Now, it’s time to take out Beryl! Okay Beryl, momma said knock ya out! Please have your passport, baggage claim checks, id’s, carry on luggage, and minions ready for boarding.

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-Four - Day of Destiny

* * * * * * * *

Luna and Artemis watched the television. They were bandaged up and still very sore from their confrontation with Jasper the previous day. And since then it looked like Beryl was speeding up her attack.

The reporter sounded understandably upset as he read the news. "Scientists are scrambling to find a way to dispel a huge, mysterious heat spot which is melting the polar ice caps and threatening cities . . .”

"This is Scout business, Luna!" Artemis looked over at the black cat that was having trouble keeping focus because of her pain.

Jessica came into the room with a bowl of liquid. “Here you two, this will ease your pain. And don’t argue with me, Artemis. You might be able to hold it in for Luna, but you will never be able to hide it from me.”

Luna looked over at him and saw him wince as he begrudgingly moved to the bowl and drank slowly. “Oh Artemis. I’m sorry for being so grumpy today with you.”

“Hey, we both ache and we’re both worried about what’s happening. But even if all of this weren’t happening now, I wouldn’t hold it against you. You took a lot more of the blasts than I did.” He settled down and softly nudged her cheek - one of the few places she didn’t hurt at. “Now get some of this in you so you won’t hurt as bad. We have to talk to the Scouts and Generals about this.”

Luna smiled as she barely held her tears in check before slowly drinking some of the liquid out of the bowl. Jessica left the couple alone, knowing that there was too much miscommunication between her feline friends that had to be worked out soon.

After a few moments, both cats were feeling better - though not quite at one hundred percent yet. Luna rested next to Artemis, both full of fear and hope.

“Feeling better, Luna?”

She looked up into his blue eyes and smiled. “Yes, how about you?”

Artemis could see in her ruby eyes that Luna was still hurting, but then again so was he. “A little. I’m sorry that I couldn’t protect you from Jasper’s attacks yesterday.”

“Artemis, you took most of them for me. I am so proud of you! Once upon a time you probably would have ran or klutzed. I know I didn’t deserve the protection …” Luna shut and averted her eyes. No matter how fast she moved the black cat couldn’t hide the pain; Artemis saw the tears in those ruby eyes he adored.

Very gently he licked the cheek he had nudged before and purred softly. “You deserved that and so much more, kitty cat. When this is all over and we get better I think we need to have a talk.”

Luna smiled and nodded as Jessica came in with a pet carrier. “I figured that this would help you two be more comfortable and prevent aggravating you wounds anymore than necessary. But, I only have the one.”

“We are not much in a fight mood today, Queen Jessica. The one carrier will be fine, seeing as it is large enough for one of those German Shepard dogs across the street.” Luna smiled. She would be close to him and have privacy! If only she could gather enough courage to tell him how she felt.

The carrier was pretty large, but Artemis wanted to be as close to Luna as he could get. It had been touch and go most of the night with her, and he was exhausted from the vigil he had kept the whole of the night watching her. How much he loved her, but he knew she’d never feel more than tolerance for him after his ploy was found out.

Why had he been so stupid to continue the charade after he and Venus arrived? Because he wanted to avoid her anger as long as he could. The deception was necessary at first, but he knew it was only a matter of time before Luna would catch on. She was brilliant and sweet and she had his entire heart. The hurting white cat began to wonder if he would ever get another chance with his ladylove.

* * * * * * * *

At the manor, Molly and the four generals were relaxing in the living room. Yet, all of them were on nerve. They knew that soon the call would come in and the final battle would begin.

Neflyte was quietly reading a book of poetry to his love who was reclined against his chest. It was these peaceful times he loved. Holding his love, no fighting, just peace.

Molly barely heard Neflyte’s words. She was focusing on his wonderful voice. Deep, gravelly, throaty, rumbling within his chest, which reverberated and echoed in her body with every word. Soon that wonderful feeling would vibrate through her body to their daughter.

Zoicite was cuddling in Malachite’s lap. They couldn’t wait for the fight to be over with so that they could have their first child. The group had all agreed to help them create a nursery for their daughter just as the group had done for Desiree.

Malachite was protectively covering Zoicite’s belly with his hand as he held her close. He was ready to end the evil they had aided for far too long.

Jedite was flipping through the television channels. He loved watching various shows - as eclectic as his leader in that aspect. Like his friends, he had a love he gave up a thousand years before. Deep inside he hoped to one day regain her hand.

And then he turned it over to the news. They all knew the end game had begun.

"Scientists are scrambling to find a way to dispel a huge, mysterious heat spot which is melting the polar ice caps and threatening cities . . .”

That had all of their attentions fast. Jedite shut off the television and dropped the remote as Zoicite gasped. “Already? She’s set up her base on Earth?”

“Beryl obviously knows that we are serious about standing with our true Prince and Princess.” Malachite pulled his love tighter to his chest.

Neflyte too held his love tight to his chest. This was the day they had all been both looking forward to and dreading since the Princess forgave them all of the past. This day meant that he and Molly could start planning their future, if they survived the battle that is. “Time to give Beryl an eviction notice. Am I right, Generals?”

“Right!” the trio nodded in agreement. All four changed into their Moon Kingdom uniforms as they stood.

Jedite shut off the TV, Zoicite telepathically announced the need for a group meeting at the temple, Neflyte tossed the poetry book on the coffee table next to them and drew Molly into his arms, Malachite too grabbed a hold of his love before the group teleported to the temple.

* * * * * * * *

The Generals and Molly showed up just as the others were teleported in by their youma guards. Raye and her youmas ran outside to greet them all. "So, we're finally going to meet Beryl."

"Are you guys ready?" Mina tried hard, but her nervousness leaked out in her voice.

Lita was more successful at hiding her dread. "Yeah, can't wait."

Amy too was struggling with her nerves. "This'll be our toughest fight ever."

Neflyte looked over at the gathered youma. “All of you are to guard the families. If Beryl has any idea of who the Scouts really are, the families will be her first targets used to stop us.”

“Yes, General Neflyte,” they all answered in unison.

"Psst. Raye, major question. You didn't forget to kiss Chad goodbye, did ya?" Serena whispered schemingly with a chuckle in her throat. It was better than the fear she held in her heart. She hadn’t thought about her family becoming a target.

Raye growled in frustration - mostly at herself. She had thought that her relationship with the one-time musician had been kept reserved enough to be under the group’s attention. One glance around told her otherwise. Raye wouldn’t admit it to the rest, but she and Chad had spent what few moments they had before the meeting kissing. Chad had been the only one outside of the group and Serena’s family allowed to know the truth.

Only Molly and Neflyte didn’t have a sly grin on their faces. They were busy holding one another and looking into each other’s eyes. This could be their last moments together. But none of them would say that out loud.

It was time to get to battle. Artemis looked up at the people that had so much on their shoulders. But, he knew there was nothing that could be said or done to make this any easier. "Well, group, are you ready? This'll be a rough one . . .”

“. . . but we know you can do it." Luna tried to keep her spirits high. But were the girls, Darien, and the Generals ready for what lay before them?

"Oh yeah. We've trained enough." Serena brushed off the shudder threatening to overwhelm her.

Darien pulled her into his arms and whispered into her ear, “It’s okay to be scared, you know.”

“I know. I’m mostly afraid of blowing it like the last time. I should have fought her then.” Serena swallowed hard to hide the tears Darien had already seen.

Jedite couldn’t help but overhear the lovers’ whispers. He sighed, facing how afraid of Beryl and that awful eternal sleep of hers he really was. “You’ll do fine. We all will. Remember that you weren’t being trained to fight then, you were not to blame then or now.”

“Thank you, Jedite.” Both Darien and Serena smiled as their confidence returned full force.

Time for transformations had come. Darien quickly became Tuxedo Mask and watched as the girls changed before his eyes.

"MOON PRISM POWER!"

"MERCURY POWER!"

"MARS POWER!"

"JUPITER POWER!"

"VENUS POWER!"

“SOLARIS POWER!”

"SCOUT POWER!" the girls shouted out together.

Luna and Artemis watched as the girls changed from teenagers into the Sailor Scouts. She looked over at the white cat she so adored - hoping for some kind of confidence in his eyes, but found the same fear she felt in her own. "Do you think they're really ready? Can they handle this?"

"The Generals? Darien? Molly? Amy? Mina? Lita? Raye? No problem. Serena? That's another story. She just learned what happened to her mother, Queen Serenity, and she still has trouble coping with it. She might have a flake attack." Artemis hated to be harsh, but he had to also be realistic.

"But they're going against Beryl, Queen of the Negaverse. Serena HAS to be ready," Luna gasped. Did he think she hadn’t done a good enough job in training Serena for this?

Artemis sighed, and decided to use comedy to ease the tension. "Well, if worse comes to worse, maybe she'll have a klutz attack and trip Queen Beryl."

Neflyte stood near the felines as his love transformed with the rest of the Scouts. “She will be fine. Luna, you have trained the Princess well - or else one of us Generals might have taken her out by now instead of being brought back to our duties. And Artemis, that memory will give her all the more reason to take down Beryl, flake attack or no.”

“He’s right, Luna - Serena is as good a Scout, Leader, and Princess because of your early training. I’m glad that Serenity sent you to her,” Artemis whispered into her ear. It took Luna all she had to fight back her blush as the white cat called out to their team. "Believe in yourselves! You can do this, Sailor Scouts … Scout Generals … Earth Prince … Moon Princess!"

The Generals and Tuxedo Mask stood in the center of the circle the girls' linked hands created. The five in the center added onto the mystical powers the Scouts were wrapping around them all. Suddenly the girls all cried out, "SCOUT POWER!"

* * * * * * * *

The group found themselves transported to the Arctic area that Luna and Artemis had explored the day before. Beryl’s guard spells surrounding her Earth base had a constant blizzard blowing against the group. It got to Sailor Moon fast, and she stuttered through chattering teeth. "Ooh. Maybe we belong someplace warmer, like Tahiti?"

“In the Negaverse there is no heat or cold really. She knows that humans are affected by the weather and chose this place to keep us at bay while she gets ready for our attack.” Neflyte fought to keep his own teeth stilled, but it was hard.

He had his cape partially wrapped around Sailor Solaris’ shoulders. Even with the beautiful lip color she wore as a scout, he saw that her lips were turning blue. That alone made him want to take down Beryl all the more.

Mercury was trying to locate a warp hole with her minicomputer, some sign of where exactly Beryl’s base was and the amount of defenses the group was heading towards. "I'm getting some really strong readings from that volcano over there. We should head that way."

Solaris and Moon both sneezed in unison. Solaris was ready to get this all over with so that she could get her daughter back. “Why would there be a volcano in the middle of the Arctic without there being news coverage?”

“I think there was, only we didn’t interpret the information correctly. The mysterious hot spot scientists are working to eliminate … that has to be it. Beryl has caused this,” Jedite growled.

“Then it makes it our job to evict her from our planet! Right?” Tuxedo growled.

His strength and conviction warmed Moon slightly, and she nodded. “Right. Let’s go help the witch pack!”

* * * * * * * *

Queen Beryl noticed the group when they teleported in. And had been keeping an eye on them. "So, the Sailor Scouts wanna pay us a visit. Finally. It's about time. And the traitorous Generals come with them, as does Prince Darien. I’ll be rid of the pests and have my Prince before the sun sets on this miserable planet’s future."

She knew the Generals were strong, but she still had strong warriors among her minions. She looked over her crystal to those she still held under her influence. "So who wants to greet our guests and earn a place in Negahistory? Any volunteers?"

"We'll greet 'em, Queen Beryl," said the leader of a group of five girls.

Beryl grinned. How sweet was the irony. "The Doom & Gloom Girls. Perfect."

“Majesty, Rudy and I ask to have a chance to take down some of those pests for you,” Jet sighed seductively.

Beryl’s eyes glowed with anger. “You dare to show your face here, Jet? Jasper was able to report to me before you wiped his mind. I know about your veiled threats. However, if you wish to prove that to be simply temporary insanity, then go and take down the Generals. Oh, and I’m certain that Rudolph would enjoy taking down his brat.”

“Your majesty, I will enjoy that thoroughly. As well as taking down that traitor who took what was mine in two lifetimes - her first time.” Rudolph chuckled as he wrapped an arm around his wife.

He didn’t understand why she shrugged his touch away. She had one in her attentions that she wanted in her bed … and it wasn’t him. Now she had a chance to get the male she longed for desperately.

* * * * * * * *

"Can't we hire a dogsled or something?" Moon whined.

Zoicite worried, it had been weeks since Serena went into this deep of a flake mode. If Beryl saw it the witch Queen would use it to her best advantage. “Princess, we can’t show Beryl any signs of weakness. We have to make her afraid.”

Moon nodded and knew that it was the truth, but it didn’t make anything easier. She hadn’t meant to go back into flake mode right when the others needed her to be the leader they had all turned her into - she was cold, scared, and really just wanted to go back home to her mother (meaning the home and mother she lost a thousand years before).

Mercury halted the group as her visor picked up an unusual signal. "Hold it. Some kind of life form. Straight ahead."

Almost as if on cue, the blizzard stopped. There was something weird in the air that they all picked up on. Then they all saw someone chained to some kind of rack. Mercury knew that was what she had been detecting through her visor since about five minutes after they arrived. "There. See it?"

They all saw it! Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom! She was still alive? And a prisoner of Beryl and the Negaverse!

Beryl had read Moon’s fears and planned the attack perfectly. Moon gasped at the sight of it, with tears rolling down her cold cheeks. "That's Queen Serenity. Oh, mother is alive! She's hurt! We gotta get her! Oh!"

"No, Sailor Moon! It's probably a trap," Mercury firmly said as she held out her arm to stop her friend.

Jupiter had a funny feeling about it. How could Serenity still be alive? It had been her ghost that reminded them all about the end of their peaceful lives a thousand years before. "Don't be so blind, Sailor Moon."

"Yeah. Like, get it together, Sailor Moon-brain. It's a trap!" Mars snapped as she turned away. She just knew that this had to be a trap. She knew that Serenity was dead - she knew what they had met on the modern day Moon was the dead Queen’s spirit.

"Butt out, Mars." Moon didn’t want to believe them. If only her mother was still alive … she’d be so much happier. Then she wouldn’t have failed.

"Just wait. I'll check it out," Mercury offered and started scanning with her computer.

Sailor Moon heard a whimpered and weak cry in her head. The voice was her mother Queen Serenity’s voice. That voice Moon thought she’d never hear again. "My darling daughter, help me be free again. Please in the name of …"

"Help me, my daughter. Help me. Hurry. There is not much time." Queen Serenity cried out hoarsely.

She was so weak! Or was it?

"It IS her. I've gotta help her now!" Moon shouted as she fought to get to the mother she longed desperately to hold.

Jupiter yelled, "NO!"

Mars felt her heart drop as she too grabbed at their leader. "COME BACK!"

"Let me go! I've gotta get her NOW! Let go! Get off me! Mother, I'm coming! Let me go, I said!"

The girls tackled Moon to the ground just as Tuxedo Mask and the Generals caught up. Neflyte panted as he knelt next to Sailor Moon. “Princess, please believe me. The true Queen Serenity is dead. If she had been there with us in the Negaverse, the Generals and I would have known about it.”

“Sailor Moon, Beryl is only using your grief to capture you. Please listen to us,” Tuxedo Mask puffed as he caught his breath.

Mercury’s scans picked up on something. "Watch it, you guys! That's not the Queen!"

"Huh?" The group all looked over at the false Queen.

"IT'S A TRAP!" Mercury was barely able to scream out. Tentacles shot out from the fake Queen, and almost caught the Sailor Scouts.

The group barely moved out of the way. Mars was on the edge of her nerves. She snapped at Moon. "Why don't you ever listen?!"

"It was her voice, though. I know," Moon whimpered.

Malachite shook his head. “No it wasn’t. Beryl obviously has the Doom and Gloom girls after us. Their strongest power is to use a person’s greatest weakness against them.”

At that the group was treated to the true face behind the Serenity façade. The leader of the Doom and Gloom girls! She was laughing at the group.

Sailor Moon felt her heart harden from that blow. "So you think that's funny, sleazemeister. Well, go ahead! Yak it up! I'm tired of putting up with Negatrash, and that means you."

At that moment the rest of the Doom and Gloom girls appeared behind their leader. Moon gasped in shock. "Am I seeing things?"

The leader of the Doom and Gloom girls grinned evilly. "Hey Jupiter, somebody here would like to chat with you."

“And someone who misses you too, Solaris,” another girl chuckled.

In Queen Serenity’s place were Andrew and Jessica!

Jupiter shuddered. "That's Andrew! We've gotta save him!"

“Momma!” Solaris shrieked as they both started towards their loved ones.

Neflyte just barely grabbed hold of his love before she rushed off. “I have Solaris! Grab Jupiter! Love, that isn’t your mother. We left her protected … remember?”

“But Neflyte, it is her voice. I know that it is!” Solaris gasped as she watched Jupiter fall into the trap she almost ran into as well.

Jupiter was tangled in a mass of vine-like tentacles that shot up from the ice underneath her and out of the chests of both the fake Andrew and Jessica. Then they turned into two of the Doom and Gloom girls.

"Jupiter! They've got her trapped!" Moon screamed. Both Moon and Mars jumped into action.

"MOON TIARA . . .”

"MARS FIRE . . .”

But the Doom and Gloom girls were smart. All of them moved in close to Jupiter. If the Scouts attacked, Jupiter could get seriously hurt!

Mars was frustrated. "Jupiter, we'll get you out of this, so help me!"

"Thanks, but you guys have gotta find Beryl. Don't worry! I'll trash these Negacreeps!" Jupiter, on the other hand, knew that she wasn’t going to make it through with her life. At least her spirit would be there to help them all when they needed her the most. "JUPITER THUNDER CRASH!"

The Doom and Gloom leader was startled. "What's that energy?"

The blast blinded them all. Then the leader chuckled a taunt. "She's with us, wimps, in the Negaverse!"

"Lita, no! Don't go!" Moon cried out as she fell to her knees. Tuxedo pulled her up into his arms.

Solaris shuddered with tears in her eyes. “That would have been me too. I’m sorry I argued with you, Neflyte. If I had been thinking straight …”

“No more of that now. Beryl knew what to hit you with. I’m just glad I was here to pull you back.” The General barely held his tears in check.

Lita left them all a final mental message. "Hang in there, you guys. I'm with ya."

From the blast zone, the leader rose up. Moon saw it first. "Look. She's back."

"Who's next? Eeny, meeny, miney, moe."

Moon fled in tears. She failed to protect Jupiter. What kind of Princess was she? She failed her mother … now she failed Jupiter!

Tuxedo barely reached her before she got far from them, grabbed Serena’s shoulders, and pulled his love back into his embrace. The group caught up with them a moment later.

"Let's just give them the crystal. It's not worth it."

Mars sighed. "Jupiter wouldn't want that."

“Nor would your mother,” Zoicite softly reminded her Princess.

A noise grabbed all of their attentions. The group slowly made their way closer to the area to investigate. Mercury on the other hand stood in place, scanning with her computer. "No, you guys. It's probably another one of their tricks."

"Huh? What should we do?" Mars asked.

"You guys keep heading toward that volcano. I'll check this out and catch up with you. Don't worry. I'll be careful. Okay?" Mercury hoped that they would all agree to it. She had a feeling of what was creating the noise and didn’t want to put the rest at risk.

"But Mercury, it's not safe," Moon said.

Mercury countered that quickly. "Nobody ever said this was going to be safe."

Tuxedo saw through the veil Mercury was using. “I agree. At the least you can’t go on your own.”

“I’ll go with her, majesties. Two would have a better chance than one,” Jedite offered.

Seeing Neflyte’s nod in agreement, Tuxedo Mask sighed. He knew there was some reason for Mercury to want to go on her own, but it was too risky to chance. “I agree with that.”

Mercury simply nodded and the pair walked off while the rest continued towards the volcano. "Now, there's something up there." Then she stopped at Jedite’s gasp.

Before them were two prisoners. One was a woman - who was beaten, bloody, and bruised. She was obviously in pain and grief. “Jedite. Help me please. I can’t hold on much longer.”

She knew that Jedite whispered a name, but Mercury wasn’t able to make it out.

Then Mercury clearly saw the second prisoner. One who was near and dear to her heart. "Greg? It can't be. It's got to be an illusion. Better scan it first."

The computer confirmed her suspicion; the pair was really Doom and Gloom girls! Mercury smiled. "I knew it."

“It’s not them is it? Take this negascum! Never will I allow you to tarnish her memory!” Jedite attacked and destroyed one girl.

Suddenly, Mercury’s scanners went wild! Out of nowhere a wave of lava was zooming at them. "MERCURY BUBBLES BLAST!"

Jedite called upon his powers as well. The two were able to cool and stop the lava. But the surviving Doom and Gloom girls exploded from the hardened rock flying at the pair fast and sent another hot blast at them. In a split second both Scout and General were absorbed into the flow of lava.

"I think my scouting days are over," Mercury shuddered.

"Got that right, techno-dweeb," the leader chuckled. Both Mercury and Jedite were caught up in tendrils just as Jupiter had been earlier.

Jedite growled, “I’m sorry that I failed you, my friend.”

"Now, where did your little friends go?" the leader demanded.

Mercury shot an idea. "Scared away."

"She's lying. No problem. We'll just use this cute little computer to find 'em." One of the other girls chuckled.

* * * * * * * *

The rest of the group got the bad news a split second later.

"You guys, Jedite and I will be with Lita. Take care." Mercury sent with all the pride and hope she could.

Jedite sent each of the remaining generals an equal portion of his power. “Teach Beryl a lesson, my friends!”

The Doom and Gloom leader chuckled. "Bye, bye."

Moon wept for her fallen friends. "No! Jedite and Mercury are gone, too! We shouldn't have come. We're not ready! Luna didn't train us right!"

"That's not true, Sailor Moon. We can't quit now. We'll keep going, for them," Mars vowed, fighting to keep her tears held back.

"No, let's get out of here while we can. Please . . .” Moon didn’t care if she was flaking out or not. She was scared and had just lost three of her close friends.

Tuxedo pulled her into his arms. “Luna has trained you better than anyone could ask for given the circumstances, Sailor Moon. I know that you are afraid, we all are. But, do we want what happened to the Moon Kingdom become our planet’s future?”

Moon finally broke down into tears. That hurt worse than anything he could have said, but she knew her love was right. Then the ice beneath the couple began to glow. Venus was the first to see it and react. "SAILOR MOON … TUXEDO MASK, WATCH IT!"

Pushing the couple out of the way, Venus fall into the trap meant for her friends. Tentacles grabbed and held her captive high above the group. She knew exactly where all of this was going.

Moon however couldn’t hide her shudders. "Sailor Venus! We'll get you down! We're not letting them get any more of us! I'll use my Tiara!"

Venus on the other hand was ready to fight on her own. "Save your energy! You're gonna need it!"

“Mars, get Sailor Moon out of here while we try to save Venus!” Tuxedo ordered.

Before Serena could argue, Mars had her arm and was dragging the Princess off at her fastest speed. Serena just barely heard an explosion behind them as the pair continue heading towards the volcano.

* * * * * * * *

Thankfully, Moon hadn’t seen the fight.

The tentacles slowly began to pull Venus into the ice, and she didn’t struggle. What was she doing? Was she giving up, or hoping the rest could get a clear enough shot if she kept still?

Negaenergy shielded the Doom and Gloom girl who held their friend, so all of the attacks the remainder of the group sent did nothing! Then the girl chuckled, which hurt and angered them all. "Sailor Venus, is it? Welcome to the Negaverse."

What no one saw coming was that Venus wasn’t ready to go down without a fight. She had been saving back her energy for one last strike at their core. Touching one girl’s forehead she screamed out, "VENUS CRESCENT BEAM SMASH!"

However, it was the Doom and Gloom girls who prevailed. Their leader chuckled before crowing out. "Guess now you know why we're called the Doom & Gloom Girls."

Then they were gone.

“Where did they go?” Zoicite was past annoyed. It felt like even their best wouldn’t do. The group was out manned and losing people with every attack!

After focusing their energies for a moment, Solaris was the first to gasp the truth. “They’ve gone. They’re nowhere around here!”

“Sailor Moon!” Tuxedo Mask cried out as he rushed off to guard his love. Without a word, the rest followed as fast as their legs would carry him. But, the Earth Prince had a considerable lead on them all.

* * * * * * * *

Though she hadn’t seen the fight, Moon did receive news of its result in a mental message from Venus. "I believe in you."

"Mars stop! I can't run anymore," Moon sobbed as she halted in her tracks. Three Scouts and a General were captured, and their leader had done nothing to protect them! How many times had the group saved her? And this was how she paid them back, by running away? It was wrong!

Mars felt a sense of dread engulf her. It was her turn to face the Doom and Gloom girls. "Sailor Moon . . .”

"What?"

Mars knew that Moon wasn’t going to like it, but the words had to be said. "I think you're supposed to face Beryl alone."

Mars was right on about how Moon would feel about it. "Are you bailing out on me?"

"No, just these Doom & Gloom Girls are too much for me."

"We'll leave; come back when we're strong enough to win." The truth was, Moon had no intention of ever returning. She had already decided that she would never be strong enough to beat Beryl and the Negaverse.

But, it was too late. Both Scouts saw two Doom and Gloom girls heading for them. Mars knew what she had to do. "Time for me to go."

"Oh no! Wait!" Moon grabbed her friend. It couldn’t end like this! "I don't want you to do this! You don't have to protect me."

"Yes I do. Protecting you and the crystal was my destiny, just like being the Princess has always been yours." Mars smiled. She had made peace with what was being asked of her - just as she had a thousand years before.

"Huh?" Moon didn’t understand what her friend meant.

"See ya. Gotta teach these sleaze sisters not to mess with fire." Mars winked and rushed off into the fight. Yes, it was a suicide mission, but both girls see no other way out.

"MARS FIRE . . .” Then the girls corralled Mars and dove beneath the ice under the Scout’s feet. "Where'd they go?"

Moon saw too late what was about to happen. "LOOK OUT!"

The Doom and Gloom girls exploded out of the ice, which closed all around Mars. The Scout was trapped inside a mountain of ice! But she was determined to get the last punch in. "Take that, Negatoad! Yeah. Hot, isn't it? Ha, ha!"

She continued fighting until an explosion rocked and imploded the mountain.

"SAILOR MARS!" Moon screamed as her heart broke and the others finally made it to her side. Mars was at peace because she had finally knocked the Doom and Gloom girls out of the fight. "See ya 'round, Meatball Head."

Tuxedo Mask pulled Moon into his arms as she broke down into tears of grief. All but a few of her friends and allies were gone. And she had been powerless to help! Just as she had been on the Moon. That struck a cord deep in her. She had died that horrible day on the Moon or else she would’ve fought twice as hard as she ever had in this life just to protect the cats and her beloved mother. Now she would have no excuse for letting Beryl win. And to be honest she was tired of all the fighting, and the fact that her mother was gone, but Beryl was still a danger to the Universe.

She looked up at her only love with a conviction he feared she had lost. Then she looked to the sky, knowing that her friends would hear her loud and clear. "I'll set you all free again. I promise. Soon as I find Beryl, she is a goner! Let's go, everyone! We have a Queen to kick off our planet!"

* * * * * * * *

Beryl had been waiting for this moment of weakness. "Finally, they are nearly alone. And what is left of their troops can do nothing to stop me! At last, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, we finally meet face to face."

Something approached the couple from behind. Just as they turned, a transport field picked them up and carried them away - towards the volcano. "Hey. Where are we? Let us outta here!"

“Sailor Moon!” Solaris and Neflyte cried out.

Zoicite and Malachite screamed, “Tuxedo Mask!”

Two chuckles stopped the four from rushing off for the volcano.

“Look who’s here. A hottie, his wimp, my stepdaughter, and her weak boy toy. Time for a little fun I think. Right Rudy dear?”

Jet was leaning against her husband - Solaris’ father. Rudolph winked over at his daughter (but was secretly surprised when she didn’t shrink back). “Oh it has been far past time for fun, lovely. About time daddy’s little girl come to give daddy some loving.”

“I don’t think so, slime ball! You are nothing to me, Rudolph! It’s time to take the two of you down!” Solaris snapped.

Neflyte was so very proud of his lover. She was no longer the frightened child he first met what felt like a lifetime before.

He wasn’t the only one who was proud of Solaris. Malachite and Zoicite both knew there had to be something special within Solaris to get Neflyte to leave the Negaverse without being asked to. That was only one of the many various reasons that this one time girl also meant the world to the two of them. “Rudy, do put that brat in her proper place. I can eliminate the rest of the competition.” Jet smiled hungrily at Malachite.

Without a word, Rudolph shot out ribbons of dark energy. Jet captured Zoicite in a dark energy dome, and began to slowly diminish its size as it drained Zoicite of her energy. She blocked all of Malachite’s attacks with a shield of dark energy.

While Solaris destroyed the ribbons and sent her father reeling back with her lowest powered attack, Neflyte startled Jet with a starlight attack that made her drop both her shield and dome. Zoicite and Malachite both attacked Jet and sent her back for a breather.

“Thanks, my friend.”

Neflyte nodded with a quick smile. “Just repaying the promise you made me, old friend. Now let’s give these two a fight they will not soon forget.”

“Neflyte, what about that attack we learned to control so long ago. Think it may still work?” Solaris looked up at her only love with grim determination in her beautiful eyes.

Again Neflyte nodded. “But, the cost will be high in our energy. Are you ready for such a risky attack?”

This time it was Molly who nodded. They stood together, Neflyte standing behind Molly. He set his hands on her hips and each gave the other a last kiss. Neither believed that there was no other option than to lay their lives down for their Prince and Princess and planet.

Rudolph growled as he leapt and attacked with his hands filled with Negaenergy combined with his lust and hate. Jet on the other hand disappeared without a word.

Neflyte looked up to the stars, as his symbol began to glow he drew their energy not only into himself - but into his only love as well. “I call upon the powers of the stars to empower us to the limits that our bodies can hold!”

Though it was not night, Molly could feel the pull of the Moon just as strongly as she did the Sun on the planet, as well as her body and spirit. “I summon the powers of the Horned God and shimmering Goddess. Send each of us thy strength to end the evil we all face.”

A wave of energy exploded from both the sun and the moon, while the stars twisted and turned to collect and empty as much of their never ending powers into the children who called upon them as their frail bodies could endure. The two waves combined and cloaked the two with the twin lights of man and woman.

Molly spoke as the Princess she was born to be. “ASTRAL ILLUMINATION POWER DETONATE!”

Molly sent her hands from her chest outwards towards their target, and out of both their bodies ripped a twirling wave of light, moon dust, and stars. It took all of their energy … leaving none to keep the pair alive.

“Dad’s out of your way. And don’t worry. I’ll always be here for you if you need me, Serena,” Molly sent out as she collapsed into the arms of her only love.

As the pair hit the ground, Neflyte sent his and Molly’s powerful love energy to the remaining Generals (giving Zoicite a much needed energy boost). “Worry about ridding our world of Beryl, our friends. Molly and I are together, and we will be there if you need us.”

Before they could check Molly and Neflyte, the last remaining Doom and Gloom girl attacked. Both Generals were ensnarled by her vines and drug beneath the ice. A split second later there was a massive explosion.

“We are all with you our Prince and Princess,” Malachite sent as he and Zoicite sent their powers to Darien.

Zoicite took his hand as they walked away together once she too sent her powers to Darien. “Teach Beryl who the true rulers of the Earth are!”

* * * * * * * *

As Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon were still being pulled towards the volcano, they sensed their losses. Now the fight was all up to them.

“Darien.” Her voice was shuddering; her voice and tears made his torn heart ache.

“We have to be strong for them, my sweet.”

Moon swallowed hard and nodded.

Suddenly, the force field they were trapped in floated up through a floor. Unceremoniously, the pair were dumped on the floor. Instinctively, Tuxedo Mask pulled Sailor Moon into his arms and then stood with her.

"Sailor Moon … Tuxedo Mask, how nice of you two to drop in," Beryl chuckled as she came half out of the shadows she had been hiding. "Welcome to my Negaverse."

"You're . . . you're Queen Beryl." Moon stuttered in shock. She knew that it was going to come to this, but now that she was at the moment it was slightly daunting.

"Yes, and you have Prince Darien at your side? It won’t be enough." Once Beryl came completely out of the shadows Jet was standing beside her. “Jet, I want that Imperium Crystal NOW!"

"Consider it done, my queen. It’s been fun, Sailor Moon. Last chance to wise up, Darien. Why side with a crybaby?" Jet giggled as she sauntered towards the pair.

Moon turned red with anger at that. “We’ll see who’s the crybaby when I’m through with you!”

“We’ll just see.” Jet chuckled as she thrust her hand out hard. Tuxedo Mask was thrown back hard. “SERENA!”

"DARIEN, NO!"

Beryl trapped him in ribbons of dark energy. Try as he might, Tuxedo just couldn’t get free. Serena sent out her tiara, which seemed to have no effect. "It's no use! Not even your puny tiara can break the spell I've cast. Prince Darien is mine, now and FOREVER! Ha, ha, ha, ha."

"DARIEN!" Moon felt the tears rolling down her face. She couldn’t lose her one true love as well. As she again focused to send her tiara attack, all of the grief and pain turned into determination. Her tiara glowed with a brightness not even Tuxedo Mask had ever seen before. “MOON TIARA MAGIC!”

The disk shredded those dark bands as if they were merely made of thin paper. But Sailor Moon used a lot of energy and hit the ground … the Crescent Moon Wand falling from her hand and scooting away from her. "Oh, my wand . . .”

"It's mine, as it was meant to be. Your mother managed to keep it from me for a time, but now, at last, it's mine! Your Universe will be no more, only the Negaverse, ruled by Prince Darien and me! Now, Jet, prove your loyalty! GET ME THAT CRYSTAL! And . . . get rid of her. She caused me enough aggravation!" Beryl roared in annoyance.

But before Jet could lay a finger on the wand, a shimmering red rose sliced her hand and pierced itself into the floor between her and the wand. Tuxedo was calling on his little reserves as well as the power his Generals had given him. But Beryl was still in the way. She wrapped a leash of the Negaforce’s power around his forehead. He screamed and tried to fight it, but in moments his eyes glazed over, he transformed into Prince Darien of Earth, and the next rose he summoned to his hand turned black. "His mind will belong to the Negaverse now. And he'll never again turn against his queen."

When he didn’t respond to Moon after the band disappeared, she knew that she had lost him again. But, this time she refused to give him up without a fight. "Darien, she may have your mind, but your heart belongs to me. I know she's wrong about you, Darien. You're not evil. You are my Prince and my true love. You remember, don't you?"

"You are the enemy!" Darien snapped.

"No, I'm not," Moon said calmly. She wouldn’t lose him, not again.

Jet sauntered up and leaned against him, to which he seemingly didn’t react to. "Give it up girlfriend. He’s finally on the team that is going to win. And you won’t even be a memory. Goodbye, Sailor Moon!"

Both Jet and Darien set up to attack her, and Moon had no idea how to get through this fight … much less win it. Hearing its music begin playing, Moon pulled out their Star Locket. It was her last chance, after all … it worked before. As he came at her with his sword drawn to attack, Moon opened it. The light of true love pouring from the Locket sent Jet back to the shadows howling in pain. Darien simply stopped as he looked at it and seemed affected by the haunting melody. One he himself had written for his Princess a thousand years before.

"Look, Darien. It's our locket. Don't destroy it. Remember, it's OUR locket, the symbol of everything we shared . . . all those happy times on the Moon. Don't let her take all of that away from us. Please, Darien. It's me, Darien: Princess Serena. She wasn’t able to win you before, don’t let her take claim over you now. Please, my only love." After a moment, it slowly returned to him.

"I remember," he managed to stutter out.

Moon had tears in her eyes and a hopeful smile on her lips. "Oh. All you have to do is touch it. It stopped her evil before … I know that it will work again!"

He did and it worked. Its power and light shimmered through the Prince’s body … returning him to his true self. The spell was shattered by the power of their true love. "Oh Darien . . .”

Darien collapsed into Moon’s open arms and breathed in her scent. "Thank you. I'm free again."

"Oh, I know, Darien. I knew it would work. Beryl can’t beat our love and the power of my crystal." Moon smiled as she too breathed him in. It felt so right that she didn’t want that peaceful moment to end.

"That's so sweet, I'm getting cavities. This Sailor brat is not going to insult me in my own place. Jet, destroy them both and bring me that crystal!" Beryl ordered.

Jet looked over at the fuming Beryl and chuckled. “Beryl sweetie, it’s been interesting. But, I’m scooting away while I’m still in the game. Bye.”

"OH, TRAITOR! HOW DARE YOU!" Beryl roared as she created a large black crystal and shot it at Jet - piercing the vampire through the heart from behind, and turning her into Negadust.

Beryl created a second crystal, but just as she launched it at the lovers, Darien threw one of his now shimmering red roses and shatters it. It continued until it plunged into the empty void in her chest … right where Beryl’s heart once resided. "NO!"

"You got her." Moon sighed as they collapsed into one another’s arms.

"You haven't seen . . . the last of me, Sailor Moon," Beryl threatened as she melted into the floor. Both lovers knew deep inside that she was right.

"Oh Darien . . .” Moon gasped as she heard him groan and felt him rest heavily against her chest. "Can you hear me? Answer me."

Darien looked up into her blue eyes and smiled. “Just need a break. What would I do if I didn’t have you, Meatball Head?”

Moon smiled and chuckled. “You would be a lot safer right now.”

“But, I would be alone and lost. You are the other half of myself, and you have given me a family when I didn’t have one before I found you. I love you Serena … my Princess … my sweet.” Darien shifted until he was sitting up on his own and pulled her into his arms.

Moon sighed as she wrapped her arms tight around him. “Oh Darien. I love you too.”

The pair kissed deeply, softly, and passionately. They gave their hearts to one another completely, and opened powers that had been hidden and locked in their hearts for a thousand years. Powers granted to them by Queen Serenity as a gift.

* * * * * * * *

Beryl pulled herself towards the Negaforce. She was dying, and she had lost Prince Darien as well as the Imperium Silver Crystal. The Moonchild was going to win … unless.

"I can't be defeated again! I've waited too long for this. Tell me how to win this!" she growled at the red glowing mass in the glass encasement.

What none knew was that the Negaforce was in truth the life force of a banished sorceress named Metalica. And she had been pushed to her breaking point. "Don't whine at me, Beryl. You are nearly as incompetent as your minions. I should abandon you, but I'm giving you this last chance. Use it well!" Metalica broke free of her casing and invaded Beryl’s dying body. This gave Beryl not only the sorceress’ powers, but her body dimensions as well. Beryl was all-powerful.

* * * * * * * *

Moon and Darien felt the ground beneath them shudder and shake violently as Beryl’s new powers exploded around them. As she appeared, Beryl grew until she was glowering down on them from far above. Now she was a giant! "Ha, ha, ha, ha."

"Better enjoy that laugh, Beryl. It's the last one you'll ever have," Moon growled. She was tired of dealing with the false Queen. "You'll never rule the Universe as long as I live."

“And as long as I live, my Princess will live,” Darien vowed holding Moon’s hand tight with a combination of his fear for her and his pride and love for her.

"We better get this over with, then," Beryl chuckled.

"Let's get to it," Moon snapped.

She and Prince Darien stood and ready to finish the fight - either way it would go. They would stand by one another - whether they were to live or die.

"You don't know what you're up against. Goodbye, Sailor Moon and Prince Darien!" Beryl spat at the couple.

She sent a powerful blast of Negaenergy. It raised a tall column of ice, one that was up to her hip level. She really believed that she had defeated Sailor Moon and her love.

But then the top of the column broke open to reveal Prince Darien standing next to his betrothed - Moon Princess Serena! The heir of the Moon Kingdom was stepping forward to avenge the deaths of her friends, herself, her love, her people, and most importantly … her mother.

"I will defeat you, Beryl, in the name of the Moon."

Beryl was not impressed. "You? Pitiful little Princess Serena? With only your so-called Prince?"

* * * * * * * *

Around the planet, Beryl sucked up all electricity to feed her new powers for this fight. Light went out planet wide. Serena’s family were looking out the window of their home as they watched the world go dark. Irene was worried, inside of her another part of Serena’s mother was worried as well - things were so similar to all that had happened before. "I hope Serena's okay out there."

“She’ll be fine. The Scouts, Generals, and Darien will guard her. And she’s strong … stronger than I have ever expected from her before we found out all of this.” Ken rubbed his wife’s back. A part of him, too, worried, a part that he didn’t know and knew for certain.

Luna and Artemis were on the roof watching the darkness grow. The cats had tears in their eyes. Artemis’ shoulders dropped as he gave up. "This is bad. It's getting colder by the minute. Queen Beryl was too strong for them. Luna, our Scouts are doomed!"

"I can't believe we'll never see them again." Luna wept. She looked up and cried out into the night sky above them. "Sailor Moon, you've just got to believe in yourself! Please, don't let the Negaverse win! EVERYONE'S COUNTING ON YOU!"

* * * * * * * *

In the Artic, Princess Serena heard the voice of her guide and feline guardian. Looking up at her love, the Moon Princess smiled. It instantly put Prince Darien at ease. Serena was strong again as she spoke from her heart. "I hear you, Luna. I am not afraid anymore."

"YOU SHOULD BE!" Beryl growled. So began the final battle between the Earth, Moon, and the Negaverse.

"COSMIC MOON POWER! Fight this evil!" Serena cried out as her power pulled out of her heart and into the crystal.

Darien added his power as well. “EARTH SPIRIT POWER!”

Both lovers heard an ancient voice that neither had hoped to ever hear again. It was the voice of Queen Serenity. "Do not give up, Serena. You can do this."

"I am not letting you win this one, you witch. My friends are counting on me!" Serena shouted as she pushed out even more of her power into the crystal.

Even though they were all trapped in the Negaverse, the Scouts and the Generals called out to their friends with their minds.

"Hey Serena, I'll help you with this assignment if you want. Ha, ha, ha," Amy sent warmly.

Jedite stood strong and proud. “My Prince, I will not fail either you or our Princess. Please accept our help.”

"You are so stubborn, Serena. Let us help, or I'll never speak to you again. Darien, you know we’re right!" Raye snapped.

"Yeah, let us help you two put her away. Still too many guys we single girls have gotta meet." Lita winked and smiled.

Molly smiled and winked. “And we all have dreams we want to see come true.”

Neflyte smiled as he wrapped his arms around his love. “Time to show Beryl that she cannot destroy our dreams.”

"Let us help. We haven't known each other long enough for it to end yet," Mina sighed thoughtfully.

“Please, let us give her back all the pain and suffering that Beryl gave us for a thousand years,” Zoicite sent next.

Malachite took her hand in the royal couple’s mind. “Give us a chance to right the wrongs we did so long ago.”

"We DO need all of you. Please, help us," Serena cried out as she felt the strain of the magic pulling on both her and Darien.

Darien grit his teeth against the agony in his body. “Generals, I call you forth to your positions!”

Their spirits all reached out. The Scouts encased Darien and Serena’s hands on the wand. The Generals stood at the compass points, each raising their hands - drawing their power out of the planet.

Neflyte stood in the North and called out, “EARTH PENTACLE OF HEALING!”

Eastern Point was called for by Jedite. “AIR ATHAME OF COMMUNICATION!”

In the South point, was Malachite. “FIRE STAFF OF TRUTH!”

Zoicite proudly stood at the Western point. “WATER CAULDRON OF DREAMS!”

Darien in the middle held the powers of the others together as they pulled and swirled around the group. He was their center of their circle in more ways than one. Gathering his focus and courage, he called out, “SPIRIT CENTER GROUNDING!”

Their powers combined, creating a shield to guard them all. Now it was the Scouts’ turn.

"MERCURY POWER!"

"MARS POWER!"

"JUPITER POWER!"

"VENUS POWER!"

“SOLARIS POWER!”

Taking in all of the powers surrounding and flowing through her, Serena knew that this time they would end the threat of Beryl forever. As she gathered the forces that the others were giving her, she summoned the last remaining bit of her own power to open the crystal just a little more and then let Beryl have it! "COSMIC MOON POWER UNITE!"

The powers congealed and exploded as they were shot through the Imperium Silver Crystal. Beryl poured out every bit of power she had, but the ball of energy the crystal sent out continued to attack - she couldn’t stop it! It quickly began to engulf her, turning her into Moon Dust as it took claim over inch after inch of her body.

"THIS CAN'T BE! NOOO!"

In moments she disappeared forever.

However the explosion of power killed all of Earth's defenders. Sensing their demise, the crystal reacted just as it did when Queen Serenity cast the spell to save the group before. They were all collected, healed, and restored within the Silver Crystal. But, their memories were also bound and recessed deep within their minds until they would be needed again - that is except for four of them.

As the group were sent back to their homes and their beds to rest, Princess Serena sent out a final message to them all. "Beryl is gone, blasted back to the Negaverse. The Universe is safe again, thanks to you, my friends. Finally, we have a chance for peace . . . real peace."

* * * * * * * *

The next day everything was as if Beryl had never existed! Including the Sailor Scouts.

Serena woke up late again. "OH NOOO! Why didn't somebody wake me up?! Oh, I'm totally late for school!"

She rushed around getting dressed, and then grabbed her things before yelling out over her shoulder as she ran out the door. "Oh yeah. Thanks for lunch, Mom."

It was as if nothing had ever brought back the memories of the Moon Kingdom or the Negaverse. That is except for six notable exceptions seated on the roof of Serena’s house - four enveloped in magic to remain hidden.

"I'm so proud of our Scouts. They really did it, and they all came back safe, too," Artemis grinned. Looking over at the four beside himself and Luna, he adjusted his comment. “And I’ll bet a large part of it is thanks to the four of you. Who knows whether or not the girls would have defeated Beryl without you Generals helping. Heck, Darien might have been stuck in that Negaverse to the end for all we know it you guys hadn’t come back to our side.”

The four smiled. Jedite relaxed back as they watched Serena rush off to school. “I think she would have won even without the four of us. But, I’m glad to have another chance at life.”

“And another chance to make dreams come true.” Malachite agreed, pulling Zoicite into his arms. When they were reborn with all of their memories intact, Zoicite was given the reward of remaining a full woman. Obviously the four were still in charge of protecting the Scouts, the Moon Princess, and Prince Darien.

"Yes, only now, they don't remember any of it. It's like none of them ever met. They don't remember being friends or Sailor Scouts. Nothing. How is this going to affect school?" Luna looked over at the miserably lonely Neflyte.

“Don’t worry Luna. I’ve set it up that they had been in accelerated classes all along due to my recommendations. Today is the first day they will be pulled into their new class as far as any of them knows, and I have added a few other youma students to hopefully keep the illusion going for them all. I’m just grateful I still have Molly, but she doesn’t seem to really know me.”

Neflyte remembered the night before. Molly had acted so shy and uncertain that they lay on her bed cuddling until she drifted off to sleep - with him on top of the covers, while she was beneath them. She told him how worried she was about the new class, and how Serena being there and his picking her up after was the only things making it worth trying.

"Don't worry. They just need to meet up again, become friends, and then, maybe they'll remember. And Neflyte, Molly is still your girl. Just let her enjoy being a normal teen rather than a Scout for a while. Hopefully this break will last for a time," Artemis said.

Luna smiled and nodded "I hope so, but what about Serena and Darien? I’ve hidden her ring on that necklace Darien gave her for Christmas in a safe place for now."

“They’ll find one another. They have been waiting for over a thousand years. A little while longer can’t hurt,” Zoicite sighed as Malachite rubbed her back.

* * * * * * * *

The girls passed one another without glancing until they all met up in the classroom. Lita and Serena accidentally bumped into one another. "Oh, excuse me."

“Sorry, it was my fault. I love your earrings.” Serena smiled back at the tall girl everyone called a martial arts maniac.

Lita got a tear in her eye. This girl wasn’t scooting away in fear. Could she gain a new friend? “Thanks. They were a gift from an old friend.”

When Mr. Stanton showed up to treat the entire class to lunch off school grounds, Serena convinced Molly that they should ask Lita to ride with them and Maxfield. Lita had a hard time swallowing the lump in her throat as she nodded in agreement.

The rest of the day, Melvin tried desperately to sweep Molly off her feet. And when he got a little too touchy for Molly, Lita stepped in and scared him off with a single glare.

Both Molly and Neflyte chuckled with the girls at the café as Serena and Lita told the story. It wasn’t important that Lita was becoming friends with his love and his Princess again. For Neflyte, what mattered was that he was with the love of his life, sharing a chocolate parfait.

* * * * * * * *

They dropped Lita off at her apartment. The tall brunette seemed to have a lighter step as she ran to her door and then waved goodbye to her new friends before going in. Lita didn’t know that she wasn’t all alone in that seemingly empty apartment, but she never felt lonely. Hidden by their magic, all four of her youmas were still there guarding their assigned Scout who was also their dearest friend.

Then Neflyte gave Serena a ride to her volunteer job at the hospital.

An hour later, Serena was told about a handsome young man in room 307 who had amnesia due to a bad accident no one could figure out. She walked in with a smile, but was met with eyes filled with suspicion and fear of being hurt. "Hi. I'm Serena, a hospital volunteer. You had a really bad accident. Hope you're feeling better."

Instantly, her voice pushed away the fear and doubt in his brown eyes and brought out the mirth. "Yeah, thanks. You know, Serena, no offense, but you've got the funniest hair. Looks like a pair of meatballs."

"Meatballs? Here, I come in to cheer you up, and you say my hair looks like MEATBALLS?!" Serena snapped.

It was just like old times. But, how long would the group have their reprieve?

* * * * * * * *

Next story will be solely about the Doom Tree Series. Followed up with the tale of the Dark Moon Family’s attack (Romance Series).

For now I’m outtie. See ya! *add Serena chuckle here please*

* * * * * * * *

return to Index

The Nephrite and Naru Treasury