Daniel Amsler amslerd@globalserve.on.ca Tuxedo Dan NefCanuck on Undernet #sailormoon -------------------------------------------------------------------- Author's Notes: Yes, I am still alive, this chapter was delayed as my modem went in for servicing (Tip: make sure you have another modem available as a spare when doing that! :D) Anyways, here it is folks! Because you wanted it! (Or at least didn't say you *didn't* want it! :P) another chapter! 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 Chapter 10(Send in the Clone) Daniel awoke the next morning stiff and sore. Groggily he tried to remember what had happened last night. It was coming back, first the white haired psycho with the boomerangs and then his attack on the Scouts. He looked at his watch, it read 9 a.m. and Mina and Lita were still asleep. His stomach growled and Daniel muttered to himself "Looks like I'm the designated cook" He made his way into the kitchen. He found it well stocked with supplies such as bread and eggs but no pre-packaged items like cereal. Since Daniel had no experience cooking he decided to keep it simple, bacon and eggs. He got the necessary things pan, eggs and bacon. His first attempt at cracking an egg into the pan turned into a mess over his hands. "Rats, I can't seem to break the egg without making a mess" A smile crept over his lips and he took the egg and with a projection from his ring cracked the egg and skillfully dropped it in the pan. Smiling at his accomplishment he did the same to another egg, as he watched over the eggs he set up another pan with strips of bacon "Maybe this will roust the girls from their slumber" Daniel thought to himself. Soon he had a major breakfast going that also saw him toasting bread. He flipped the eggs once over easy and noted how well things were going. Suddenly a voice whispered in his ear... "boo" Daniel threw up the pan with the eggs in it with a yelp and could only watch helplessly as the eggs did a perfect flip... onto his face! Turning to the laughing person behind him he smiled crookedly "I guess the yolk's on me, eh Mina?" Grinning broadly Mina started laughing as she saw Daniel try futility to clean off the mess from his head "Eggsactly" she smiled back. Daniel winced at her pun "Ouch, for that you get an eggscrutating punishment!" and Daniel began to chase Mina around gathering the yolk in his hair to use as a missile to be thrown at Mina. Lita came into the kitchen and the sight that met her eyes caused he to break out laughing. Daniel covered in egg, was chasing Mina around the kitchen table! Lita stopped laughing long enough to call out "Hey you two! I just cleaned the floor yesterday!" Daniel called back "Sorry Lita but Mina decided to 'surprise' me while I was making some breakfast and now I'm just trying to return the yolk shampoo!" Mina called out "I'm sorry! Truce? please?" and she made doe eyes at Daniel. Daniel grimaced once before replying "Truce" and kissed her. Mina pulled back laughing "Ew, go take a shower, we'll finish up here!" and Daniel made his way to the bathroom chuckling. Lita looked over what Daniel had completed and said "He did an okay job, let's finish it up!" and with that the pair made some more eggs to replace the ones that were going down the drain in Lita's bathroom. Daniel emerged some 15 minutes later toweling off his hair "Mina, if nothing else I think your little trick gave my hair a nice shine!" Lita laughed "I use that trick myself once in a while too" Daniel looked at Lita "You drop eggs on your head while cooking them?" Lita burst out laughing again "No silly! The egg shampoo!" As the group dug into breakfast Daniel checked them over visually "I see my first aid treatment worked okay" Mina smiled "Yes thanks, how's your cheek by the way?" Daniel smiled "Fine, but I'll remember next time to wake Rei up before I do any first aid on *HER*!" as the girls giggled Daniel spoke again "But no Scout business unless it's an emergency today ok? I can handle 'Peroxide Boy' if he comes around with those boomerangs" Mina shook her head "No Daniel, I think that's what they want you to do, respond to him attacking one on one" Lita agreed "Besides, *we're* protecting you remember?" Daniel nodded reluctantly "Ok, but who was that anyways? He seemed familiar somehow" Mina spoke up "That was Malachite, strongest of Queen Beryl's generals, we faced him up at the North Pole" Lita continued "But the last we saw of him he disappeared in a trail of bubbles with his boomerangs sticking out of him!" Daniel pursed his lips "Well, unless Malachite was just playing dead when you saw him dissapear I think Metalla's given us a new playmate. I remember him from my vision of the attack on the Moon Kingdom and if I'm remembering right, he's got a major grudge against me" Oh how right Daniel was... Malachite was alone in a chamber in the North Pole, Metalla being preoccupied with some device gave Malachite the chance to think back and remember the attack on the Moon Kingdom and what had happened to his beloved Zoicite.... He stood with the other former Generals of Prince Darien ready to defend Queen Beryl to the death if need be, himself, Jedite, Nephlite and Zoicite. Ah Zoicite, a creature of beauty and power, once dedicated to peace but after Beryl had gotten through with her that dedication had been warped as had the others to the service of Beryl. When Zoicite had been corrupted it exposed a hunger for power that saw her leapfrog both Jedite and Nephlite to take the number two slot behind Malachite. This had displeased Nephlite who had been the former number two but who kept his anger in check. That had made Zoicite nervous and she worked behind the scenes to get rid of him entirely. Malachite had watched Zoicite's campaign against Nephlite and been impressed with the insidious way she worked to make Nephlite appear less than the formidable warrior he was. All of those thoughts were banished aside as he stood ready to defend Beryl, what he saw shocked him, for what looked like a mere human was cutting through Beryl's defenses! He looked closer and discovered that it was in fact Lord Light who was coming towards Beryl. Malachite knew the history between Lord Light and Beryl and figured that Lord Light was coming to try and talk Beryl out of her attack on the Moon Kingdom. "Dolt" Malachite sneered to himself "Your throwing your life away on a hopeless task!" he watched baffled as first Jedite and then Nephlite fell before him, he hadn't killed them, but had made sure they couldn't attack him from behind either. Malachite smiled to himself "Now we'll see Zoicite tear you apart!" Lord Light met Zoicite having taken damage already from his last two encounters with Prince Darien's former Generals. "I don't suppose... (gasp) you'd be willing... (wheeze) to let me pass?" Lord Light asked hopefully. "Not a chance you pathetic fool! DIE!" and with that Zoicite attacked with a crystal shard in her hand! Lord Light was loath to fight at all, let alone a former ally of Prince Darien and a woman besides. All thoughts of chivalry were banished as he soon found himself defending himself against the fast and furious blows of what to him seemed a possessed she devil! Lord Light parried another blow "Look, I don't want to hurt anyone! I just want to talk to Beryl!" Zoicite swung again "Then join our glorious cause to destroy the Moon Kingdom!" Lord Light spat back as he countered another blow "I'd rather die!" Zoicite smiled thinly "I was hoping you'd say that!" and she pressed her attack anew. Malachite was busy watching the other flank of the Queen but kept an eye on Zoicite "She's got him on the ropes but she's letting her anger cloud her judgment" Lord Light was exhausted and found himself backed up against a railing. Smiling Zoicite waved her crystal mere millimeters from Lord Light's nose "It's been fun but now it's time to say good-bye!" and she lunged ahead with her sword... Lord Light did the only thing he could do, he ducked, and Zoicite tripped over him and fell over the railing! Lord Light turned around even as he heard the scream. Zoicite had fallen into the path of Sailor Venus's Meteor Shower attack that was aimed at a demon and Zoicite's body was full of holes before she'd had a chance to defend herself. Lord Light thought to himself "Good-bye Zoicite, I didn't want this to happen", but Malachite who had seen his beloved fall over the balcony and heard her death scream was blinded by rage and flew to attack the still shaking Lord Light "YOU KILLED HER!" Lord Light defended himself as best as he could "I didn't want it to happen! I only want to speak to Beryl!" Malachite pressed his attack even harder "I'LL SEE YOU IN HADES, YOU KILLER!" as he swung his blade in what looked to be a sure death blow. Lord Light threw up his strongest defense field and watched in amazement as the blade ricocheted off the shield, flew from Malachite's hands and was bounced back from the forcefield protecting Beryl right back into Malachite! Lord Light ran over to his to fallen attacker, Malachite looked up at him and spat out "I'll be back, someway, somehow I'll get you for killing her I swear..." and Malachite's form breathed it's last. Malachite shook himself from his daydream "I want him to pay for what he's done but I have to get him separated from the Scouts somehow... He's almost as tough as he was back then and has all the Scouts to help him, if there only was some way to keep those wretched Scouts busy..." and he trailed off in thought. Suddenly it came to him! The Dark Crystal, Nephlite had created it to find the Imperium Silver Crystal but instead it led to his downfall. Queen Beryl had changed it after they had lost the crystal to that brat Sailor Moon to alter humans in an attempt to use them to capture the crystal. But all he needed the Dark Crystal for was to create a distraction, and then he separately would launch an attack that would require someone of Lord Lights power to stop and then would Zoicite's memory be avenged with that smug fool's death. Malachite wrapped his cloak around himself and disappeared in a dark energy trail. Daniel sat in the living room of Lita's apartment feeling like a trapped animal. Oh he didn't mind that he was trapped with Mina all that much but he felt confined by the walls in Lita's apartment in a way he couldn't explain. Mina saw Daniel's agitated look "You look like you want to go outside" she remarked. Daniel smiled "You should be a mind reader Mina. I gotta get outta here just for a little while. Can't we go somewhere? Heck, even just going out for an ice cream would be an improvement over being stuck here. Please?" and Daniel made the same spaniel eyes at Mina that she had made at him earlier that morning. Mina seemed completely unmoved which lead Daniel to wonder just why it worked for her but not for him when suddenly she burst out laughing and said "Sure, but Lita comes along too remember" Daniel sighed inwardly "Oh well, at least we're getting out of here for a while" he thought to himself inwardly. Daniel, Mina and Lita went to the nearest ice cream shop. It was called "Bob-Floy" Daniel looked at Mina quizzically "Don't look at me" Mina laughed and as the group lined up to get their ice cream Daniel couldn't help but notice how the two Scouts were looking around, seeing in every stranger a threat. "This is ridiculous" Daniel grumbled to himself "It's like I'm a helpless baby! I could probably level this 'Malachite' without breaking a sweat'" But Daniel thought to himself how Mina and Lita had described their last battle with him and shook his head as if to clear the boast from his mind "Better trust the girls on this one" and the group made their way to the nearest park benches, Lita having moved off onto a nearby bench. Mina looked at Daniel "Hey, what's wrong? You've barely touched your ice cream" Daniel looked at Mina and could feel his doubts resurfacing "Nothing, just a little distracted thinking about Malachite, that's all" and the two continued to eat their ice cream in silence. Daniel began to scan the crowd himself almost in unconscious sympathy with what Mina was doing. Suddenly Daniel's attention was drawn into the trees and he saw movement! What was it? a threat? Daniel felt his pulse quicken with adrenaline as he strained to get a closer look. He broke out into a smile as he noticed Sailors Uranus and Neptune keeping a silent watch over the scene "Looks like they were worried about me too" Mina looked at Daniel as he gazed into the trees. "What's going on Daniel? Why are you looking into those trees?" and Daniel pointed out with a subtle motion his two tree bound guardians. Mina suddenly got a evil looking smirk on her face and Daniel looked at her slightly nervously "Just what do you have in mind Mina?" Mina kept her smile in place as she edged closer "Oh just something to give the birds in the trees something to watch! With that she grabbed Daniel by the head and proceeded to kiss him full on the lips! Daniel was so surprised that he nearly dropped his ice cream, but managed to hang on as Mina began to test his lung capacity. He could get a mental picture in his mind of Lita and the tree bound Outer Scouts looking agape at the young couple who were very much in love. "Ah the heck with it" Daniel thought and eagerly returned the kiss in kind... Suddenly there was an explosion and the two were flung from their bench hard to the ground. "Uh? Who ordered the hurricane?" Daniel mumbled. Suddenly, Daniel got a good look at the attacker. He couldn't believe his eyes! It was Sailor Pluto! Sailors Uranus and Neptune jumped down from their perch and approached the attacking Scout "What are you doing Pluto?" Sailor Uranus demanded. Sailor Pluto merely looked at the outraged Scout, cleared her throat, and uttered the words "Dead Scream" and Uranus was flung that hard into a tree! Sailor Neptune viewed the attack with disbelief, but seeing her partner slumped against the tree shook her from her daze "Deep Submerge!" And a wall of water made its way towards the attacking Scout. Sailor Pluto merely looked at the wave and teleported out of its way. Sailor Neptune looked around frantically for the Mistress of Time, but was surprised when she appeared behind her and delivered a knockout blow with her Garnet Staff. By this time Daniel and the other two inner Scouts had found places to transform. Daniel muttered to himself "It looks like Pluto has finally gone around the bend, attacking her own partners like this" and with that he made his way to the battle scene. Daniel was stunned, here were two of the most powerful Scouts laid out colder than frozen fish. He didn't know what he alone could do against such power but resolved that he had to try. Daniel spoke "Sailor Pluto! What is this all about?" Sailor Pluto merely looked at Daniel "It's about you! I'm not taking 'no' for an answer this time!" Daniel thought feverishly to himself "What do I do? If she could lay waste to Uranus and Neptune like this how are the other Scouts and I going to survive?" Daniel spoke again "Look Pluto I don't understand why you can't accept the facts, the facts are I do not love you! I love Sailor Venus" and with that the orange skirted scout beamed. Sailor Pluto spoke again "So I guess this means I'll just have to get rid of the competition!" And with that she leapt towards the startled Scout. Daniel moved to intercept her "No Pluto this ends here and now" Suddenly, Sailor Pluto got a faraway look on her face and said "Maybe another time Lord Light" and she leapt off into the park. Daniel would have followed if not for the groans coming from Uranus and Neptune. The other inner Scouts Moon, Mars and Mercury appeared "What did we miss?" Said Sailor Mars. "I'm not sure but I think it was Sailor Plutos' resignation" muttered Daniel looking at the fallen forms of Sailors Uranus and Neptune.. Once again Daniel found himself providing first aid but at least he had the help of Sailor Venus this time. Sailors Neptune and Uranus grumbled "When we get our hands on her..." Daniel looked thoughtful "I don't know if that is such a good idea" Sailor Uranus looked at Daniel "What would you have us do? Go over to her house and have tea and crumpets and forget she tried to kick our butts?" Daniel thought for a moment. "No, but if you are going to confront her, I suggest taking the rest of us along with you so that she doesn't get any funny ideas" Sailors Uranus and Neptune began to protest "This is our problem..." Sailor Moon spoke up "No, it's all of our problem, We are a team. If one member is causing problems we should all have to deal with it" Sailor Mars looked at Sailor Moon with a new appreciation "Perhaps old meatball head is getting a brain" she thought to herself. Daniel spoke again "Are you two okay to stand up now?". Sailor Uranus was the first to try and although she was shaky she managed to stay up. Sailor Neptune wasn't so lucky for when she stood up she fell back to the ground with a cry "Ouch, it looks like I twisted my ankle!" Daniel spoke "Ok, then we're taking you home first and you can confront Pluto with us tomorrow" Sailor Uranus started to protest "No buts! I don't want you to take her on unless your at 100%. She did a fairly decent job of trashing you two" Uranus wasn't pleased but one look at Neptune and her damaged ankle convinced her "Okay, we'll play it your way for now. But if we don't like what you're doing we reserve the right to go our own way on this matter" Daniel looked Uranus in the eye "Of course, you have that right. Now if you will allow us, we'll get you home". With that the Scouts and Daniel made their way to Neptune and Uranus' house, carrying Neptune to avoid further damage to her ankle. Sailor Pluto didn't return to her home, instead she made her way towards the docks and a decrepit, deserted building. A voice called out from the darkness. "Is that you Morpha?" Sailor Pluto responded "Yes Lord Malachite" and her features shifted to a face that was without any distinguishing markings and a body that was devoid of anything resembling individuality. "Did the plan proceed as I designed?" Malachite asked "Just as you decreed my Lord" Morpha smiled. "The Outer Scouts are now going to be busy fighting among themselves and of no help to that fool Daniel and the other Scouts" Malachite smiled "Excellent! I can hardly wait for Phase Two to start tomorrow!" And Malachite laughed a harsh mirthless laugh that echoed throughout the building. Unbeknownst to him Metalla had been watching him through a spy drone constantly since she resurrected him "Hmm, I think I will have to keep an eye on him. I only wanted him to distract Daniel, not destroy him" and Metalla returned to the device and the green glowing form within. After the attack the Scouts met at the temple with Luna and Artemis, they explained what had happened to the understandably disturbed cats. "That's not like Pluto at all" Luna commented, Artemis concurred "Pluto may be sometimes difficult to get along with but doing *THAT*? it's just not her normal behavior" The Scouts nodded, "What are we going to do?" Mina asked "I mean will two people be enough to guard Daniel?" The cats thought about it "I think so" Luna commented "But overnight you may want to stick together as a group just in case, perhaps a sleepover?" The Scouts agreed though Daniel looked a mite uncomfortable. After the cats excused themselves for the evening (There was considerable gossip as to why, some of which caused Daniel to raise his eyebrows) the Scouts decided to meet at Lita' s apartment. A cover story of a sleep over at Lita's was enough to arrange things with everyone's parents. Serena was hungry and rooted through Lita's cupboards looking for a snack "Lita, where do you keep the goodies?" Lita laughed "Hold your horses and I'll whip up something. Does anybody else want anything?" The other Scouts shook their heads negatively but Daniel piped up "Yes please. At this point anything to get my mind off of where its going" Mina looked at Daniel "And where would that be?" Daniel sighed "Just wondering if tomorrow we will have to face Sailor Pluto to stop her" The other Scouts looked at each other, they had thought about it a bit but didn't want to consider it much. Serena spoke up "Maybe my wand can heal her?" she commented hopefully. Amy thought about it "It is a possibility. However we don't know if in fact she really has turned evil or is just acting out of malice towards anyone she sees as an obstacle in her pursuit of Daniel". "Great, now Pluto thinks I am nothing but a speed bump!" grumbled Mina. Daniel snuggled closer to her "She may think of you like that. But to me you are my own private love bug" and he kissed her gently. The other scouts started giggling and Daniel and Mina could feel a flush rising on their cheeks. "Okay, I'm finished come and get it!" The speaker had been Lita and what awaited in the kitchen was a simple dessert of chocolate mousse and whipped cream. The other scouts took a little bit having decided that they were in fact hungry but the majority went to Serena and Daniel. Two people whose sugar content would rate higher than the country of Cuba after eating so much of such a dessert. After having eaten both Serena and Daniel found themselves being laughed at as a pair of Hoover vacuum cleaners. Daniel merely made a projection of a vacuum cleaner with his ring and said "No this sucks, I don't" and he laughed. For her part Serena merely burped contentedly "I wish Darien was here" Serena complained "Yeah and he could comment on how you are nothing but a little piglet!" Rei sneered. Daniel sighed "Round what number?" Amy sighed "I've lost track of that long ago" and the group broke up laughing. The Scouts had decided to play their favourite game "Confession" Daniel had never heard of such a game but decided to play along. Serena went first "Okay, the rules are simple. You must ask someone a question, they can either answer the question you asked or can say 'pass'. This means that they don't answer the question. Each person only gets one pass, so it is not a good idea to use the pass on just any question. For example, "Amy do you love Greg?" Amy looked flustered "Uh, yes" and she hung her head as she realized what she had blurted out. Serena turned to Daniel "Understand?" Daniel nodded and muttered "Oh boy, what am I in for?" Mina looked at him "You'll see" she smiled. The order of people asking questions was determined by straws, Daniel had drawn the longest straw so he could sit back and watch the 'fun'. Ami asked Lita "Lita, why didn't you act like you normally do when you see a guy when Daniel appeared?" Lita thought for a minute "I saw him and saw a vision from the Moon Kingdom. I was looking at what I assumed was him and someone who looked like Mina who said to me "He is mine, make one move towards him and you'll find out just how painful a Venus Crescent Beam can he" Mina looked horrified, Lita look at Mina "Ami did ask" she shrugged her shoulders. Next was Serena "Rei, did you really want to replace me as leader of the Scouts?" Rei looked at Serena in the eye "Pass" was all she said. Serena looked hurt but let the question remain unanswered. Rei was next "Daniel, do you really not mind being stuck here?" Daniel looked ashen faced and glanced at Mina "Pass" Mina looked crestfallen but Daniel leaned over to her and whispered something that made Mina beam with delight. Next was Lita "Serena, what was your reaction when King Darien told you what your future was? " Now it was Serena's turn to look ashen faced "Pass, I don't think I can answer that without messing up the time line" and she laughed nervously. Next came Mina and although Daniel had no idea what her question could be he found himself breaking out in a nervous sweat "Daniel" she asked "Do you have any feelings for Sailor Pluto?" Daniel looked at her "Truth, but the only feeling I have for her especially after what happened today is pity" Mina looked at him with a look of relief. "Ok Daniel your turn!" Serena prompted, Daniel was lost, who to ask and what to ask, as the other scouts looked at him expectantly. He suddenly came up with his question "Mina, when all this with Metalla is settled, would you marry me? Mina looked at the others and then at Daniel for but a moment "Of course I would, is this your idea of proposing?" Daniel laughed "Yes and no, with Metalla still running around loose I think we'd all better concentrate on her, but after this is over... Besides, I couldn't have thought up another question to ask you" and the two embraced. Amy looked at her watch "Guys, its almost twelve thirty, we had best be getting some sleep in case Malachite has some plans for tomorrow" Daniel looked at Ami " Geez, you just had to bring up Peroxide Boy right?" The others laughed, Daniel looked at Serena and asked "Serena, your a natural blond right?". Serena nodded her head. "Then tell me is his natural or from a bottle?" Serena started laughing "Only his Nega hairdresser knows for sure!" and she and the others broke up in fits of giggling. With that the group settled down for bed. The next day dawned early, at least for Daniel. He figured that with five other girls in the apartment he had better get up early if he wanted to have any shot at the one bathroom. His assumption turned out to be correct. As it was he just finished his morning duties when an impatient knock alerted him to the line up outside "Hurry up in there!" whined Serena. "I need to wash my hair!" Daniel snickered and called out "Okay, I know that will take you quite a while!" And he opened the door to the sight of Serena steaming at him. "Calm down Serena, there's even enough hot water left" Truth be told Daniel preferred nearly ice cold showers anyway (at least he had since meeting Mina). Daniel using the trick he learned yesterday with his ring had breakfast waiting for the girls, who dug in appreciatively, especially Serena. This being the second day Mina and Lita made ready to go to school while Rei, Serena and Ami who were scheduled to stay and watch over Daniel merely got out their notes from yesterday. But Daniel could sense discomfort within the group and noticed Ami fidgeting "You sure your ok staying here to watch over me?" Daniel asked Ami concerned that she was resentful of missing school. "Yes, I'm fine" Ami replied. Daniel however wasn't fooled for a second "Look, if it bothers you that much go, I mean Serena and Rei are still here right?" Rei suddenly spoke up "Hey wait a minute Daniel, we agreed that we would *all* take turns looking out for you" Daniel turned to Rei "I appreciate that, but I can't just sit and watch someone steam because of me" Serena looked up "Ami, are you *sure* your okay staying here? Daniel is right, I mean Lita and Mina were the only ones here yesterday right?" Ami shifted uncomfortably in her chair, torn between the siren song of the school bell and wanting to make sure Daniel remained safe "If your sure it's not too much trouble, I mean I could even pick up Serena's and Rei's homework" at this both Serena & Rei made faces like they had just swallowed a mouthful of pure lemon juice. Daniel smiled "Go, I'll be okay with Serena & Rei here" Rei muttered under her breath "It's not like your much help offensively anyways Ami" the others hadn't heard that but Daniel had. He raised an eyebrow and motioned Rei to follow him into the den with an icy glare. Serena and Ami were curious and started to follow but Daniel fixed them with a look. Daniel spoke to Rei in a hushed voice "Look Rei, that wasn't nice. Ami just doesn't feel comfortable with the concept of skipping school. Surely you wouldn't want her to do something that she wasn't comfortable with?" Rei sniffed "Hrmph, there you go again, covering up for someone not willing to take responsibility for themselves!" Daniel tried to keep his voice level "Damn it Rei, why are you being so pig headed about this? I mean it's not like she's going to go a thousand miles or anything" Rei steamed "What is it with you? Do you have a death wish? Metalla wants you for her personal pet, Malachite's after you and your sending away about the only people who can save your bacon!" Daniel was losing patience with the fiery Scout and it showed "Rei, at what exact point in my stay here did you decide I was a substitute for Serena?" Rei stood there for a minute saying nothing, her jaw merely moving silently "While you figure that out, I'm going to make sure that Ami gets to school" and with that he opened the door that separated the den from the living room.... As he walked into the living room Daniel started to think that perhaps he had gone too far in is verbal jousting with Rei. He wondered if he had done the right thing when Ami came to him ready for school "I'll see about the afternoon, I think it's a field trip, if I don't go I can be back by about 1pm" Daniel shook his head "No, go I insist, I'll be fine (as long as Rei doesn't decide to roast me like a marshmallow, he thought to himself) see you after school!" he said with a smile. Ami turned to leave, stopped and turned back to Daniel "Don't worry about Rei, I think she likes the fact that you stand up to her, not many people do" and she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Daniel lightly on the cheek "Have fun!" she called as she left the premises. Daniel stood there for a moment thinking about what Ami had said when Serena started laughing uproariously. "Now what's so funny?" he thought to himself amusedly. Looking at Serena he at first noticed her math textbook "Gee, when did Serena find math so funny?" he wondered to himself. Peering closer he saw that although she had a math textbook open what she was looking at was a manga hidden inside! Daniel sighed "Oh great, something else for Rei to get steamed about" Sure enough as soon as Rei entered the room the fireworks began. "Meatball brain! What are you doing?" Rei demanded in an accusatory tone of voice. "Oh just my math homework" Serena replied nervously "And since when did math homework include the latest issue of *MY* manga?" Daniel felt himself growing ill and decided to watch TV, hoping that the noise of the hostilities would be drowned out. He flipped to a local news station "Might as well see if Bleach Boy is up to anything" as the picture and sound sprang to life he saw an announcer babbling earnestly "This just in! There are reports of approximately a half dozen monsters attacking Crossroads Junior High. No reports of any injuries yet but police are unable to control the rampaging beasts! As well there are reports of a white haired man throwing boomerangs at workers down in the docks section of Tokyo!" Daniel saw the report and called the two combatants to the TV "Playtime is over you two! Time to get serious!" Rei and Serena looked at the visuals just coming in from the school and Serena made a small gasping noise "What is it Serena?" Daniel asked "I recognize two of those monsters they look like Molly & Melvin!" Daniel's mind raced, Molly worked at her mother's jewelry store, Melvin must be another classmate of Serenas. "I don't see Mercury at all" Rei said sounding worried. Serena was quick on her feet "C'mon we have to get down to the school!" Daniel though remembered Malachite at the docks "Wait a minute, what about Malachite? We can't just leave him free to attack!" Serenas mind whirled, how to stop Malachite and save her friends? Daniel cut through her deliberations "Listen you two go to the school! I'll take Boomerang Boy!" Rei looked at him "Your crazy! It's a trap and your going to walk right into it!" Daniel shot back "What choice do we have? There are at least a half dozen monsters attacking the school, the numbers are needed there! Send help as soon as you finish with those monsters!" Rei and Serena nodded reluctantly as their communicators lit up. "Time for Malachite to get a lesson in the power of Light!" and Daniel transformed even as he ran the stairs leading to the roof. Daniel made his way to the docks, the direction Malachite had taken clearly evident in the path of the destruction "Well, it looks like he really does want us to find him, or more precisely me" Daniel muttered. Daniel came upon Malachite as he was threatening to slice a poor dockworker to ribbons "Hold it Malachite! Make one more move and I'll be seeing just how far my ring can bury you in the ground!" Malachite laughed and turned his head to face Daniel "Ah, took you long enough to show up you fool, I was beginning to wonder if you had the guts to face me without your sailor fan club!" Daniel merely shrugged "Hey they're doing the hard job, they left me the solo pleasure of kicking your carcass all the way back to the NegaVerse!" Malachite flew at Daniel enraged "I'll make you eat those words you smug fool!" and with the swing of a vicious looking blade the fight was on! Back at the school Sailor Moon and Mars joined a scene of utter chaos, six monsters each one more nightmarish than the last were in the process of tearing apart the school yard. Sailor Moon put her hands to her hips and started one of her trademarked speeches "Hey you rejects from drama class! I'm Sailor Moon champion of Justice and on behalf of the moon I'll punish you!" and as she drew her arms into their final positions the monsters fanned out and surrounded the Scouts. Noone moved for what seemed like an eternity until Sailor Mars, her legendary short fuse burned down yelled "Enough of this! MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROUND!" andshe fired off a series of fire rings at the monster facing her. The monster however had sensed what Mars was about to do and jumped clear of the fire rings. It went that way for each of the Scouts, they would attempt an attack and the monster whom the attack was aimed at would get out of harms way. The Scouts paused to regroup "Guys this isn't working" Sailor Moon whined "Oh what was your first clue?" Sailor Mars shot back "Guys, listen we have to be less predictable in our attacks" Sailor Mercury commented as her fingers fairly flew over the keyboard of her mini computer. Sailors Jupiter and Venus took the hint "VENUS CRESCENT BEAM SMASH!" "JUPITER THUNDER DRAGON!" the combined golden dragon tore through the surprised monster, leaving it smoking on the ground "Now Sailor Moon!" Mars called. Sailor Moon called out "Moon Healing Activation!" and suddenly a wave of purest moonlight washed over the monster leaving an unconscious boy in it's place. "One down" "And many to go" commented Sailors Mars and Moon resignedly. At the docks Daniel was holding his own against Malachite, despite the fact that the NegaVerse warrior was employing less than honourable tactics. "DIE YOU FOOL!" and Malachite swung his blade in an upward arc hoping to catch Daniel as he was about to leap away. Daniel for his part ducked instead and delivered a ring based blast that sent Malachite hard into a wall "Do you give up?" Daniel called out. "NEVER" and the enraged General bounced back ready for more. "Great I'm fighting the NegaVerse equivalent of the Energizer rabbit" Daniel muttered darkly to himself. Just as Malachite was about to lunge Daniel heard a familiar cry "Venus Crescent Beam!" and Malachite was blasted backwards yet again! "Love your timing Venus" Daniel called back appreciatively and he turned to face Malachite again "Ok *NOW* do you surr..." and suddenly Daniel was hit from behind by Sailor Venus! Daniel struggled to look back at her. He shook his head to clear his vision but could have sworn he saw her features melt away as his consiousness left him. "Your plan was flawless my Lord" Morpha commented "Of course it was, I designed it didn't I?" as Malachite surveyed Daniel's fallen form a wicked smile crossed his lips. I think we should let the Scouts know that they shouldn't expect their friend here for dinner tonight!" Back at the school, the Scouts were able to subdue about half of the transformed monsters, leaving three monsters including the transformed Molly & Melvin. The SCouts were battered and bent but not beaten and Sailor Moon stood up defiantly wielding the Crescent Moon Wand "Okay, who wants *THEIR* change of attitude adjustment?" The monsters circled warily having seen the results of the wand on their compatriots and Sailor Moon locked them with her gaze. Suddenly the monsters stiffened and fell to the ground, much like a puppet whose strings had been cut! Sailor Moon didn't need the customary reminder from Sailor Mars, instead she simply shouted "Moon Healing Activation" and the three remaining monsters were transformed back into the humans they were. Sailor Moon forgetting herself rushed over to Molly "Are you ok Molly? Speak to me!" Molly struggled to raise her head "T-thank you Sailor Moon" and she collapsed back into unconsciousness. As the Scouts tended to the victims until the ambulances arrived there was a ripping sound in the air. The Scouts looked up and the sight that met their eyes made their collective blood run cold. Malachite and beside him Daniel unconscious and encased in Dark Energy! "Oh Hello, just thought I'd drop by and let you say good-bye to the *OTHER* half of your tuxedo wearing fan club!" and he floated aside from the Dark Energy cocoon exposing Daniel's predicament to the Scouts. Sailor Venus fairly leapt at Malachite "NO! LET HIM GO!" and she fired off a Venus Crescent Beam Smash where Malachite had been floating. Unfortunately he moved and with an exagerated flourish he acknowledged Venus's attempt "Well, now that you've said your good-byes we really must be going!" and with that he vanished with Daniel leaving the Scouts aghast. What's Malachite's plan for Daniel and will Metalla let him proceed with it? Stay tuned for Chapter 11 of "Whose reality is right? (The light grows dark)