Eugeal returned to the mansion, pulling up behind the back. Not that she really needed to. Very few people still drove a car in Tokyo, not since the appearance of Metalia. But she still did so, primarily because it saved time. This time, she had come back with two of the three talismans that Dr. Tomoe needed. This would show that arrogant Mimette that she was still useful.
Walking down the grand 1800's hallway, Eugeal turned into the grand hall. Inside was a pile of stuffed toys, at the centre of which stood a throne. Sitting in the chair was Mistress 9's human host, a little girl. Next to the throne stood Dr. Tomoe, still framed in shadow with a rictus grin. That was how he always looked.
"I trust you actually have something to show us this time my dear", the doctor said in his usual tone.
"Oh yes, Doctor", said the witch. "I've brought with me two of the talismans that form the Purity Chalice."
"Good!", said the little girl in a voice that was obviously not her own. "Give them to me at once!" Eugeal complied, fearing reprisals. There was a blinding flash, two Pure Hearts emerged from the items and the little girl transformed into a grown woman.
What was the point? Jadeite had asked the same question multiple times since his reawakening. His life had become boring since his so-called deity had possessed his Queen and named herself. But Metalia had proven even more ineffective than Beryl ever had. If he had the power of the Crystal in his control, he would unleash death and destruction across this planet, then the universe. All would be silenced, in his name. To this end, he had found an ally in his enemy, the Dark Moon Circus. The evolved avatar known as Zirconia, who had similar intentions to his own.
After they had deposed their respective rulers, he would begin to exact a terrible vengeance on those he saw fit to target. First, he would go after the defector Malachite and reward him as a traitor of his caliber deserved. Then he would destroy Sailors Moon and Mercury for causing his temporary imprisonment (those blasted Heart Snatchers had robbed him of the chance to do the same to Sailor Mars). Oh, it was going to be good.
Serena came to. She was inside a circus tent, the one used by the evil Queen that had captured her. She was tied to what looked like the target used in a knife-throwing act. If she was awake, then that meant that someone had rendered the guard on duty (one of four Sailor Scouts that Nehelenia had lied to. They were probably unaware of their heritage when they'd first met) unconscious. But that didn't matter now. She was awake and could free herself. The bonds holding her were very loose, but then again, they weren't planning for her waking up. After she freed herself, she made for the entrance, only to be cornered by a female Remless. This one resembled a cross between a balloon animal, a clown and a Valkyrie.
Before this monster could attack, a dream mirror materialised in front of her. Seeing this and recalling what Nehelenia had told her over their many discussions, she tried a theory by pushing the mirror into the creature. The Remless convulsed, surrounded itself with a brilliant light and turned back into her true form; Mina. Momentarily shocked to see her friend, Serena recovered quickly.
"It's okay, Mina.", she said reassuringly. "We'll be back to safety in no time."
From the shadows, Grand Zirconia watched them go, the first stage of his ally's grand plan.
Lita and Calaveras were both taken aback. Their comrades had been turned into monsters before their eyes. Lizzie had become a blue woman with insect-like eyes, wearing a French maid outfit. Saffron had become a grey-skinned, horned creature with spotlights for breasts, a dress made out of gold stars, with shoulder pads resembling microphones. But despite their ridiculous appearance, both of them knew from experience that these creatures could be deadly. They each engaged one of the two creatures that had once been their sisters-in-arms.
Lita and the maid creature grappled with each other for several minutes, with the enemy summoning and throwing weapons such as tea trays and hot coffee. Soon, Jupiter was downed by her opponent. But before the creature could finish her off, it was blasted by a beam of light and restored to its-her human form. Lita looked up to see what had shot the beam, only to be surprised. It was a small blue Siamese cat with a crescent on its forehead. Just like Luna and Artemis.
Seeing the little girl's shocked reaction, as well as that of the woman he had come to see as his superior (he had told no one who knew him his identity), Malachite began to explain. "It all started when Beryl had captured all 4 Sailor Scouts." He began. "I saw that unlike me, she truly had no regard for life. I should have seen it with what had happened to Neflyte and Zoisite." He briefly paused on the thought of his deceased lover. The he continued "I finally lost all loyalty to her when she intended to double cross the princess and have you killed once she possessed the Crystal. I had you freed, unbeknownst to anyone. Then when Beryl was consumed by Metalia, I decided to serve the new queen for a while, until I had enough power to sneak away with a few minions whose transformation I'd managed to reverse."
Not wanting to give them any false hope for their plans, he clarified "They still maintain their powers and transformations, but they have no loyalty to the Nega-verse. Whereas I joined your main rebellion, they went off and formed their own splinter group." Seeing their surprise at this, he decided "I'll take you to them, if you wish."