Well, Desiree’s room is ready. The group is set for that future, but to go forward one must know where one has been. Time to go back … don’t ya think?

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

... And Death Shall Have No Dominion
by Bonnie S

Chapter Twenty-Three - Desiree Says 'Hello' and the Past Returns

* * * * * * * *

A month later, Jessica knew that the time had finally come. There was nothing she could do to stop it … no matter how much she wanted to.

“I don’t understand why we have to go off now, mamma," Molly asked as she took a tight hold on her beloved Neflyte’s hand.

Jessica saw that fear, but knew that this had to happen. She only prayed that the gift she saw coming would help. “The Negaverse will return to try regaining Darien. And all of you need to remember what was so that you can avoid the mistakes of the past.”

“Then we’d better go on.” Darien rested his hand on Serena’s shoulder, sensing that her fear was as great as his own.

“Right. Generals, would you please open up the warp hole,” Serena barely got out. She was starting to sound like the teenager she had been when this all began. “Everyone, let’s all transform.”

Before executing her order, all four Generals proudly changed into their old uniforms (Jedite having only regained his own that morning). The Scouts all quickly transformed, Sailor Moon following Sailor Solaris as the last two to do thus. Darien turned into Tuxedo Mask, deciding to save his Royal uniform for the final battle with Beryl.

The group bound into the warp, and found themselves in an underground cavern. Jessica led the group down a tunnel. “Now you all understand that the instant we opened the portal Beryl sensed our move. Be ready for anything.”

"What a creepy place." Luna couldn’t hold back her shiver.

Artemis wished that he could take her out of the fight, but he knew this was as much their destiny as it was the destiny of the Scouts. "You're telling me. Let's go before we get caught in a fight. Luna and I are gonna head up this way and check something Central Control picked up last night."

Moon had a bad feeling about the cats going off alone, but also could feel that it was supposed to be like this. A glance to Queen Jessica’s nodding face confirmed that. “Fine. However, the second you find anything I want you both back here on the double. And be careful!”

“Yes, mommy dear. You Scouts be careful too,” Artemis tossed over his shoulder as he and Luna carefully moved out of the group’s sights.

Once they were out of earshot, Luna looked over at him with a nervous twitch in her whiskers. "You sure this is a good idea?"

"Relax, Luna. The Scouts and the Generals will be fine. After all they have Queen Jessica with them." Artemis might have said it, but he too was worried. This was going to tricky on the best of terms. But there was no other way to do it.

Back with the group, Jessica took a visible breath before walking on. “This is the tunnel we have to take. But the way will by no means be easy. And Beryl does know that we are here. We will have to rush if we want to get where we have to be before we get attacked.”

After a few minutes, an odd mist loomed and enveloped the group. "Hold it, team. Something's in here. Something cold."

"Welcome, Sailor Scouts. So, you finally decided to surrender the Imperium Crystal. I'll be glad to take it off your hands." Jasper winked at Jupiter. “And maybe a few of you will be lucky enough to be paired off with the stronger Negaverse Generals.”

While the Guardian Generals chuckled at that, Jupiter growled at the obvious threat to herself. "Dream on, you cabana boy loser. JUPITER THUNDER CRASH!"

Unfortunately, it didn’t do a thing, as Jasper teleported out of the way. Solaris’ cut off scream grabbed all of their attentions.

Rudolph had her in the tight grip of dark energy bands. One had her nose and mouth covered, and from her struggling and his movements the group all guessed that the monster wasn’t wasting any time in his darkest threat against her.

Zoicite and Malachite both sent their attacks to shred the bands to ribbons, as Neflyte carefully used his sword to cut the remaining bands from his love’s body. Just as they were standing, Solaris caught sight of Jet coming in with a sneak attack.

“SOLARIS WIND SHATTER!”

Jet was off her guard, and took the full blast of Solaris’ attack. Grabbing Rudolph, she vanished. Moon saw it and clapped excitedly. “Way to go Solaris! You showed that witch!”

Jasper was becoming impatient fast. "Hey, Sailor Moon, let's make a deal. You hand over that crystal, and I won't douse your friends!"

"No deals with double-crossing, bad-bleach-job Negatrash like you. Get ready. The Negaverse is dust."

"Empty threat, Sailor Moon. We wasted Queen Serenity, and we'll do the same to you." Jasper chuckled as if it was a joke.

Moon gasped and glared at the scum before her. "How do you know about Queen Serenity, huh?"

Jasper acted insulted. "Because the traitorous Generals were not the only ones there a thousand years ago! I was there on that glorious day when we trashed the Moon Kingdom, and let me tell you something, Moon brat. You've got a lot to learn. You're no Queen Serenity."

"Liar! She would NOT have sent crumbs like you into the future with us. YOU'RE LYING AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING MY CRYSTAL!” Serena screamed.

Neflyte growled. “She is the Moon Princess and leader of the Sailor Scouts, and I know for a fact that she is all that her mother ever hoped she would become and more!”

Jasper sent a spell that hit the entire group in its powerful blast. The crescent Moon wand was knocked out of Sailor Moon’s hands. "Oh no-no-no-no!"

"The Imperium Crystal will be mine!" Jasper rushed towards the Wand, but it stopped him by spinning and hitting the back of his hand.

"My wand! What's happening? Where are we going?" As it hit the ground a spell it had been waiting to activate for a very long time. It transported the Scouts, the Generals, and Tuxedo Mask through the barriers of space.

"What's going on? Where are we? What is this place?" Sailor Moon had opened her eyes to find her group was still surrounding her, but she had no idea where they were. The landscape was so foreign and strange, but not frightening. "It feels familiar . . . somehow."

"That's because it's your home, Serena. It's what's left of the Moon Kingdom," a voice softly said.

"Huh? What's going on here? How come you know my name?" This spooked Serena. The Moon Kingdom?

She turned around and saw a small light was floating in the sky. Its shape changed, and soon revealed itself to be the spirit of a beautiful Queen!

"Are you for real?" Serena gasped.

"Oh Serena, you haven't changed at all. Still asking a million questions. Just as curious as a kitten, but I'm not surprised you don't remember me. That's the way I arranged things. I'm your mother, Queen Serenity."

Serena was stunned with tears in her eyes. "YOU? You mean, we're actually back on the Moon? It's not some wongo dream or something?"

"No, Serena. It's not a dream. This is definitely real, and since you've all found your way here, it must be time you learned the truth."

By then all of the others were awake - including the nervous Generals. Serenity gave all four a sweet smile. “Welcome back Guardian, Generals. I am glad that all of you are here. Soon you will all be called upon to help my daughter, Prince Darien, and the Scouts to end the threat posed by Queen Beryl. My daughter forgave each of you with her whole heart, and so have I.”

That was a stunning realization for the Generals. Neflyte stepped forward, holding himself higher for the confirmation. “On behalf of the other Generals, I thank you for your absolution and your reception of our returning to defend your daughter, our Prince, and the Scouts.”

“Hello, Jessica, my friend. Thank you for reminding the girls of what they are.” Serenity smiled at Molly’s mother.

Jessica curtsied with a smiled on her face and tear in her eye. “Thank you for helping me be reunited with my daughter and son-in-law.”

“Now, I know a little girl who has asked for time with her parents and grandma. I hope that you two have been getting ready, High General Neflyte … Sailor Solaris. For your time is waning fast.” Serenity chuckled as she emphasized Neflyte’s old rank.

“Our daughter?” Molly gasped as she curled into her future husband’s arms.

Serenity chuckled and nodded. “I hope that the two of you have been making plans.”

A soft chuckling caught all of their attentions. “Mommy! Daddy! Yea! I missed you both so much!” Out from behind the Queen a girl, maybe five in age, with bright curly auburn that resembled a blend of Neflyte and Molly’s colors ran out and leapt into Molly’s arms. Molly clutched the girl tight to her chest, while her tears fell down her cheeks. Neflyte stood there in awe of the little angel his love held in her arms - was that really the baby they lost so long before?

“Hi daddy! Hug please!” The child giggled as she reached out both of her little arms clutching her small fist in an attempt to get in his arms.

Molly smiled as she rested the girl into Neflyte’s arms, chuckling at how shocked he was. He doubted that their little girl would still love him, and now he was proven wrong. “I love you daddy!”

That brought tears to his eyes. “And I love you little one.”

“Hi Grammy!” She giggled as she accepted a kiss on the cheek from Jessica.

The woman hadn’t dared hope to see her grandchild yet. “Hello, baby girl.”

“Do I have a name now, mommy?” Tears were slowly filling the girl’s eyes and her bottom lip trembled.

Both Neflyte and Molly smiled and nodded, which made the little girl giggle and jump excitedly in her father’s arms. “What is it? What is it?”

The group all chuckled and smiled as Molly said it for the first time in front of them all. “Desiree Namid Renee Stanton. It means ‘desired star dancer reborn’. Do you like it?”

“Yes! It’s so pretty! Now I’m real!” Desiree cried out proudly. She was her parents’ daughter without question.

Neflyte smiled as he kissed the girl’s forehead. The child he and Molly had yet to create already took him - heart and all. “Not quite yet, baby girl. But very soon.”

“As impatient as her mother,” Jessica chuckled. Molly blushed softly, which made Desiree giggle and Neflyte smile.

"Now I'll take you back . . . to the final days of our kingdom," Serenity said.

A brilliant flash of light enveloped the group. And the once shattered columns, buildings, fountains, and gardens slowly returned to the way they were long before.

"I'm sure Luna told you all about the Silver Millennium, when all the planets were at peace. The whole Universe was a happy place, and our Moon Kingdom was the happiest place of all. There were fireworks and parties every night, and dancing and laughing." Serenity said.

Then turning to her daughter, the Queen smiled. "I raised you to follow in my footsteps and rule the Moon, but most of the time you spend staring at the Earth, for you'd fallen in love with a young man from there."

Serena smiled up at her love as Darien wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “A young man I am still very much in love with.”

Everyone looked up at the palace and saw then Princess Serena looking up at Earth from the second floor balcony … lost in lonely thoughts of the love who was born on that planet. Sailor Moon relaxed into Tuxedo Mask’s arms as she remembered how she had been told that there were unsubstantiated reports that Queen Beryl had overran Earth’s armies and was ruling from Earth’s high palace, and that all contact with the planet’s royal family was lost - which had the planets believing that the family was dead … though her love may or may not have escaped his family’s fate.

In fact, because of those reports no one from Earth was trusted. Princess Serena knew that there was something else that created that mistrust, but her mother and friends refused to tell her - wanting her to have the time to grow up. Someone had to be the cheerful one, and she was the best at it - a friend who could make the worst stormy weather turn sunny again.

From the walkway below, Prince Darien called up to his love. "Serena . . .”

"Darien. Oh finally, you're here." Serena tried to show that she hadn’t believed the reports that he might have perished. Obviously the reports were wrong. If his planet were in trouble Darien wouldn’t be there. So, he was simply late.

"I have some bad news, princess."

She didn’t want it to be that the reports were accurate. So she came up with the best of bad news her love might be there to deliver. "You cannot come to the ball?"

"If it were only that, Serena. Terrible things are happening on Earth. An evil power is taking over there." It was the worst. How it tore through both lovers.

Serena knew that he’d not stay for her, not if leaving would mean he could stop the evil before it came to the Moon Kingdom. But it hurt that she very well might not see her true love again. "Then you must go."

"Yes, but by the time I get back home, it may already be too late. This Queen Beryl appeared out of nowhere. No one knows where she came from, and her warriors are amazingly strong, maybe even unbeatable." Darien shuddered softly, but Serena saw it.

Tuxedo Mask remembered all of the information he had withheld for his Princess’ sake. Unconsciously, he tightened his hold on Sailor Moon. She reacted by pulling him tighter to her chest as well.

Then they all heard the guards running towards Prince Darien. "Stop him! He could be a spy!"

He was caught, but Darien wasn’t going to give up yet. He had to talk with Queen Serenity. Earth was lost, but the Moon Kingdom very well could turn the war around and give him a chance to save his home planet. And if it were not to be recovered, at least his love and her people would be safe - which was more important to him. "Listen! I better go."

"Darien . . . Oh, they must suspect everyone from Earth." Serena called out, but he was already gone. The guards rushed past her without any second glance. "Hurry! After him!"

* * * * * * * *

Back on Earth in the twentieth century, Luna and Artemis found and followed a tiny tunnel until they finally saw daylight. Luna felt her heart rise slightly, as the darkness had been depressing her. How the Generals had lived in that state for over a thousand years without going mad was a mystery for her. "Is that light I see down there?"

"Yeah, and about time, too. My paws are getting sore," Artemis groaned.

With a new energy both cats burst from the tunnel and found themselves in the middle of a frozen wasteland. Luna again felt her heart sink, along with her sixth sense prickling - meaning that the Negaverse was nearby! "What is this place? It's so cold and bleak."

"It's the perfect place for Beryl to launch her attack from." Artemis looked around. Luna could easily see that the white cat too had picked up on the Negavibes that she had felt.

* * * * * * * *

Back on the Moon in the past, the group found themselves in the hall. Serenity had thrown a ball to keep the people focused on something other than the impending war.

Princess Serena was walking down the stairs to meet the guests at the ball. The look on her face told the group how sad she was without her Prince. Sailor Moon too had often worn that cheerless look on her face when Darien was under Beryl’s influence. As she made it to the bottom of the stairs, a young man touched her hand.

"Princess, may I have this dance?" As it was a masked ball, he had one over his eyes. He was in a black tuxedo that had on a black cape that was red inside of it. It was Prince Darien! "Could be our last one."

It was hard to tell the Prince from Tuxedo Mask. Now he realized why the costume was so important to him - why he never changed it.

Without a beat, Serena’s frown turned into a chuckling smile. She and her Prince joined the dancing couples out on the floor. "I'm so happy you came back."

Knowing that they had to witness what was happening, the couples in the group fought the urge to join in the festivities. Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon remembered that dance from so long before.

"I couldn't leave without having one last dance with you. I'm afraid all of this is going to change, Serena. This Beryl, she's more dangerous than I thought. The whole Universe is in danger," Darien explained as they danced.

"Even the Moon?" Serena gasped. She hadn’t dared dread that the evil her love was facing could threaten her Kingdom.

Darien nodded as he pulled her closer to him. Burning every moment of that sweet time into his memory. "Especially the Moon. Beryl plans to take over the whole Universe, and to do that she must first conquer the Moon. You must prepare for the worst, Serena. Your mother knows I'm not a spy. She's asked me to stay and help defend her kingdom."

Tuxedo Mask still remembered that dance. It was one of the memories that had helped him return after Beryl had him brainwashed. Still, he remembered what happened next. And he dreaded it.

Sailor Moon too finally remembered that night, and she didn’t want to go to its ending. She wished that she could change the outcome. But what they were seeing was very much like a tape. It had already happened, and could not be altered - despite all of their wishes to do such.

The group followed the couple as they left the party to get some air and privacy as they continued their talk.

Princess Serena was having a hard time holding her tears back, but she was trying to keep a brave face for her only love. "Oh Darien, I cannot believe this is happening."

"Queen Beryl's relentless, and she'll destroy absolutely everything that's in her way to get exactly what she wants. I'll fight as hard as I can, but you must know I might not come back. I just hope you know how much you mean to me." Prince Darien pulled his love close.

"I do." Princess Serena placed the Star Locket he gave her on the day of their engagement announcement for him to remember her by, and so he would return to her, in his hand. It was created by magic to only play for the two of them.

He knew that nothing could hold them apart. Their love was strong and wouldn’t break under Beryl’s evil. "You're in my heart."

"And you will always be in mine," Princess Serena sighed as the tears finally trickled down her cheeks.

One last time they kissed, both fearing that they would never see one another again.

Unfortunately, Beryl decided to choose that night to attack the Moon with her warriors and the Negaforce. Luna and Artemis, Queen Serenity’s cat advisors, were the first to see the waves of troops land near the palace and rushed to spread the alarm.

"We're under attack! UNDER ATTACK!" Luna shouted as she ran into the ballroom with her boyfriend.

Artemis nodded towards her before running for the other side of the room. "Get ready for battle! We need everyone we can get to fight! Hurry! To the armaments!"

An explosion that was created by the Negaforce hit on the Palace perimeter and shook the building right down to its foundation. Princess Serena’s royal court and guardians (the Sailor Scouts) rushed off to fight - leaving the Queen and the Princess to tend to the people who rushed to the palace for protection. Even with their strongest attacks, the Princess Senshi couldn’t harm the Negaforce.

"Ha, ha, ha. Pathetic humans, I will vanquish you," a voice taunted them before sending a beam of pure dark energy that sent them all stumbling back from its force.

Queen Beryl and her army descended on the palace. What stunned the kingdom’s warriors was that the four highest-ranking Generals of Earth’s mightiest armies were leading the enemy! Their eyes were cold and cruel, and they were not there to help the Moon Kingdom for certain.

Neflyte and the real time Generals couldn’t look at it. They still felt so ashamed for their acts. Solaris snuggled deep into Neflyte’s embrace, and Desiree wrapped her tiny arms tight around his neck. “It’s okay daddy. You’re not him anymore.”

“Thanks to your mommy, that is.” Neflyte mouthed ‘I love you so much’ to the beauty in his arm, and smiled when she looked into his eyes with nothing but love in her own and mouthed back ‘I love you more.'

Then Beryl’s cackling brought the tiny family back to the moment. "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Very soon, the entire Universe will be under my control. I'll have Queen Serenity begging for mercy. No one can defeat the power of the Negaforce! The Universe is no longer! Only the Negaverse will prevail!"

The real time Malachite groaned as everyone heard him laughing in agreement with Beryl. Zoicite hid her face against his chest so that her tears of shame couldn’t be seen. Even Jedite had a problem watching his actions.

Sailor Moon looked at the Generals she once fought as enemies, but now trusted with her very life. She could see the pain, and knew that they had changed without question (as if she ever questioned their loyalty since their return to her and Darien’s service). “Desiree is right, all of this is the past. Each of you has more than proven yourselves to me. I am proud of each of you and pleased to count all four of you among my friends.”

Queen Serenity smiled softly on her daughter. She had certainly grown into her place as Princess and Sailor Moon. “And I am happy that now my daughter and her love are so well protected - by Senshi and Generals both. As my daughter already has, I so do now. Generals and High protectors of my daughter, her love, and the royal court, I forgive all of you.”

Zoicite gasped with tears of joy in her eyes. The tenderness and sweetness that the Queen’s voice had just taken matched perfectly with the voice that had warned her at the temple where Zoicite had left a doll and prayer for a child. “It was YOU! The voice that guarded me when I would have died at Beryl’s hands, the one who showed me that vision of mine and Malachite’s children, majesty … it was you?”

“I couldn’t see you have so sweet a dream and yet die in such a cruel manner. Yes, I gave you the warning. And though there is a bit of time ahead of you two, your eldest daughter will become a little sister to Desiree.” Serenity smiled with a tear in her eyes.

Desiree smiled and nodded as Zoicite and Malachite both looked over at their leader’s child. “Yup! She doesn’t have a name yet, but she’s my best friend.”

A small giggle grabbed everyone’s attention. A small girl, maybe four years old, with gold hair that was highlighted with streaks of silver stuck her head out from behind Queen Serenity’s skirt. Her eyes were a shimmering gray, just like her fathers. And her smile was a mirror of her mother’s. “Hi momma and papa!”

Zoicite dropped to her knees in shock. The child took the opportunity and rushed into the stunned General’s arms. Instinctively, the woman clutched the child close. “Our baby?”

“Our daughter. Our eldest daughter.” Malachite murmured as he knelt beside his love and their little girl.

The girl’s eyes glittered as she giggled. “Yup daddy. That’s me! When will I have a name?”

“That we came up with the night I told your father of the vision I received at the temple. Hope Atyia Hanari. Because you our the realization of our greatest hope, and are the best gift we could ever hope for.” Zoicite smiled as she kissed her daughter’s cheek.

Desiree giggled. “Now we both have names!”

“What’s yours?” Hope asked.

Her friend straightened proudly in her father’s arms. “Desiree Namid Renee Stanton. You like it?”

“Yeah! Wait till the others hear this!” Hope chuckled.

That made the entire group look at the girls in shock. Serena stuttered out, “um … you mean there are more kids?”

“Of course there are, my daughter. Though the rest of you are not to meet your own here or now. Only these two are meant to come forward now.” Queen Serenity explained. “Now, back to the past.”

Queen Beryl had decided to go to the palace to meet Princess Serena personally. "Well, if it isn't little miss Moon Princess? All dressed up and no place to go, except OBLIVION!"

She charged towards Serena, but before Beryl could harm the Princess a charmed rose halted her. Prince Darien then stood between his love and their enemy.

"Who are you?!" Beryl growled.

"I am Prince Darien, sworn to defend the Moon Kingdom against evil like you."

Beryl grinned, which sent chills up and down the couples’ spines - both in the past and in real time.

"Prince Darien from Earth?! I've heard of you. You have great promise. Well, I can see why she'd hang onto you, but you're wasting your time with this twit. Why not come taste the joy of winning, Darien? We'll rule the Negaverse together."

"Thanks, but no thanks, Beryl. Why would I want to join forces with a snake like you, all twisted and ugly and full of bitterness?" Darien spat at the woman before them.

"Oh . . . NO ONE EVER SPEAKS TO QUEEN BERYL LIKE THAT!" She summoned the powers of the Negaforce to tear the palace to pieces.

"Darien, what is happening?" Darien pushed Serena out of the path of an oncoming beam, but was caught himself and pulled skyward. "Run, Serena! Just run!"

"No, Darien. I want to be with you." Princess Serena leapt out into the beam that had her love trapped.

"No! You can't! Serena, don't!" Prince Darien looked stunned as he yelled at her. But she didn’t seem to care about her own life … only his. "SERENA!"

"DARIEN!" They came close to clutching each other’s hand, but the Negaforce tore them apart. "SERENA!"

In a fit of jealousy, Beryl tore their lives from the young couple’s body. Leaving the pair limp and falling to the ground. Serenity, Luna, and Artemis ran out to look for the couple and saw the whole terrible scene. Serenity cried out as they hit the ground. "Serena! NO! She's taken them both!"

"No. Not the Princess. No!" Luna wept. She had adored her Princess.

Tuxedo Mask pulled Sailor Moon tight to his chest as tears rolled down his cheek. “I wish that you had listened to me, my love.”

“If I had, we wouldn’t be together now, and Beryl might have taken you then.” Sailor Moon too was crying. Seeing her love die was too much for her aching heart.

Beryl on the other hand was overjoyed by the results. "Ha, ha, ha, ha. Perfect! The pretty twit and her prince are gone! Ha, ha, ha, ha. And the snake survives. They'll never mess with me again!"

Serenity gasped at the sight of her daughter’s dead body beside her would have been son-in-law’s corpse. "NO! Serena! No, it can't be! Don't worry, darling. I won't let it end this way."

It was dangerous, but also her last resort. Serenity pulled out the Imperium Silver Crystal and attached it to the Crescent Moon Wand.

"I won't let them take away your future."

Luna knew what the Queen had planned on doing. "Queen Serenity, if you use the Imperium Silver Crystal, you won't have any strength left."

"It's the only way, Luna. I must sacrifice my kingdom if we're to regain our peace." Serenity struck back with her strongest attack.

Holding the wand above her head, the Queen called out the magic words as she fed her power into the empowered wand. "COSMIC MOON POWER!"

"WHAT IS THIS?!" Beryl cried out as her forces began being banished into the Negaverse. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!"

First the Negaforce was forced out, followed by the warriors, and then finally Beryl herself. "YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF ME!"

They were all gone.

The Generals shuddered at their banishment, because at the very last second before crossing that threshold each of them remembered who they were and what they had given up.

* * * * * * * *

Back on present day Earth, Luna and Artemis had been searching the arctic desert for the Negaenergy they had sensed and Central Control had reported on. Artemis collapsed from the exhaustion and cold. Luna returned to his side once she realized she was missing him.

"Come on, Artemis. You can't quit now."

Artemis fought to get back on his front paws. "Luna, five more minutes and we're both gonna be frozen catsicles."

"But Central said there were strong Negavibes out here. We've got to check it out." Remaining close to his side they continued on. After a few minutes more, they soon spotted a crater in the ice where thick black smoke was billowing out. Luna cried out, "ARTEMIS! LOOK AT THAT!"

"Worse than I thought, Luna. Queen Beryl's already here and set up to attack the earth!" Artemis growled. "From the look of it, they could attack at any time. Come on! We gotta get back!"

"Yes. We've got to tell the Scouts." Luna agreed and they started back but were intercepted.

Jasper glared at the feline pair. "Oh, two little kittens are out in the snow without their mittens."

"AAAAAH!" Artemis cried out as he and Luna rushed away … back towards the Scouts, Tuxedo Mask, Queen Jessica, and the Generals.

* * * * * * * *

Back in the past, Serenity was looking around at the outcome of that battle. She had won, but at a terrible cost. The Moon Kingdom was destroyed, all that was left was herself, Luna, and Artemis - and she barely had any strength left. The children of the Moon lay dead within the Silver Crystal, which was all that held back Beryl and her dark minions.

Luna smiled sadly up at her Queen. "Majesty, you did it."

"They're gone! You beat 'em!" Artemis added.

"I trapped them all, yes. If I had destroyed them, I would've destroyed Serena and the others, too. Now, they're all inside the power of the Crystal, and now, I must send them to a new future on Earth." Queen Serenity broke down into tears at that thought.

"But you saved them. Why are you so sad?" Luna asked.

Serenity took a breath before explaining. "Because none of them will remember anything about this time or this place. Nothing. And I'll never see my sweet daughter again, or you two, either. But this is the only way for any of you to live on. I have enough power left to send everything you'll need in the future to Earth. Serena and her court will need your help if the Negaverse ever breaks free."

She once again held the Crescent Moon Wand over her head, and activated it with the last of her energy.

"Yes," Luna and Artemis both agreed with her in unison.

"All of you will be reborn on Earth, with no memory of the Moon Kingdom whatsoever, but if evil forces should try to repeat what happened here, you two will know what to do. Now, farewell . . . all of you . . . and good luck." Queen Serenity sighed as she felt her life force flicker and slowly die. "Goodbye, Serena. You are in my heart always. Be happy. On behalf of the Moon, you will be free again."

The Silver Crystal levitated and left for Earth, the inhabitants of the Moon Kingdom - Prince Darien, Princess Serenity, her royal court all included - were taken to their new life on Earth. Serenity collapsed on a fallen column as her eyes closed for the last time she sighed softly. "Perhaps we'll meet again . . .” Yet, she had one last task before she died. Her hand relaxed as her last bit of energy filled the Wand, it hit the ground and froze both cats in capsules and sent them to Earth as well. Only they would remember the Moon Kingdom and the Negaverse, but not all of it.

Now that the tale was told, the Wand returned the group back to Earth - Queen Serenity, Desiree, and Hope remaining behind.

"We're back!" Venus called out once she got her bearings.

Mars agreed. "Look! The cave!"

The Wand hit the ground, and the group reappeared. Zoicite, Sailor Solaris, and Sailor Moon all three were in tears. They had seen Serena’s mother, and it had been a touching moment for them all. Moon sighed as she tried to rub away her tears. "She saved all of us."

"She sure did." Jupiter tried to soothe their leader’s broken heart.

"She's the reason we're here." Venus wiped her own tears away.

Zoicite whimpered into Malachite’s chest as she wept. “She let the four of us see our girls. I tried to hold Hope as we returned. But, she just vanished after kissing my cheek.”

“It’s not time for us to keep her yet, my love. But soon, and we won’t let her go until she is with the one she loves. Even then we won’t completely let her go,” Malachite muttered as he rubbed Zoicite’s back soothingly.

Neflyte held Solaris close to his chest as she cried for losing their daughter as well. “It is time that we take back all that we lost that day a thousand years ago and before then.”

Mars wiped the tears from her eyes as a look of determination grew within them. "Yeah, and what about Beryl? That sleaze queen, she's definitely going down."

"Right." Mercury stood taller, remembering the days she had with her family on her home planet. She was supposed to visit them two days after that fateful ball - it would have been her younger sister’s birthday.

Seeing the determination in the faces surrounding her, and the fear in the eyes, Sailor Moon looked into the eyes of her only love. "We've gotta be strong."

Then screaming interrupted them. It was from Luna and Artemis!

"Your guardian days are over, fur balls!" Jasper shouted as he chased after the cats.

As the pair got nearer to the group it was plain to see they were both hurt. Then Jasper sent an even more powerful blow than before.

"No, Luna!" Moon screamed.

Venus felt the tears running down her cheeks. "ARTEMIS! We'll save you!"

"No! Just run," Artemis said before he finally collapsed on top of Luna, who was unconscious.

"This is low, even for a slime like you," Moon growled at Jasper

The Negatrash shrugged his shoulders as he chuckled. "You can't blame me, brat. They're the ones who trained you to be as annoying as you are!"

"Let's show this jerk what Luna and Artemis REALLY taught us," Jupiter shouted as Jessica went to tend to the wounded cats.

Venus grinned. "Excellent idea, Jupiter. Hasta la vista, pretty boy."

"Yeah, you're finished." Mercury took a stance near her friends.

"Majorly toasted, blondy," Mars snarled as she too took her place within the group.

Solaris was ready for this one. “And it looks like you are all on your own this time.”

“While the Scouts have the four of us, Jasper,” Neflyte shot as he and the Generals all stood tall by the Scouts.

Tuxedo Mask stood next to his love and glared hard. “And they all have me. You are way beyond out of your league, Jasper. Better run off and get Jet and her little puppy before you get hurt.”

"Hah! Like I ever needed those two. Cut to the chase, all of you girls. You gonna stand or are you gonna fight?!" Jasper shot.

Moon gave him one last chance to withdraw. "I'm warning you, Jasper. You're not winning this one, and you're never getting my crystal!"

"Didn't your mother teach you 'Never say never'?!" Jasper chuckled as he winked at Moon. “Maybe I should make a pet out of you, timid bunny.”

He sent a shadow to surround them and darken the room. The surrounding area was coated with dark energy. Obviously he had somehow gained more energy! Beryl had to know that they were onto her, and that meant she was getting desperate.

Jasper drew two circles of dark energy and set them spinning. “Let’s see how the royal couple likes these rings.”

He threw the circles, which crisscrossed everywhere and attacked Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask.

Half the group called out for the prince, the other half for the Princess - but it did no good. Both of them collapsed to the floor unconscious, every slice the circles cut into them had drained the couple’s energy … and made Jasper all the stronger.

"This guy just gets stronger every time we see him!" Mercury said.

Jedite nodded in agreement. “Only because Beryl is getting frantic. She must be ready for the next step - attacking Earth full scale!”

“We can’t allow that to happen,” Neflyte growled.

Malachite looked over at his leader. “Then that leaves us with only one option.”

“Jasper must be taken down before we can attack Beryl herself,” Zoicite reminded them all.

"And we've gotta protect the crystal!" Mars added in.

"Hah! You can sure go ahead and try, but nothing stands in the way of the great, mighty Negaforce!" Jasper chuckled as he sent the circles right back to attack the rest of the group.

Venus firmed her stance. "Come on, Scouts … Generals! Gotta rally here! We fight him as one! We can shut him down! VENUS POWER!"

"MERCURY POWER!"

"MARS POWER!"

"JUPITER POWER!"

“SOLARIS POWER!”

The Scouts’ powers drew together and formed a shield around themselves and the unconscious couple at their feet. But, they weren’t the only ones with powers that could be drawn upon. The four Generals raised their right closed fists above their heads.

“EARTH POWER!” Neflyte shouted.

“AIR POWER!” Malachite shouted.

“WATER POWER!” Zoicite shouted.

“FIRE POWER!” Jedite shouted.

Their powers raised and combined with the shield the Scouts were able to put up. But it did little good. Right at that moment, Beryl sent a large surge of dark energy into Jasper … making his attack all the stronger. The circles hit the Scouts and the Generals at four times the strength of before, knocking them out - one by one.

Sailor Moon wasn’t touched by it, and slowly regained consciousness. "My friends . . .”

Seeing that she was needed, she slowly pushed herself off of the ground with growing determination. Tuxedo Mask too saw the group’s need for their help, so he fed his energy into her to give her the boost he knew that she would need.

"I am Sailor Moon, Champion of Justice, Princess of the Moon Kingdom, and your worst nightmare! On behalf of the Moon, I will right all wrongs and triumph over evil, and you're the worst kind of evil. COSMIC MOON POWER!" She added to the weakening shield and prepared to end Jasper’s threat to her friends.

"Huh? OH NO YOU DON’T! I'm not letting you defeat me, Moon child," Jasper spat as he loaded the circles with all of the dark energy Beryl had sent him. "She's no match for the Negapower!"

Jasper launched the circles at three times the previous speed. Sailor Moon swung the wand almost like a baseball bat, and sent both circles right back at their creator. With their speed and the shock that Moon had deflected his attack, Jasper couldn’t move out of the way in time. Both circles imbedded themselves deep into his body and sucked out his energy without mercy. “NO!”

It was over, and Jasper disappeared forever. The group rushed over to Jessica and the cats - who had not been noticed, and therefore were unharmed by the battle. Both cats were bandaged and awake … smiling up at Sailor Moon.

"Way to go, Sailor Moon. You wasted Jasper," Luna said.

Artemis winked as he smiled. "Yeah, just like your mother."

Even with the sweet words and smiles of pride, both cats were in bad shape. Moon fought hard not to cry, but was finding it hard to hold back her tears. "Luna, Artemis . . . what were you THINKING going up against him?"

"It wasn't really our choice. He surprised us, but we were coming back to tell you guys . . . we think we found a Negaverse base set up in the northern latitudes," Luna explained, back into serious mode.

Neflyte rested a possessive hand on Solaris’ shoulder. “So, Beryl has made her stake on Earth. I thought that would be months away at the least.”

"And from the looks of it, Beryl's about to stage her first attack. We're gonna have to put her away for good," Artemis added.

“Well now we have the upper hand. She knows we know the location of her base here on Earth, but she doesn’t know when we’ll attack,” Malachite said as he pulled Zoicite into his arms.

"I think we've all had enough of that sleaze queen." Moon smiled as she looked at her court and guardians. "So whaddya say, Sailor Scouts … Generals?"

"Trash her!" The Scout shouted in unison, added to by the Generals’, “and fast!”

"Beryl is about to meet her match," Moon vowed.

Tuxedo Mask laid a hand on her shoulder as he smiled. “She could never come close to being your match, my sweet. And her forces are nowhere near ready for all of us!”

"Sailor Scouts!" The Scouts cried out as they all teleported home to get ready to take down Beryl - once and for all. Tomorrow would be for all of them the Day of Destiny.

* * * * * * * *

Well, how was that? I like my version better. In fact all the episodes after ‘A Friend in Wolf’s Clothing’ I like my versions better. How about all of you?

* * * * * * * *

return to Index / go to Chapter 24

The Nephrite and Naru Treasury