Turning the Tables
By Lady1Venus

Chapter 5 - Neflite Has a Plan

* * * * * * * *

The stars above were watching Molly and Neflite, very closely. But they weren't the only ones watching the young couple. A young woman, holding a staff, was watching the young couple with interest. She was the one who helped Neflite to be able to live in the time flux. Suddenly the window she looked through changed its view to another two people. This time these two people were not a couple and were about to collide into each other.

The woman smiled, as she knew what their destinies were. Soon they were going find out what they really were to each other.

* * * * * * * *

Serena was slowly walking on the street, wondering why Tuxedo Mask was very rude to her the night before. She wasn't really paying any attention to where she was going. All she could think about was Tuxedo Mask and his words to her the evening before. "Sailor Moon, I want that crystal you have and I'll stop at nothing to get it."

"Why did Tuxedo Mask say that? I thought we were on the same side. If we are then why did he say he wants our crystal?"

Not too far away, Darien was coming towards her. He had his head bent down, wondering why he acted the way he did to Sailor Moon. "I didn't mean to say it like that. But those crystals are my only hope of finding my past."

Darien looked up and saw Serena. "Oh great, there's Meatball Head. I wonder what she's up to this time. It looks to me like something has made her upset."

He watched her for a few minutes longer until he noticed that she was headed right towards him. Before he knew it, she was right in front of him. He tried to dodge her but she walked straight into him. She fell to the ground with a thud.

Just as she was about to start crying, Darien spoke to her in his usual mocking tone.

"Can't you walk and enjoy the scenery at the same time, Meatball Head?" Darien joked.

Serena recognized that voice. Oh no, it's Darien. Great! Just what I need. "Why do you have to be around when I fall?"

"Serena, is something wrong?" he asked with concern.

"No, nothing is wrong," she snapped. She suddenly looked up at Darien and realized what he had just said. "I'm sorry, Darien. I am having a bad day and don't want to talk about it."

Darien was about to make a snappy comment back until Serena apologized. "Well, can you tell me a bit what's on your mind?"

"Well...there's this guy, who's been helping me in...in...homework and yesterday he was very cold to me."

I guess I'm not the only one who was being a jerk last night. I hope Sailor Moon isn't as upset as Serena is. "It sounds to me like he was just having a bad day."

"Yeah, maybe you're right." Wait a minute; Darien and I are having a civil conversation. Something is wrong with him. I've got to get out of here before I say something about last night. "Darien..." Serena was trying to think of a way to fool him so she could leave. Then a thought came to mind. She remembered that he was dating Raye. "Darien, isn't that Raye up the street?" she lied.

"Where?"

When he turned his head, Serena made a mad dash to the nearest alleyway without being seen.

"Serena, I don't see..." Darien turned back to Serena but she was nowhere to be seen. "Raye."

Serena? Serena?" he said as he looked to his sides. "That little sneak. She just wanted me to turn so she could leave."

"Hello," a young woman said from behind Darien.

Darien turned to find himself face to face with a beautiful, tall woman with long black hair. "H--hello."

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Serena," the woman said.

"How do you know Serena?" Darien asked.

"I heard you mention her name and she mentioned yours. From what I could tell, she was scared that you would start insulting her again like you did when she walked into you."

"How can you tell?"

"Well, I have been watching Serena for awhile and know when she's upset and..."

"You are following Serena?" Darien was starting to get angry that someone was following Serena. Why do I even care about Serena? he thought to himself. Come on you moron, his inner self said. You might tease her but you still do care to what happens to her.

"Darien, it's not like that. Let's just say, she's in some sort of trouble and I'm the only one who can help her. I'm protecting her from that trouble. She just doesn't know it yet."

"Listen, lady. I don't know who you are or what your game is..." Darien said angrily.

"Ok. I get the picture. I'll go now, but we'll see each other again."

The woman turned and walked away. When she reached the alleyway two other young women greeted her.

"What was that all about?" the taller of the two women asked.

"He just doesn't understand his destiny. Serena's upset at him."

"What do you mean?" the shorter woman asked.

"Serena and Darien are Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask and don't know each other's identity yet."

"Does Neflite know who you are?" the taller one asked again.

"Yes. He knows who I am."

* * * * * * * *

In their little castle, Zoycite and Malachite were preparing to search for the next Rainbow Crystal carrier. The new carrier was Rita Blake, a research student from the school's Biology Department. Zoycite was conning up her next plan to seize the crystal.

"Zoycite, I've been meaning to ask you something," Malachite said. He was sitting on his throne with Zoycite beside him.

"Yes?"

"Why did you have such a hatred for Neflite?"

"Malachite, why would you ask something like that?" She seemed angered by Malachite's question.

"I've been wondering why you hated him so much for the past 1000 years or more."

Zoycite stood and walked a few feet away from Malachite. "It's complicated."

"How so?" Malachite also stood and walked behind her.

"Well...this has actually been going on since before we met. I once was in love with his twin brother, the general I told you about that was killed before you came along. Somehow, Queen Beryl knew I was in love with him and she killed him just out of spite."

"That doesn't make sense. If Beryl killed him then why didn't she kill me and what does that have to do with Neflite?"

"For starters, my sources told me that it was Neflite who told Beryl about my love. She didn't kill you because you are her strongest warrior. She needs you. Now let's go and get Miss Blake."

Over in the shadows was an invisible window to another dimension. The watcher on the other side of the window was quite shocked to hear that his weaseling rival had blamed him for his brother's death for over 1000 years. But the shocking thing about it was that he was not the one who had his brother killed.

"So, someone in the Negaverse had Kefnite killed," Neflite said. "It's time to find out how he died."

"Neflite," someone said from behind. "It's not good to watch too long. The Negaverse will sense the rift."

Neflite whipped his head around to see a beautiful, tall woman with long black hair.

"Don't sneak up on me like that," Neflite said, giving a sigh of relief.

"Sorry. But I thought you should know, soon you won't need to stay here any more."

"Why?" he asked, puzzled. He now saw two other young women behind her.

"Soon, Queen Beryl will get fed up with Zoycite's failures. And she'll kill her."

"Good." Neflite seemed pleased with the new set of information.

"Neflite, Zoycite was not always evil. She was a good woman. In fact she was an Ambassador to Queen Serenity before she became evil."

"What do you mean?" Neflite asked.

"It's too complicated to explain right now," the woman said.

"Damn it, Zoycite is my enemy and that makes Molly a prime target. So that should give me a right to know."

The woman sighed, "Alright. You do have a right to know. You and Zoycite were once best friends. You were an Ambassador to the Earth. One day Queen Serenity saw something crash on the Earth and asked Zoycite to investigate. You were on the Moon for the first time and offered to go with her. I was ordered to follow to be sure you were telling the truth about your connection with the King and Queen of Earth. Queen Serenity had a hard time trusting people from Earth because of her power.

"So I followed the two of you. When the two of you got to where Queen Serenity sent you, you were ambushed. Queen Beryl had sent some of her minions to Earth to capture you. I tried to help but it was too late. You were gone. When you were attacked I knew that you were trustworthy. And we never saw you again after that until the final day of the Moon Kingdom."

"What about Malachite and Jedite? If Zoycite and I were good..."

"Malachite and Jedite were once good, too. In fact they were your and Zoycite's successors before they disappeared much the same way. Malachite and you were from Earth and Jedite and Zoycite were from the Moon."

"With a second chance, I think Zoycite and Malachite once again could be good," one of the young women said. She had long bluish-green hair.

"I don't understand." Neflite was confused.

"Give them a second chance," the first woman said. "Now, I do believe Molly is waiting for you at the park with her one of her friends."

"Damn, I forgot," Neflite cursed and left in flashing swirls.

"He's definitely in love with that girl," the taller woman said.

"Yes he is. That is why he's living here until Zoycite isn't a threat. Now I have to get you two back to Earth before you're missed."

With a wave of the woman's staff, the other two women disappeared in silver glitter.

* * * * * * * *

Serena and Molly were sitting in the park waiting for Neflite. Molly was starting to get worried that Neflite might have been caught. Serena was trying to comfort her but wasn't getting very far. Then suddenly Serena remembered Darien and their discussion earlier.

"Oh, Molly. I forgot to tell you. I had another run-in with Darien earlier."

"Again. How come, most of the time it's always him that you're running into?"

"I don't know."

"Maybe it's fate."

"Molly, don't say that," Serena snapped. "I can't even stand the guy."

"Are you sure? You're always telling me when you literally run into him."

"Molly, don't joke. It's not funny," Serena whined.

"All right. So what did he say this time?"

"Well, that is the really weird part. We actually had a civil conversation. There were no wisecracks or even name-calling. I actually apologized for snapping at him and told him partially what was on my mind."

"What did you tell him?"

"Well, Tu...er I mean a friend was very cold to me yesterday and I don't what to do about it."

"How did you get away from Darien? From what I could tell when you found me, you were out of breath, like you just ran away from someone."

"Well, I did. I ran away from Darien. I told him Raye was behind him. When he turned his head, I bolted."

"You bolted from where?" someone asked.

Both girls turned to see Neflite.

"Neflite!" Molly said joyfully. She ran into his embrace. "I was worried about you. What happened?"

"I lost track of time when I was spying on the Negaverse," Neflite said.

"Neflite, you know my friend Serena."

"Of course. How are you today?" he asked Serena.

"Not good. I ran into Darien and had a civil conversation. I bolted before things went way weird." Serena took a quick glance towards a hill behind Neflite and saw someone who looked very familiar. "Molly, is that who I think it is?" She pointed up the hill.

Molly looked to where Serena was pointing. The person spotted Neflite and the girls and started heading towards them.

"Serena it looks like..." Molly said.

"Darien!" Serena squeaked.

Just as Darien got in hearing range, Serena turned and ran in the opposite direction. Neflite turned just in time to see Serena's bobbing hair go over the other side of the hill.

"What is up with that girl?" Neflite asked.

"That is what I'd like to know," Darien said.

"Hi, Darien," Molly said. "Darien, this is Maxfield."

"Hello, Maxfield. Molly, why did Serena just run as I showed up?"

"She told me you guys had a civil conversation."

"That's why she's running," Darien said finally realizing what was going on. For a moment, Darien thought about what happened in the street. She's right. We actually talked without arguing or insulting each other. Scary.

"Oh well, I have to go to work soon anyway," Darien said. And hopefully no one from the Negaverse will try and go after another crystal. Darien left without so much as a goodbye.

When Darien was gone, Neflite asked, "How do you know him?"

"Well, I don't know him that well. I've only met a few times when Serena would smack into him. He's always calling her names, hardly ever calls her by her name. It's weird, you know. I think they like each other and don't even realize it."

"Like how I've been in love with you since we met but never realized it until the evening I almost died."

"Yeah," Molly said. She felt Neflite's hand lightly grasp her shoulder and pulled her towards him. She looked up to see Neflite starring at her. She turned her body to face him as he started leaning down.

"Molly, I love you," Neflite whispered when his lips were mere inches from hers. She didn't have time to say anything back. His lips consumed hers in a long passionate kiss.

When Neflite moved away from her lips, he could tell she was in a dream like state. When her eyes opened, the proof was there in her eyes.

When Molly recovered from her kiss she asked, "What is the Negaverse's next move?"

"They found the next crystal carrier. It's Rita Blake."

"Who's Rita Blake?"

"I'm not sure. Just that she's a research student from a school's Biology Department," Neflite said.

Molly suddenly noticed that Neflite was acting distant. She was a little confused. "Neflite, we have made a promise that we would not lie to each other or keep major secrets right?"

"Yes," Neflite said slowly. He was puzzled why Molly asked that.

"Why do I get the feeling that you are keeping something from me? Dealing with you and the Negaverse?"

Neflite's eyes widened in surprise. How is she able to know when I'm keeping something from her?

*Because you and she are connected*

What do you mean by connected? Neflite asked the stars in his mind.

*To put it in simple terms. You two are soulmates. You've been bonded from the first time you met each other over 1000 years ago. You met her during the time of the Silver Millennium. She was actually a Duchess from Earth*

"Neflite, is something wrong?" Molly asked, looking up at his face.

He looked down at her and smiled. "No, I'm just having a silent conversation with the stars."

"Oh. Can you please tell me what it is you're not telling me?" she said.

"All right. As I was spying on that little weasel, I found out why she hates me so much."

"Why does she?"

"On the Moon I had a twin brother, Kefnite, and he was killed by Beryl because Zoycite was in love with him. She has blamed me for his death ever since."

"You had a brother?!" Molly was surprised.

"Yes, but that was 1000 years ago. And you remember the woman I told you about?"

"The one who's allowed you to live in the time flux?" she asked.

"Yes. Well she told me just before I came here that during the Silver Millennium, Zoycite and I were best friends. Zoycite was an Ambassador for the Moon and I was an Ambassador for Earth."

"Zoycite...the one who tried to kill you?" Molly was shocked.

"Yes, and as I was walking into the park, I decided that I'm going to try and help Zoycite."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to try and convince Zoycite to be good."

"Neflite!"

"Molly, please. You convinced the scouts to give me a second chance just because of your love for me. With Zoycite on the scouts' team we should be able to take out Malachite and the rest of the Negaverse."

Molly was silent.

"Molly, I love you and I'll make sure no harm comes to you. The woman who is helping me will make sure that no harm comes to you. Not to mention the stars as well."

Neflite grasped Molly's hand and together they both silently walked out of the park to his car.

* * * * * * * *

When Zoycite did find Rita, Rita's boyfriend Andrew was with her. That didn't matter to Zoycite; she was going to get the crystal. Just when the crystal was in Zoycite's possession, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Moon showed up. Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter watched as Rita turned into a monster. Zoycite left just as the monster started to attack the Sailor Scouts. Not too long after Zoycite left, Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury showed up. Tuxedo Mask once again came out of nowhere and saved the Sailor Scouts, and Sailor Moon was able to turn the monster back into Rita.

In the shadows three people watched the whole scene. One watched from his castle in the Negaverse and the other two watched from two nearby alleyways.

The one in his castle turned to see his love reappear.

"Queen Beryl is not going to be pleased that you failed to bring back yet another one of the shadow warriors."

"Those Sailor brats are going to get it one of these days," Zoycite said angrily. She clenched her fists. "So I take it you watched the scene from here?"

"Yes, and I see that you have the crystal, at least."

"Yes, I do, but we still have to get the ones that Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask have."

"Another day for that, my love. Right now, we have to take it one day at a time and have another lecture with Queen Beryl.

* * * * * * * *

In the time flux, Neflite's helper had called upon her two friends again. She had to discuss Neflite's plan. This time, she sent her Garnet staff to call her friends to where she was.

"Why did you ask us here, Trista?" the taller one asked.

"Amara, we may have to help Neflite," Trista said.

"Why?" Amara's companion said.

"Neflite is about to do what we suggested. He's going to try and convince Zoycite to the other side."

"That will be dangerous, and if we help our cover could be blown."

"That is right, Michelle. But we don't really have a choice in the matter. We are together to help the scouts and to be around when the Moon Princess is discovered," Trista said.

"All right, Trista. What is it that you need us to do now?" Amara asked.

"For now, I need you to stay low and then when Sailor Venus finally comes to town, start making the scouts think there are still more Sailors to be found."

"What?" Michelle said in shock. "You want the scouts to know there are still more of us?"

"If Queen Beryl learns Neflite is still alive, she will find away to posses more strength. If that occurs, Sailor Moon and the others won't be strong enough to fight Beryl. Not even if Neflite is able to change Zoycite. They will need our help as well."

"What about Molly?" Amara asked.

"Molly will be protected by the stars. But if Beryl wins the stars will be destroyed. So will the rest of the world."

Trista turned back to her window to the Earth realm and watched Neflite with his love and soulmate, Molly. She was able to see that he truly loved her. His love for Molly was what was making Trista really try to save the world. Even if it meant showing the Sailor Scouts that there were three other Sailors. As she stood in silence, Amara and Michelle had a quiet discussion about how they would hint to the Sailors that there were more scouts.

Trista wanted so much for this to work, that she feared the outcome if they failed. Crystal Tokyo would not be born nor would a small Sailor Scout. Trista continued to watch Neflite and Molly having dinner at the Country Club and dancing. As she watched them, she became more determined not to fail and convinced herself that failing was not an option. They couldn't fail.

* * * * * * * *

return to Index / go to Chapter 6

The Nephrite and Naru Treasury