Daniel Amsler amslerd@globalserve.on.ca Tuxedo Dan NefCanuck on Undernet #sailormoon Author's Notes: Hello, sorry this took so long to produce, finding spare time is so hard lately :) Hope this will prove to be worth the wait. All comments to: amslerd@globalserve.on.ca Copyright Notice: Sailor Moon is copyright Naoko Tenchi and is being used without permission (I hope that no one takes offense!) and I reserve all posting rights. Note: Sailor Pluto = Susan Sailor Uranus = Erica Sailor Neptune = Michelle Whose Reality Is It? Chapter 12 (Eclipse) The Scouts were preparing to teleport to the Negaverse base in the North Pole but there was a problem,it wasn't that Rei and Serena were fighting, rather it was Serena & Darien! Darien fumed "What do you mean I can't come with you? Serena your not making any sense!" Serena stood in front of Darien, wishing that she could be anywhere else at that moment, "Luna explained it to me and I'm explaining it to you. We can't take you along with us because it will drain us too much, even Luna and Artemis will have to stay behind for this" Darien looked at Luna "Are you sure there is no way?" Luna for her part cast her eyes downwards "Artemis and I have gone over this problem from every angle, if the Scouts take anyone along they run the risk of being so exhausted by the time they appear at the North Pole that they'd be easy pickings for whoever is up there to greet them and you alone against however many surprises Metalla may have waiting for you is not what I call good odds! Besides we need you here for something" Darien looked at the cat quizzically "What?" Artemis spoke "We need someone to spy on the Outer Scouts and make sure that they won't do anything to jeopardize the girls rescue mission" Darien had a sour look on his face "and what happens if the Outer Scouts *are* planning something?" Luna spoke again flatly "We'll just have to hope that it doesn't come to that. In another part of the Negaverse base Metalla and Malachite were looming over the unconscious form of Daniel who hung limply by his chains. "How do you plan to convert this fool to our cause?" Malachite asked with skepticism dripping from every word. Metalla noticed Malachite's tone but since she had need of him for the task to come she let his transgression pass "With this Dark Energy ring!" and she triumphantly held aloft a ring that fairly crackled with power, it was covered in a light coating of a green substance, "It must have come from that device she had been hovering over this last while" Malachite thought to himself. Malachite was, he was loath to admit it, intrigued "How will this simple ring convert him to your cause my regent?" Metalla threw back her head and laughed "Why by poisoning his body with Dark Energy and unleashing the baser emotions that all living things have and in so doing turning him into the ultimate weapon of destruction!" and Metalla laughed a laugh that served only to show again just how insanely evil she was. Metalla caught herself and started speaking again "Our first priority is to remove the ring that he has on his finger, Malachite will you do the honours?" Malachite said nothing but began to tug on the ring. It refused to budge so Malachite began attacking it with blasts of his power, the blasts were deflected away harmlessly. Metalla watched her servant with a growing sense of frustration "If you can't handle this simple task then get out of the way and I will do it!" and Metalla began attacking the ring with her own immense powers, but no matter the enormous difference in powers the result was the same, failure. Malachite looked at Metalla "Now how do we proceed?" Metalla seemed stumped but then she brightened "I will simply place this ring on his other hand! After the Dark Energy gets through corrupting him he'll remove the ring himself!" and with that the insane laughter began once again to echo off the walls of the cavern. Daniel found himself dreaming, he and Mina were enjoying a day in a local Tokyo park with the other girls and Darien. Suddenly the sky darkened to pitch black and a menacing laugh filled the air. The other Scouts and Darien transformed but try as Daniel might to transform nothing happened! A dark figure suddenly loomed over the group and began firing Dark Energy blasts randomly. Daniel watched helplessly as each Scout was attacked and destroyed one by one, leaving only ashes to mark where they had fallen. Soon there was only himself, Mina in her Sailor Venus garb and the stranger, his features still hidden in darkness. Suddenly Venus called out "Venus Love Chain Encircle!" and a string of hearts flew from her finger tips and surrounded the stranger. The stranger seemed bothered only slightly by the chain and in response sent Dark Energy blazing back towards Sailor Venus! Daniel grew sick to his stomach as he realized what was about to happen and he watched helplessly as Venus let out a blood curdling scream! Daniel found his voice and yelled out "Stop it! Your going to kill her!" The stranger turned towards Daniel and said "That's the general idea sport!" and suddenly Daniel turned white as a ghost as he recognized the voice! The strangers features were suddenly visible and Daniel saw one of his worst nightmares come to life! It was *HIM* that had destroyed the Scouts and was in the process of destroying the woman he loved! Sailor Venus turned to Daniel and said in a voice wracked with pain "Help me... please.." an immobilized Daniel could only watch as this evil counterpart increased the Dark Energy attacking Venus and in a final blood curdling scream Venus fell! Daniel was numb with disbelief and finding himself suddenly free to move rushed to Sailor Venus side. Daniel leaned down towards Venus, tears flowing freely as he held her in his arms and took in her battered state. With difficulty Venus looked at him, her once sparkling eyes dulled with pain "Why didn't you help me?" was the last thing Venus said as she finally succumbed to her injuries. Daniel suddenly stood up and launched himself at the cause of his grief. For his part his counterpart merely yawned and with barely a shrug flung Daniel backwards. Daniel lay on the ground as his counterpart began to speak again "Face facts chum, you know as well as I do that you have no chance of beating me, I *AM* you! Except I don't have those bothersome morals to impede my quest for power!" and he threw his head back and laughed insanely. Daniel got up unsteadily, wishing for something to lean on "Power? What good is power? Power means nothing, what's important is friendship and love! You've destroyed that!" Daniels voice quaked with rage. "Wrong fool, the only thing that is important is power! With power all else is easily obtained, by force if necessary" the evil one laughed and made his way towards Daniel. Daniel was defiant "I'll never be like you! You might look like me, sound like me but you are *NOT* me!" and Daniel tore off in a run in the opposite direction! The evil Daniel merely laughed "Run all you want fool! You can't deny me, even if you wanted to, and we both know you don't want to!" and suddenly Daniel found himself trapped in a box canyon! Daniel turned frantically looking for someway out of his predicament. As he looked around frantically a child's voice suddenly spoke up, from which direction it came Daniel had no idea. "You *can* beat this! I know you can... I believe in you" and Daniel took some small comfort in that even as the dark one descended on him and began attacking him, attempting to take over his mind. As Metalla and Malachite watched Daniel intently his head suddenly snapped back and an inhuman scream tore from his lips. Daniel's head then fell forward and he suddenly began laughing insanely, if Malachite had to guess he would say that Daniel was in the process of losing his mind, a guess that wasn't far from wrong actually. The Dark Energy was proceeding to corrupt the parts of his brain that dealt with morality and differentiating between good and evil. Even as Metalla began to break out in her own insane laughter, she and Malachites attention suddenly focused elsewhere, they both felt the Scouts teleporting into Malachites private quarters! "The Scouts are here Malachite! Keep them busy while the process is proceeding!" Malachite bowed stiffly "As you wish my Regent" The Scouts materialized in a dark cavern, they found it impossible to see more than a few feet before what looked like an impenetrable fog made a white wall. "This sure is creepy" Sailor Moon put in "Yeah, it's too quiet" Sailor Jupiter agreed. Sailor Mercury pulled down her visor and began taking readings "This fog isn't natural guys, it's an illusion and for some reason my computer can't penetrate it!" and Mercury continued to hammer away at her computer's keyboard. Sailor Mars was tense, all around her she could feel the cold and clammy fingers of evil but had no idea as to who or what was producing that feeling and it set the hairs on the back of her neck standing straight up. Sailor Venus stood ready, tense as she was, she would have attacked anything. She didn't have long to wait as Malachite suddenly appeared in the cavern floating above them! Malachite laughed "Are we missing someone girls?" Sailor Venus only called out "Venus Meteor Shower!" and attempted to catch Malachite napping. Malachite was prepared and threw up a forceshield of Dark Energy "Pathetic, you haven't learned anything!" Suddenly Malachite stiffened as Sailor Mars had wordlessly thrown one of her anti evil wards onto the Negaverse warriors back "What was that blondie?" Mars inquired with a snarl on her lips. Sailor Moon saw her chance "Tell us what you've done with Daniel or I let Sailor Venus do whatever comes to her mind!" Malachite stole a glance at Sailor Venus and mentally shuddered at the sight of the blonds face, the rage practically radiated off her like a sun. To the Scouts Malachite laughed "Go ahead and do your worst to me! Metalla has already won and all your petty threats will be for nothing!" Sailor Moon turned to Sailor Venus "If you'll do the honours?" and with a grim smile Sailor Venus called out 'VENUS METEOR SHOWER!' but before the attack could reach it's intended target Malachite disappeared! The anti evil ward fluttering uselessly to the floor. Sailor Mars was the first to speak "Damn! He shouldn't have been able to teleport away while the ward was still active!" Sailor Mercury looked at her computer "He didn't... someone else did it for him" Sailor Venus spoke "Ok *now* how do we find Daniel?" Sailor Mercury's face was a grim mask of determination "I'm on it" were her only words. Darien was in a word, bored, he had been watching the home of Erica and Michelle for what seemed like an eternity, but there was no activity in the house at all, as if the people inside were awaiting a signal of some type. "For this I took a day off work?" Darien in his Tuxedo Mask outfit muttered hidden in a tree outside the house. All at once he heard a commotion inside and saw flashes of colour signifying that the Outer Scouts had transformed, Darien tensed sensing that this was probably the beginning of something big. He wondered to himself what the Outers were reacting to and suddenly a voice called out "Deep Submerge!" Before Darien could even think to react a wall of water slammed into him knocking him out of the tree he was hidden in! Groaning and sopping wet he turned and saw the Outer Scouts (minus Pluto) standing before him with grim expressions on their faces. Darien's mind raced, he didn't have any clue what was going to happen next but he had a feeling that he wouldn't enjoy it. Suddenly Sailor Saturn stepped forward, her Glaive glinting menacingly in the sunlight, Darien would have found it hard not to laugh at the sight of this little girl holding a weapon that was taller than she was if he didn't know the awesome power that both the weapon and its wielder possessed. Sailor Saturn opened her mouth and uttered only one word "Leave" and with that the Outer Scouts turned on their heels and returned to the house. Darien stood up and seeing no one around detransformed and headed for home where Luna and Artemis awaited his report "They aren't gonna be happy about this..." Back at the North Pole Malachite reappeared in the cavern where Metalla had been with their prisoner. Metalla turned to Malachite "You failed..." Malachite could feel a nervous sweat starting on his brow "My regent, I am but one man against many..." Metalla roared "THEY ARE *CHILDREN* COMPARED TO YOU! YOU SHOULD HAVE DESTROYED THEM EASILY!" Metalla caught herself and attempted to contain her anger somewhat "Give me one reason why I don't return you to the nothingness from which you came?" Malachite knew better than to speak at this point and merely bowed his head in deference to the punishment he expected. When the telling blow did not occur Malachite looked up and saw Metalla in conference with someone. Suddenly Metalla spoke again "I have been persuaded to give you another chance, you'd best not waste it!" Malachite found himself muttering silent thanks to whomever it was that had persuaded Metalla to spare him. "One more thing Malachite" Malachite stiffened "You will be getting help on this mission, I'm sure you remember Zoicite?" and suddenly Zoicite stepped from the shadows! Metalla spoke again "Now that you no longer have the excuse of being one against many I will expect nothing less than total victory!" Malachite was overjoyed at seeing his beloved Zoicite but then he remembered that the fool Daniel had been here as well but was now nowhere to be seen! "My regent" Malachite began "What has happened to your prisoner?" Suddenly a figure stepped from the shadows.... and Malachite had his answer. Back in Tokyo, Darien returned to his apartment and conferenced with the cats. Artemis sighed "It's ok Darien, trying to sneak around the Outer Scouts is like trying to sneak a can of tuna out of the house when Mina is around!" Darien didn't quite understand the analogy but appreciated the sentiment. Luna spoke up "Then it's up to the girls to get to Daniel before it was too late..." But unbeknownst to Luna it already was... Malachite looked at Daniel... his chains were gone and he was dressed all in black, but the most striking thing was that his eyes which had been a brilliant blue were now black as coal. Daniel spoke in an voice that was smooth but carried the unstated threat of evil "Surprised? Malachite, you of all people should know how 'liberating' Dark Energy can be!" and he threw back his head and laughed a laugh that chilled the nearly unshakable Malachite to the bone. "By the way" Daniel spoke again "You have *ME* to thank for Zoicite being here. So I suggest you place all thoughts of revenge for what happened on the Moon Kingdom far from your mind, for what I can give.." and Daniel left the rest unsaid "You may address me as 'Dark Lord' understood"? Malachite caught the caustic comment before it escaped his lips, enraging a being that held the power of life or death in his hands was never a wise idea "Yes My Lord" Malachite bowed in deference to Daniel. Metalla began again "Now my Lord, inform Malachite of your plan" Daniel smiled and began "Malachite, you and Zoicite are to attack the Scouts and drive them away from here while I go pay a visit to the Outer Scouts..." and Daniel began to laugh a bone chilling laugh that made even Metalla look at Daniel concerned at what she had wrought. Rubeus, safely aboard his spacecraft, looked in on the gathering at the North Pole with amusement "So, this is the grand scheme that Metalla had in mind when I offered her the energy device. If nothing else it should prove highly entertaining and who knows? After the Scouts have been taken care of I might just take control of that fool Daniel for myself" Back in Tokyo the transformed Outer Scouts sat in the house shared by Erica and Michelle, impatiently awaiting a sign that something had happened. After having advised Tuxedo Mask that his presence was not welcome the anxiety level had risen considerably. Erica paced nervously "Are you sure it happens now Holly? We've been waiting around and so far nothing!" Holly, transformed into Sailor Saturn sat quietly with a determined expression on her face "Yes, the other Scouts don't stand a chance of stopping him, we're the Earth's only hope!" Michelle watched the two combatants and spoke up "Please calm down both of you, we can't be wasting time fighting amongst ourselves right Susan?" Susan had been staring off into space lost in her own thoughts until Michelle had interrupted her solitary musings "Oh, yes, of course" Susan mumbled distractedly. Erica picked up on the non committal tone in Susan's voice "Look Susan, are you with us or not? Ever since Holly told us that we may have to destroy Daniel you've been off in your own little world, I thought we all agreed that we had to do what was best in spite of anything we may feel for him. Right?" Susan turned to face Erica, her face an inscrutable mask "You really amaze me sometimes Erica. Here you are all ready to play judge, jury & executioner! Did it ever once occur to you that if Daniel was turned to the service of Metalla there might be a way to save him? No, you just want to go into action and destroy him without even considering the alternatives!" Holly got up from where she had been sitting having heard Susan's outburst "There is no way to bring him back once he is brought into Metalla's influence, you know that Susan..." Susan looked hard at Holly "All I know for sure is that you all seem willing to condemn him without looking at alternatives. I can't do it, I *WON'T* do it!" and with that Susan created a portal and disappeared into it. The remaining Outer Scouts looked at the area once occupied by the Mistress of Time and no one spoke until they heard a cold laugh behind them "Hello ladies pleasant day isn't it?" The group turned around and they saw Daniel standing before them, but they could sense that something was definitely different about him, he seemed to radiate Dark energy with the intensity of a small star. The Outer Scouts took up defensive positions and Daniel spoke in a voice that was too smooth and calm for the Outers liking "Really, that's not necessary, I don't want to hurt you..." Sailor Uranus for one didn't believe a word that came from Daniel's mouth "Sure, and your only here to invite us to Metalla's birthday party... WORLD SHAKING!" and a ball of force exploded towards Daniel. Daniel for his part stood his ground a bored expression on his face. Daniel merely blinked and the attack froze in mid flight! Daniel cracked a small smile and chuckled before saying "Return to sender!" and the attack boomeranged back and sent Uranus hard into a bookcase! Sailor Neptune rushed to aid her partner leaving Sailor Saturn to face Daniel. Saturn for her part looked at Daniel "You realize I have to destroy you?" Daniel nodded "You are welcome to try little one" and before Sailor Saturn could even think to attack she found herself encased in a Dark Energy cocoon! Sailor Neptune heard Sailor Saturn's muffled cry of surprise and bolted to join the fray. Daniel looked hard at Neptune "Don't make me hurt you Neptune, I've gone easy on you all so far" Neptune looked down at her semi conscious partner and the dear child trapped in a Dark Energy prison and her face became a hard mask of anger "DEEP SUBMERGE!" and a wall of water crashed towards Daniel. Daniel let the wave wash over him "My turn..." and with that he sent two tendrils of Dark Energy towards Neptune and Uranus. The energy wrapped around the two Scouts and their transformations melted away leaving them standing and laying as Michelle and Erica! "What the?" Michelle started. Daniel spoke again "My orders were to destroy the Sailor Scouts, Metalla never said anything about the humans you are without your Scout powers. Farewell!" and Daniel made an exaggerated bow before disappearing. Michelle looked around at her partners and could only say "We're in trouble" Meanwhile, back at the North Pole, the Inner Scouts waited impatiently as Sailor Mercury continued to scan. Sailor Venus stood up for what seemed to be the millionth time and asked Sailor Mercury "Any luck?" Sailor Mercury fought the urge to snap at her friend, she knew that Venus was worried for Daniel "No nothing... Wait I'm getting an intense reading..." and the other Scouts ears perked up "Of Dark Energy headed this way!" and the other Scouts hopes fell even as they took up battle positions. Scant seconds later Malachite re-appeared "Back for more blondie? You must be a slow learner" Sailor Jupiter growled. Malachite merely smiled "I'm back alright but this time the odds are more to my liking!" and suddenly Zoicite appeared from behind Malachite, crystal shard in hand "Where are the snappy one liners now Sailor Brats?" Zoicite giggled in her trademark high pitched manner. Sailor Moon made a face, "You know, that laugh gets *REALLY* annoying you piece of Negatrash!" Zoicites eyes blazed with a cold fury "Gonna try and do something about it Little Miss Moon Princess? Or you gonna wait for Cape Boy to save your cowardly hide?" Sailor Moon flushed in embarrassment and anger "I'm *NOT* a coward!" and without a word she threw her tiara at the Negaverse warrior. Zoicite merely winked out of harms way and the tiara boomeranged perfectly back into Sailor Moon's hands. "Who's next to try their luck?" Malachite called out in a mocking tone. Suddenly, Mercury called out "Mercury Bubbles Blast!" and the area became enshrouded in a freezing fog. Under the cover of the fog the Scouts huddled up "Guys, we have to fall back, there's no way we can take out two Generals at the same time with the number of people we have here" the speaker was Sailor Mercury. "What?" a shocked Venus said "You mean leave Daniel in the clutches of Metalla and these two horror film rejects?" Sailor Mercury hissed back "That's just it, my computer can't find him here at all! It's like he's never even been here or he's been taken somewhere else!" Sailor Venus countered "But then why are we leaving when we have two people here who more than likely know where he is?" "Enough!" Sailor Moon said sharply "Look, Venus, Mercury's right, it's suicide to stay here, Especially when we don't know what other surprises are in store for us here or if Daniel is even still here! We've got to come up with a better strategy than going after two Negaverse Generals head on!" As the Scouts took their places in the dissipating fog and teleported out Jupiter glanced at Venus "Uh oh, I think we're in for an earful when we get back to Tokyo" Darien sat in his apartment feeling as useful as a fifth wheel, the cats had decided to try and see if Central Control had any ideas as to what the groups next move should be. With no word yet from Serena and the others, his mind began to wander and play little tricks on him, so that when he heard a sharp cough behind him it didn't register until there was a second, more insistent throat clearing noise behind him. Darien jumped forward startled and turned to face the speaker, his eyes grew large as he recognized Daniel but his internal joy was short lived as he took in his friend and noticed the black garb, black eyes and the Dark Energy ball that was hurtling towards him "Oh boy...." were the only words Darien got out before Daniel fired a Dark Energy blast at him! Darien rolled out of the way even as the beam went slicing into his bookcase, sending books and photos everywhere! Daniel laughed and called to Darien "Give it up Darien, you know I can end this at any time!" Darien feverishly thought of a way out of his predicament "Sure you can end this if I can't transform at all! Where is your sense of fair play?" Daniel had an amused expression on his face "Oh? You think your puny roses and cane can thwart the will of Metalla? Fine then transform fool, for all the good it will do you!" Darien thanked his lucky stars that Daniel still seemed to value a fair fight, he just hoped he could win this one. Pulling a rose from his jacket he transformed into Tuxedo Mask, defender of Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts "Happy now Cape Boy?" Daniel said with malice dripping from every word. Darien snarled "My name isn't CAPE BOY!" and he proceeded to throw a barrage of flowers where Daniel stood. Daniel merely blinked out of the path of the flowers and admired the results of Darien's attempted attack embedded in the far wall "Very nice, but how are you going to explain *THAT* to your landlord?" and Daniel threw a wave of Dark Energy at Tuxedo Mask. Tuxedo Mask leaped out of the way of the Dark Energy but ended up crashing into his sofa. Daniel smiled and said "Sofa so good?" and laughed maniacally even as he advanced on Darien, who looked around frantically for an escape route. The Scouts reappeared at the Temple and collapsed into an exhausted heap, for teleporting twice in the same day was very draining "Next time we're taking a cab!" joked the now detransformed Lita. Mina got up and started to walk away "Where are you going Mina?" Serena called to her friend "I need some time alone Serena, I'll talk to you later" and Mina walked off in the direction of her home. Rei looked at the diminishing form of Mina. Rei started "Of all the selfish..." "REI!" Ami snapped, Rei looked at her normally timid friend a with shocked expression "Come off it Rei, she's going through a lot right now and your sniping after her isn't going to help!" Rei shot back "No *YOU* come off it Ami! She has to get it together or we'll be easy pickings for that Negaverse 'Odd Couple'" Serena tried to calm her two friends down "Listen guys, Mina is going through something right now that we can't help her with directly, we'll just have to wait until she asks us to help her" Lita spoke up "Sorry Serena I can't wait for her to come to us, I don't want a repeat of what happened when you lost Darien..." Serena's head drooped as she realized the truth of her friends words. Suddenly, her head perked up "Darien's in trouble!" Serena gasped. Lita started "How can you..." and she cut herself off, for she had forgotten that Serena and Darien shared a bond that neither science or mystical means had been able to understand and the group took off in a run towards Darien's apartment. Darien felt like he had been hit by a safe, after having held his own for a while, Daniel had ramped up the pressure, attacking him with a constant barrage of Dark Energy. Suddenly the attack stopped but Darien was too battered at this point to take much notice. "Time to say good bye Tuxedo Mask" Daniel said and Darien closed his eyes and prepared for the worst. When no final attack came Darien opened his eyes. Daniel sat on an overturned chair "Did you think I was going to kill you?" Darien just sat in silence "No, I think I'd enjoy it more if I was to use you as the bait for a trap to strip all the other Scouts of their powers as well!" and Daniel shot a blast of Dark Energy at Tuxedo Mask that ripped away his transformation and left him laying there as Darien. Daniel smiled "That's better, I prefer my bait to be as helpless as possible, makes the trap look all the more inviting don't you think?" Darien sat in stony silence "Come, come Darien, I'm sure your very anxious to see Serena again, I'm merely speeding up the process!" and with that he set the trap in the hallway of Darien's apartment, when the trap was sprung it would release Dark Energy, stripping whichever Scouts would be unlucky enough to be standing there of their powers. Daniel spoke again "Farewell Darien, give my regards to the soon to be ex Sailor Scouts would you?" and Daniel laughed and turned to leave. Daniel then stepped on something and he heard a tinkling underfoot, curious he removed his foot. It was a picture frame with a shattered glass, he glanced at the photo, it was of Darien and the Inner Scouts along with himself, from some sort of party ("The Christmas party they threw for you") a small voice in Daniels head said. "What? Who?" Daniel looked about in confusion and Daniel disappeared in a sudden swirl of Dark Energy, the photograph clutched tightly in his hand, even as Darien struggled against his bonds and the original ring Daniel had on his left hand glinted weakly. What will happen next? Stay tuned for chapter 13 "A new Moonrise"--------------3AD349B71157--