Chapter 7
by: Prince Darien

Natas and Sylvite were having a discussion about Malachite and Zoisite. Sylvite had reported what she had heard. Natas was not pleased. He had become enraged, and threw a temper tantrum. He was not happy that two of the chosen ones would be plotting against him. Then again, what good would it do to try to kill him? He was already nearly invincible, but that was the strongest he could get. He was not going to get any stronger. Why? He wasted too much of his power in his temper tantrums. Every time he threw one, it weakened him. He had no control over his temper, however. It proved to be his greatest setback.

"Sylvite, kill them! If they will not serve me, then they will die!" Natas shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Yes, my lord," Sylvite said humbly. She then disappeared.

"Those fucking ingrates! How dare they challenge me!"

* * * * * * * * *

Serena was still in the hospital, but she was feeling better. At least, physically. She still had the same dream every time she tried to get some sleep. Why was this happening to her? Could it be that she was no longer interesting to Darien? Was she too much of a klutz to live with? Or was she just imagining the whole thing, because of Natas? Could he be behind it? All these, and many more questions raced through her mind all the time. Especially right after her dream.

"What the hell does it mean?" Serena tried to forget it, but that was impossible. "That's it," she finally said to herself. "No more miss nice Sailor Moon."

* * * * * * * * *

Raye, Lita, Mina, and Amy were still at Raye's temple, along with Luna and Artemis. They were waiting for Serena to get out of the hospital. They did not have to wait as long as they thought they would.

"What's that?" Lita asked as she saw something coming at them.

"I don't know," Mina replied. The thing kept coming, coming, coming. It was Serena!

"Hey guys!" she yelled as she ran up to the other Scouts.

"Are you--" Raye did not get to finish.

"I'm fine. We've got to go kick some Dark Universe ass!"

"Hang on, Serena!" Luna shouted. "First, we have to be one hundred percent sure that you're OK."

"Luna, I'm FINE!"

"OK, OK. Now we have to find a way to get to the Dark Universe."

"Why don't we use the portal we stumbled across before," Lita said.

"Uh-uh, no way. They're probably expecting us to go that way. We need to find a back door," Artemis said. "If we can surprise them, all the better."

"Artemis, I really don't have time! If we don't act now, I may lose Darien!"

"Who told you?" Mina asked.

"I've been having the same dream every time I try to go to sleep. I see Tuxedo Mask, he runs away, reappears, and throws a black rose at me."

"Serena, Natas has taken over Darien's body."

"That's what I was afraid of. How long do we have to save him?"

"Not long, I'm afraid," Luna said. "We may already be too late."

"Well, I say we bust through the front door of that palace and see what we can do!" Lita said.

"I agree," said Raye, Amy, and Mina in unison.

"All right," Luna said hesitantly. "But be on your guard!"

"We will!" all of the Scouts said in unison.

* * * * * * * * *

Sylvite went unnoticed to Malachite and Zoisite. The two lovers were just about to launch their plan into action, but they never got the chance. Sylvite sneaked up behind them, and made a fireball appear in her right hand. She then threw it into Malachite, and killed him instantly. Zoisite jumped up and stared at her lover's ashes in horror. Then , she faced Sylvite.

"You bitch!"

"He deserved it, as you deserve it." Sylvite threw several small fireballs at Zoisite. Most of them hit her, and wounded her greatly. As Zoisite lay on the floor of Natas' palace, she stared up at Sylvite with pleading eyes.

"We don't tolerate traitors," Sylvite said. "Oh, I'm sorry. Was that supposed to be your line? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

"Malachite...I...will...be with you..." Zoisite's voice trailed off, and she becam a pile of slightly scorched pink flower petals.

"How touching," Sylvite said. "Two fools dead. Now, to get Nephlite, and see what he thinks about me."

* * * * * * * * *

The restaurant near the Crown Game Center was packed. They were having a special: All you can eat for $3.95. Molly and Nephlite were sharing a chocolate parfait.

"Oh, Nephlite. I'm so happy."

"Me too," replied Nephlite. "Me too." At this point, Sylvite entered the restaurant. She thought it best to look human, and teleporting would ruin that plan.

Sylvite entered the restaurant in a white blouse, a black skirt which went down to just above her knees, and her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She had a blue diamond-shaped earring in each ear. She saw Nephlite and Molly, and overheard their conversation.

Sylvite learned that Nephlite wanted nothing to do with Natas, and he wanted nothing to do with anyone in the Dark Universe. "He doesn't like me?" Sylvite asked herself mentally. Her hurt turned to anger, and she made a fist with each hand. "He doesn't like me!" she thought. "Then he will die!" she thought.

Sylvite forgot about subtlety, and made a fireball, and hurled it at Nephlite. She missed, and hit Molly.

"Molly! No!" Nephlite shouted. He quickly found the source of the fireball. "You!" he shouted, letting his anger show. Molly, while not dead, was hanging on to life by only a very thin thread.

"Nephlite, you traitor! Malachite and Zoisite were right!" She threw another fireball, this time hitting her target. Nephlite went flying backward, and crashed into Molly. By this time the other people had left the building.

Tell you what," Sylvite said. "Since it's evident you care so much about her, I'll kill your little girlfriend right before I make you wish you had never been born!" Sylvite summoned a lot of her energy, and made a really, REALLY BIG fireball. "Die!" she shouted as she flung the ball to Molly. Nephlite, still not extremely weak, ran to cover Molly. He was hit, and sent flying into a wall. He managed to get back up, though he could barely stand to breathe.

"You...will...not...kill...her," he said in between gasps of air.

"Yes...I will." Sylvite made a sword appear in her right hand, and lunged at Molly. Molly screamed a weak scream, and just as it appeared she was shish kabob, the sword shattered! Sylvite went flying over Molly, and landed on her head.

"Ow," she said. "What the hell?" Molly, Nephlite, and Sylvite looked at the object that was now in the floor of the restaurant. It was a white rose.

"Tuxedo Mask," Sylvite whispered.

"No," said a man in a white cape and turban, with a small sword attached to his belt on his white clothing. "I am the Moonlight Knight. Nephlite, take Molly and get out of here. I'll deal with Sylvite." Nephlite picked up Molly, and teleported the both of them out of the restaurant.

"Ha ha ha! You can't kill me," Sylvite said mockingly.

"I don't want to, but if I must..." Sylvite lunged at the Moonlight Knight. He pulled out his sword and held it so it pointed directly at her. She did not react in time. She went onto the sword, and gasped. She slowly disappeared, and the Moonlight Knight sighed. "What is it with these Negaverse morons? They always have to learn the hard way."

* * * * * * * * *

Natas was sitting in his throne. He knew that Malachite and Zoisite were dead, and he had just received news that Nephlite had died, too. This information had come from Dolomite.

Dolomite had been too much of a coward to not follow Natas' bidding. He had told Natas that Nephlite had been killed in battle, so Nephlite could still have a chance. Dolomite was not a very good liar.

"Dolomite, why do you lie?"

"I-I-I-I'm not, m-my l-l-lord," Dolomite replied, starting to sweat. Natas' eyes began to glow, and Dolomite became very warm. "What...is...happening...to me?"

"Burn in hell," Natas replied, right before Dolomite combusted. "So, now Nephlite has turned to. He must be stopped. Sylvite!" She did not answer. "Sylvite!" Again, no answer. Natas now knew that she was dead. "Shit," he mumbled. "Fine! *I'll* just lead my Army of Darkness. I should have known better than to trust a bunch of misfits from the Negaverse." He went to his private chamber.

"Let the games begin," he said.

* * * * * * * * *

"Moon Crystal Power!"

"Mars Star Power!"

"Mercury Star Power!"

"Jupiter Star Power!"

"Venus Star Power!" The Sailor Scouts were ready. It was now or never. Either they beat Natas now, or the world was doomed.

"Let's go!" shouted Sailor Moon.

"Amazing," Luna said. "She's actually doing this ON HER OWN."

"Yeah," Artemis replied. The Scouts headed for the portal. When they got there, they leaped through it one at a time. Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, then Moon. "What can we do?" Artemis asked.

"Nothing," Luna replied. "Nothing at all." ---------------------------------

Natas was just about to start Armageddon, but he felt a familiar presence. He had felt it only once before. "They are here," he muttered. He exited his private chamber to see the Sailor Scouts waiting for him. "Very punctual, even for your own funeral." Serena saw Natas (still in Darien's body), and a tear formed in her eye. "Crying won't do you any good, Serena. I am Natas, son of--"

"Yeah, yeah," said Sailor Jupiter. "We know. Jupiter Thunder Crash...ZAP!" Sailor Jupiter threw a ball of lightning toward Natas. It hit him, and he only laughed. "Sure, make stronger! That's what I want!" Natas raised his arms, and a wall of fire surrounded Sailor Jupiter. She stood in the exact center of the circle, and was only 10 feet away from the flames. Natas clapped his hands, and the circle began to shrink. "Say goodbye to your friend, girls!" At that time, Nephlite entered the room, and ran into the fire! He threw Sailor Jupiter out of the circle, at his own expense.

"Don't give up..." he said as he breathed his last breath. He vanished into nothingness.

"He was a fool," Natas mumbled. Again, Natas raised his arms, but before the wall of fire could rise, a white rose flew into Natas' face. "Aaaarrrgh!!!"

"Sailor Moon, I am here, by your side." The Moonlight Knight had just had his turn at saving Sailor Jupiter's life.

"Moonlight Knight...but, how?"

"Darien's body has been taken over, but not his soul. That is something Natas will never have as long as he continues to love you." Natas, still unable to move as a result of the rose hitting his face, was disgusted.

"Ha! Love! What a crock of shit! There is no such thing as love!"

"Yes, there is," said the Moonlight Knight. "It is the one true constant of life."

"There are two true constants of life. Everybody hates and everything burns!" Natas was now able to move. His eyes began to glow bright red. The Moonlight Knight disappeared right before fire sprouted up where he stood.

"Damn!" Natas shouted.

"Darien!" Sailor Moon shouted. "I know you're in there! Fight it! Don't let him win!"

"It's too late, Sailor Moon! There is nothing you can do, and even the Moonlight Knight has deserted you! Darien does not love you." Just then, a voice spoke inside Serena's head. It was Darien, who was speaking to her telepathically.

"Serena, my love. Natas is an evil entity who feed off of hatred and destruction. Long ago, when we were friends, he was actually nice, but now..."

"Darien, what is happening?" Serena asked telepathically to Darien. "What will become of us."

"Serena, we will be together again..." Darien used all of his strength to override Natas' control on him. He found a sword, which happened to be the one the Moonlight Knight used (he had left it behind for some reason), and picked it up.

"Darien, what are you doing?" Sailor Moon asked, teary-eyed.

"I'm sorry, Serena. This is the only way." Darien stabbed himself in the stomach.

"Nooooooo!" shouted Serena. The other Scouts simply watched in horror.

"Serena," Darien said weakly, "we will be together again." Darien's life force faded out of him. Natas escaped Darien's body before he, too was killed. Serena ran to Darien, and held him close to her. Darien died in her arms, saying "I will always love you."

"And I you," said a weeping Serena. Darien's body became limp, and he stopped breathing.

"The fool!" Natas said. "He died for 'love'! What a sap!"

"Listen, you! I've had just about enough of that!" shouted Jupiter.

"Venus Love Chain, Encircle!" shouted Venus. The chain hit Natas, and weakened him greatly. Now Sailor Moon!"

"No!" said a strange, yet familiar voice. "There is only one way. This dimension must be closed!" The Scouts looked around, and saw Sailor Pluto. "Get out of here, now." The Scouts exited the palace, and went through the portal.

"Dark Dome Close!" shouted Sailor Pluto. The attack was powerful enough to destroy the portal, and the Dark Universe was sealed off from all other dimensions. Natas was then killed, along with Sailor Pluto as the Dark Universe collapsed.

* * * * * * * * *

All of the Sailor Scouts were at Raye's temple. They were thinking of the events that had just transpired.

"He's gone," Serena whispered. "I can't believe it."

"I'm sorry, Serena," Raye said. "I can just imagine what you're going through.

"No...you can't," Serena said softly. "No one can." Serena got up, and went home, wondering what might have happened if they had acted sooner. She looked down at her skirt, and realized that she was still in Sailor Scout form. She did not care. All she cared about was that Darien's blood, her one true love's blood, was on her uniform. She began to cry as the sun set, and the moon shone down upon the earth. In the Moonlight, she could swear that she saw Darien floating away, waving to her.

The End.

Rule

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