Chapter 4 -- Grandpa's Kidnapped
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Down deep in the Negaverse, Queen Beryl sat on her throne. She seemed quite satisfied with sitting at her throne once again, ruling the Negaverse once more. It had taken year for her to rebuild the Negaverse. Now with the Negaverse complete back to its original glory, she now had new minions to do her bidding. Nearly all of Sailor Moon's enemies were once again alive and they now, stood before their new ruler. They were once called the Negamoon, Heart Snatchers and Sailor Animates. Now combined, they were called the Minions of the Negaverse.
Tellulu, a Heart Snatcher and one of the Witches 5, was getting very tired of watching Queen Beryl. She wanted to do something, not stand around and do nothing. Rubeus, a minion from the Negamoon, had noticed her edginess and tried to stop her from bursting out but it was too late.
"Why in hell are we standing here looking stupid!?" Tellulu burst out. Immediately, Queen Beryl became furious. She shot an energy beam aimed at Tellulu, knocking her unconscious. That got everyone's attention.
Prince Diamond, another minion to the Negamoon, walked over to Tellulu to check for a pulse. "She's still alive."
"Anyone who crosses me like that again will receive a worse punishment!" Beryl bellowed. "Ninjanna, report."
Yes, your majesty." Ninjanna, a youma once served under Beryl, appeared through the floor. She looked the same as she did when she was under the service of Malachite when he was a general for the Negaverse. "I've found Neflite. Take a look." Ninjanna threw a card to Queen Beryl.
As she looked at the card, it turned into a picture. It showed Neflite and Molly at his mansion. "Are you saying he is now with this human?"
"The human is pregnant. Neflite will be the father but he really isn't."
"Good work."
"Thank you, your majesty."
"Prince Diamond, I want to thank you personally for a job well done," Beryl said. "With the girl being pregnant, that will make her mother come to us and her mother will now be vulnerable as she wasn’t expecting that."
"Thank you," Prince Diamond said. "What about the princess?"
"Just keep up with the threats. Rubeus, I want you personally to take care of Sailor Venus."
"One problem, though, the more she breaks down, the more she will remember what happened."
"That's the plan. I want her to learn of what you did to her. You have told me they use a power called `Sailor Planet Power'. Without her powers, the power is useless and she won't even have the courage to transform." Queen Beryl laughed.
"Your generals are on the good side," Sailor Tin Cat mentioned.
Beryl’s laugh was quickly cut short. "If you want to stay alive, DON'T TELL ME WHAT I KNOW! I know the generals are with the scouts. NOW GET OUT OF SIGHT!" Beryl roared. She watched as her new recruits left the room. She was not surprised when Prince Diamond took Tellulu with him when he teleported.
Now alone, she wondered aloud, "What a pathetic bunch. At least they're better than the generals. Soon Rubeus will have Sailor Venus, Diamond with have the princess and I'll have Darien and the universe."
Beryl realized that she was resting her chin on her hand. She straightened her posture, got up from her throne and left for her chambers.
* * * * * * * *
Neflite was looking in every room to find Molly. At last he found her asleep in the largest room at the end of the hall on the second floor. The mansion had three floors but it didn't look that way from the outside. It looked much smaller. He walked over to the large canopy bed, the only piece of furniture in the room, and sat down. He looked down at her face as she lay there with her legs pulled up. Her face was that of a child now at peace. One hand was curled at her face, the other resting flat on the pillow.
Neflite let out a soft chuckle. "Molly," he spoke softly. He gently caressed her cheek. "Molly, wake up."
She stirred, slowly opening her eyes, to Neflite sitting beside her. Smiling up at him, she softy replied, "I'm sorry. I must have dozed off."
"That's ok. I do know pregnant women need plenty of rest."
"I guess you're right."
"I suppose this is our room. It is, after all, the biggest room. Did you choose a nursery?"
"Yes, next door to here." She pointed to her left.
"I don't know how to make a nursery. But I know you do."
"Yes, I do. I remember when Serena's parents did Sammy's room. That's her brother. Now mind you I was only a small child and kept getting in the way when Serena and I would play but I do remember what it looked like it when it was finished." Molly turned her body, resting her head on Neflite's legs. He was a little surprised at her action, but instantly rested his hand on her head.
"I love you and want to...you know," Molly said. "But I'm scared. I have no idea what it's like to have pleasure."
"Molly, we have the rest of our lives. Wait until you're ready. I've seen this happen. It takes some a while longer than others to get past it. You, on the other hand, have your friends and me. You'll have nightmares but we are here for you. You're not alone; face this with your friends. Other people keep it hidden and it will haunt them for the rest of their lives."
"But I had a dream, that I would be married before I was pregnant." Molly had tears streaming down her face.
"Who says that you won't be married?" Neflite brushed the tears away.
"I don't understand."
"I mean, if you want to be married before you're showing we can be."
"I'd like that. It would be good to be your wife before I'm fat." A smile was faintly showing.
"You won't be fat. You will be just as beautiful and sexy as you are now."
"Don't tease me," she blushed.
"I'm not. What kind of wedding do you want?"
"The most expensive wedding this world has yet to see. Since I know you can do it."
"What if you married someone else? What then?"
"I would want the wedding to be as expensive as it could get. Besides I'm only going to marry once and that is to you."
"So you would like the big gown, lots of guests, huge cake."
"Instead of a limo, I want a horse and carriage. It would be so romantic."
"I love you. I always have. I just never realized it until it was too late."
Molly reached up to kiss him but he beat her to it. As they kissed passionately, Neflite reached to place his hand on the back of her head to lay her back down. He settled so his weight was partially on her.
He was the first to pull away. "You have less than an hour and a half before your appointment. Why don't you tell me details of our wedding, and have lunch."
"Ok." Reaching up behind his head, she pulled his head down to her for another long kiss. They kissed for a few more minutes then went downstairs for lunch. Neflite cooked her chicken fingers with a little bit of fries and a caesar salad. He didn't want to give her a lot of fries since fries are greasy. As they ate she told him how she wanted the wedding to be. She wanted to have her friends as bridesmaids. She first thought of the scouts, but weren’t sure if they would accept since she became distant with them. Before they were finished eating, they decided to have the wedding out in the back yard. Instead of a limousine, a horse and carriage would take Molly and Neflite for a ride around Neflite's property.
* * * * * * * *
Jedite was walking around the living room at the temple. Chad sat on the sofa observing him very closely. At the moment Raye was helping Grandpa's doctor. Jedite could tell Chad disliked him, so he kept pacing just to annoy him.
"Stop pacing! You're giving me a headache!" Chad bellowed.
"Look," Jedite stopped to look at Chad. "I'm not asking you to like me, but I am here to protect Raye. I'm sure you don't like me and I don't think I like you. Serena is the leader of the Sailor Scouts, and Darien is our leader. Malachite was our second-in-command to Beryl and would hand down her orders to us to go do things on Earth. I'm just carrying out my orders.
"For the past 1000 years we've been able to create portals to Earth. Because Malachite was Beryl's second-in-command the assignments were handed down to Malachite and we were the ones who did the assignments. And because we have been carrying out missions on Earth for so long, we are in the best position to try to figure out what the Negaverse wants and stop them.
"Queen Beryl is up to something, but I don't know what. She wants Serena and Mina, but why? It's a known fact she wants Darien and the universe. The only people standing in her way are us."
"Could you at least pace in another room? Raye will be in soon."
"Do I sense jealousy over Raye? Afraid I will sweep her off her feet?"
"That does it!" Chad yelled. He got up and grabbed Jedite by his uniform jacket, slamming him against the wall.
"That's enough!" Raye yelled. Both men turned to her. Her arms were crossed, feet tapping. The look she gave them was `I'm going to blow.' "Chad, release him at once!" she demanded.
Chad released Jedite and backed away from him. Raye came up and stood between the two.
"Jedite, while I was tending with Grandpa, I had a vision…a dream it was my past. You were in it and we were married," she stated, her tone changing. She took Jedite's hands into her own.
"Ok, I'm lost," Chad said. "I know a little about your past but you never told me that."
"As I just said, I vision it when I was in Grandpa’s room. I overheard Jedite talking about you being jealous of me. Back in the days of the Moon when I met Jedite, he swept me off my feet right in front of another young man. It was Princess Serena who got Jedite to dance with me. That was my first ball ..."
Lady Raye of Mars who was also known as Princess of Mars and a guardian to the Moon Princess, sat at a table by herself. Lady Lita of Jupiter, another princess and guardian to the Moon Princess, was flirting with a few young men. Lady Amy of Mercury was dancing with Lord Zoisite, third general to Prince Darien and a Prince himself. The rest of her guardians were keeping an eye on Princess Serena, the young ruler of the Moon, from not too far away.From where Raye was sitting; she eyed Prince Darien's fourth general, Lord Jedite, who was also a Prince. He had just arrived on the Moon that morning. She saw her princess walk up to Jedite to have a conversation with him. She kept watching young general. Every so often, there would be eye contact but Raye would avert her eyes to her hands. As soon as they were done talking, Jedite stood to leave and the Princess moved with Prince Darien to the dance floor. Raye noted that Jedite was heading in her direction. Once there he kneeled on one knee. With one of his gloved hands, he lifted her left hand to his lips and kissed it.
"Lady Raye of Mars, may I have this dance?" he politely asked. She was speechless for she thought she'd ever dance with any one, let alone one of the Prince's generals. Before she had a chance to say a word, he stood up, taking her with him and escorted her to the dance floor. This was her first time dancing. Before the ball she and the other guardians had taken dancing lessons. Queen Serenity had insisted that the young rulers be at this ball. This was also Princess Serena's first ball. The princesses were now of age to attend balls.
At the other end of the ballroom, a young man watched as the Princess of Mars danced with Jedite. The man was tall with shoulder length shaggy hair. He played a musical instrument but wasn't very good. He was just a general, not of high power or royalty. All of Prince Darien's main guardians were both Lords and Princes. He watched Jedite twirl Raye around. It was the only thing he could do. Jedite was, after all, one of his superiors.
"You are as beautiful now as were then." Jedite's voice was soft with longing.
The two of them stared at each other until Chad intervened.
"Grandpa told me to keep you two apart," Chad interrupted. He tried to get in between them but Raye wouldn't let him.
"Why would he do that?" Jedite questioned.
"My mother, Grandpa's daughter, became pregnant with me when she was eighteen. My parents married when mother was eight months pregnant. Grandpa did not give his blessings. He doesn't want that to happen to me," the scout of fire explained. "He doesn't realize I'm Sailor Mars. Yes, I love him, but he won't let me see anyone besides Chad. The only men I really know are the ones from the Negaverse, Darien, Chad, Andrew, Greg and Ken. That's also why he had me go to an all-girls' school and train to become a Priestess."
"What happened to your parents?" asked Jedite.
"They died when I was young. I don't know how. Everything I know I was taught either in school or by my friends." Jedite and Chad stood silently, listening to Raye.
"Am I pushing you? I mean by trying to change your life." Jedite decided to change the subject.
"No. And neither are you, Chad, but Grandpa is." After a moment of silence Raye added, "Jedite may I have a word with you *alone*."
Grabbing Jedite's arm, she led him outside, leaving Chad in the room. When he was alone, he pondered whether he should follow. Within minutes he decided what to do and headed out of the room.
* * * * * * * *
Raye led Jedite outside to the spot where Tellulu had held Mina captive. When they reached the spot, Raye turned to Jedite. She placed her arms around his waist. He tensed up, not knowing how to handle the situation.
"Raye, I don't think you came out here to do this," Jedite stuttered and gulped. He tried to pull away with no success. She tightened her grip.
"Grandpa will be taking a walk soon. I don't want him to see what I'm about to do." She stood up on her toes to be the same height as him and planted her lips upon his for a quick kiss. He wasn't surprised when Raye's lips touched his. His arms moved automatically around her. He had forgotten how her lips felt. He was in heaven kissing the girl of his dreams. Her kiss was driving away the all the worries of Queen Beryl at that moment.
Raye was also in heaven kissing Jedite. She could tell he needed the kiss. His lips were sweet and felt like velvet. She wanted the kiss to go on forever.
"Thank you, Raye," Jedite said when Raye released him.
"For what, may I ask?"
"For the kiss. I've never felt so relaxed since our last kiss."
"I haven't either. That has to stay quiet for now. At least when..."
"Raye!"
Raye and Jedite jumped. "Chad!"
"Wait until Grandpa hears this. His only granddaughter being kissed by her protector," Chad said furiously.
"Wrong. Protector being kissed by Raye." Raye was now steamed. Chad had followed them when she wanted to be alone with Jedite. "What do you think I am, fourteen? I am eighteen and in my first life I was married to Jedite by the time I was fifteen. All of Princess's Serenity's guardians were to be married before her. Mina and myself were already married. Plus Mina was pregnant when the Moon Kingdom was destroyed."
"She was." Jedite was in complete shock.
"Yes. I'm the only one who knew. Mina doesn't remember that but she should soon, if not already."
"Miss Hino!" A woman came up behind out of breath.
"What?" Raye snapped. Her mood and tone changed when she saw it was Grandpa's doctor. "What is it? What's wrong?" She was now frightened.
"Someone weird...came and took your grandfather!" The woman doctor was very upset with fright.
"Grandpa!" Raye screamed and ran towards the temple.
"Tell me what happened!" Jedite ordered.
"A light...appeared. A woman and a man...emerged from the light...grabbed Grandpa with some sort of a blue glowing rope...then went back into the light and disappeared," the doctor explained panting.
"Who?" Chad asked, wanting to help.
"I don't know, just the woman wore a black dress to the thigh with huge emeralds and the man wore a red shirt and green pants. He had a jacket slung over his shoulder."
"Damn." Jedite growled. He turned to run after Raye, but she was already running up the temple steps. He didn't have to catch up to her. He teleported himself right in front of the door. "Raye! Stop!" Jedite grasped her arm, pulling her to him.
"Let Go!" she screamed, struggling. His strength was too much for her. There was no way he was letting go.
"No. You go in there, you risk yourself. It could be a trap. The only thing we can do is get help." The struggling stopped. "It's alright." He hugged her.
"I want him back. Those creeps are going to pay," she growled through clenched teeth. Tears streamed down her lovely face.
"I have a description. It was a woman in a black dress with emeralds and a man wearing red shirt, green pants."
"Emerald and Rubeus!" Raye screeched.
"Who are they?"
"They're from the Negamoon," she cried.
"Neflite is probably at his mansion. Let's go there," he whispered. His gloved hands were warm on her back.
"Ok..." Raye couldn't speak anymore. She gripped Jedite's uniform jacket, knuckles going white.
"Shhh." Jedite rocked her back and fourth. His fingers were curled around her thick, raven, silky hair.
"What's going on?" Chad ran up with the doctor not far behind.
"Ever hear of Maxfield Stanton?"
"Well duh. Who hasn't?" Chad mocked.
"I've had enough of your sh--" Jedite started. Raye grasped his arm, silently asking him not to fight. "The reason I was asking is because we are going to see him."
"We can't. Maxfield vanished without a trace four years ago."
"No, he died." Raye responded quietly. "But Jedite and the others are alive, he is too. He was a warrior for the Negaverse and was the first to have a change of heart."
"I don't understand."
"Maxfield is Nelfite. He is probably with Molly. She saw the good in him when no one else did. Not even he himself realized it was there," Raye answered.
* * * * * * * *
"Majesty."
Queen Beryl glanced up from looking in her crystal ball, which was placed on a floating staff in front of her. "What is it, Emerald?"
"Rubeus and I have come up with a plan. Now, try not to get too mad just because someone besides you came up with a good idea," Emerald responded.
"Just say it!" Beryl didn't have patience right now.
"We have captured Sailor Mars' grandfather. Rubeus was thinking, why don't we capture someone dear to their hearts."
"Interesting. Show me the grandfather," she demanded.
"Let me go!" Grandpa squirmed, trying to get free from his restraints. Suddenly he was thrown to the floor. Before Grandpa could get away, an electric field surrounded him. He looked around to find himself in an electrified cage. Suddenly he heard a laugh and looked up to see Rubeus. Right away he knew that Rubeus was his captor.
Beryl eyed the old man for a moment. "He doesn't know who Sailor Mars is?"
"No, your majesty." Rubeus replied.
"Good. Now the grandfather can learn something from me. Leave, you know your jobs." Rubeus and Emerald floated up and vanished.
"So, Mr. Hino, better get used to being here. When your granddaughter sees you again, there won't be anything left of the grandfather she knew."
"Who are you?" Grandpa asked, frightened. He watched as Queen Beryl stood from her throne and moved towards the cage.
When he saw her stand, Grandpa became more frightened. Queen Beryl was taller than an average size man. Grandpa was an imp compared to her. Her slim dress made her look even taller.
"I am Queen Beryl, ruler of the Negaverse and soon to be the universe. I am the Sailor Scouts' sworn enemy," Beryl laughed. "By the way, your granddaughter, Raye, is a Sailor Scout. Sailor Mars."
"No!"
"Oh yes," she hissed. "Ninjanna re--"
"Sailor Mars knows her grandfather is here." Ninjanna appeared. "Jedite and the other human, who works for the old man, are on their way to Neflite's."
"Make sure Raye Hino doesn't make it there. I want her to watch her grandfather become a warrior for the Negaverse."
"Yes, my queen." Ninjanna vanished.
"Rubeus is not the ruler, nor will he ever be. He will have Venus and that's all. If Mars makes it past my defenses, you will kill her. Just as you killed your daughter and son-in-law." She laughed, making Grandpa flinch.
"What?"
"Oh come now. I know everything about you. You had a violent history. A thousand years ago you were a shadow warrior. That being still lives inside you. Four years ago the shadow warrior returned but those Sailor Scouts stopped you from destroying everything. He is your evil. You can't even admit to your own queen of your violence. You had a daughter by force. Then you killed her, or so you thought. She lives in Los Angeles now. She had a child at eighteen and you didn't want her to be with the father. No need to carry on further, you know what you did. No need for me to repeat it."
Queen Beryl was pleased with herself. She hit the right button to set off Grandpa's weakness. Grandpa sat on the floor, head hanging, admitting his evil behavior to himself. His fear was obvious. He never thought in all his life he'd meet a woman of so much power. He felt scared and alone. Now knowing whom Sailor Mars was, he was frightened for her too. She would have to face this woman. But he had a gut feeling that Raye had faced this woman before.
He didn't say anything, didn't need to. Queen Beryl knew he was facing his evil. She laughed once again at his weakness. Grandpa was going to be the perfect bait to get the Imperium Silver Crystal from the Princess.
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