CHAPTER EIGHT

SAILOR SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE

“Halite! Albite! Report to me at once!” Rutile ordered.

From the depths of the Negaverse, the twin generals emerged. Prince Rutile sat back, looking displeased. The twins showed no emotion on either of their identical faces. They bowed formally and began their report.

“We've been studying Queen Beryl's . . ,” Halite started

“Failed attempts to capture the Sailor Scouts,” Albite finished.

Prince Rutile looked at them expectantly, tapping on hand impatiently on the arm of his throne. He raised one eyebrow expectantly.

“Only one monster has ever attacked at once. If we reuse some monsters that almost succeeded . . ,” Albite continued.

“Then the pesky Scouts will surely be defeated!” Halite concluded.

Prince Rutile of the Negaverse thought their plan through. The twins waited patiently for their ruler to decide.

“You are aware that this will require enormous amounts of energy,” Rutile said slowly. “Energy that we cannot spare.”

“Yes, my Master,” they said together. “It will be worth it if are successful.”

“Very well, you may proceed. Just remember to recapture the Dark Scout. Her power has not yet reached its fullest and it is uncontrolled in her mortal form,” Rutile instructed.

The twin generals bowed once before departing. The Prince sat back and smiled.

“The Dark Scout must be returned to me,” he muttered. “Only then can my Master be free, and the world be ours.”

*****

School had been out for a few weeks now and Serena spent each day with her friends. Jenny had woken up a few days after her rescue, but had become withdrawn. She rarely spoke, but stayed close to Amy, who had nursed her back to health. The other scouts didn’t know what to do to get the old Jenny back, so they behaved as normally as possible, hoping the girl would snap out of it.

Serena walked over to Amy’s apartment, eager to see both Amy and Jenny. Since Amy’s mother had gone away for a while, Jenny had moved it to keep Amy company. She knocked at the door and waited patiently in the hall.

“Serena!” Amy exclaimed as she opened the door. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi Amy!” Serena greeted her. “I just thought I’d see if you and Jenny wanted to go to the mall.”

Amy looked over her shoulder. Serena craned her neck to see around Amy, but it was dark in the apartment and she couldn’t see anything.

“I don’t know,” Amy replied. “Jenny’s still not herself.”

“Maybe this will help her,” Serena suggested. “She liked to shop before.”

The door opened a little further and Jenny stood there. Her skin was still pale and her eyes seemed darker, like she was the Dark Scout again. She looked at Serena without blinking.

“I don’t want to go to the mall,” she said in a quiet, tired voice.

“How about a sleepover tonight?” Serena asked.

Jenny said nothing, and turned to go back into the apartment. Serena took this for a yes.

“Great! I’ll get everyone and we’ll be over at eight,” she decided.

Amy opened her mouth to protest, but Serena had already taken off down the hall. With a sigh, Amy closed the door and turned to Jenny. The girl was seated on the floor, holding her head in one hand.

“Again?” Amy asked gently.

Jenny nodded. “It’s so compelling,” she muttered through clenched teeth. “I can barely stand it anymore.”

“Don’t give up,” Amy told her, sitting down next to her. “I’ve almost got it figured out. I’m sure of it.”

Jenny smiled weakly at her friend and took a deep breath. Satisfied that she had repressed the dark force, Jenny stood and went to get something to eat.

*****

“We're here! The door was open so we let ourselves in,” Lita said happily as she and the other scouts came into the room.

“Hi guys!” Amy answered.

Mina, Lita, Serena and Raye were loaded down with chips, soda pop, games, movies and three steaming pizzas. Luna and Artemis were on the ground at their feet. Amy sat alone in the sitting area of her apartment with Jenny no where to be found.

“How is she?” Luna asked.

Amy ran a weary hand through her hair.

“She’s fighting it,” Amy said with a sigh. “She said it gets harder every time. I don’t know if she’s strong enough.”

“We're here now, and we can stay as long as you like to help you both through this,” Serena comforted.

Amy smiled appreciatively. Jenny appeared in the doorway, wearing a yellow sweat shirt and black pants. The other scouts were shocked at her sickly appearance.

“Thank you,” Jenny said. “I feel stronger knowing you’re all with me.”

“No problem,” Mina told her.

“We’re always here for you,” Raye added.

Jenny came and sat down between Amy and Lita. Luna and Artemis came over to sit by the girl and they all remained still for a moment.

“So, lets eat! I'm totally starved!” Serena exclaimed, helping herself to four pieces of pizza and breaking the silence.

The six friends laughed and talked together like old times. The worries of the Negaverse and the Dark Scout were forgotten and they had a few hours of being normal.

Amy put on one of the movies the others had brought and they watched it together. Luna noticed that Amy stayed protectively close to Jenny. That night passed without incident, and the scouts remained at Amy's house for two days. On the morning of the third day, Serena was bored.

“Let's do something, guys!” she suggested.

“I don’t know if we should,” Amy said. “Jenny’s still not very strong.”

“I feel much better,” Jenny said. “Maybe fresh air will do me good.”

“Come on, Amy. It’s only for a few hours,” Serena pleaded.

Amy looked at Jenny. She hadn’t suffered from a ‘calling’ as they referred to it, since the others had arrived. The other girls were already putting on their shoes to leave.

“So, are you coming Amy?” Raye asked.

Amy smiled and stood.

“Sure, but only for a while,” she agreed. “The fresh air might do Jenny some good.”

They laughed and headed out the door, leaving Luna and Artemis behind.

*****

“Perfect. They are finally leaving. Now's our chance . . ,” Halite said.

“To make it into Negaverse history!” Albite finished.

The two of them began their own watch over Jenny, the Dark Scout of the Negaverse, as she and her friends walked down the street.

*****

“Wow! That movie was awesome!” Serena said.

“Yeah, but did you have to eat all my popcorn?” Raye asked.

“I didn't eat all of it,” Serena protested.

“Yes you did, and you ate mine as well,” Mina added.

“Well, excuse me for being hungry!” Serena yelled.

“It's our turn to sit next to her, you know,” Lita whispered to Amy.

“I know, but I'm not going to buy anything to eat,” Amy smiled.

“I heard that!” Serena said.

The six of them were walking down Main Street from the movie theatre. They had just finished watching 'Aliens From Mars' and Raye was angry at the title.

“There are no aliens on Mars!” she argued.

“How do you know?” Serena asked.

“Because, I'm the Princess of Mars and I think I'd know if I had any subjects waiting for me to return,” Raye said softly but angrily.

“Well, at least I'm the Princess of a real planet,” Serena said.

“Actually Serena, the Moon isn't a planet. It's just a big piece of rock that got stuck in the Earth's gravitational pull millions of years ago,” Amy corrected.

“Who's side are you on, anyway?” Serena asked.

“Don’t worry,” Jenny told Serena. “I don’t have a real planet either.”

They walked on in silence when suddenly Mina spotted something in the distance.

“Hey!” she cried.

“What?” the others asked.

“There's a monster attacking the downtown drug store!” Mina told them.

Jenny paled and fingered her ring nervously. Amy looked at her in concern.

“Maybe Prince Rutile has a cold,” Lita joked.

“I doubt it,” Raye said. “Come on!”

The six young girls raced down the street, Jenny trailing slightly behind the others.

*****

The monster was one they had already fought. It was a giant half human, half plant with a mean looking flower for one hand. It had two people tied down with vines and was draining their energy as the girls appeared at the scene.

“That's a cardian!” Amy said. “What’s it doing here?”

“A what?” Jenny asked.

“Vampire! Your energy is mine!” the monster shouted as it saw the six girls. It finished draining its two victims and lunged at the girls.

“Ready guys? Moon Crystal Power!” Serena said.

“Mercury Star Power!” Amy cried.

“Venus Star Power!” Mina yelled.

“Mars Star Power!” Raye shouted.

“Jupiter Star Power!” Lita called.

In a few seconds, the Sailor Scouts led by Sailor Moon were ready to fight. Jenny stepped back and hid in a dark alley, not trusting herself to transform. She stepped back out of the monster’s sight and felt a pair of hands grab her from behind. She gasped in surprise as a hand clamped over her mouth and felt herself disappearing. Halite stepped out of the shadows and signaled to the creature. It nodded and returned its attention to the Sailor Scouts.

“Okay you creepy monster! I've beaten you once and I can do it again! I'm Sailor Moon and in the name of the Moon I fight for love and justice!” Sailor Moon cried.

“Vampire! I've been waiting for you,” the monster said.

The cardian aimed her flower at them and the petals opened. A dark mist shot out and covered the scouts. As they looked about in alarm, they felt a familiar distortion as they moved from their universe to the Negaverse.

*****

Sailor Moon found herself alone when the darkness cleared. Carefully, she stood and looked around. She wasn’t in a room because she saw no walls or ceiling, but she knew she was in the Negaverse. The only light anywhere was in a small circle around where she shoot. Realizing she was alone, she shouted into the surrounding darkness.

“Come and fight me, Nega trash!”

Nothing happened. A voice that she didn't recognize answered her with out showing itself.

“Sailor Moon, nice of you to join me,” it said.

Sailor Moon tried to pinpoint where the sound was coming from but couldn't.

“Who are you?” she called.

“Not so fast, Moon child. That will be revealed to you in time,” the voice replied. “Besides, I believe we’ve met once before.”

“Where am I?” Sailor Moon asked, knowing the answer before it was given.

“You are in the Negaverse, my domain,” it answered.

“Where are my friends?”

“They are safe, for the moment. Soon, they will each face a monster. If they win, they live. If they lose, they die. Each of them will fight in turn. If they've won, I will keep them safe until you win. If you lose, they will all die. Those are the rules.”

“Let me see them,” Sailor Moon insisted.

“Very well, but they cannot hear you or see you,” the voice reminded her.

In the blackness came four clear circles. They were large and in each of them was a scout. Sailor Mercury was on Sailor Moon's left, then came Jupiter, Mars and Venus. Sailor Moon noticed that each of their rooms was identical to the one in which she was being held. She also noticed that Jenny was no where to be seen. She hoped the girl had escaped safely.

“Let Round One begin!” the voice ordered.

In Sailor Mercury's area, a monster appeared. It was the monster Titanus that they had fought on Jadeite's mock cruise. The monster roared once and Sailor Mercury's lips moved, but Sailor Moon couldn't hear what she said.

“You can do it!” Sailor Moon whispered.

From somewhere high, the voice laughed evilly.

*****

Sailor Mercury watched as the monster circled. She hadn't any idea where she was or the rules of the game in which she was involved. She remembered the monster she was facing and knew that her bubbles would be useless against it. It controlled water as much as she did.

“Let's get this over with,” she yelled.

The monster nodded and the scene changed. Sailor Mercury was standing on a wooden raft in the middle of a lake somewhere. The monster was no where to be seen.

*****

“That's not fair!” Sailor Moon objected as she watched Mercury’s scene change.

“My game, my rules,” the voice said. “And not everything is fair.”

Clenching her fists, Sailor Moon turned back to the fight.

*****

Suddenly, from the water came a huge wave. Sailor Mercury fell onto the raft and held on as it swept over her. The raft overturned and she was in the water.

“Mercury Bubble Blast!” she cried, concentrating on what she wanted to do.

Instead of the usual mist, a huge bubble appeared beneath her. It lifted her out of the water and into the sky.

From her own cell, Sailor Moon cheered.

The monster them came, floating on the water. It raised it's arms and two columns of water rose up.

“Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!” Sailor Mercury yelled.

Before the monster could use the pillars she had created, they froze solid and so did the lake where she was floating. Mercury's bubble popped and she fell down, onto the ice. The monster couldn't move.

“You're not so dangerous when there's no water around, are you?” Sailor Mercury asked.

The monster tried to swipe at the girl with her hand but Mercury jumped back.

“Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!” she called again.

The monster froze and the scene vanished. Sailor Mercury was once again in the small dark room and more confused than before.

“We won!” Sailor Moon cried, jumping up and down.

“One for the scouts,” the voice admitted.

Sailor Moon looked at the next bubble, with Sailor Jupiter ready to fight.

*****

Sailor Jupiter was ready for the monster. It was the photo monster Sailor Moon had fought. Jupiter wasn’t familiar with this monster because it had been defeated before she had become a scout. This monster could capture you in her film with a single shot.

“All right photo-head, let's rumble!” Jupiter said.

The scene changed again. Now they were in a photo studio. There were models screaming in terror at the monster that had appeared before them. The photo monster smiled at Jupiter and took the model's pictures. They vanished.

“What the . . ?” Jupiter said.

“You're turn,” the monster cried as it charged.

Jupiter leapt high and the monster crashed into the wall.

“Jupiter Thunder Crash!” she cried.

A bolt of lightning hit the monster. It shrugged the attack off and faced Jupiter again.

“You'll need to do better than that!” it screamed.

Jupiter tried to remember how Serena had said this monster had been destroyed. She could recall Serena bragging about the defeat, but the details wouldn’t stick in her brain. Her gaze turned to a small mirror that one of the models had been using.

Jupiter dived for the mirror and was hit by a flying photo. The picture dug deep into her leg and she winced with pain. With the mirror safely in her hand, she lay on the floor and waited.

“Now you're mine!” the monster yelled.

“That’s what you think, bulb-brain,” Jupiter countered with a triumphant smile.

It tried to take her picture but she held out the mirror. The beam bounced back and hit the monster. It shriek once and vanished. The scene changed and Jupiter was once again alone in the dark. Her leg was bleeding and a cloth appeared beside her. She put it on her leg and the bleeding stopped.

*****

“Two for the scouts,” the voice reported.

Sailor Moon watched as Jupiter held the cloth to her leg.

“Why did you help her?” she asked.

“I told you they would live until you lost,” the voice answered.

“We can’t have her bleed to death before that. Round Three, begin!”

*****

Sailor Mars sensed the monster before it arrived. It was the monster they had faced when Serena had gone on vacation. This sea creature was really a woman who had been consumed with jealousy and had transformed into a monster. Sailor Mars knew that wasn't the original monster, but one that the Negaverse had created to fool her. Sailor Mars wasn't fooled and faced her adversary with grim determination.

“You're not so tough! I can take you easily,” Sailor Mars said.

“I know this, so there's an extra treat for you,” a strange voice called.

Beside the sea creature came another monster. Sailor Mars had seen this one before as well. It was the Dream Princess from the amusement park. The scene changed and they were in the castle at the park.

“Now, face us both!” they cried.

“No problem!” Sailor Mars said confidently.

She pulled out an anti evil sign and held it in front of her.

“I call upon the powers of Mars! Fire balls charge!” she called.

The sign stuck to the mechanical Princesses forehead. Sailor Mars smiled, remembering how easy it had been to defeat the Princess the first time.

“Help me, I can't move. Help me,” it said in a mechanical voice.

“Mars Fire Ignite!” she called.

The false Dream Princess was reduced to ashes. While this was going on, the sea creature had snuck behind Sailor Mars and now grabbed her.

“You're mine!” it said.

Sailor Mars could feel her energy being drained away and she became positive that this wasn't the same creature they had set free. She knew the original monster hadn't drained energy, but was only consumed by jealousy. Sailor Mars kicked the monster and it released her with a painful grunt.

“Mars Firebird Strike!” she cried.

The fire bird destroyed the monster and she was taken back to her cell, slightly drained, but other wise unharmed.

*****

“Three for the scouts,” the voice said.

“We can't be defeated! Queen Beryl thought she could and we proved her wrong. What's with you bad guys? Can't you see that we'll always win?” Sailor Moon said.

“We can always try,” the voice replied, sounding hurt. “Round Four, begin!”

“You can do it, Venus,” Moon whispered.

*****

Sailor Venus knew the monster she saw, having fought it before. It was the horrible vulture that had tried to drain kindergarten children of their energy. She also knew that she could destroy him. When the scene changed, however, her confidence faltered.

They were in the same tunnel where they had fought before. There were children in an overturned bus that were screaming for help. Sailor Venus had to beat the monster before she could free the children.

“Sailor Venus! Help us!” a familiar young voice said.

Sailor Venus looked and saw Carrie, the girl she had met before. The girl looked at the heroine with large, tear-filled eyes. Venus could hear the frightened whimpers of the other children on board.

“I'll save you!” she promised. “I’ll save you all.”

The vulture lunged at her and Venus jumped away in time.

“Venus Crescent Beam Smash!” Venus cried.

The monster leapt clear as the beam sped past. Venus growled in frustration.

“Sailor Venus! The bus is on fire!” Carrie screamed. “Help us!”

Venus looked and saw flames flicking out from near where the gas tank was. The frightened cried intensified and she turned to stare the monster in the eye. It grinned back at her, refusing to attack.

“I don't have time for you!” Venus yelled. “Venus Meteor Shower!”

Again, the monster dodged.

Strangely, Sailor Venus felt a new power within her.

“Venus Love Chain Encircle!” she screamed.

The chain struck the monster in the chest. It roared once and disappeared. Sailor Venus ran to the bus to get the children before it was too late. The bus was just out of reach when the scene wavered and vanished. She found herself again in the dark cell.

“No!” she screamed at the top of her lungs.

*****

From Sailor Moon's prison, she could hear Sailor Venus's desperate cry. Her heart almost broke at her friend’s mournful cry.

“Your turn, Sailor Moon!” the voice said.

The blackness faded and Sailor Moon could see her friends. They were each in glass cages.

“Sailor Moon!” they all cried.

“Who is my challenge?” Sailor Moon asked. “I’ve beaten your Nega-creatures easily before.”

The owner of the mysterious voice chuckled and stepped forward out of the shadows. Sailor Moon’s eyes widened and she heard the other scouts gasp in shock.

“You'll face me,” she said.

It was Jenny, the Dark Scout of the Negaverse. She grinned evilly and took a fighting stance.

“Jenny!” Mercury cried, a tear streaming down her cheek.

“Not again!” Jupiter groaned.

“I know how to help you,” Sailor Moon said to her foe. “Let me heal you.”

“I don't need help, but you will,” the Dark Scout yelled. “Dark Flame Attack!”

Sailor Moon jumped out of the way as the flame hit Sailor Mars's cage and vanished. The Dark Scout lunged at Sailor Moon, knocking her flat on her back. The Dark Scout stood over her, the smile never leaving her face. Sailor Moon rose to her feet and held up her crystal.

“Moon Crystal Healing Activation!” she yelled.

The Dark Scout smiled and didn't move. The light of the crystal floated around her and she began to laugh.

“You can't heal me!” she said. “I’ve realized the true strength of the Negaverse. I can never go back to the weak fool I was before.”

The scene changed and they were in the park where they had first met Jenny. The scouts were still in their cages and the Dark Scout was ready. It was night time, but Sailor Moon could see the sun slowly rising. The Dark Scout attacked again and the battle was renewed. They fought until the sun was high in the sky.

“Look!” Sailor Moon cried. “The Sun calls to you, Jenny. Listen to it. Become Sailor Sun once more.”

The Dark Scout smirk vanished and she held her head in her hands as they sun's light hit her.

“No!” she screamed and fell to her knees.

The darkness of her costume melted into a pool around her. As the Sun rose higher in the sky, the darkness seemed to cry out shrilly and it scattered into the receding shadows of the park. All that was left was Jenny, kneeling on the grass. She raised her head weakly to look at Sailor Moon and smiled.

“I'm back,” she said softly.

The glass cages vanished and the scouts were freed. They ran to where Sailor Moon knelt beside Jenny.

“Are you back for good? Are you Sailor Sun?” Mars asked.

“She will never be yours,” a new voice called.

They turned and saw Prince Rutile. He floated in the sky above them, looking down arrogantly.

“When the sky is dark and the moon bright, she will belong to me!” he announced and disappeared, leaving only his echoing laughter.

*****

Amy opened her door and they entered her apartment. Raye and Lita were supporting Jenny between them and the girl collapsed gratefully on the couch. Luna and Artemis came up to them.

“What happened?” Artemis asked.

Mina began explaining, with the others adding details in. Jenny sat alone on the couch. Her head was down as Prince Rutile’s words echoed in her mind.

When the sky is dark and the moon bright, she will belong to me!

“Jenny?” Serena asked.

Jenny looked up and smiled. Serena sat next to her friend and they listened to the other scouts tell the stories of their battles. Jenny took a deep breath.

“Will I ever be Sailor Sun again?” she asked.

Serena smiled. “Of course you will,” she said. “We’ll set you free once and for all.”