prince Darien shows up at the Temple. Serena you transform and go look for Sailor Jupiter with Luna and make sure she's all right."
"Yes. MOON PRISM POWER!" After transforming Sailor Moon slipped out of the temple while Grandfather and Chad were out of sight with Luna by her heels. "I'd better just quickly duck back home and make sure to get my wand Luna."
Luna thought to herself that she must learn to take it with her everywhere. She made a note to herself to point this out to her gently when the immediate threat was dealt with.

Once again moving back to Greg and Sailor Mercury, while they were locked in their warm embrace suddenly the lights on the huge ferris wheel unexpectedly lit up capturing their attention. As they glanced upwards Prince Darien came hurling down from way above with a loud cry of battle. He landed softly on his feet as usual and threatened Sailor Mercury. "Back off girl. I want Greg. Not you."
Sailor Mercury was adamant, "I won't let you take him. Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
She shot him with her attack but for the first time it failed her. Usually enemies were inevitably stung with sharp, bitter cold but Darien raised the piece of crystal shard in which five of the other crystal carriers were hopelessly trapped and it generated a bright golden beam which dispelled the foggy mist before it could reach him.
Next thing that happened Darien gave a tremendous jump over Sailor Mercury's head and before she knew it he had sucked Greg up into the shard before landing on his feet where Greg had been standing behind her.
Aghast she cried, "Give him back!"
"No chance. He's going back to the Negaverse as soon as I get the old geezer at the temple."
Sailor Mercury desperately attempted to appeal to his old self, "Darien please. You really don't want to do this. Remember we're friends and allies? You are Tuxedo Mask sworn enemy of the Negaverse."
Darien laughed, "Tuxedo Mask? I have no idea what you mean by the name Tuxedo Mask. My name is Prince Darien, loyal Negaverse warrior."
Sailor Mercury realized he could not be reasoned with so she needed to do something. "MERCURY BUBBLES BLAST!" At her shout more bubbles sprayed at Darien and again he raised the shard and dispelled it laughing and mocking at her.
But before he knew it she had dashed very fast up to him while he was not expecting her to do anything else and snatched the crystal shard out of his raised hand. Then she threw it hard upon the cement pavement where it shattered releasing all its prisoners. Rita Blake, Game Machine Joe, Father Duncan Peters, Peggy Jones, Hercules the cat and of course, Greg all appeared standing together in a crowd gazing in amazement all around them.
Darien cursed but Queen Beryl's voice called out to him, "Prince Darien. Abort the mission and return to me at once. We need to come up with another plan."
"You were just lucky Sailor Mercury, but the Negaverse will be triumphant next time," with that Darien de-materialized just as Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Moon and Luna all came bounding on the scene.
"Hey Mercury! Sailor Moon and I met up and we've been searching for you. When we saw the big ferris wheel light we knew something was not right. Dreamland Park was supposed to be closed so we thought we'd better check things out."
Sailor Moon was full of deep admiration. "You rescued everybody by yourself?"
"Yes I did. But Queen Beryl called Darien away just seconds before you arrived."
Sailor Moon was crestfallen. "Aw. I could have tried to heal him with my wand."

Still the three Sailor Scouts found themselves practically fawned over by the crystal hosts who all wanted to express their heartfelt gratitude for their deliverance. Well that is, all the hosts except for Hercules, who was snuggling up to Luna who silently felt very awkward. "I'm so very glad that Artemis isn't here. He'd be dreadfully jealous," she thought to herself.
Greg especially paid close attention to Sailor Mercury and the very next day when the park was open for business, he and Amy finally had that intimate date together. They were bonded even more firmly than the last time they had met while everybody had been on a skiing holiday.

But Sailor Moon and all her friends were left to wonder when they would next see Darien and what would happen? What sort of other nefarious schemes did Queen Beryl have that would involve him?