Chapter 6

	Raye had just received a phone call from Mina.  Mina had sounded very
ecstatic about something, but Raye did not know what about.  She decided to
visit Mina.  Raye ran out of Cherry Hill Temple as fast as she could.  She
nearly fell flat on her face!  But she didn't.  After all, she wasn't
Serena.
	On her way to Mina's house, Raye ran into Nephlite and Dolomite.  Well,
not really.  She saw them, but they did not see her.  "This is not good,"
Raye thought.  "I should see what their up to, but I've really gotta go to
Mina's."  Raye continued on, wondering what exactly was going on.  Nephlite
and Dolomite were still talking in the alleyway.  
	"Nephlite," Dolomite said.  "I don't feel comfortable about this."
	"Why not?  You just keep your mouth shut, and everything will be all
right."
	"But what if Natas comes looking for us?  What then?"
	"I've read into Natas.  Despite his tough exterior, he has a conscience. 
I have a way of manipulating anything with a conscience."
	"And what about you?  Do you have a conscience?"
	"I'll let you figure that one out," Nephlite said as he looked away from
Dolomite.  "In the meantime, get some new clothes.  You don't want to look
like a reject."  Nephlite changed his clothing to that of his alter-ego,
Maxfield Stanton.
	"Just what am I supposed to do?"  Nephlite turned to Dolomite.
	"Just what I did."  Dolomite changed his clothing to that of an executive
businessman.  "Now choose a name."
	"How does Skippy sound?"
	"Like you're a jackass."
	"How about Marvin?"
	"It's better.  Now, get out of sight.  If Natas comes looking for you,
don't fight it.  It's better to die quick."
	"Why's that?"
	"You really are a moron, ya know that?  Less pain."  Nephlite walked away.
 Dolomite walked to the nearest pharmacy.  He felt it best to get some
painkillers.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

	Zoisite and Malachite were alive and together again, and that made them
happy.  They were Nephlite's personal bodyguards, and that made them
unhappy.
	"Malachite, why do we have to be under Nephlite?  He's proven once before
to be a traitor."
	"Zoisite, my love, I don't have an answer to that.  But I think it's best
if we do not question Natas.  I need to study him."
	"And then what?"
	"If at all possible, we rebel.  I would rather not serve someone who would
trust Nephlite."
	"Oh, Malachite."  Zoisite and Malachite embraced and kissed.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

	Sylvite was sitting beside the remaining ashes of Cashia.  She was
thinking about Nephlite, and her feelings toward him.  She realized that
she probably didn't have a chance.  Someone as valiant as Nephlite must
already be taken right?  Right.  But Sylvite would have been disgusted to
find out who had stolen Nephlite's heart.
	Natas walked up to Sylvite.  She did not notice him at first.  When she
did notice him, she quickly stood, and bowed.
	"My lord.  What do you bid of me?"
	"Sylvite, I have one simple request.  Make sure that no one tries to
double cross me.  If they do, kill them."
	"Yes, my lord," Sylvite said, not knowing that she had just said she would
kill her former lover, and the one she hoped would be her future lover.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

	Raye arrived at Mina's house, out of breath.  She knocked on the door, and
Mina answered.
	"Thank goodness you're here!  Come on inside!"  Mina pulled Raye inside
before she had a chance to respond.
	"What is it, Mina?"
	"I just got a phone call from Serena, and she and Darien broke up!"  Raye
was shocked when she heard this.
	"So, who dumped who?" Raye asked.
	"Darien dumped her!"  Raye didn't say a single word at this.
	"No," Raye thought.  "It wasn't him."  At that time, Raye heard someone
knocking at the door.
	"I'll get it," Raye said.  She walked to the door, and opened it to see
Nephlite.  "You!"
	"Shh!  I'm not who I used to be."
	"How do I know?"
	"Listen, I'll explain everything once I'm sure I was not followed.  May I
come in?"
	"Sure."  Nephlite walked into the house.  "How did you find me?" Raye
asked.
	"I walked out of an alley, and I saw you.  I decided to follow you."  Raye
and Nephlite went into the room where Mina was, which was the living room.
	"Who's this?" Mina asked.
	"My name is Maxfield Stanton."
	"It's OK," Raye said.  "She's a Sailor Scout."
	"Raye!" Mina shouted.
	"In that case, my name is Nephlite, and I used to be a general for the
Negaverse.  Don't worry, though.  I'm a good guy now."
	"Good.  Then I don't have to kill you," Mina said.
	"You're blunt.  I like that."  Nephlite explained what all was going on,
and how he did not want to be a part of it.  But, if he had to, he wanted
to be a good guy, and help the Sailor Scouts.
	"Well, Nephlite," Raye said.  "I think you should talk to Serena.  She
seems pretty upset.  She thinks Darien dumped her."
	"I will talk with Sailor Moon.  But first I must see Molly."
	"I understand," Raye said.  "But what about Dolomite?"
	"He has no interest in the events taking place.  He only wants to have a
clean start."  Nephlite was only partially correct in this.  Dolomite had
no interest in the events taking place.  He merely wanted to rule the world
by himself.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

	Molly Baker was watching her favorite soap opera on TV.  It was Days of
Our Lives.  She was completely wrapped up in the show.  She was wrapped up
so much that she did not hear Nephlite knocking on her door.  She didn't
even hear him yell that it was him.  Nephlite heard her crying, and thought
she was ignoring him.  Actually, she was crying about the way the episode
was going, but Nephlite did not know that.  How could he have known? 
Instead, he thought she was crying because of him.  Had he done something
wrong?  Or had she just grown tired of him?  Nephlite decided to knock
again.  He simply *had* to talk to her.  He pounded on the door.  This
time, Molly heard.
	"Who is it?" Molly asked after turning the volume down.
	"Maxfield--er, Nephlite."  Molly was surprised, then angered.
	"I don't know who you are, but it's not nice to play jokes like this on
someone!"
	"Molly, please!  It's not a joke!  Just open the door.  I need to talk to
you."  Molly decided to open the door.  When she saw Nephlite, her jaw
dropped.
	"Nephlite..."
	"Oh Molly.  I have so much to tell you.  May I come inside."  Molly made a
gesture, indicating that he was allowed inside.  Nephlite told Molly about
everything that happened, and about everything that was going to happen.
	"It doesn't matter, as long as I'm with you," Molly said.
	"I have an idea," Nephlite said.  "Why don't we have a chocolate parfait?"
	"Oh, Nephlite...you remembered."
	"How could I forget?"

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	

	Sylvite was watching Zoisite and Malachite.  They had been away from the
rest of the group far too much.  She was spying on them, and overheard a
startling conversation.
	"Malachite, we have to act now!  If we wait too long, Natas will be too
powerful to stop, and we will be stuck serving under that son of a bitch
Nephlite!"
	"Zoisite, calm down.  Remember what happened the last time you acted
hastily," Malachite said, referring to her death.
	"I know, but last time I was wrong.  This time I know I'm right.  We have
to act now!"
	"Zoisite, I only need to study a little more.  Once I confirm that Natas
is not too strong, we will rebel, I will rule the Universe, with you at my
side."
	"Oh, Malachite."  Sylvite decided she would have to kill Malachite and
Zoisite.

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

	Dolomite was walking along a street in downtown Tokyo, when he saw Serena.
 She saw him, and they both remembered what had happened to them recently. 
Dolomite wanted revenge for his death, so he attacked Serena.  He made a
void appear between his hands, and blasted her into a telephone pole.  She
was weakened greatly, and had bruises over 70 percent of her body.
	"You bitch!  Why did you have to kill me!?!!" he yelled.  Too weak to
respond, Serena just moaned.  "I have a message from Darien.  Fuck you!" 
Dolomite ran away, for fear of a mob attacking him, and he did not want to
expend too much energy.  Many people saw what happened, and called the
hospital.  She was rushed to the ER, and received immediate treatment.
	Serena was then listed in poor condition, one step above critical
condition.  She was allowed one visitor at a time.  The first to visit was
Raye.
	"Serena," Raye said, "I heard about--"
	"Raye, he's stronger now.  He managed to do this in one blow."
	"What?  How...how can that be?"  Raye thought for a moment, then came to
the only reasonable answer.  When Natas resurrected him, he was made more
powerful.  That was logical, wasn't it?  Yeah, logic.  As if anything in
the Scouts' lives had logic anymore.  The only things that made sense
anymore was the fact that the world kept on turning, and every living
person still could breathe, eat, and drink.  "Serena, just take it easy. 
We'll figure something out."  Raye left, at Serena's will.  Amy then
entered.
	"Hey Serena, long time no see.  I wish it was under better circumstances."
	"Amy, what is going on?"
	"I have no idea."  This was ironic, since Amy was supposed to be the
brains of the outfit.  "I'll do my best to figure it out."
	"I know you will," Serena said with a smile.  Amy left, and the other
Scouts visited Serena one at a time.  Serena then fell into a deep sleep. 
She had a dream.  It was a dream about everything that was going on with
Darien.
				(BEGIN DREAM)
	Serena saw Darien, her lover, in the woods.  He was in the form of Tuxedo
Mask.  She saw him stare at her, the run into the woods as fast as he
could.  He distanced himself from her, and she began to weep.  Tears ran
from her eyes, down her cheeks, and fell onto the ground.  Then, she saw
him again, and a black rose flew into her chest, and her blood fell where
the tears had fallen.  She whispered "why?"  He replied "because I hate
you, as I hate the world."
				(END DREAM)
	Serena awoke with a spring.  She shot right up in bed.  "This can't be
happening," she said to herself.  "It just can't."

	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

	Raye, Mina, Amy, and Lita were at Raye's temple, trying to figure out what
to do.  Artemis and Luna were there, too.
	"Guys, do you think it's possible that Natas has taken over Darien?" Amy
asked.  "It's just not natural that he broke up with Serena."
	"I know," Raye said.  "But what if he really IS doing this?  I mean, what
if Darien really doesn't want to be around Serena?  What then?"
	"I have no idea," Amy said.
	"Well, I think it's time we teach Natas who the boss is," Lita said.  "Who
does he think he is, anyway?"
	"Probably judge, jury and executioner," Artemis said.  "He probably has
enough power to wipe out the world now, or at least half of it."
	"Yes," Luna said.  "We have no idea how powerful he is."
	"Then let's find out!" Mina shouted.  "We won't get anything done like
this!"
	"We should wait for Serena to heal," Raye said.
	"What?!" Mina asked in surprise.  "YOU want to wait for SERENA?"
	"I know we've had our differences it the past, but we're really solid.  We
have a really strong friendship, and besides, I don't think we'll fare well
without her."
	"But what if Natas attacks?"
	"Then it's already too late," Artemis said.
	"So we're just supposed to sit idley by while the world gets destroyed?"
Lita asked in disgust.
	"No," Luna said.  "We wait 48 hours for Serena to recover.  By then she
will be strong enough to fight as Sailor Moon."  The others agreed.  While
this was probably not the best strategy, it was the only available option. 
The Sailor Scouts would wait.  And they would pray.

			To Be Continued......