Beryl snarled vile curses under her breath, as she paced angrily back and forth through a small antechamber adjacent to her throne room. "She is here; I know that she is here." Joerdan wisely kept his mouth shut, and eyes lowered, bowed deeply before her in the doorway, trying not to attract her attention. "But *where* is she exactly? What is she doing?"

A small youma slithered forward, rather visibly nervous. His lower half was the tail of a serpent, though the top looked relatively human, aside from the bluish tinge to the skin. "M--majesty--the one you told me to watch--the woman--she left a small human boy to guard her home, and wove a magical portal to someplace. I would have followed, but the human boy wields a strange staff with--"

Beryl's red eyes snapped to the youma, flaring with fury, the dim room seeming to get even darker as her attention focused on the unfortunate. "I don't give a damn, and I didn't give you permission to speak to tell me things that I already knew!" Snarling, she sent a rush of black energy at the cowering creature, draining its life force away rapidly to leave nothing but a small pile of shifting black dust. "Joerdan!" she snarled harshly, not looking away from the dust.

Wincing, the Commander straightened, stepping forward a little before bowing low once more. "Yes, my queen?"

"Take your adonni and go to the outer reaches of the tunnel complex. *Find* her and report back what she is doing, who she is with, everything down to what she is wearing!" she snapped at him.

Joerdan blanched, but bowed lower. "Yes, Majesty."

* * * * * * * *

Malcolm stared at the flower resting in Bri's slender fingers, as did every other living creature in the crowded quarters. "I--what?"

Bridgette tossed her head a little to get the hair out of her eyes. "We should restore the Da--Negaverse to its former glory--to what it was before Beryl's actions turned it into this--shell. A world that doesn't have to steal energy from others; a world where things grow on their own--where there’s sunlight."

"Is that such a good idea?" asked Rei, crossing her arms over her chest and scowling. "I mean, this is youma we're talking about."

"Youma are living beings as well; I would expect you to appreciate that." Bridgette raised an eyebrow at her. "You have a better idea?"

"I--" Rei started, matching glares with Zoisite.

Lita trod on her foot. Hard. "Uh--no, Bridgette."

Nephlite straightened from where he was leaning against the wall in a corner near the scouts. He never removed the one arm resting around Molly's shoulders. "And how do you intend on going about this, pray-tell, Lady Bridgette. There is still the problem of lack of energy."

"I did not say that it would be easy," Bridgette said flatly, cold blue eyes scanning the room.

"So what do you want from us?" asked Zoisite, floating down to stand slightly behind Malachite, one of her slender hands on his arm.

"And what do we have to do with anything?" asked Rei.

Molly surprised the other scouts by speaking up. "My mother was taken," she said, moving to stand at Nephlite’s side, keeping her eyes on Bridgette, her face set. Even more than the others, she seemed to fit into the Sailor uniform; the rusty-brown skirt and the green bows adding a confidence that none of them had ever seen. "I for one am going to help; you can do what you want. Besides, Mars, they need our help." She took Nephlite's hand in hers and he smiled down at her a little sadly.

Malachite snorted. "Why we need these--children to--"

"I have never attempted something on this scale without the aid of at least six of my people, Malachite." Bridgette said flatly, cutting him off. "None of you even come close to that level of power, so we are going to need all the help we can conceivably get if we are to defeat Beryl."

"Go against the Queen?" gasped one of the more ranking minions. He was human in appearance, fairly short, with close cropped, silky raven hair, with wide gray eyes staring at his former superior in disbelief. "What are you thinking, Lord Malachite!"

Malachite's pale eyes flared slightly and Zoisite pressed closer to his side, green eyes sparkling. "Why else would you have come to meet with four whom Beryl thinks are dead, Commander Cerulean."

The dark-haired man's eyes widened as the color fled from his cheeks. "But--"

"That is why you are all here, is it not?" asked Jedite stiffly, arm draped over his upraised knee where he sat on a ledge. "That is why I am here; vengeance. I am here to take this place back from Beryl; she has ruined this world and blames us for it. She has warped and destroyed any honor there once was.

Cerulean's gray eyes widened, but then he nodded, bringing his hand over his chest in a salute as he bowed slightly to the general. "Yes, Lord Jedite. I suppose you are right, but I still don't see how--"

"I still can't figure out why you guys were so stupid in the tactics department," said Lita with a faint smirk. "I mean--why keep sending people to the same place--where we were." Malachite drew in a breath, but Nephlite stopped him.

"Sailor Jupiter is right, Malachite. Think of it; it was Beryl's foolish pride that led us to the deplorable position we’re in now--" he spread his hands. "If you can call it a position."

"You were already lost to us," Zoisite snapped.

Nephlite placed a hand on Molly's shoulder gently. "Perhaps, but then you always did complain that I thought to much. And I thought of this: why should we follow a fool?"

Bridgette's eyes glittered, and the faintest of smiles crossed her features as she leaned settled her weight more evenly, relaxed. Sailor Venus spoke up. "So what do all of us need to do? I mean--none of us--" she pointed at the scouts, "--have any experience in magic of any sort--well--except for Mars. And I'm sure the youma and the others here haven't worked together much. This is sort of like grabbing a bunch of people off the street, handing them instruments and hoping you have an orchestra."

Malachite glared at the scout, then scowled and nodded. "No; it is not in the nature of our--people--to work together, often."

"Why not?"

Zoisite snorted a little. "So that when one idiot fails, only that one idiot gets dragged down."

"Usually," Cerulean added. "My Lord."

"What do you mean?"

"Beryl destroyed any of Lord Jedite's and Lord Nephlite's followers that she could find." Cerulean sighed. "Except me, because I still held some other use to her, with my connections in the outer regions of the Negaverse with some of the independent youma." He grimaced as several of the youma in the room nodded in agreement. "She in the process of doing the same for Lady Zoisite's followers when--the world collapsed." He glanced at Sailor Moon.

"What did you expect?" asked Jedite. He shook his head, Jared taking over a moment as he ran his fingers through his hair to affix an almost comical scowl on his face before ducking back under. "Beryl hated thinking someone could have loyalties to someone other than her--you and the others were only safe as long as you were, because even she realized that an invasion needs legions that will respect and obey a lower level of command than her. After the invasion was complete--then she could destroy the front-line fighters herself."

Bridgette snorted. "She was always like that." There was a hint of pain in her eyes, though it was quickly masked.

"So--why wasn't she ticked off at these two?" Lita pointed at Malachite and Zoisite with a long finger.

"Oh she was," spoke up the peacock-haired youma. "It was well known that only their usual successes and ability to work in unison so well that kept them living."

Malachite shot her a glare, and the youma shrugged. "What do we have to do, Lady?" asked another of the youma, this one with a thatch of hair resembling a broom springing in a white spray from his head, the rest of him looking fairly human, aside from the fangs and pointed ears.

Bridgette tossed her hair over her shoulder with a shake of her head. "Follow directions, as usual, though I see no need for you to fear getting struck down should we fail--at least not from our quarter." The youma paused, then nodded, ducking back into the small crowd.

"Do you really think that we--" Malachite gestured to the four generals with his hand, "--a pack full of girls and their cape-boy protector, and a handful of cannon fodder are going to be able to do this?"

Bridgette's dark eyes gleamed. "Oh--I think you may find that there is more power in those here than you think, Malachite." He frowned a bit, but didn’t say anything as she shook her head. "But, no. There are already a few more of my allies waiting at the Circle for our arrival. And some allies of yours as well."

Malachite's eyes narrowed. "And which allies might these be?"

Bridgette smiled thinly. "Oh--you'll see." Malachite growled, but nodded.

"What is the 'Circle'?" asked Ami.

"The center of this world."

Ami blinked. "Do you mean like the core?"

Bridgette shook her head. "This world is not as simple as that, Ami. It does not follow the same rules as your world does. The Circle is the Center of the world, plain and simple. It is the place which we first created and then worked outwards from."

"The Island," Nephlite guessed flatly, Bridgette nodding. "The one that Beryl could never go to. The one *none* of us could go to."

Bridgette nodded once more. "She wouldn’t be able to; it’s a place based on creative forces, not destructive. So it follows that any who followed her wouldn’t be able to go there either."

"Not the Black Lake?" gasped Cerulean, paling.

She shook her head. "No. The Lake--may cause a few problems; for reasons you needn't worry about at the moment."

"The Island is not common knowledge," Jedite said. "Only we four knew of it--and actually, Beryl only actually ever told Malachite."

"It was more of complaining about it, rather than telling," Malachite corrected with a scowl.

"So how did you find out, Jedite?" asked Luna.

Jedite turned a glare at Luna. "How do you think?"

Nephlite smiled slightly. "Obviously, Malachite told Zoisite. And surely you don't think we're all so pure that we never spied on one another."

Zoisite started choking suddenly, and Lita smothered a giggle. Molly bit her lip, but her eyes were merry. The Negaverse minions looked at one another, not quite sure what to do. Bridgette, hid her own smile and turned to Cerulean. "You." The man started, turning wary eyes on the tall woman. "You seem to have some brains about you. Can you get yourself and the others gathered here to the Island on the far side of the Kingdom; it’s near the dead forest, beyond the end of the sea there." Cerulean paused, looking to Jedite for his terse nod of approval, then nodded, swallowing. Bridgette nodded in return. "I must discuss a few details with the Generals and the Scouts. Fear not; Beryl cannot touch you there, nor can anyone who follows her."

Cerulean nodded, then turned and barked out orders. Before long, he and the peacock-haired youma had rounded up the others and gotten them out the door, heading off into the darkness towards the appointed place.

Malachite went over and locked the door behind them--then dissolved into helpless laughter, sliding to the floor, Malcolm obviously back to the fore. Zoë snickered and flopped down onto the nearest chair, dropping the adoring gaze. "Yeah--Cerulean's like I remember him; way too honest for this place."

Jedite shrugged. "But good at his work. And someone we might actually be able to trust."

"I wouldn't trust any of you further than Serena could throw you three," Nathan said with a broad grin, leaning down to scratch his leg under the cuff of boot.

Serena grinned. "You guys almost had me worried."

Jared took over and grinned broadly. "Nice to know I'm such a good actor."

Lita blew a raspberry at him then cracked her knuckles. "So--what do we need to do?"

Bridgette sighed, flopping into a comfortable looking armchair which appeared behind her. "I haven't a clue."

Mina blinked. "What? But I thought you--"

"I know the basics of what we need to do," Bridgette said, rubbing the bridge of her nose, looking tired, "but I have no idea how to do it."

"Well--" said Ami softly, "how would you do it if you had a bunch of your People to help you?"

Bridgette paused. "Gather a few of the natives, link together and push out the energy to help the land recall it's previous form." Her hand waved idly.

"Well--we have the natives," Malcolm said, slowly sitting up and wiping the tears from his eyes. "Cerulean, at least--"

"Why are all you guys named after stones, anyway?" asked Rei.

"Those are titles, silly," said Zoë.

"Oh."

Malcolm shrugged. "How do you link up anyway--and what do you do?"

Bridgette pursed her lips. "We tied our energies together into one force so that it took less time to do what we needed--the natives gave the energy a local feel and--"

"How'd you do the link?" asked Jared.

"It depended on preference."

Nathan looked up from Molly for a moment. "Bri--what about a dance? Didn't y’once tell me that dancin’ was one o’ the oldest forms of magic? All of--well, the four of us, at least, can dance well enough. I'm sure we could work somethin’ out for the scouts an’ Darien. An’ the youma an’ the others can do what y’tell them, if not with imagination."

Bridgette nodded solemnly, pursing her lips a little in thought. "You have a good notion, there, Nathan." She steepled her fingers, eyes closing as she worked through things in her mind. "Yes--it might work."

"Dance?" squealed Serena. "But I--"

"It'll be all right," Jared said with a wink.

"That doesn't exactly fit in with actin’ like our old selves," said Nathan wryly.

Bridgette raised an eyebrow. "True--but wouldn't each of your old selves have tried a new thing if it seemed like it might work?"

Jedite nodded slowly. "Yes. But how do we explain our skill at something so new?"

Bridgette shrugged. "My role is rather amorphous. Who's to say I didn't stuff your minds with the right things just now?"

"I assume Beryl's not going to be too happy about this," Zoë said, wryly, a finger twining in a curl before her ear.

"No. Keeping the world like this has made people reliant on her for help and guidance, since she is the only person here who knows what happened to cause this, and therefore she is the only one who knows what needs to be done to compensate."

"So if all of us are involved in this big dance thing," said Lita, "what are we supposed to do to defend ourselves in the meantime? I don’t fancy doing pirouettes right into the mouth of something big and nasty?"

"The Island is fairly safe. Other than that, we'll have to rely on traps, I suppose. The more creative the better. Beryl hates me and will come after me directly, as much as she can. Bridgette sighed. "She's fairly predictable, if you know what to look for. And whatever imagination she has, she tends to loose once I’m actually in reach to go after."

"Why does she hate you so much?" Zoë asked.

Bri sighed. "Nevermind."

Malcolm shrugged. "Well then, what are we waiting for?"

* * * * * * * *

Joerdan ducked behind a pillar of the strange stone that made up the Negaverse’s subterranean complex, as the doorway to Malachite's and Zoisite's apartments opened up and a strange group exited. He recognized the four Traitors and the Sailor Scouts, though there was a new Scout tucked comfortably under Nephlite's arm. He also knew Tuxedo Mask, hanging on Sailor Moon's arm--the girl’s crazy hairstyle easily seen even in the dim light. Then there was that strange woman in the lead who so upset Beryl. There was a certain air about the woman that made even the adonni shrink away.

The mixed party headed for the nearby Gate. Joerdan crept closer, eyes intent on determining which Gate setting they used. He had to discover where they were going, for his own neck’s sake.

Curiously, he peered at the Scout tucked under Nephlite's arm as the general turned to murmur something to the tall woman. He peered intently at the girl a long moment--then was shocked to realize that it was the same girl Nephlite had been so protective of earlier. Squinting closer, he recognized a couple of the other girls from being near Nephlite at the school.

Then the Gate flared to life, the woman waving the others through before her. "But that’s--" Joerdan could only blink at their destination in confusion.

* * * * * * * *

"Something's been bothering me," said Lita as they walked quietly along the dark, twisted landscape.

"What's that, Lita?" asked Jared, since he the closest.

"Well--when Bridgette made Molly Sailor Earth and all--she said there was a Scout for each of the planets. Where are the rest? You know--Saturn and all that stuff."

"They haven't been needed yet, I guess," said Jared with a shrug. "I dunno. I imagine they’re out there somewhere."

"What're you talking about?" asked Zoë, dropping back to walk beside them as her low voiced conversation with Ami ended.

"The other Scouts that Bridgette mentioned; we were discussing where they could be."

"Oh. Pluto and the rest?" Lita nodded. "Well--Pluto always did keep to herself. The others--well--they all have their problems--"

"Like we don't," said Lita wryly. "And how do you know about them?"

Zoë blinked a little. "I--I suppose I'm getting more memories back, being here..." she made a face.

"Why's that?"

"Because," said Malcolm, dropping back as well, flipping his cape a bit irritably over one arm when it caught in his legs going backwards, "Here we are, assuming our former positions, but severing our former ties to Beryl. So--it sort of helped to sever anything Beryl might have done to us. So the memories she erased can now come back."

"How do you know?" Lita asked, lifting a brow.

Malcolm looked sheepish. "I asked Bridgette." He grinned a little, rubbing at the back of his neck, his glasses slipping on his nose.

"Shouldn't you be in character?" asked Lita.

"If we're in character," said Malcolm, "then why are you chumming up with Jared, then?"

"Hey--I never fought him." Lita grinned.

Jared shrugged. "She reminds me of my big sister."

Lita paused a moment, looking strangely at the yellow-haired man, then sighed. "So--anything further?"

"Not really," Malcolm said, sighing. "Nathan and Bridgette pretty much figured out how the dance should go, patterns and all, but the magic part Bridgette's got to figure out on her own. That and all the details of fixing a whole world."

"Why Nathan? I thought you were all dancers."

"We're using one of the older dance styles--to keep it consistent," said Malcolm.

"Nathan's the best at it," added Zoë.

"And that's five less of us who have to learn the dance," said Jared.

"No--four less," said Malcolm shaking his head. "Bridgette's part is on the side."

Jared blinked. "So who's doing the main part? Nathan?"

Malcolm shook her head. "Nathan and she were discussing that when I dropped back here." Malcolm swept his hair back from his face with a sigh. "They figure it should be someone from here; the person who's going to be the leader here and to continue leading the opposition."

"Huh?" said Lita confused. "Aren't we going to wipe her butt out?"

"Don't forget," Jedite said, pace quickening as the general took over, "Bridgette claims that Beryl is doomed to return to oppose her always. Therefore, there has to be opposition here from now on."

"So who's it going to be?"

"We're letting the spell decide that," said Nathan, he and Molly moving to walk beside Jedite. "It'll make the spell that much more complex, but it's better than sticking some idiot in a position of power."

"What about protection for us all," asked Rei.

"Still thinking about that one."

Jared took over, stopping and snapping his fingers. "I think I have an idea." He looked over at Zoë and winked. "And you claimed I watched MacGyver too much."

Bridgette stopped the group. "What was that, Jared?"

"I've got a few ideas--but I need to go back to the house to get some things--and I think I'll need Melvin's help on this one."

Bridgette drew in a breath, then sighed. "All right. Be careful." She pointed into the darkness to one side. "I believe there is a Gate there that will have a setting fairly close to the Portal I left."

Jared nodded. "Wait--who's going to guard that Portal now?"

Bridgette sighed. "I'll collapse it; I could probably use the power anyway."

Jared nodded, then trotted off into the darkness.

* * * * * * * *

Joerdan blinked at the strangely companionable behavior of the four Traitors. Certainly he knew the four of them had to be working together, but this looked like a well-meshed team--a team that was even closer than the Sailor Scouts. The group stopped as a small knot at the back of the group formed, the tall red-haired woman dropping back to speak with them. Then Jedite stepped back from the others, a bright grin on his face. The woman seemed to agree to what he was saying, and pointed into the darkness to one side. Jedite nodded, speaking with the woman a little more before turning and heading into the dimness. Joerdan paused, then gestured to the adonni. "Follow them. One of you meet me back here to tell me where they have gone." He handed each of them several small crystals from a pouch at his waist. "These will help you use the Gates."

Without a word, the four, hulking adonni continued to shadow the group. Joerdan scowled, and slipped into the blackness after Jedite.

* * * * * * * *

The former generals and the scouts followed Bridgette along the shore of a river of what appeared to be blood. Serena had been a horrific sight when she’d found a loose stone at the bank and fallen in. Yet--once it was separated from the whole, the liquid in the river returned to normal water.

Malcolm wandered up to the front, where Bridgette led the group through the twisted tunnels and occasionally over the warped surface. There was no sun, and it was bitterly cold on the surface, though again, Bridgette cast her shield to warm them. All of the others were gathered around Nathan, who was explaining the plans. She glanced over at him, and her eyes warmed in concern. "What is it, Malcolm?"

Malcolm sighed, running his fingers through his silvery hair. "I was wondering something."

Bridgette nodded. "Oh? And what was that?"

Malcolm looked at her sideways. "Can't you read minds?"

Bridgette sighed and reached over, brushing a bit of dust from the shoulders of his cloak. "I can, yes, but that wouldn't be very nice, now would it?" Malcolm peered at her curiously. "You don't think I could still enjoy just flinging power around aimlessly do you?"

Malcolm looked at her hurt expression and shook his head. "Sorry." He touched her hand gently and took her arm.

"What did you need to know, Malcolm?"

"My parents." Bridgette stopped a moment, then continued walking. "What were they like? All I can remember is--" he shook his head. "Not much."

Bridgette kept her eyes forward. "Why do you wonder all of a sudden?"

Malcolm sighed. "I don't know. I suppose it's all of this--" he glanced back at Molly. "It's making me wonder what I missed."

Bridgette laid her hand over his where he held her arm. "You father was--a musician as well. He taught piano for awhile. Your mother--she was a teacher. English."

"What--happened? Why were we on the streets?"

Bridgette sighed. "Cut backs. There were both fired when you were about a year old." She sighed. "They managed for awhile, selling things, but eventually that ran out." Malcolm winced and Bridgette sighed and put her arm around his shoulders. "A common enough story, Malcolm, I'm sorry to say."

He rubbed at his forehead. "Why didn't you--do something."

Bridgette sighed. "Malcolm--I would have if I had been able to. But it took me time to find you."

He sighed and leaned close. "I just wish I could have had a normal life; this is--"

Bridgette sighed. "You don't know how many times I have wished for just that, Malcolm. I understand."

They walked in silence a moment. "Why did you care for us so much, anyway? I mean--I know you started caring for mortals once you spent time amongst them, but why the four of us in particular?"

Bridgette sighed. "Nathan is--he could be my son, Malcolm. Even to the way he smiles."

Malcolm paused. "Why can't he be?"

"Beryl's Things utterly destroyed what they killed, Malcolm. Down to the soul. There wasn't even a body left to mourn over."

Malcolm sighed. "And the rest of us?"

"Zoisite--Zoë and Jared--I don't know. They touched a place--" Bridgette sighed. "It must sound ridiculous for a millennia year old woman to say it was like having a family back."

Malcolm shook his head. "No. Not really." He tossed his cape back again. "So what about me?"

Bridgette looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Kyl'so."

* * * * * * * *

Jared trotted through the blackened landscape. **Care to tell me just what you are thinking of?**

**I'll let you know when we get there, Jedite,** Jared thought back. **You'd have to be a MacGyver junkie from hell to understand part of what I'm thinking of.**

**What is 'MacGyver'?**

**A television show. The main character could build just about anything with paper clips and duct tape. It actually works, if you know what you're doing.**

**Ah--** Jedite was quiet as the Portal came into view. Jared ducked through--and found himself confronted with the red-glowing end of a runed staff, a fierce-looking Melvin holding it before himself. "Woah--time out, Conan! It's me, Melvin."

Melvin lowered the staff. "What are you doing back?"

"Oh--just being my usual crazy self. Now come on! I need your help." Jared grabbed the sack that the torches had been in off the sofa and sprinted for the kitchen, Melvin on his heels.

* * * * * * * *

"Hey, Nathan! Am I doing this right?"

Nathan sighed and looked back at Sailor Moon. "It's rather hard t’learn on the march, Miss Serena," he said with a faint laugh.

"Why? You're doing it just fine," said Rei, frowning in concentration as she tried to get her feet to match what Nathan had showed them.

"Nathan's a prize winning dancer; you know--international level ones at this stuff," Zoë countered. "I'm only decent, but I'm going to have to take off these boots."

"This is impossible!" wailed Serena.

"Quiet!" snapped Rei.

Lita sighed. "Well--she's right. There's no way in hell we're going to be able to get our feet to do that--and what about the youma? Some of them have more feet than a spider."

Nathan sighed. "This isn't making it any easier, Girls."

"Well, sorry, but I'm not used to dancing," Rei snapped back.

"Mina and Molly are doing just fine," said Zoë.

"They’re good--but it’s not goin’ t’be enough in time." Nathan sighed. "Maybe Bri can work somethin’ out. It's not that I mind teachin’ you lot, but it's hard enough to teach this under calm circumstances."

"Hey--where is she, anyway?"

"Up front, talking with Malcolm," said Luna, nodding her head as she paced along the uneven ground at Zoë’s side.

They all looked and Serena giggled. "That's cute," she said, smiling at the way they walked close together, their heads bowed, nearly touching.

Zoë frowned, her face going taught, then she relaxed and shook her head. "Ah well."

Nathan smiled slightly, then called up, "Bri--there's a wee problem."

The tall woman stopped, turning from her intense, low conversation with Malcolm to look back over her shoulder. "Which is?"

"Well--th’ problem is me tryin’ t give a crash course in step dancin’ while runnin’ willy-nilly on uneven ground. An’ none of us in the right shoes," said Nathan. "Mol an’ Mina are picking it up fairly well, but they aren't gonna be nearly good enough in a few minutes."

Bridgette sighed and Malcolm colored and pulled out from under her companionable arm. "I suppose I'll have to--" she shook her head. "All right, everyone. Come here a moment, then."

* * * * * * * *

"I can understand why you're taking some of this stuff--it's flammable. But the rest--" Melvin picked up a large bottle of ground red pepper that Jared had set to a side, looking bewildered.

"You'd be surprised. Sprinkle that mop liberally with it that stuff and keep a good grip on it. Anything comes too close without being okayed, whack it in the face."

Melvin sighed and complied. "This is crazy."

Jared shrugged. "Of course it is! Wouldn't have it any other way!"

* * * * * * * *

"I have got such a headache," muttered Lita.

"What do you expect," Ami said back, rubbing at her forehead. "We just got our heads stuffed with years worth of knowledge in a few seconds."

Malcolm had paused to one side of the passageway, squinting at some engravings on the wall. Glancing around surreptitiously he reached into his jacket and pulled on his glasses and looked closer, frowning. "What's all that, then?" asked Nathan, digging in a small pouch he had brought with him.

"Warnings," said Malcolm. "Saying that the area ahead is off-limits; usual rubbish."

Nathan nodded, then pulled out a large bottle of aspirin. "Here, ladies."

"Why'd you bring that?" asked Rei. "Not that I'm complaining."

Nathan grinned. "I get migraines. An’ all this hair's giving me one."

* * * * * * * *

Jared ducked through the Portal, looking around, then waved Melvin through. The portal closed behind them, leaving them in the dim light of the glowing ball of light that Jedite had left hanging at the entrance. "Yuck," said Melvin. "Nice place."

"Yeah--about as nice as a good case of botulism." Jared picked up one of the heavy sacks and nodded to Melvin. "Come on."

The two of them went as quickly as they could through the twisted landscape. Finally, Melvin had to stop, setting down his sack and breathing heavily. "Why can't we just use magic to get there?" he panted, sinking to sit by his sack, the pepper-dusted mop lying in his lap, along with the staff.

"We are trying to avoid as much detection as possible," said Jedite, crossing his arms impatiently over his chest, glaring at the younger boy.

"Well--"

"Besides, teleporting directly to a place in the Negaverse is difficult, unless there is a pathway cleared for you. Or you use one of the Gates."

"Why?"

Jedite snorted. "Simple tactics, kiddo; don't you play chess or something? It's easier to guard a few Gates rather than a whole border." Jared took over for a minute. "You gotta think differently when you're dealing with a bunch of people that use magic regularly."

"Yeah, but--"

"Jedite."

Jared whirled and let Jedite take over as he turned to face--

--Joerdan.

And the Negaverse minion didn't look happy at all.