Well, Jasper’s given his threat. How will a different opponent change the episode? Well, read and find out.

Sailor Moon is copyright (c) 1992 Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation. English Language Adaptation (c) 1995 DiC Entertainment

Serena rushed towards the temple the next day. She hadn’t got her usual detention, but had actually been studying for the group’s weekly test. Though she doubted that Raye would believe that. "A busy girl's got things to do. I mean, can't be on time for everything. Ooh, but that Raye is gonna be so self-righteous. Can’t help it if I was finally figuring out that blasted math problem on my own!" "If you're one minute late, YOU'RE MEATLOAF!" Raye’s warning from earlier that morning echoed in the back of Serena’s mind.

But something stopped Serena’s progress. She saw Darien stooping just ahead of her.

"Hey, there's Darien." It was normal for the two of them to give one another a hard time. So why not follow with the norm? "Hey, there's a bee on your back."

And with that Serena gave his back a sound slap, unintentionally right on his wound. "Ow!" "It's gone now." Serena chuckled.

But, Darien didn’t react with some snide comment or taunt like always. "Thank you. I hate bees. Appreciate it, Meatball Head."

If it hadn’t been for that hated pet name he always called her, Serena might have actually believed that the guy was being nice to her.

"Ooh . . . stop calling me that! I get enough from your friend Raye. I don't need it from you, too." She gave him a raspberry in her anger, not seeing the look of resignation (or goodbye) in his eyes.

"Okay, I won't say it anymore. Hey, I gotta get going. See ya around, Serena."

Serena was taken by surprise by that. Darien changed his attitude towards her? Something had to be going on. "What? No way. Darien was actually nice to me."

Then she took a look at her hand, noticing that it was wet. "What's this? Hey, this looks like BLOOD? He's hurt. Must be bad."

So was that why he acted so nice? He was in pain, and ditzy Serena had gone and made it worse without realizing it. But, why hadn’t he said something? And why did he rush off away from the closest hospital? "He's not himself. I better follow him and see if he's all right."

Darien took a break in an alleyway. He was lost in his pain and thoughts. He knew that Serena hadn’t meant to make the ache in his shoulder worse, and walked away before they got into one of their blazing verbal battles. He then wondered if he’d ever get the chance to talk to the teen that drove him crazy again. What if he lost the battle tonight? "Maybe I should see a doctor. I need all the strength I can get against that sneak Jasper."

A hand grabbed his good shoulder, and reflexively Darien turned with his hand ready to give a karate chop. Only then did he see that it was Serena. "AAAH!"

He winced inside for scaring her. But this was the worst timing the ditzy girl had ever picked. "Why are you following me?!"

"Cool your jets, would ya?!" Serena snapped, and Darien made a mental note to kick himself for being so cold towards her before softening his tone of voice. "Sorry. You just surprised me."

"Well, you don't need to go ballistic, Darien. I just was worried about you, that's all." Serena couldn’t understand why, but she knew that he was hurting worse than he showed. Something had to be terribly wrong.

Darien wondered what the girl was up to. No one cares for a person who teases them. And certainly no one cared about him. "What for?"

"'Cause you're bleeding, and I doubt it happened in karate class. Am I right?" Serena just couldn’t figure out how Darien could have gotten so hurt, yet not go to the doctor.

Darien could feel that his time was slipping away, and he really didn’t want to get Serena involved in this. She deserved to grow up without fighting the Negaverse. Besides, he was always acting like a jerk towards her in an effort to make her see the beautiful woman inside of herself that he saw from the start. "Why do you care, anyway?"

"'Cause . . . you're Raye's friend." And yet, Serena felt this pull towards her tormenter. She knew that she would miss him terribly if something went wrong and he was lost. But why would she think like that? He was never there when she and the Scouts fought, so what could go wrong … and what could take this giant hot looking pain out of her life?

"Just leave me alone." Darien winced as he tried to get going again and heard Serena gasp. "It's not serious."

At least it’s not as serious as the wound he’d be tending to later on, if he made it through this.

Serena knew better. It was worse than he was letting on, and for some odd reason she felt the burning in her own shoulder as well. "Not serious? Ha! As if. You know . . . I got a C+ in First Aid! I can tell!" She didn’t say how she was able to tell the extent of his wound. He left her without a word, but that wasn’t going to stop Serena. "Ooh. Would you? I-I'm gonna find out what that guy's up to."

As Darien made his way to the Starlight Tower, Jasper watched his approach from one of the high floors. "Right on time."

"What's happening?" A strange field surrounded Darien, and only then did he realize that he wasn’t alone. Serena had followed him again! And this time she was caught up in the battle. Could he keep her safe and defeat Jasper in battle?

Serena was terrified. She couldn’t call the others for help, and she couldn’t transform. She could feel that Monlou was near, but mentally told the youma to go get the others before pretending that she wasn’t a superhero. "Darien, what's going on?"

"Huh? Huh? Serena, you've gotta get outta here!" Oh god, she can’t get involved with this! He knew that she had a crush on Tuxedo Mask, but hated his guts. That meant no transforming and he’d be at a severe disadvantage because of that. Besides he doubted that Jasper would keep it a secret.

Serena whimpered. "Wish I could."

She also wished the Scouts and Neflyte were there to back her up. Then she wished that she and Darien were safe back at the Crown arguing. But wishing for something doesn’t make it come true.

* * * * * * * *

Even though she was running late for that meeting at the temple, Molly had to check on Zoicite and Malachite. She was worried sick about them going back to Beryl. Not because of the danger to herself and those she loved, but because it would certainly cost the pair their lives, and she didn’t want to see that happen. Neflyte was still at work, and she could get her guardian youma to transport her to the temple afterwards.

Opening the door slowly, she saw that Malachite was still out of it. But Zoicite was awake and sitting up eating what the youma had brought her for a snack. “Feeling better?”

“Yes, thank you. I still don’t understand why you didn’t turn us away last night and let me die.”

Molly smiled at how that reminded her of Neflyte’s words after she and the Scouts saved his life. “Is that what people expect in that evil society you, Malachite, and Neflyte were in? That people would use you and then turn their backs on you when you needed help?”

“In a nutshell, yes.” Zoicite’s face showed that was obviously what she expected everywhere. Molly hugged the stunned woman. “You have a lot to learn about our world then. First lesson: you always get what you give to others. You gave your trust to Ulee, so now we trust you and Malachite. See?” Zoicite nodded. But Molly’s communicator interrupted the moment. “I know I’m late for the meeting. I was checking on Zoicite and Malachite. I promise that I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Please tell me that Serena’s with you!” Raye asked, not bothering to hide the alarm in her voice.

Molly felt her stomach hit the floor. Serena shouldn’t be that late - even if she somehow got a detention from the principal that day. “No. She was working on her school work in the library when I left. She’s been dodging the principal lately because he’s out to get her in a detention and throw her out of the program any way he can. You mean that she’s not there yet?”

“Nope. Mina - that’s Venus’ real name - she and Artemis said that they got bad vibes at the Starlight Tower. And then Monlou showed up and said that Serena and Darien were transported there by Jasper! Meet us there in five, okay? Serena may be in deep trouble.” Lita answered.

Molly didn’t like the situation one bit. “See ya there. The youma can get ya there faster.”

“Okay, make it in two.” Luna whined into the communicator. That meant this was way worse than anyone was willing to admit.

“Right. Molly out.” She sighed as she shut the cover on the white, gold, and silver watch-like device.

“Malachite and I should go too. We want to help, for last night.”

“But, you two need your rest.”

Malachite was wide-awake and sat up. “Not while Sailor Moon might have walked into a trap! Ulee, contact …”

“No need, I got the same summons. No way to make you two stay here?” Neflyte asked as he calmed his love, who had jumped at the sudden sound of his voice behind her.

Zoicite could see that he had changed in the short time he was free from Beryl. Maybe this ‘returning to old duties’ wasn’t going to be such a bad idea. “Do you really think I won’t find a way out?”

“Then let’s get out of here.” And with that the four of them appeared near the others by the tower. Mars was looking all over. "I don't see any way in, guys."

Neflyte was standing with the other Generals, standing as they would before any battle. "Mercury, can you do a computer scan?"

Mercury activates her VR visor. "Serena's trapped in an elevator with Darien."

Zoicite felt a twinge of guilt because it should be her facing whatever awaited Serena - Sailor Moon; especially after the previous night. No, it was time to start thinking with a level head. Serena and Darien got in, so there had to be a way for them to get to them. “Can we get in to them?”

"I don't think so. Everything is sealed," Mercury reported.

Damn, there had to be a way.

Luna moaned, "We've got to get into that building."

"That's right," Artemis added.

Then Jupiter decided to try something she could feel building up within her. "I call upon the great power of Jupiter. Help me bust into that building! JUPITER THUNDER CRASH!”

The blast blew the doors off their hinges. Which surprised Solaris. "Nothing like the direct approach.” “Hurry, before it’s too late.” Jupiter cried as she rushes forward.

As the group rushed in and readied to move up to the battle in one transport, Luna called out. “Hurry, everyone!”

* * * * * * * *

Jasper stood waiting for the elevator to reach the floor he had chosen for the battleground. A teasingly soft touch wrapped around his shoulders. “Don’t want to make your hubby jealous, do you my sweet pretty?”

The strange-looking woman lightly brushed her fangs against his neck. “He’s being chewed out by Beryl right now. If you don’t mind, I’m going to get some revenge on her through her little longing and his girlfriend.”

“Just realize that you will be paying for it … not me. Did you put the crystals away for safe keeping?” Jasper pulled the teasing female in his arms.

“Of course. Soon there will only be the Negaverse. Could you go check in with the Queen? I’ll watch the sweet little couple for you.”

Jasper raised an eyebrow. “You take the rap for whatever happens while I’m gone.”

“Yes, yes. See you later, dearie.”

And with that Jasper left the unnamed woman in the room alone.

* * * * * * * *

Inside of the elevator, Serena was shuddering inside. "Ooh, this elevator ride is taking so LONG! It's like slow torture. Darien, why are you after the Rainbow Crystals?"

She understood why Tuxedo Mask was, but why would Darien? "Oh, I'm sorry. Ha. I guess that's pretty nosy of me, huh?"

Darien looked out the window, acting as if he hadn’t heard her for a moment. Finally he decided to let her in. Given that he was asking her to trust him with her safety, he should give her his trust in return. "I wanna know who I am."

"Huh?" Serena was stunned. Was he opening up to her?

"You see, my whole life, I've never known who I really am or where I come from. I mean; I'm not even sure my real name is Darien." He felt a weight pulled off of his shoulders as he told his secret. "I was orphaned in a terrible car crash when I was really young."

Darien remembered that horrid night, and how hard he tried to remember anything about himself only to fail. "I lived at the orphanage 'til I could get a job. It never bothered me much 'til I kept having this recurring dream. There's this princess waiting for me. She keeps begging me to bring her this Imperium Silver Crystal. I think she can tell me who I am. What's weird is that, even though it's a dream, I feel as though I've met this girl. Pretty crazed, huh?"

Seeing that she was genuinely listening to him made Darien feel better. It was like he wasn’t alone anymore. "Anyway, thanks for listening, Meatball Head."

"Don't start. Remember, you said you weren't gonna call me that anymore. Remember that?" Serena snapped as she tried to keep from crying. She felt so bad for all the times she had made fun of him; Darien had such a strange past, and she was so cold towards him most of the time. And he was in the same position as her beloved Tuxedo Mask in that neither could remember who they were. "You do remember?"

"Of course." Darien knew that it was a lot to put on Serena, but it felt so good to know that someone knew the truth about himself.

Serena felt bad for snapping at him after he opened up to her. "Well, I'm glad you told me. Must be hard not knowing who you are."

"I get clues." He admitted.

Serena looked hard at the man before her. Just as many times before she felt as if she knew him from somewhere … but where? "Huh? He can't be Tuxedo Mask. No way. I'm just imagining things."

* * * * * * * *

Above them, the unnamed woman looked over the city as she summoned her dark powers to take out the power all through Tokyo. "Soon, the Universe will be no more. Only the Negaverse will prevail." While at the same moment the Scouts and all three Generals were following the cats up the stairs at their fastest speeds, because the youmas as well as the Generals’ powers were weakened to the point of not working much further than a level at a time - and that wore them too far.

Luna turned to urge the others on, before taking off to catch up to Artemis. “Hurry everyone!”

No matter how foreboding or how oppressive the sense of evil was around them, this group wasn’t ready to give up. Mercury shouted up towards Luna, but was speaking to everyone. "We can't stop!"

The evil energies began to collect heavier. Jupiter shouted out, "We've gotta hurry!"

"I'm getting major Negavibes," Venus panted as she pulled herself around another turn.

The area around them began to swirl and take on the image of the Negaverse. Artemis growled at the development. "This is getting ugly."

* * * * * * * *

In the elevator, Serena and Darien held tight to each other as the car shuddered to a stop. Serena hated this, and she couldn’t change or call for help because of Darien being there and Monlou was gone. "Oh . . . we're stopping. Now what, Darien?"

Above them, the unnamed woman chuckled as she activated her dark plans. "Who cares what Beryl wants? I'm in charge of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask's destinies now. What better way to end this than to get rid of the Scout’s leader and her bodyguard? Too bad they're gonna have a little accident."

The woman sent down a huge fireball into the shaft. Serena was the first to see it. "Darien! Look! Fire!" Serena softly spoke to herself as the fire filled the shaft and fall towards them fast. "Sailor Moon could get us outta this, but then Darien'll find out who I really am."

After a few moments’ silent thought, Serena saw that there was no choice in the matter. "There's only one choice. No fun getting toasted. Oh … you're going down, Jasper! MOON PRISM POWER!"

Darien turned to ask Serena what she was talking about, when he saw the truth before his eyes. "It's her! Serena's Sailor Moon!"

Above them, the unnamed woman had been joined by Jasper. “The Queen is upset with you to say the least. She wants Darien alive, my pet.”

“He has gotten out of worse before, this we both know. I won’t be held accountable for the fact that he panics when his girlfriend’s in danger.” She purred as Jasper wrapped his arms around her before she steps away to teleport. She winked as she disappeared, “She won't mind with all seven crystals in her possession - that is after you either fish Darien out of there … or his body.”

Jasper started to walk away when a familiar voice rang out. “HOLD IT!"

"Who's that?"

Sailor Moon and Darien had made it out of the shaft safely. "Takes more than a measly fireball to get rid of Sailor Moon, you slimemeister! You should know that after all this time. I am Sailor Moon, enemy of the Negaverse, and that means YOU."

"Ha, ha. How ironic. It isn't you that I want, but your pal, Tuxedo Mask," Jasper chuckled.

Sailor Moon didn’t know what this ‘General’ was planning, but she wasn’t ready to fall for it. "Oh . . . Tuxedo Mask? Gimme a break. He's not even here, Jasper."

Darien smiled as he corrected her. "Yes I am."

"No way," Moon gasped.

"I am Tuxedo Mask!"

Moon asked in her shock, "You are?"

"Mm hmm." Darien smiled as he always did for her alone and pulled out a rose before transforming right in front of her.

"He is Tuxedo Mask. I don't believe it." That was enough for Moon. "Of all the . . . Cranky old Darien my dream hunk? This is gonna take some adjusting to.”

Tuxedo’s first priority was to Moon. "You should get outta here, Sailor Moon. This fight doesn't concern you anymore."

"Course it concerns me, you kidding? If we stick together, we can beat 'em. Let's do it." Moon wasn’t ready to back down from the fight after all of the times he had been there for her.

Tuxedo Mask wasn’t in the mood to argue with her. "Sailor Moon, I'VE got to earn those crystals."

Moon stood firm on her conviction. "I know, so you can find your princess."

"Yeah." Tuxedo had begun to hope that maybe Serena would tell him that she was the one sending him the dreams, but it was now unlikely to be that.

Jasper was annoyed about all of the chatter. "So, Tuxedo Mask, you still interested in fighting for the Rainbow Crystals or not?"

"You know I am, but you've got to guarantee a fair fight and Sailor Moon's safety first," Tuxedo shot back at Jasper.

As if he would really mean it. "Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Neither hero nor heroine saw the glint of moonlight that refracted off of the black dagger behind them both. Jasper grinned, "Well, come on then. Ha, ha. Let's get it over with."

"You're on." All Tuxedo could think about was getting it over with.

The black dagger flew at Tuxedo mask from behind, and Sailor Moon saw it. "WATCH OOOOOUUUUUT!"

But it was too late. The dagger plunged deep into his back, and Tuxedo dropped to the ground. Moon screamed in agony at the sight. "NOOOO! TUXEDO MASK!"

* * * * * * * *

The others made it just as a black arrow went into Tuxedo Mask’s already wounded shoulder! It was too late for any of them to help.

Sailor Moon screamed in deep aching pain. “No! Tuxedo Mask!”

"It's up to you now to get the crystals," he gravely spoke, as if his time were quickly running out. It was too horrible!

Sailor Moon nodded her understanding. But she still felt his pain, mixed with the pain of her aching heart. For she truly loved this man, and felt a connection to him that was seemingly old as time itself and oh so new as well. Yet, before they had a chance to see what this new feeling was, it was almost as if he was telling her goodbye … forever.

"And . . . I want you to know that I've always been . . . on your side and always will be . . .” Then he slipped into unconsciousness.

Sailor Moon was panicked. She couldn’t lose him like this! "Tuxedo Mask, no. Please don't go. Dear Darien, you can't go. You can't."

A tear of pure and true love slid down her face and shimmered as it activated the seven Rainbow Crystals - all joining with that tear to create the Imperium Silver Crystal.

Luna gasped. "The Imperium Silver Crystal!"

"What happens now?" Artemis asked his Lady, while everyone was watching the spectacle.

"Don't know. Maybe the Princess will be revealed." Luna didn’t dare tear her eyes away for the sight - none of them dared.

The crystal united itself with the Crescent Moon Wand, as it had been a thousand year before. Then Sailor Moon stood up as if she was in a trance. A shimmering light surrounded both her and Tuxedo Mask and their clothes changed to the Royal Garb they once wore long before.

Venus and Zoicite gasped in unison. "It's Sailor Moon!"

Mercury and Solaris echoed them. "SHE'S the Moon Princess!"

Sailor Mars was as struck as the rest. "Who'd have thought?"

"We've finally found her, Artemis." Luna was so happy! Artemis smiled at the vision of the love he knew long before they were weighed down with this quest. "And about time."

The three Generals were worried. It was time that they faced their past sins against their Prince, his Princess, and her mother.

"Hm, hm. Me, Serena, a princess? Now this is way past weird," Serena thought to herself.

"You're the Moon Princess from so long ago. Right in front of me, and I didn't even know." Luna shook her head with shock. The Moon Princess had been safely with them all along.

"Tuxedo Mask, I feel you are growing weaker. Please do not go. I need you," Princess Serena whispered.

Darien looked up at her and it brought all of his memories back to him. "You're . . . you're finally free . . . Serena. You're free, and now I remember everything. It's all so clear. I am Prince Darien."

At the touch of his hand she too regained her memories. "Yes, Price Darien. I am remembering now, too. I am Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom, and you were a prince from Earth. One day, we were to marry. I can picture the last time we were together."

"I gave you my Star Locket so you would always remember me."

"It was right before the last battle with the Negaverse, and you were going to defend our kingdom from the dark forces."

"It was the last time I saw you." They remembered their bittersweet end. Princess Serena smiled as she looked down on him. "You DID come back, and you set me free like in our dream."

"We are free," Darien weakly whispered.

Their memories restored, the crystal’s magic returned to its wielder, and both fainted - returned to their modern day counterparts of Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon.

Jasper waited patiently, now the prize was his. “Now, I’ll just relieve the brat of the Crystal.”

“No you won’t, you coward!” Zoicite shouted and took left flanking position of the couple.

Malachite took the right. “We are the Scout Generals, and Guardians of Prince Darien and his Princess Serena!”

Neflyte took his stance directly in front of the couple and blocking Jasper. “And we will not betray their trusts again!”

“Well, too bad you can’t save ol’ Princy boy! Later, traitors! You’ll never get out of here, so I can wait to get my hands on the Crystal.” Jasper disappeared; turning around, everyone saw that Darien had disappeared as well.

Neflyte felt as if he’d been kicked in the stomach. He had failed his Prince again!

“What will we do? The Princess will blame us because we were supposed to protect them - that’s our duty!” Zoicite panicked as she knelt by Serena’s sleeping body and rocked.

Malachite sighed, for he knew what Neflyte was about to say - still it didn’t make it any easier. “We face her when she comes to - for our past crimes, and this as well. She is our judge, and no one else.”

Deftly, Neflyte picked Serena up and all of them started to search for the way out.

* * * * * * * *

Well, Serena’s still the Moon Princess. Now what is going to happen?

Will the Moon Princess forgive Neflyte and the others as Serena so unwittingly assured Neflyte she would on his birthday?

Well, you’ll have to read to find out.