Turning the Tables
By Lady1Venus

Chapter 14 - Malachite Leaves Beryl

* * * * * * * *

Zoycite and Malachite stared at each other for a few minutes. Malachite was stunned; he couldn't believe that Zoycite was alive and that the Scouts had helped her. He was also surprised at the fact that Zoycite had her hair down and was wearing a dress. He had never seen her wear a dress.

"Z...Zoycite. Y...you're alive?" Malachite said.

"Yes," Zoycite said. "And I have been working with the Sailor Scouts. We all used to be on the same side, Malachite. We don't have to be the Scouts' enemies. Se...Sailor Moon forgave me and has given me a second chance."

"Sailor Moon!?" Malachite was taken back at the name.

"Yes, Sailor Moon," Zoycite repeated.

* * * * * * * *

Lita and Amy waited, transformed, until Serena could join them. For now, they knew Zoycite could take care of herself. When Serena did emerge from the school, Neflite and Molly were with her.

"Malachite is here?" Neflite hissed.

"Yes," Mercury said. "And he knows that Zoycite is alive."

"I have an idea." The scouts turned to see Trista. Amara and Michelle weren't too far behind.

"What do you mean?" Neflite asked. He was getting used to Trista popping up unannounced.

"This is the perfect opportunity to convince Malachite to come over to our side. Then, when we have him convinced, we can come up with a plan to make Beryl think he's dead. He will have to be hurt, almost dead."

"He'll never agree to that," Molly said.

Neflite looked over at her and saw her shaking. He took off his coat and placed it over Molly's shoulders. "Molly, maybe you should go inside where it's warmer."

"No, I want to stay with you," Molly protested.

Neflite saw the determined look in her eyes and knew she wasn't going to budge. "All right, but stay close to me, and if Malachite attacks, get behind me."

Molly nodded and snuggled against him.

"Trista, you are the one who is saying we need Malachite," Sailor Moon said. "So, what do you propose we do?" Sailor Moon had decided to allow Trista to lead the group in this situation. All Sailor Moon wanted to do was kill Malachite for threatening Molly, and Trista wanted him alive.

"Amara, Michelle, and I will wait a few minutes longer to see what develops between those two over there and then go up to them, transformed," Trista said. "We will have to injure him, but Zoycite may try to stop us. If she does, that will give us the chance to prove to Malachite we are the right side."

* * * * * * * *

Malachite starred at Zoycite in disbelief. Sailor Moon would never forgive someone who tried to kill her.

"Why would Sailor Moon forgive you?" Malachite said angrily.

"Because I knew exactly how she felt. She lost the one man that she loved and I did too. Neither one of us could touch the man we love."

Malachite glanced behind Zoycite to see three of the Sailor Scouts come running. Zoycite turned and saw that Jupiter was about to use her power. Zoycite grabbed Malachite's arm and stood in front of him.

"Scouts, don't," Zoycite said. "This may be what we need."

"Zoycite, he came to use the dance for one of his plans," Jupiter said.

"I know," Zoycite said. "Why do you think I came? I knew he'd be here." A little further away, Zoycite saw the Outer Scouts, Molly and Neflite.

Malachite looked in that direction and saw Neflite and Molly approaching the scouts. "Can it be?" Malachite gasped.

"Yes, Malachite," Zoycite said, turning back to Malachite. "Neflite is still alive."

Malachite looked up as Sailor Moon walked over with her Moon Wand in hand. "So you finally decided to hand over the wand. I'll gladly take it off your hands."

"No way, Negasleaze," Sailor Moon said angrily.

"Malachite, stop this!" Zoycite cried out. "What Queen Beryl has done is wrong."

"Zoycite, I'll never forget that queen tried kill you. But all the generals were there on that glorious day when we trashed the Moon Kingdom."

"You were there," Sailor Moon gasped. She turned to Neflite as he nodded.

"We might have been there to destroy the kingdom," Neflite said. "But before we were in Beryl's services we used to be allies to the Moon and Earth. Zoycite and I use to be good friends."

Malachite jumped back at this new information. He suddenly saw something move behind the scouts. Three more scouts appeared.

"What the hell?" Malachite said. "Eight Scouts?"

"Yes," Sailor Uranus said. "There are eight scouts."

"Malachite, I am Sailor Pluto," Pluto said. "I can help you understand what Neflite and Zoycite are trying to tell you. I am the Gate Keeper of Time. I was never reborn like the other scouts, because I never died."

"Malachite, I'm going to show you what your life was like before meeting Queen Beryl," Sailor Pluto said. She took a step forward. Malachite was about to teleport but Pluto swiftly swung her staff around the whole gang. They all disappeared from the school.

* * * * * * * *

They all found themselves standing in a meadow of beautiful flowers. Zoycite released Malachite to stare in awe at the place, as did the others. All Malachite could do was stare at Pluto.

"Where are we?" Sailor Moon asked.

"We are on Earth, in the exact spot where we just were, but 1000 years ago," Pluto said. "None of you generals can use your powers."

"We're in the past!" Sailor Jupiter burst out.

"Precisely," Sailor Pluto said. "In fact, we're in the time when you scouts were the same age that you are now."

The scouts looked at Pluto in disbelief.

Malachite looked at her, "You're Sailor Pluto, personal time keeper to Queen Serenity."

"Yes, that's correct," Pluto said.

Suddenly everyone heard a sound, and looked in the direction it had come from. They saw a young man and a young woman who looked exactly like Neflite and Zoycite drawing close to them.

"Don't worry, they can't see us," Pluto said. "Zoycite, Neflite. Meet your younger selves, Ambassadors to the Earth and the Moon."

"What?!" everyone said.

"Listen closely," Pluto instructed.

The younger Neflite and Zoycite came close enough that the scouts could hear them easily.

"What are you doing here?" the younger Neflite asked.

"I'm here to escort Princess Serena around Earth. Right now she is with Prince Darien," the younger Zoycite said.

"Have any of the other princesses joined her?" Neflite asked.

"As a matter of fact, yes. The Princess of Venus and the Princess of Jupiter are with her. They are her personal guardians," Zoycite said. The younger Zoycite saw Neflite looking around. "Are you looking for something?"

"I was hoping to see Duchess Margaret."

Neflite looked at Pluto. "Duchess Margaret?"

"Neflite, she's standing right beside you," Pluto said without looking at him.

Neflite and Molly looked at each other. "I...I lived in this time?" Molly asked.

"Please, keep quiet," Pluto said. She looked over at Malachite as he watched the whole scene unfold before him. "You will see something that is going to shock the hell out of you."

Before Malachite could react to Pluto's comment, another voice came from where the younger Neflite and Zoycite were walking.

"Hey, Zoycite," said a young man with short blond hair. "What you are you up to?"

"Jedite," the younger Zoycite said. "Just talking to my best friend. Jedite, meet Neflite, the Ambassador from Earth. Neflite, this is Jedite, another Ambassador from the Moon."

"Greetings," the younger Neflite said. "Welcome to Earth."

"Thank you," Jedite said and then turned to Zoycite. "Zoycite, the Princess is looking for us."

"Before you go, I would like you to meet another Ambassador from Earth," the younger Neflite said. Neflite looked behind him to a man approaching. "Jedite, Zoycite. I'd like you to meet Malachite. Malachite, meet two Ambassadors from the Moon, Zoycite and Jedite."

"Hello," the man with white hair said, and gave a slight bow. "I'm on my way back to the castle. How about I join the two of you?"

"All right," Zoycite said. The three Ambassadors turned and headed off in the direction that Jedite had come from.

When the younger Neflite was alone, the scouts watched a young woman came running along the opposite path towards Neflite. She wore a green velvet gown, and her red hair cascaded around her shoulders. She caught up to the younger Neflite and they embraced in a long passionate kiss.

Sailor Moon looked over at Molly, stunned. She couldn't believe her best friend lived in this time as a Duchess. Then she looked at Malachite.

He was in complete shock. He had seen his younger self, who was an Ambassador from Earth and a great friend of Neflite's. He didn't know what do say about this.

Sailor Pluto swung her Garnet Orb around everyone. Instantly, they were back in the parking lot at the school.

"Scouts, Molly and Neflite. Go back into the school and enjoy the rest of the dance. Uranus, Neptune. It's best for you two to leave," Pluto said.

Still looking at Malachite, Sailor Pluto could hear the scouts leave. Before too long only she, Malachite and Zoycite were left.

"Malachite, now that you have seen your past," Pluto said, "I can help you."

"What?" Malachite asked, confused.

"She means," Zoycite said, "give you a second chance. Like she gave me."

"Why would you give me a second chance? I destroyed the Moon Kingdom."

"But you were brainwashed when you did that. Just like Tuxedo Mask is now," Pluto said.

"How can you...?" Malachite started to ask.

"You have to be almost dead for your commitment to Queen Beryl to be over," Pluto said. "If you want to be with Zoycite, you have to trust my judgment and cooperate with me. The scouts would have to kill you, and on your last breath, I would keep you in this world. That is what I did with Zoycite."

"Zoycite was still alive when I thought she was dead," Malachite said. His anger started to rise.

"It was the only way for me to make Beryl believe she was dead," Pluto said. "Do you want out of Beryl's service and to fight for what is right?"

Malachite's anger left him as he looked at Zoycite. He could see in her eyes that she wanted him to agree to what Pluto was saying. He turned from the girls and thought for a few minutes about what he had seen of the past. Still with his back turned, he said, "All right."

Zoycite smiled but didn't move an inch towards Malachite. She looked at Pluto, silently asking her what to do now.

"Malachite, as long as I'm with you, Beryl will not detect you with the scouts," Pluto said. "I'd suggest that you to come with me while Zoycite stays here for the rest of the dance. Zoycite, go inside and tell the scouts that we'll be at Neflite's."

"Do you want them to go over there after the dance?" Zoycite asked.

"No. There's no school tomorrow, so they can come over then. Don't worry about Uranus and Neptune. I'll contact them. Now, Zoycite, it would be best for you to step back a few feet so you don't get caught in the pull of the Orb."

Pluto raised her Garnet Orb and Zoycite backed away. When Pluto knew that Zoycite was a safe distance away, she swung the Garnet Orb around herself and Malachite. Malachite turned to Zoycite as he faded from sight. When they were gone, Zoycite went back inside the school.

* * * * * * * *

Inside the mansion, Pluto and Malachite reappeared. Pluto went into another room, leaving Malachite alone to look around. When Pluto was in the other room, she contacted Amara and Michelle.

"Amara," Pluto said into the phone. "Come to Neflite's mansion as soon as you can. I'll explain when you get here."

"I take it, it deals with Malachite," Amara said. "We'll be there first thing in the morning."

"Good." Pluto hung up the phone, transformed back to normal, and walked back into the main room. Malachite was standing out on the balcony.

She walked over to him. "Nice view."

"Yes, it is," Malachite said turning to her. He was a bit surprised that Pluto came up to him in her normal form. "Zoycite told me about this place but never had the time to show me. She was always trying to find a way to ruin Neflite."

"Zoycite told me," Trista said.

"Why are you in your normal form?"

"You have agreed to cooperate. I saw no reason why I shouldn't detransform."

"I could be tricking you."

"I don't think so. You know Zoycite is alive and you will not do anything to allow the Queen to know of her presence. You may call me Trista."

Malachite looked at her, not surprised at her logic. He would never allow Zoycite's presence to be known to Beryl. "Trista," he said, repeating the name.

"Make yourself comfortable. Zoycite and Neflite will be here in a couple of hours." Trista left Malachite on the balcony.

* * * * * * * *

First thing in the morning, the scouts headed over to Neflite's mansion. As usual, Serena was the last to arrive. She had overslept, this time because of the dance. She had only woken up when Amara came to pick her up. Now, still feeling sleepy and confused, Serena stared at Malachite. She couldn't believe that he was here as an ally and not an enemy.

Malachite also couldn't believe the situation. He knew at the first sight of Serena that she was Sailor Moon, and he wasn't going to do anything about it. This was too strange to him.

When everyone was assembled in the main room, Trista began the meeting.

"I asked you to come here because we need to find a way to get Malachite away from the Negaverse. The only way to do that is for him to almost die like Zoycite did."

"Killing Malachite," Lita said, "I mean, almost killing Malachite is the only way to free him from the Negaverse?"

"Yes," Trista said. She looked over at Malachite. For the first time in a while, Malachite was able to hold Zoycite. Trista could tell that he was going to cooperate.

"I've been thinking all night," Malachite said. He was not used to speaking to the scouts on friendly terms. "The only way for Beryl to think I'm dead is by striking me like you're going to kill me. Pluto-Trista can hold on my life like she did to Zoycite."

"How would we do that?" Mina asked. "You, Malachite, would have to give some sort of resistance so the queen thinks that it's real."

"Yes, that is what I would have to do," Malachite said. He sat for a few minutes in silence, remembering what Trista had told him about the original future and that none of the Sailor Scouts knew about it. "I have an idea. I will do something unexpected and provoke you to attack me."

"What is that?" Neflite glared at the white haired man.

"If I'm to do this right, I will have keep you all in the dark. But I will let Trista know what I'm going to do so she'll be ready for anything."

"That is a good idea," Trista said. "For this to work right, I will have to know what Malachite is planning. See, in order for any of you scouts to kill him, you will have to be angered. Then Beryl won't guess that he is faking his own death."

"Sounds good, when will we do it?" Lita asked.

"How about tonight?" Malachite said. "I can give you the spot where we have a direct warp hole to the Negaverse."

"Have the fight in the Negaverse?" Amy asked.

"It would be the best way for Queen Beryl to actually think that Malachite is dead," Zoycite said.

"I have to agree with Zoycite," Trista said. "When Zoycite died, Queen Beryl couldn't feel my energy keeping her alive. But since Neflite died on Earth, Queen Beryl couldn't feel his death. Though she was certain Neflite was dead, she hadn't felt his death the way she felt Zoycite's."

"Whatever. Let's do it!" Serena said.

"Serena!" Raye snapped. "Don't be in such a rush! We want to make sure we do this right!"

"Raye, I want to get this done and over with and get Darien back, now!" Serena snapped back. Before long the two girls were arguing. As they argued, the rest of the scouts left the room. Only the generals stayed behind, waiting for the argument to end.

"Do they do this all the time?" Malachite asked. "This seems like the evening when they tried to trick me by making me think that the scouts were splitting up and Sailor Moon wanted to go to the Negaverse."

"Yes," Zoycite said. "They do this all the time. Up until the Serena was revealed as the Moon Princess, Raye thought she should be leader."

"But Serena has come a long way," Neflite said.

"Neflite, I want you to know something," Malachite said. "I'm going to take Molly hostage."

"What!" Neflite snapped, and swung around on Malachite to glare at him.

"Now, before you get protective and try to kill me yourself, just listen to me" Malachite continued in a calm voice. "Taking Molly hostage will be the most effective way to get the Scouts to kill me. I've heard that the scouts have only used a fraction of their power, and when a friend is injured their powers increase. Trista will know about this and you all can keep a close eye on me."

Neflite looked at him very suspiciously.

"Zoycite showed me the time flux window and how you were able to foil my plans," Malachite said.

"Molly is my life and I love her," Neflite said angrily.

"Yes, I understand that," Malachite said. "But in order for the scouts to defeat me, they need to be angered in a way I've never seen them."

"Malachite has a point." The generals turned to the voice to see Trista standing behind them. "Neflite, I can protect Molly, and she will know about this so she won't have anything to worry about. In fact, I can have Amara and Michelle stay with Molly when she is held captive."

"How can they be in the Negaverse?" Neflite asked. His anger was dissipating.

"They can be on Earth," Malachite said, snapping his fingers. "I take Molly hostage and take her somewhere where she will safe and can have the other two scouts with her. She wouldn't be anywhere near the Negaverse."

Neflite looked at Trista and saw her genuine trust in Malachite. "This is what you meant by Molly was still in danger and that the queen couldn't talk about it."

"Yes, I believe so," Trista said.

"Queen? What Queen?" Malachite asked.

"I'll fill you in later," Zoycite said. "Right now let's shut those girls up and get this show on the road. The best time to do this is tonight."

* * * * * * * *

Early that evening, Molly was sitting on her bed waiting for something to happen. Neflite had told her that she was going to be part of the plan to bring Malachite over to the good side but she didn't really know what it was. All she knew was that Amara and Michelle were going to be with her.

Suddenly she heard a noise coming from her window. She went over to her window, wondering what it was. She couldn't see anything through the glass and opened the window. A sudden wind came into the room, throwing Molly to the floor.

Before she could get up, a woman with green skin and fangs appeared in front of her. Molly gasped in horror as she realized what was happening. Though she knew this was the plan that Neflite told her about, she still was afraid of the woman. The woman bent down and grabbed Molly. Molly struggled against the woman's strength. In the struggle, her hair ribbon came out and fell to the floor as Molly and the woman vanished.

Molly's mother entered the room and found Molly gone. She saw the open window, then glanced at the floor and saw Molly's hair ribbon. Realizing that Molly had been kidnapped, she ran out of the room and called Maxfield Stanton. Molly had told her to call him if anything were to happen to her.

* * * * * * * *

Neflite was in the living room, waiting, when the phone rang. He answered; by the time he had finished talking and put down the receiver, Zoycite had entered the room.

"What is it?" Zoycite asked.

"Molly. Need I say more," Neflite said through clenched teeth. "I just gave Mrs. Baker the number to contact Sailor Moon. It's the number to a pager I gave Serena."

"Neflite, you knew this was going to happen. She's at the old warehouse where she was first held captive with the teenagers. Amara and Michelle are there with her. We'll go to the time flux and you can watch over Molly."

Neflite nodded and headed to the time flux. Zoycite was at his heels.

* * * * * * * *

When the Sailor Scouts heard Molly was kidnapped, they knew right away that it was Malachite. It angered Serena that Malachite used Molly as bait; they headed straight to where Malachite had said the portal to the Negaverse was. The portal was right where it was supposed to be, behind the Arcade where Serena hung out a lot.

The scouts jumped into the portal and started heading down a tunnel. Before too long, they found Malachite.

"Welcome, Sailor Scouts," Malachite snarled. He knew the scouts were going to be coming but he had to put on a show just in case Queen Beryl was watching. She loved to watch battles.

"What did you do with Molly?" Sailor Moon yelled.

"She's quite safe, I assure you, for now," he smiled.

Sailor Moon knew Molly was safe and that Malachite was putting on a show but it angered her, Molly had been through enough because of him and now he was holding her hostage somewhere. "Where is she, you creep?"

"If you ever want to see her again, you'd better hand over the Crescent Moon Wand, now!" Malachite said.

"You're never getting my crystal!" Sailor Moon yelled.

"Didn't your mother teach you never say never?" Malachite swung up his hands and a blast of black energy knocked the scouts of their feet.

As the scouts fell, Sailor Moon lost her grip on the Moon wand. Malachite dove after it but before he could it, the wand and the scouts disappeared. Malachite wondered at first where they were but then he remembered, Trista had told him that the spirit of Queen Serenity was going to show the scouts the final days of the Moon Kingdom.

While the scouts were learning of their past, Molly was sitting in the abandoned warehouse, scared. She didn't know where she was. And there was no one around but the youma who captured her. Suddenly she heard a sound coming from outside. The youma turned from Molly to be confronted by two Sailor Scouts.

"What the...?" the youma said.

"It's not what the, it's who the," Sailor Uranus said. "I'm Sailor Uranus."

"And I'm Sailor Neptune and you are about to become dust," Neptune said. "NEPTUNE DEEP SUBMERGE!" In seconds, the youma was destroyed. She didn't even have time to scream.

"Oh, am I glad to see you," Molly said in relief.

"Sorry we're late," Uranus said. "We had to make sure the scouts found Malachite."

"Where am I?" Molly asked.

"You are in an abandoned warehouse," Neptune said. "You were here once before, but you were unconscious. Don't worry though. Neflite is probably watching you as we speak. I believe he and Zoycite are in the time flux, keeping an eye on us. Neflite will come here after Malachite appears to die."

"Oh." Molly turned and looked for a spot to sit in. "It's chilly in here."

"I know, we brought you a blanket to wrap up in," Uranus said. She went outside for a minute and came back with a blanket and some food. "Neflite wanted to make sure you had a snack or two while we wait."

"Thanks," Molly said. She grabbed the blanket and cuddled up on the floor, away from the door but still in what light there was in the room.

* * * * * * * *

In the tunnel, Malachite waited. It was a couple hours before he saw the Imperium Silver Crystal return. A bright light came from the crystal and then the scouts appeared in the tunnel.

"Well, well, well," Malachite mocked. "You're back. Finally got to see your past."

The scouts started attacking him. Just as Malachite had said he would do, he resisted their attacks. Finally Sailor Moon saw that her friends were starting to get hurt and she couldn't stand it anymore. She stood and walked closer to Malachite, holding the Crescent Moon Wand in hand.

Holding it high above her head, she concentrated her energy on the silver crystal. Suddenly she started to glow. Malachite had to shield his eyes from the glow. Enraged by the light, Malachite materialized a silvery-pink energy boomerang and threw it at Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon quickly swung her wand, making the weapon bounce off the wand. It flew back towards Malachite, and its sharp end buried itself in Malachite's chest. He gasped as his strength started to leave him. He was dying just as they planned he would.

Shocked, the scouts watched him and waited. In the last moment, when they thought he was dead, Sailor Pluto came out of the shadows.

"Sailor Moon," Pluto said, "quickly share your energy with Malachite. I had to wait longer than I thought to grab his life. Queen Beryl was watching but now she isn't. I'll lose him if you don't give him some energy."

Forgetting her anger, Sailor Moon ran towards the fallen man and held him close against her chest. She grasped his hand and clapped it onto the wand to allow the silver crystal to heal him. For several minutes, the scouts watched Pluto and Sailor Moon work to save their enemy's life.

"We did it," Jupiter said. "He's no longer part of the Negaverse."

"Let's get out of here," Pluto said at last. "Scouts, gather around me and I'll transport us all to Neflite's. Once we're there, Neflite will go and get Molly."

"What?" Sailor Moon burst out, a little weak. "You knew that Malachite took Molly and so did Neflite?"

"Yes," Pluto said. "But we don't have time to discuss it now. We have to get out of here before my energy is detected."

The scouts quickly gathered around Pluto. The gatekeeper swung her Garnet Orb around everyone and they disappeared. They reappeared in the main room of Neflite's mansion. Pluto saw Zoycite staring at Malachite. Sailor Moon was sitting on the floor bracing Malachite against her. His skin was pale and Zoycite could tell that he lost a lot of energy.

"Sailor Moon is sharing her energy for now. I need you, Zoycite, to go and tell Neflite that Malachite is here."

Zoycite hesitated at first but then complied. When she entered the time flux, Neflite took one look at her and knew that Malachite was in the mansion.

"About damn time," Neflite said. In reddish swirls, Neflite vanished to go get Molly.

* * * * * * * *

Molly was asleep on the floor when Neflite appeared. Sailor Uranus and Neptune looked at him as he smiled.

"Malachite is at the mansion," he said. "I'm taking Molly home."

He walked over to Molly and shook her awake. Molly's big eyes opened to see her man kneeling beside her. She gasped and threw herself into his arms and hugged him.

After several minutes, Neflite pulled away from her a bit, just long enough to look at her before bending down to give her a long passionate kiss. When he finally had to catch his breath, Neflite pulled away and picked Molly up. They left the warehouse with Uranus and Neptune following.

Now that Malachite was their ally, there was only one mission left. Destroy the Queen Beryl and the Negaverse.

* * * * * * * *

return to Index / go to Chapter 15

The Nephrite and Naru Treasury