Author's Notes: Hello, I know I haven't been very timely with new chapters but between upgrades of the machine and an insane work schedule my time has been slim & none! Hope you enjoy this delayed production! All comments to: amslerd@globalserve.net Copyright Notice: Sailor Moon is copyright Naoko Takeuchi 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 Chapter 14 - Who's Reality Is Right? - Decisions and Consequences Daniel sat in his base of operations at the North Pole and leaned back in his chair with a self-satisfied grin on his face. It had proven spectacularly easy to capture his first two Scouts and Tuxedo Mask and he watched as they lay motionless on the floor in the holding cell he had prepared. Metalla had at first been furious that he had not simply killed the three outright, but she was brought up short by Daniel's comment that "They were worth more to us alive than dead, if for no other reason than they would serve as a tempting bait for the other Scouts to attempt an ill-advised rescue'". In the holding area the three prisoners stirred. "Ouch, what was the number of the semi that hit me?" The speaker of that comment was Lita, who was trying to bring back the feeling to her limbs. "Probably the same semi that nailed me" a groggy Darien replied. "Darien? Is that you?" the final soft voice was Ami's, her speech subdued as she took in her surroundings. "So what are a pair of nice girls like you doing in a place like this?" Darien joked trying to lighten a somber mood. "Same thing as you Darien, waiting for our 'host's' next move, whatever that is" Lita grumbled. "So how did he get you anyway Ami? Out of the three of us I would have thought he'd have the hardest time catching you, powers or not" Ami sighed "I got caught with my guard down". Darien looked at her quizzically "You? How?" "It's a long story" Ami replied. Lita spoke up "It's not like we have anything else to do right now" Ami sighed and began her story. The group dispersed after the battle with Zoicite & Malachite and shortly, Ami found herself home alone in her room wondering what Daniel was likely to do next. It seemed that he was intent on stripping the Scouts of their powers alone, not wishing to harm them. "But who knows how long that will last" Ami sighed to herself even as she sat with her data computer trying to find a way to locate Daniel so as to track his movements. "That's odd," Ami thought to herself "My computer isn't registering Dark Kingdom energy in the same amounts at the North Pole anymore? What could have caused such a drop in the energy level?" Suddenly she heard a chilling laugh behind her "Three guesses Ami, and the first two don't count" Ami felt the hair on the back of her neck beginning to stand on end even as she turned to face her mystery guest "How did you?" Ami began "Get in here without you noticing the energy spike?" Daniel said in an amused tone "Simplicity itself, I knew that if you noticed the drop in the energy at the North Pole you'd be focusing your attention on that and your computer would hardly notice a smaller spike as I arrived here". Ami blanched "In other words I was decoyed?" Daniel smiled "Yes, I provided the bait and you went for it like a fish to a hook. Oh by the way don't bother trying to call for help, before I arrived I cast a disruption field around all the communicators. You'd have an easier time trying to hail a cab in a rainstorm" and he began to laugh, even as Ami went for her communicator in the hope that he was bluffing. Getting nothing but static in her repeated attempts convinced her of the earnestness of his claims. "Now that you've wasted your energy trying to call the others, shall we be going? I have someone who is very anxious to meet you" Daniel said even as he began to advance on Ami. Ami looked around frantically for an escape route and Daniel noticed her furtive glances "Oh, so you were one of the lucky people who got hit with my little surprise back at Darien's apartment. I'd forgotten all about that little toy" Ami suddenly smiled defiantly "You should have paid closer attention to your trap, you only caught me in it. Not the most efficient use of your resources Daniel" Daniel began to laugh "What's so funny?" Ami asked with a puzzled look on her face. Daniel subdued his laughter and said "Ami, there is one thing you can't do very well at all" Ami looked confused "What?" Daniel smiled "Lie. You are as transparent as a ghost when you do that, now let us be off" and Ami found herself suddenly enveloped in darkness and disappeared. "So he used his brains to get you Ami?" Lita said even as Ami finished recounting her tale "With me it was brawn, and boy was it ever brawn" and Lita began her story. Lita stood at the stove in her kitchen cooking, the frustration of the situation coming out as she proceeded to bang pots & pans around in a whirlwind of effort. When she was upset she tended to cook up a storm, the better to work out her anger with, rather than on something or someone. Even as she set another pot to simmering her emotions threatened to bubble over "What are we gonna do? How can you fight someone who's under the control of Metalla and has powers that are her equal?" she asked herself aloud. A voice from behind spoke "Simple answer, you don't!" and a blast of Dark Energy sizzled towards the spot where Lita stood. Or to be more accurate had stood, for even as Daniel had unleashed his blast Lita had ducked and rolled under the kitchen table. Pots and pans on the stove however weren't as lucky as everything was blasted to cinders. Daniel sighed "It's really too bad about your meal there Lita, I was hoping to sample something after I captured you". Lita appeared out from under the table "Too bad, have a knuckle sandwich instead!", and her fist connected solidly with Daniel's surprised jaw, sending him crashing into the living room. Daniel stood up groggily "So that's the way you want to play it then Lita? If those are the rules to this little game I'd better get into shape" and suddenly Lita could hear a rippling sound even as the Dark Energy enveloped Daniel and gave him a body built better than anything Lita had ever dreamed about when she fantasized about her dream boyfriend. "Heads up Lita!" and Daniel sent the chair he had toppled into flying towards Lita who had begun to emerge from the kitchen in pursuit of Daniel. Lita ducked the flying furniture and rolled towards her communicator even as Daniel was hefting a table next. Daniel paused and sighed "What is it about you Scouts that makes you run for your communicators every time there's trouble? Are you such a coward that you don't want to face me without your friends to save you?" That did it as Lita went into full attack mode, forgetting the communicator and tackling Daniel football style to the floor. Daniel was barely phased for even as they tumbled he grabbed Lita and began to cut off the flow off blood to her brain. Lita began to sag as her oxygen supply was being cut off but still struggled defiantly. Daniel kept the pressure and said to her almost causally "So you were one of the other Scouts caught by my trap? I wonder how many more of you will be this easy to catch then?" those were the last words Lita heard as her consciousness left her and she and Daniel disappeared in another Dark Energy field. After Lita had finished her tale she turned to Darien "So how did he get you then?" Darien grimaced "It's a bit embarrassing.." Ami looked at him "More embarrassing than falling for a decoy so simple a six year old should have seen through it?" Lita piped up with "C'mon Darien, it can't be worse than being trampled on in a strength matchup" Darien sighed "Okay but if you two start to laugh..." and he began After the battle and the group going their separate ways Darien found himself at home brooding. He brooded whenever something was really bothering him and he missed having Serena there to try and lighten his mood. He smiled, Serena was always cheerful, and tried to help others be as happy as she was. Darien envied that about her. Darien got up to get a drink from the kitchen when he heard a sudden 'THWACK!' and saw what looked like a black rose embed itself into the wall leading to the kitchen. "Guess who?" said a coldly familiar voice and Darien turned around to find Daniel standing there arm outstretched grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Darien looked at Daniel "How original, are you going to give me a speech about how I should surrender in the name of Metalla for my own sake?" Daniel facefaulted "Well, you were expecting me to just grab you without any style? Darien, you of all people should know the importance of making an entrance" and Daniel chuckled even as he came closer to his target. Darien tensed up but he knew he could do little in the face of the Dark power that now ran through Daniel's veins. Suddenly Darien relaxed "Okay, I'll surrender quietly, on one condition" Daniel looked at his prey amusedly "And what might that be? Bear in mind your hardly in a position of bargaining power at the moment". Darien steeled himself "Agree that you'll leave the other Scouts alone and I'll come with you willingly as your prisoner". Daniel seemed momentarily taken aback by the proposal and appeared to be seriously mulling it over "Darien, I think...". Darien looked at Daniel "Yes?". Daniel continued "I think you're the prize chump of all time if you think I'm going to agree to anything like that when I can just take you right now!" and with that he blasted Darien into unconsciousness and took him back to the North Pole. The two girls looked at Darien "Why on Earth did you think he'd agree to that sort of deal?" Ami asked. Darien for his part merely hung his head "I thought there still might be some honour left in him but it looks like Metalla took that last bit of that away after our last battle. Who still has their Scout powers anyway, Ami?" Suddenly Ami did a very curious thing; she typed away on her computer's keyboard and handed it to Darien. Quizzically he took the proffered keyboard and read what Ami had typed. He seemed to take the news in stride "I see" he murmured. Elsewhere in the base Daniel who had been watching the entire exchange on a viewing crystal cursed "Damn! I knew I shouldn't have let that little Einstein keep her toy, I was counting on her revealing who was left of the Inner Scouts as a threat to my plans! Ah well, that just means I'll have to make a selection and take my chances!" and with that he disappeared in a Dark Energy blaze. But unbeknownst to him he had been observed by Metalla "Hrm, it seems he's making the same cardinal mistakes that caused the elimination of Beryl's generals, underestimating the Scouts resourcefulness & cunning. I'm going to have to watch him more closely. I need him to complete this task successfully so that I can have him achieve my next objective, the seizure of the power source from this 'Rubeus' fellow!" and with that she laughed insanely. High above the Earth, Rubeus looked down on Metalla "Poor deluded thing, thinking you can take me on for control of the power source that keeps Daniel under your thumb. You haven't got a clue just how well I have my bets covered" Back in Tokyo, Rei sat before the sacred flame that burned within the Cherry Hill Temple, seeking to unlock the mysteries to one of the greatest threats the Scouts had ever faced. "Oh Sacred Flame, lend me your guidance, tell me how my friends and I can stop this evil threat". The fire crackled and spat in almost sullen defiance of the young priestess' request, yielding nothing to her inquiries. Then, without warning a figure appeared in the flames, he was dressed in a white robe that shrouded his face in darkness. "Rei Hino, to stop this most dire threat to the Earth you must attack it from the correct side" Rei was puzzled "What are you talking about? Who are you?" The figure chuckled "You are most inquisitive Ms. Hino, I am a friend, who seeks to help you face down this threat. Remember, to attack from the correct side is the key..." and the figure receded back into the flames. "No, wait!" Rei called to the disappearing figure, but it vanished into the fire without a trace. Before Rei could even begin to puzzle over the stranger's words, her pet crows Phobos & Deimos began an angry cawing signifying an intruder was on the grounds. Rei unthinkingly grabbed a handful of banishment wards and proceeded to locate the source of the disturbance to the crows. As she made her way to the outdoors, she saw what had raised the crows' ire. Daniel stood defiantly, dressed in black, with Dark Energy crackling from him like the fire she had just left behind. Daniel scowled "For some reason I couldn't get into your fire reading room, so I had to settle for making my presence known to these two flying alarm clocks". Daniel looked darkly upon the pair of birds even as they cawed in anger at the intruder. Rei smiled "Too bad, I suppose your here to try and capture me?" she smiled almost sweetly. "Try?" Daniel laughed "There is no try, I will add you to my roster of Sailor Scouts in my clutches!" and he fired off a sizzling blast in Rei's direction. Rei fired off a handful of wards at her attacker, but Daniel threw up a forceshield that blocked every one "Pathetic Rei, I was expecting more from you than that" and he began to advance on her smiling darkly. Suddenly the crows attacked and Daniel found himself trying to ward off the pecking and scratching of the pair of birds and he turned away from Rei's view. Rei thought to herself "If that figure I saw in the flames was right, this may be my best chance!" and she fired off a new volley of wards. Daniel didn't even see the wards coming and paid the price as they latched onto his right arm and began sizzling like steak on a grill "ARRGHHH!" Daniel yelled in pain and collapsed on the ground, still being pursued by the crows even as he vainly tried to remove the source of his discomfort. Rei smiled and went for her communicator in her robe when suddenly Daniel was enveloped in Dark Energy and began to disappear. Daniel gasped through pain clenched teeth even as he began to disappear "This... is.. not... over Rei! I have Ami, Lita and Darien and I'll soon add the rest of you 'Failure Scouts' to my collection!" and he finally disappeared, leaving the smell of charred flesh behind him. Rei grabbed her communicator but gave up in frustration even as she got only static "Guess I have to do this the old fashioned way" and she made her way back inside to the telephone. At the hastily arranged meeting the remaining Inner Scouts and the Outer Scouts minus Pluto struggled to come up with a plan of attack. The Outer Scouts after hearing how Rei's wards were able to bring Daniel to his knees were adamant that the plan of attack should be to have Rei & Holly ganging up on him, ultimately destroying him. The Inners were wholly against this idea but struggled to come up with workable solutions, for without Ami's calming influence between them, Rei & Serena spent more time at each other's throats rather than trying to solve the problem at hand. "Enough!" Mina screamed out, frustration and anger boiling over at just that moment, "We're not going to be able to help Daniel with you two at each other's throats like this!" Holly, supported by Erica & Michelle, looked at Mina coldly "He's beyond help at this point Mina, surely his actions prove that to you!" Mina stared stone faced back at Holly "I seem to remember someone else who the other Outer Scouts thought was a lost cause" and Holly shuddered at the memory of how close she herself came to being destroyed by Erica & Michelle. Serena, having given up trying to win in her war with Rei, decided it was time to show just who was the Princess "Enough! We have to get it together guys or he'll be picking us off one by one! Holly, I'm not prepared to give up on Daniel yet" and Holly opened her mouth as if to say something but quickly closed it under Serena's glare. "But Mina, we have to face facts here. If we can't come up with a plan to save Daniel, destroying him may be our only option!" and Mina stared slack jawed at her friend, their leader, passing a possible death sentence on Daniel. Suddenly Rei perked up "I've got it!" "Got what?" a chorus of voices demanded. Rei smiled "A plan" and the others huddled around her eager to see what Rei had in mind. Back at the North Pole Daniel appeared in a smoking heap; his right arm made into a charred mess. He began to stir "That hurt..." he groaned aloud. "Incompetent fool! Not only did you fail to capture Sailor Mars you allowed yourself to be injured!" Metalla screamed at the prone figure. "Metalla shut up..." was all that Daniel said, in a voice that barely concealed the inner fury raging within him. Metalla either chose to ignore the warning or hadn't heard it as she continued to berate Daniel for his inability to complete his assignment. It proved to be a fatal mistake as Daniel got up and proceeded to deliver a Dark Energy blast that caught Metalla completely unaware! "You dare attack your superior fool?" Metalla said even as she absorbed most of his blast effortlessly. Daniel began to laugh a bonechilling laugh that even Metalla, evil incarnate, found disturbing. "You, my superior? Metalla I don't think you have any sort of clue as to what you're dealing with here! Get out of my sight before I decide to show you just who is the superior one around here!" Metalla stopped as if struck "I will not be spoken to in this manner! You are my slave and you will obey me!" and she unleashed a blast of her own back towards Daniel. Daniel took the blast but staggered backward "Do you yield?" Metalla called even as she prepared another deadlier assault. The dark ring on his right arm suddenly flared to life and a blast came forth from Daniel that completely vaporized Metalla, leaving nothing but smoking cinders to mark where she had fallen. "Does that answer your question my 'master'?" Daniel said mockingly to the debris on the ground. Meanwhile, high above the battle scene, Rubeus in his spacecraft laughed heartily at the outcome of the battle. "I knew that fool Metalla would press him too hard. After that it was only a matter of giving Daniel a direct extra jolt of Dark Energy to make sure he was the winner of that little disagreement. Now to make sure he knows just who it is he has to thank for his victory!" and Rubeus disappeared giggling insanely. Rei had just finished telling the others of her plan to stop Daniel and get back the captured Scouts and Tuxedo Mask. The Outer Scouts snorted in derision, proclaiming that this plan had all the earmarks of failure because it failed to deal with Daniel in a forceful enough manner. Holly summed up the Outers objections to the plan "If your plan doesn't work Rei, he'll still be free to do as Metalla wants him to do and the others will still be his prisoners!" Rei shook her head "No, if this plan doesn't work you'll have free reign to deal with the problem as you see fit. We won't stop you, should you attack Daniel then". Holly looked at Rei "So this is an all or nothing plan then? No backups or second chances?" "None" was Rei's only reply. For their part, both Mina & Serena had their own misgivings about Rei's plan, but because it seemed to be the only option left to them, they kept their objections to themselves. "Okay then" Rei commented "Operation Rescue begins now!" and the meeting broke up. After terse goodbyes between the Inner & Outer Scouts were exchanged Holly grabbed Erica & Michelle by the hands and led them away. As soon as they were out of the Inner Scouts sight Holly turned to them both "You both know this plan of Rei's is going to fail, right?" Erica for her part nodded but Michelle seemed hesitant. "Even if Rei's plan does fail what can we do about it?" Michelle asked pointedly. Holly looked at Michelle "Not 'we' just me. I'm the only one capable of stopping him for good" and Erica & Michelle looked at each other knowing full well what Holly mean with that statement. Holly continued "I'll be watching their plan unfold and the minute I see it's not working I'm stepping in, Princess or no. Agreed?" the other two Scouts nodded even as they realized just what Holly had in mind. Daniel sat at the North Pole wondering what his next move should be, since he no longer answered to that fool Metalla. His revere was short-lived as suddenly a man with red hair appeared in front of him; to Daniel the man looked vaguely familiar but Daniel couldn't quite place him. The man spoke "Hello Daniel, long time no see" Daniel eyed the stranger suspiciously "OK you know my name but I don't know yours? What is that deal here you red headed fool?" Rubeus laughed, "Ah I see the Dark Energy has scrambled your brains and wits. No matter all the better to mold you to my needs" Daniel looked at the stranger and said, "Mold me? I don't think so you don't know what who you're messing with you hair transplant reject!" and then Daniel attacked full force with a Dark Energy blast. For his part Rubeus looked on unimpressed and simply put up a forcefield and the power Daniel released slammed against it and did nothing. Rubeus smiled "My turn" and suddenly Daniel was racked with pain, he felt like his skin was on fire, and his bones felt like they were in the midst of exploding. Daniel looked at Rubeus with questioning eyes even as he collapsed in pain "Oh you're wondering why I can so easily defeat you? Let's just say I have control of the very thing that makes you the agent of destruction you are today" and he giggled maniacally. Rubeus looked down at the fallen Daniel "Now do you understand who is your master?" Daniel groaned through pain clenched teeth "Yes... Master" and to himself thought "You may have the upper hand for now but I will get myself out of this fool, and then we'll see who suffers more" To Rubeus he smiled an oily smile and said "What is your bidding master?" Rubeus laughed and said "I like Metalla's original plan of you capturing the Scouts. I want you to capture Sailor Venus next" Daniel looked at Rubeus "But master wouldn't it be smarter to go after Sailor Moon, since she has the Imperium Silver Crystal?" Rubeus thundered "Silence fool! You dare question me?" Daniel shrank away "No master, it's just that defeating the Silver Crystal carrier first would eliminate that accursed jewel as a barrier to the success of your glorious cause". Rubeus looked for a moment "I see your rationale. It is a good one, therefore your plan will be to attack Sailor Moon, but don't fail me. Otherwise I can make things very, very uncomfortable for you. Understand?" Daniel looked Rubeus in the eye "Understood" Rei and Serena were making the journey from Serena's house to the temple "But why do I have to stay at the temple all alone Rei? That place is so old and creepy when I'm there by myself" Rei shot back at Serena "Meatball head it's the only place you'll be safe. Since Daniel can't get into the fire room you'll be safe while I go get Mina and bring her as well" Rei smiled at Serena "It's only for short while, as soon as we've gathered everyone together that Daniel is after we can make a final stand there" Daniel who had been watching the conversation hidden in a tree above swore silently to himself "Damn, that fire twit knows I can't touch her while she can throw those anti-evil charms against me. If she gets all the Scouts together there's no way I can fulfill my master's request and I will suffer for it". Daniel followed the pair as they made the trek to Rei's temple, although he was silent as a wraith in the wind might be Rei's senses kept her turning left and right narrowly missing spotting him. After they reached the temple, Daniel once again probed into the inner sanctum, but found it as impenetrable as the last time he was there. He noted that Rei left with a quickness in her step that was unlike her, perhaps she was worried about Mina. That was his ace in the hole right now, Mina was home alone, perhaps even powerless and Daniel decided then and there to take off for Mina's house. At Mina's house a heated conversation was taking place between cat and master. "Damnit, Mina" an angry Artemis growled. "You knew the plan going in, why are you hesitating now?" Mina for her part looked down with sad eyes "Artemis, what do you expect me to do? I love him. You can't expect me to simply want to destroy him like he was some monster or something can you?" Artemis looked at his charge with what to her looked like the coldest eyes she had ever seen "I expect you to do what you have to do, no more no less. If you need me I'll be in the kitchen looking for some food" and with that Artemis turned and left Mina to her own thoughts. Outside the house Daniel sat in a nearby tree, he knew his mission and the price for failure, but still he hesitated "Damn, I have to do this or Rubeus will fry me to a cinder, why am I hesitating now?" Suddenly a voice spoke behind him "You know why you can't do it, you love Mina more than you love life itself" and Daniel whipped around looking for the voice that spoke those all too truthful words. The voice continued "You won't be able to find me Daniel. I may not be able to stop you myself but I know who can". Daniel laughed nervously to himself and snorted derisively, more to reassure himself than anything else and spoke again "Bah, whoever or whatever you are, you can't stop me, nothing can thwart the will of my master". The voice spoke one last time, fading away even as it spoke the words "You speak of being a tool of your master's will, you have the strongest will on earth and yet you still are subservient? You are a weak kneed fool!" Daniel's faced burned with a crimson fire "I AM NOT WEAK!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, startling a bird that had shared his tree bound hideout. Daniel started even as he realized his invisible tormentor had disappeared, "Enough of this sentimental crap" Daniel muttered to himself "My master awaits my success" and he floated towards the roof of Mina's house. Rei ran towards Mina's house at top speed. Strangely she seemed to be having great difficulty covering the distance. Rei grabbed onto a nearby tree "Never realized it was this far from the Temple to Mina's place" she wheezed breathlessly. A voice suddenly spoke seemingly out of nowhere "That's what you get for eating so many of Lita's cookies at once... Serena" 'Rei' whipped around, trying to find the source of the voice "What are you talking about? My name is Rei Hino!" A gentle laugh filled the air "Sorry Serena, I can see right through the Lunar Pen's disguise magic". 'Rei' called out "Who are you? And how do you know about the Lunar Pen?" A figure robed in white appeared before her, "I am a friend Princess, I have come seeking to help you in your mission to get Daniel out of the clutches of the Dark Energy he is in and free your friends. 'Rei' reached out to the figure "Who are you? And why is your faced shrouded in the folds of your robe?" The figure spoke "There isn't time to answer your questions now, just know this, Daniel is about to attack Mina in an attempt to capture her" 'Rei' gasped "No! I'm too far away, even if I transformed and ran as Sailor Moon!" The figure spoke "Allow me" and suddenly the pair were enveloped in a mist and disappeared. Across from Mina's house Holly stood as Sailor Saturn, wielding her Glaive awaiting the first sign that the Inners plan had gone awry. She stood fidgeting and stealing backward glances at the hidden Erica & Michelle, who had insisted that even if they couldn't transform that they would stay with her and help in anyway they could. Suddenly a portal appeared in front of her and Sailor Pluto stepped through it. Sailor Saturn recoiled in surprise "and where have you been Susan?" Saturn demanded with an icy tone. Pluto merely gave an enigmatic smile "Where I needed to be, come, we must free the others". Saturn looked at Pluto as if she were insane "What? What are you talking about? I have to stay here and do what needs to be done if the Inners fail!" Pluto looked at Saturn with a look that would melt inch thick steel plate, "No, it's more important that we get the prisoners away from the North Pole, trust me on this Holly, please?" and Pluto's eyes softened just a bit. Saturn snorted "Why? Because you don't want me destroying the object of your misbegotten fantasies?" Pluto's faced twisted in a mask of anger that made even Saturn, wielder of the power to destroy worlds cringe. "Damn you Saturn! This isn't about him anymore! This is about making sure the future proceeds as it must! Those captured at the North Pole must be freed before anything else happens or else all is lost!" Saturn regained the colour in her face "If your sure, but if your wrong, you may be dooming us all" and she entered the portal Pluto had created. Erica & Michelle looked at one another after the pair had vanished "What was that all about?" Erica asked quizzically. Michelle shook her had "I have no idea but if I had to guess I'd say Pluto knows more than she is telling". Erica grimaced "What else is new?" I guess all we can do now is watch & see what happens". Daniel had appeared just out of sight in the hallway outside Mina's room. "Good, no one saw me come in, I'll be able to make this quick and simple" and he strode into Mina's room. Mina had her back to the doorway but sensed a presence "So what was on the menu Artemis..." that last word died on her lips are she turned and saw that it was not her feline guardian who had entered the room. Daniel spoke coldly, without a hint of the warmth that Mina knew he had within him "Sailor Venus, come with me please, I have no desire to hurt you and besides your friends miss you terribly up at the North Pole". Mina could only stare at how Daniel was dressed and how cold he seemed, almost as though his emotions were frozen solid. "Daniel, don't do this, let us help you, let me help you, please?" and Mina's blue eyes shimmered with tears that threatened to erupt from her eyes. Daniel for his part seemed unmoved "Venus, don't make this more difficult than it has to be. I have my orders" and he began to advance on Mina. Suddenly, a white flash entered the room and began to claw at Daniel's head "ARGH!" Daniel screamed, as he twisted trying to get Artemis off his head even as the cat's claws began to dig into his face. Mina leapt for the pistol she had carried as Sailor V, she and Artemis had decided that if worse came to worse she could try wielding this weapon against Daniel, given that it's power source was her powers as Sailor Venus it might be effective. Mina stood there with the pistol outstreched in her arms, being unable to get a clear shot at Daniel without risking hurting Artemis. The scene was almost comical, Daniel whirling around the room, trying to get a grip on Artemis in order to get him off of his head and Mina standing there frozen in indecision. Daniel finally suceeded in getting Artemis off his head, his face showing the effects of Artemis' claws "You stupid walking flea circus. Your gonna regret that!" and Daniel took Artemis and threw him through the open bedroom window! "Artemis NO!!" Mina screamed even as her guardian's flight path took him outside her field of view. Whirling in anger on Daniel she unthinkingly fired off a shot at Daniel's head. Daniel was caught completely by surprise at the speed of her actions and caught the blast full to the side of his face! Daniel was spun around by the blast and crumpled to the ground, blood beginning to seep out from underneath him. Outside Mina's house the stranger and Serena appeared (Serena having dropped the disguise once she realized the plan had gone awry). A yowling above their heads caused the pair to look up and see Artemis coming at them like a feline missile. The stranger leapt and caught Artemis in the folds of his robe and brought the shaken cat slowly back down to Earth. Artemis looked at the stranger and then Serena "Hurry, Mina's trapped in her room with Daniel. I don't know what's going on in there but I heard Mina fire her gun as I was flung out the window!" Serena blanched and transformed into Sailor Moon even as the stranger watched resignedly "It comes down to this then." he said to himself. At the North Pole Sailors Pluto and Saturn appeared, prepared for battle they were astounded that there was no defense force ready to meet them "This is strange". Holly commented "You would think that there would be some sort of welcoming committee here to greet us." Pluto merely looked about distractedly "Yes, strange" she muttered, "This way" and the pair made their way twoards an area that had doors carved into the walls. They suddenly found themselves facing doors that looked to be impassable, calling out they were rewarded with shouts of recognition from the prisoners "Get us out of here!" Lita yelled impatiently. Sailor Saturn looked at Pluto "Any ideas? Our powers against those doors isn't a challenge but we don't wanna hurt the people inside". Sailor Pluto paused for a moment "Who says we have to open the doors at all?" and suddenly she created a portal thru the first door and brought out Ami who blinked at the sudden change of light. "Easy as..." Sailor Pluto remarked and suddenly the ground began to rumble and debris began to rain down from the ceiling "Famous last words" Saturn commented darkly even as Pluto got the last two prisoners out of their cells and transported them away with moments to spare! Back at Mina's house Sailor Moon and the stranger burst into the house and raced up the stairs even as they heard the sounds of a pitched battle being fought. As they entered the room they were both brought up short by the state of the room, to say it had been destroyed was being too kind. Daniel had his hands around Mina's neck and was choking the life from her very body! The stranger suddenly flew across the room and grabbed Daniel from behind, trying desperately to pull him away. "Stop this you idiot! You're going to kill her!" the stranger yelled as he pulled backwards with all his strength. Daniel tried to shake of his attacker "Never! If I cannot capture her I must destroy her!" and he redoubled his efforts to choke the life from Mina's body. Sailor Moon stood there transfixed, unsure of what she should do. The stranger called out "Use the Sceptre, it's our only hope!" Sailor Moon seemed confused "But that's only good for destroying monsters, it won't work on..." "DO IT SAILOR MOON!" the stranger screamed even as he grappled with Daniel. Sailor Moon saw her friend nearly dead by the hands of the one who loved her and made a fateful decision, she called out "MOON SCEPTRE ELIMINATION!" and a wave of energy crashed twoards the battle scene. Outside a portal appeared and the captured Scouts and Darien along with Pluto & Saturn appeared, joining them were Erica & Michelle and Rei, who had stayed at the Temple until she wasn't able to sense Serena and had made her way to the battle scene. "What's going on?" Rei asked. A sudden bonechilling scream of pain shattered the air "I think we're just about to find out" Pluto grimly remarked even as they headed for the house. The group entered the house and the scene that met their eyes as they entered Mina's room made them gasp collectively. Serena and a robed stranger were tending to Mina and Daniel lay face down on the ground, with blood dribbling out from underneath him and his body looking charred and blackened. Darien was the first to speak "What happened here?" he asked dazedly. The stranger looked back at Darien "The Princess did what she had to do, Daniel is free of the Dark Energy that drove him to commit the evil things he did. Look" and the group looked as the ring on Daniel's right hand, was in process of melting away, sizzling angrily as it was disintegrating. Ami had pulled out her computer and had been scanning the scene "This doesn't make any sense" she muttered to herself. Mina suddenly stirred "Where... where is Daniel?" The stranger looked down into Mina's face "Rest my little goddess, you need your strength". Mina's eyes suddenly snapped open even as she looked between the stranger and the fallen form of Daniel "Who are you?" Ami looked up from her computer even as she had heard the stranger speak "I thought so" she remarked. Rei suddenly piped up, the confusion wearing her temper down to the breaking point "Will someone mind explaining just what the heck is going on around here?" she fumed. The stranger stood up "I guess some explanations are in order now" and he pulled down his hood. The assembled group eyes bugged out even as the hood dropped away... revealing a clone of Daniel! Unlike his fallen counterpart the light in his blue eyes sparkled merrily and he wore a serene smile in his face "Well, to explain I'm here because of one of you in this room." The group looked among themselves in puzzlement. Daniel in his white robe spoke again even as he kneeled down to Mina "It's because of you Mina. Your love for Daniel was so strong that it caused his core goodness to split off from the side that had been corrupted by the Dark Energy and created me" and he caressed Mina's cheek tenderly. Mina was still confused "But he still cared for me, if I hadn't fired at him he wouldn't have attacked me". Daniel in his robe smiled "Probably so, but he eventually would have captured you somehow" and Mina slowly nodded in understanding. Suddenly, the robed clone of Daniel fell over clutching at his sides "What's wrong?" a frantic Mina managed to Ami even as Ami scanned him frantically. "I don't know, one minute they were fine and now my readings indicate they're both dying!" "Both?" Serena asked even as she turned and saw the other Daniel's body start to convulse rapidly. Ami punched even harder on her computer's keypad "Yes, it looks like there isn't enough energy in them both, once the Dark Energy conduit was cut off. If we don't find a way to re-integrate him they'll both die!" Mina moved to the robed Daniel and caressed his head in her knees even as she began crying. Daniel raised a hand with difficulty to her face and attempted to wipe the tears from her eyes "I'm sorry Mina..." Mina looked at him "Why are you sorry Daniel?" Daniel grimaced even as he spoke again "For causing you pain, I never meant to do that to you..." and his hand dropped back down to the floor. Serena suddenly stood up and her locket opened, the group saw this and began to protest "No, Serena don't do it!" Darien called out. Serena looked at Darien, tears in her eyes. "How can I not do it Darien? Mina's one of my closest friends in the world, if there's a chance I can help her don't you think I would take it?". She began to bathe the light from the Imperium Silver Crystal into the pair of Daniels' even as her clothes reformed into her attire from the Moon Kingdom so long ago. The others stood as one and transformed into their Sailor forms, for even as the Dark Energy conduit had been destroyed, the spell that had kept those Scouts without their powers vanished. The group held hands and circled around Princess Serenity while Mina, who had stayed with the Daniels' was holding the hand of each one that had his original ring on it. The light surrounding the group grew bright and hard to look at but still the group persevered. The Daniel in the robes stirred and said to Mina "Remember that no matter what happens I love you..." and a crash of thunder and a flash of intense light filled the room and the group collapsed! Rubeus, who had been watching the entire scene unfold high above in his spaceship grew as red in the face as his hair "BLAST!" and he smashed his viewing portal with his hand. "I've lost the fool! Wiseman is not going to be happy about this!" As the group slowly came to in the house they heard the sounds of crying and as their vision cleared they found Mina clutching the robe the one Daniel had worn "What happened Mina" Lita said gently. Mina looked at Lita, tears staining her face "He said he loved me and then the light got brighter and brighter and suddenly I couldn't feel either of them anymore and when my eyes cleared up this is all that was le..." and she broke down in Lita's arms. The Inners and Darien moved to console Mina. The Outers quietly left as a group, feeling at that point like they were somehow intruding on a private moment of grief. Outside the house Holly whirled on Susan "You knew this was going to happen didn't you?" Holly hotly demanded. Susan looked at Holly "Even if I had some advance warning as to what might have happened you know I couldn't do anything about it without coming into conflict with my duties as the gatekeeper of time". Susan then transformed into Sailor Pluto and disappeared into a portal, her feelings a jumble that she wanted to sort out privately, leaving the remaining Outer Scouts to wander home, each of them feeling like the victory they had earned was a hollow one. The End Well, this is the ending to this arc. It took a long time to write because it isn't how I'd originally wanted to end it but a friend suffered a deep loss recently, reminding me that not all stories have happy endings. Epilogue: Somewhere in a hospital in the outskirts of Tokyo, a heavily bandaged patient stirred, his dreams being disturbed by the vision of a golden haired beauty who was looking at him. She was calling a name that he couldn't understand, but he knew somehow she was referring to him, even if he himself didn't know his own name. Coming soon Chapter 15 - The Dark Moon Rises Anew and a new Light dawns