Zoicite is locked out of the house! Yay! The girls are in the special class! Double Yay! And Molly has a credit card! [Editor: Triple Yay!] Now to see what happens in the next episode.

Sailor Moon is copyright (c) 1992 Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation. English Language Adaptation (c) 1995 DiC Entertainment

The second that Zoicite returned to the Negaverse, Beryl was demanding her presence in the throne room. This was a meeting Zoicite was not looking forward to. Then she chuckled darkly at that thought. When had she ever liked meeting with Beryl? Never.

Beryl glared from her dais. “You’ve failed me twice so far. You’re as bad as your predecessor, Neflyte. Explain why our enemies have two of the Rainbow Crystals and you’ve only brought back one. You showed such promise, Zoicite. I had high expectations for you. I’m sure you’d be the first to agree it’s time I found someone more competent.”

“Please, Queen Beryl, give me another chance to prove myself. The traitor, Neflyte, he got to the Orange Rainbow Crystal before me. I tried to win it back, but before I could attack him for the crystal the Scouts appeared. It seems that he has joined in with their ranks. That combined with that new Scout, Solaris, is making it more difficult to reclaim the crystals.” Zoicite hoped that the excuse would hold. Otherwise she’d never see her beloved Malachite again.

Beryl didn’t seem to take the news of Neflyte’s survival well. “I thought that you told me your youmas finished him off? Not only are you incapable of retrieving the Rainbow Crystals, you cannot get rid of a traitor? My patience is wearing extremely thin, Zoicite!”

Hoping to redirect the Queen’s attentions, Zoicite called upon her Dark Crystal. “Dark Crystal, show us the next human carrier of a Rainbow Crystal."

The crystal showed the next carrier of a Rainbow Crystal was a young lady. "I'll get that crystal, majesty, if I have to trade my life for it."

"Skip the melodrama. I decide your fate, remember, Zoicite?" Queen Beryl was not pleased at all. This crystal mission could make or destroy Zoicite’s life. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous, remembering what happened to Jedite. That would be a slap to the face compared to what the Queen might hand her if she were to fail. As she left she bowed with her closed fist pressed against her heart. "Of course, my queen."

* * * * * * * *

Luna and Serena walked in the park with their guardian youmas as they waited for Molly and Neflyte to show up. Serena had been slowly changing, sure she had her spells of going back to her old self, but she was growing up a little faster since Neflyte joined back with them.

“Serena, I was wondering, why all of the sudden have you taken your Scout duties more seriously as of late? I mean it’s nice, but it feels like you’ve had a change of heart since Neflyte returned to his true position.”

Serena sat down and gingerly rested Luna on her lap. For a moment she just sat there with a far away look in her eyes. “I guess I have changed, Luna. I think it’s because of what Neflyte said about not feeling right wearing his old uniform until he apologizes to the Moon Princess. I realized that this isn’t just some game, and it’s not like I haven’t done this before. In fact we all have been through this - fighting for our lives, making sure Beryl doesn’t win the day. I’m scared that if I don’t start acting like a leader soon, the Moon Princess will kick me out and take over. I can’t imagine my life without you, the Scouts, Neflyte, and the youmas with me. Do you think she’ll throw me out, Luna?”

“No. You’ve changed a lot since first becoming Sailor Moon. Even Raye has decided that you are the only choice for the leader of the Sailor Scouts. I think that the Moon Princess will be very pleased that her guardian is you.” Luna purred as Serena ran her fingers gently over the feline’s back. It had been too long since they had just sat and talked like this.

Neflyte and Molly walked up with smiles on their faces. Molly ran up ahead giggling. “Hey, Serena!”

“Hey you two! So, what’s the big surprise? Something with food, right?” Well, she can’t be the new improved Serena all of the time.

Luna jumped down and Serena got up as the couple closed in on them. Molly grabbed Serena’s arm. “Nope, you just gotta wait and see. Gotta boot it.”

Serena grabbed up her bag and started to follow Molly when she sensed something shift in her bag, she turned to see the Crescent Moon Wand fly out of her bag. She barely managed to grab it before it fell into the river. “That was too close! I could have sworn I had my bag completely closed.”

“What’s important is you caught it before it fell into the water. Serena, you have to be more careful. If the Negaverse ever got hold of that wand, it would mean the end of the Universe.” Luna sighed heavily.

Serena swallowed hard at this. “I’m sorry Luna. Uh … I think we’d better catch up with the love birds.”

Serena held back a secret that only Monlou knew the truth to. It was a secret that had the youma worried.

Serena gasped at the art exhibit Molly and Neflyte took her too. It was amazing how close the different paintings came to their secrets. Could this Lonni Lanai be the Moon Princess they’d all been looking for? Neflyte shook his head at the idea, as he had already read her impressions that still clung to the various paintings and found nothing that indicated her in that way. He brushed it off as one of the others Queen Serenity had saved from the fall of the Moon Kingdom.

Seeing an exceptional picture, Serena seemed to cheer up from the sadness that had threatened to tear her apart earlier. “Wow, that's cool."

"Yeah, I know. This one's my favorite. It's called Self-Portrait as a Moon Princess." Molly rested her head on Neflyte’s arm and smiled as only he could make her.

What a time for a nerd to show up - specifically Melvin. "Hidey ho! You wanna hear all the chemical elements in paint?"

"Ooh, not a chance, Melvin," Serena moaned, which seemed to make Melvin snicker for a moment. Molly groaned too. But Neflyte saw a way to get this boy to leave his lady alone. “Molly, my dear, is this that Melvin you were telling me about last night?”

“I thought you were engaged now, Molly.” Melvin snickered again. He thought that he’d get back at Molly with that.

Neflyte did not like this sneak. “She is. To me.”

Molly decided to leave the nosey nerd to her future husband for a while. "Hey Serena, this one kinda looks like you, don't you think?"

"I wish, 'cept her hair isn't anywhere as nice as mine, don't you think?" She was trying to act normal, but the truth was she just wanted to be alone right then … and for always. But, she knew the others would suspect, so she’d play the role of her normal flaky self until she could get away.

Serena stopped in front of another painting and stared at it strangely. It was as if she had a moment of fright. Molly came up to her and rested a hand on the blonde’s shoulder. “What's wrong? See a ghost?"

"Sort of. This looks way familiar. Seems like I've seen that guy before." Serena wasn’t the only one with that feeling.

Darien noticed the same picture that was used as an advertisement for the exhibition, it reminded him of his dream - and her cry for help. "Please, help me be free again."

Serena and Darien ended up roped by the artist of the paintings to pose for her last portrait. They went to her house and learned all about her real identity and why she didn’t use her real name of Peggy Jones, while Molly and Neflyte enjoyed the rest of the paintings - without Melvin sneaking around. ‘Wonder what he said to get rid of Melvin so fast?’ Molly mused to herself. But, it didn’t matter. Soon they were off to dinner at her mother’s.

Serena noticed one portrait that reminded her of Neflyte and Molly. She decided to bring it up the next time she saw either of them - specifically Neflyte, he’d go nuts for that one. In fact, all of the paintings had some tie to the Moon Kingdom or its people. Maybe Neflyte had been right, thinking that Peggy was one of the survivors of the destruction.

She really liked the one Peggy titled ‘Til We Meet Again’. Maybe she could finagle Neflyte to get it for her (mostly for the reaction Darien gave to it). But then she thought, why bother. After all Neflyte was a good friend, not a gift bank. Some friend she was.

Serena couldn’t believe it when Peggy told her that she was going to hang the picture Serena and Darien were sitting for in the show. Serena tried to impress Peggy of how amazing she was herself rather than as Lonni, thought Darien’s sub-zero attitude didn’t help much. Serena told Peggy to believe in herself, because that’s where it all starts. If only Serena could have as much faith in herself. But no, not after what happened in school that day. Never again. Serena determined that the next Scout meeting would be her last.

She left, feeling as lonely as she had felt in the park. Once she got to the construction site near Peggy’s apartment, Serena felt as if everything that could go wrong was wrong. Just then the Wand’s crystal alert went off. "The Negaverse is after another crystal."

Serena rushed to follow the signal’s trail, finding that it led her back to Peggy’s apartment. Zoicite retrieved the Green Rainbow Crystal from Peggy’s body, turning her into the Shadow Warrior Vena. "They've turned Peggy into a monster!" Serena saw what was happening through a window. The truth was out. Peggy had been one of the Shadow Warriors who had helped to destroy the Moon Kingdom. In this life she was keeping the memory of that fallen world alive through her paintings. "Poor Peggy. It's hopeless."

For a moment Serena felt like running away. Then she realized that she was the only one with the power to save Peggy. "What am I talking about? I'll get help. Raye. Amy. Lita. Molly. Neflyte. Can you guys hear me? I need your help right away."

With the Scouts on the way, Serena transformed into Sailor Moon. At least she could do her job until she handed it all over to the others. "The Negaverse is dusted! MOON PRISM POWER!"

She followed Zoicite and Peggy as they glided off. “Everyone, I’m following them. Uh, they’ve gone into the construction site on Kita-dori Street! I’m following them in.”

“Sailor Moon, wait for the rest of us to catch up!” Raye yelled.

“No time. I have to stall them until you guys get here or else Zoicite will get away with the crystal and Peggy!” Moon yelled back before shutting off her communicator.

Once the others did make it to the construction site, they found that Sailor Moon was finding it hard to keep from getting hurt by Vena’s attacks. Then Tuxedo Mask showed up in time to pull her out of the way of a deadly large boulder. "You came! You saved me again! They almost squished me."

"She's got that crystal! I've gotta catch her!" Tuxedo Mask took off after Zoicite.

It looked like Serena had been wrong about him having feelings for her, just like she had been wrong about a lot of things since she first met Luna. But that would have to wait for now.

She thought that maybe she could get through to Peggy like Mercury had done for Greg - by talking to her. But it didn’t work out. Luckily the others showed up in the nick of time - to save her sorry butt as always. What kind of leader was she if she needed the others, but they didn’t really need her? She had to prove to herself that she was still good enough to be Sailor Moon.

"You guys can handle this. I'll go see if I can get that crystal from Zoicite." Serena took off after Zoicite and Tuxedo Mask before anyone could say a word.

She thought about all of the good times she had with the others. They would be times she would sincerely miss. Obviously, she would have to have her mind erased somehow - or move away where her big mouth couldn’t do the others harm.

Just as Tuxedo Mask was about to get hurt by one of Zoicite’s attacks, Sailor Moon caught up with them. Well, at the least she could pay him back once for all of the times he showed up to save her sorry excuse for a Scout butt. "MOON TIARA MAGIC!"

The petals she had sent were only Zoicite’s way of getting away with the crystal safely in her hand.

Moon shook her head to keep from breaking down. She had failed them all again. ‘Grow up Serena! You have to accept that Luna was wrong and you are not meant to be Sailor Moon!’ Zoicite might have gotten away with the crystal, but Serena felt she had at least paid her dream guy back once before she would stop needing him.

"That you, Sailor Moon?" Tuxedo Mask called out.

No matter what, she had to be sure he was okay. If that slimy witch had hurt him, it was all her fault for not getting to him sooner. "Are you all right?"

"Yes I am, thanks to you." Tuxedo Mask seemed happy to see her.

She fought back the urge to rush into his arms. She knew that she wasn’t the kind of person he would want to be with. "I'm so glad."

As she stood there, the Star Locket she found after the battle in the cemetery a few days before accidentally dropped to the ground and began to play its little tune. What shocked her was that he tried to pick it up at the same time as she did.

Did it mean he wanted it back? She had hoped to have at least one thing to remind herself of these past few months. "Oh. Do you want this back? You dropped it in a fight. It must mean a lot to you." His eyes were glued on the locket. "Yes, it does."

"Oh, where did you get it from, Tuxedo Mask? Is it from the Moon Princess? Do you know her?" Maybe she could honorably turn over the leadership of the Scouts to the Princess, instead of quitting without ever meeting her.

Tuxedo Mask shook his head. "Uh, uh. Least I don't think so. Why don't you go ahead and keep it? I'd probably just lose it anyway."

"Are you sure? It's lovely." She thought about how music was the only peace she got sometimes. “And it would be a waste since I won’t be Sailor Moon much longer.”

“What do you mean you won’t be Sailor Moon much longer?” His voice sounded distant, but felt like he really was upset that he wouldn’t have to be watching over her all of the time.

Serena brushed it off as her own mind wanting to hear it. “I’m quitting. I mean if I can’t stay in my new class with my friends at school because I messed up and lost one school assignment, then almost lost the Wand to the river, I mean what kind of leader am I?"

She was a fool for blabbing on like this. Then he rested his hand on her shoulder, which made her suddenly feel safe and sure of herself again. It was as if he never lost faith in her once. “I know the problems you’re having with school will clear themselves up. All you need is to get your friends to back you up. We all lose things, even I did.” He pointed to the locket. “That doesn’t measure your qualifications for being a leader. You are the only Sailor Moon there should be and the only leader of the Scouts there should be. Please, don’t quit. I’m asking you.”

Somehow those few words made the world right itself for her. She looked up at him and smiled. “For you, I won’t. Thanks, Tuxedo Mask. You don’t know how much your words have helped me this time. Speaking of friends, I’d better get back to the fight and help them restore poor Peggy!”

She booked it back to the battle with a smiling Tux watching her run off. ‘Why is it that when I’m with her, I feel the way that woman makes me feel?’

Shortly Sailor Moon was back in the fight. Neflyte noticed that whatever weight had been on her mind was gone. “Are you all right, Sailor Moon?”

“Better now. Is everything okay with you guys? Jupiter?” Serena felt like she was right where she belonged at last.

Jupiter called out that they were fine. Luna saw their leader had finally returned. “Hurry up Sailor Moon!”

“ ‘Kay, I got it.” She pulled out her Crescent Moon Wand. "MOON HEALING ACTIVATION!"

Soon Vena was Peggy Jones once again. The Scouts left once Peggy returned to herself. But before turning in for the night, Serena told Neflyte about the painting she had seen. Yes, she was her happy self once again - to everyone’s relief.

“So are you okay now Serena?” Molly nudged her friend with a worried look on her face.

Remembering Tuxedo’s words, Serena explained to the others that she had somehow misplaced one of the assignments and for that she was being reassigned to Ms. Haruna’s class the next day. Everyone tuned when Neflyte growled.

“So that’s why Melvin was so positive there would be an opening in the select class for him tomorrow. He must have stolen your assignment so that he could get in. I made sure that the class would only be all of you and a few youmas in case we’re called to a battle during school hours. I should have known he’d pull this. I’m sorry, Serena, and I promise that it will be straightened out by morning.”

Serena felt a tear falling down her cheek as she smiled. “And here I thought that I had flaked and shouldn’t be leader anymore. I was going to quit at the next meeting, but then Tuxedo Mask asked me not to.”

“Don’t ya dare quit on us now, Meatball Head! I mean, who saved my butt when that enemy would have killed me back when I first became Mars? Who is always there for us when we need support in and outside of Scout business?” Raye snapped.

Molly on the other hand was soft in her response. “Who was there when I called in the middle of the night, worried about Neflyte? And who put my safety above our friendship?”

“Who saved a stray cat from some ruffian boys? Who always finds a way to make an old cat feel like she’s still needed?” Luna rubbed her body against Serena’s legs as she purred.

Neflyte took Serena’s hand in his with a serious look in his eyes. “And who was the first to volunteer her energy to help Molly save my life? Who is it that seems to always find a way to make others happy? What kind of group would we be without you?”

Amy smiled, “We wouldn’t be a group. I’d still be lonely in the library all of the time instead of using my mind for a greater purpose and hanging out with the friends meeting Serena has brought me.”

“And I'd still be on my own, avoided at school because of my reputation.” Lita winked as Serena giggled softly. “Did I hear a giggle?”

Serena simply nodded her head in response. The night had certainly taken a turn for the better.