Moonlight Dreams
Part 3
By Veronica

Serena and the scouts made their way to the entrance. There was a huge door that was green just like the rest of the castle. There was no way to open it.

"Now, what do we do?" Rei asked.

"Jupiter Thunder Crash!" Lita cried out. The door crashed inward. The other scouts looked sheepishly at Lita. They started to walk into the tower. It was dark in the hallway. A youma suddenly appeared out of nowhere and attacked them. Rei finished off the youma with her Celestial Fire Attack. The group entered a huge room with two staircases leading up into the tower. A grand chandelier lit the stairs.

"Okay, Serena and Lita, you take those stairs. Rei, Ami and I will take these." Mina said pointing to the staircases. The girls split up. Serena ran behind Lita up the emerald colored stairs.

"Lita," Serena called out. "How will we contact them if we find Darien or his kidnapper?" Serena was anxious for Lita’s reply. Lita just shrugged her shoulders.

They reached the top of the winding staircase. There was a long hallway with a door at the end. Lita turned around to Serena.

"Guess there’s no turning back, huh." Lita said with a nervous smile.

"Yeah," Serena saw a shadow out of the corner of her eye.

"Did you see that?" Serena asked.

"See what?" Lita glanced around suspiciously.

Suddenly, a youma jumped the girls from behind. Its face glared at them as it swung its claws at them viciously. The girls struck their fighting poses.

"Jupiter Thunder Crash!" Lita exclaimed with determination running through her.

The youma was smiling at them. Lita turned to see it standing perfectly still without a scratch. Serena was flabbergasted.

"How come the youma is smiling at us?" Serena asked while still staring at Lita.

"Probably because I’m not a youma." The thing replied, smiling at the fact that it knew a secret.

"Lita," Serena said trying to sound bold.

"Then what are you, another piece of Negaverse trash to take out?" Lita yelled.

"For your information, I’m Geo, champion of Nexus. Now I’m gonna take you out!" The figure charged at Lita. Lita did a flip over the figure as it charged at her.

"What do you want?" Serena demanded.

"I want Princess Serenity. It is my job to bring her to Nexus." Suddenly, the figure jumped into the air. A bright light filled the hall. The figure fell to the ground and stood up. In its place was a girl that looked like Serena’s old lady-in-waiting from the Moon Kingdom. She was wearing a dress of gold material down to her knees and purple high heels. The hair from her cold face was black and braided. Serena gasped. Lita just stared.

"Alisa? Is that really you?" Serena whispered, still gaping at the girl.

"Of course it’s me. I didn’t die. Although I sometimes wish I had. But not now." Geo threw spears of fire at the two scouts.

Serena ducked and Lita dodged them by flying right into the wall. "How are you alive?" Serena yelled over the explosion behind her. Alisa had been her best friend. What had happened to her all these years? Serena wondered.

"I escaped with Nexus in a vortex formed by the Silver Crystal. I spent centuries in the abyss you see here. I lived on knowing Nexus cared enough to stay and appreciate me while you stayed and were reborn here." Geo said with a hatred that was unbeknown to Serena.

"I never abandoned you. Don’t you remember? I asked you to flee for your life when Queen Beryl attacked. I wanted to save your life." Serena argued tearfully. Alisa had been the only friend she had that she could trust. Now Alisa was attacking her.

"You lie! The Wiseman knew that you would. You only want to save yourself." Geo shrieked at Serena. Geo started to glow with a dark light.

"The Wiseman lied to you! He uses good, caring people like you." Serena was desperate to get her long lost friend back. Serena started to take out the Silver Crystal to heal her friend of all the damage the Wiseman had done to her.

"Liar!" Geo shook with rage. She held out her hand and gold lightning hit Serena and Lita. The two girls screamed with pain and fell to the floor. The wall behind them fell on them both, burying them. Geo nodded her head with satisfaction. All of the sudden, Geo held her poise and had a flashback of Serena and her.

Serena was at her dressing table with a fancy dress on that was too big for her tiny body. Alisa had on her white boa, pink dress and huge high heels on. They both giggled as they looked in the mirror.

"Here," Serena said in a snobby voice, "You get the tea and I’ll get the caviar." She grabbed a couple of biscuits and presented them to Alisa with a bow. Alisa bowed as well and handed her some milk. They fell on the floor in a colossal laughing fit.

"Alisa, you’ll always be my best friend." Serena said after she finished laughing.

"Of course, and you will be my best friend, too." Alisa answered. They held each other’s hand and clasped into giggles once more.

Geo shook her head, violently. "It’s a stupid mind trick!" She told herself out loud and disappeared into a puff of gold smoke.

Ami led the way up the stairs with her pocket computer in hand. Rei followed close behind sensing an evil aura in the tower itself. Mina just stared straight ahead, making sure that the path was clear. Ami sighed.

"Everything in this place is beyond the knowledge of my computer. I can’t even make out what the walls are made of." Ami complained.

"That’s okay, Ami. We’ll just have to rely on our gut instincts." Mina said to Ami cheerfully, hiding the fact that they didn’t know what to expect from this thing they were looking for. It was way too quiet in the tower.

The stairs gave way to a huge room. The room was beautiful. There were ceiling to floor windows for walls. The windows showed two suns setting and one rising while the moons just glided across the blood red sky. The view was absolutely breathtaking. The floors were polished white marble that sparkled like the hundreds of stars in the sky. There was a door on the other side of the room. It was gold but had a brass lock on it. The scouts went over to it to investigate. Suddenly the door opened all the way, hitting Sailor Mars and Mercury to the floor. Mina was still standing as she saw a youma come running out of the darkness. Venus was pushed aside by its sudden charge. Rei and Ami were quickly on their feet as they heard Sailor Venus cry out.

"I’m Sailor Mars."

"I’m Sailor Mercury."

"And I’m Sailor Venus."

"And on behalf of the three of us, we’ll punish you." They all said in unison, imitating Sailor Moon’s moves.

"Yes, well, I’m Sailor Who Cares! And I’m gonna kick your butts back to your home planets!" The youma charged once again. It had the head of a girl with brown hair, but its body was more of a bull. She charged and hit Sailor Mars before she could dodge.

"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!" Venus cried out as she hit the bull full force.

Mars got up and gasped. The youma was running away. It had already run away to the staircase before Venus hit it.

"What was that all about?" Mars demanded.

"The youma seemed to be running from something…or someone." Venus said suspiciously.

The door was wide open. Inside was a banquet table set up for three. The scouts looked in curiously.

"Let’s investigate." Mina said walking towards the table rather quickly with Mars following her. Ami hesitated and took out her computer.

"Wait!" She cried out but it was too late. The door slammed behind them as their horrified faces turned to leave and their screams echoed off the walls.

Darien woke up from his deep sleep in his corner. It was at this time he realized that he wasn’t tied up or chained to anything. Well of course not, he said to himself, where are you going to go if you can’t stand up. Nexus had fallen asleep by the window earlier. She looked so peaceful when she slept, he thought.

He struggled to lift himself off the ground. He groaned in pain as he could feel his muscles straining against each other. Darien grabbed the cool wall and helped himself get up off the ground. He tried to stand up completely but doubled over. The door seemed so far away. His cape dragged to the floor. The pain was too much for him to bear but he could not give up. He clenched his teeth and leaned up against the wall. He took one step at a time getting slowly but surely closer to the forbidden door. A sudden bloodcurdling scream in his mind sent him to the floor. Serena! Darien thought.

Jupiter opened her eyes to see red. Her arms ached and she could feel that there was something not right. She struggled to inhale and felt like there was a hundred pounds on top of her. Oh my God! She thought to herself, there is.

Lita lifted a huge rock from the toppled wall off her. She winced from the pain. She tried to pull herself up and remember what had happened. Where’s Serena? Lita remembered. Lita saw a slender hand hanging out of a piece of rock. The rock was pushed off and Serena was underneath. Lita pulled with all her might and got Serena out. Serena’s face was covered with dirt from the ruble.

"Serena? Serena, answer me!" Lita cried out.

"Huh? Where am I?" Serena asked, still dazed from the accident.

"Serena, we’re in the tower. Remember Alisa attacked us." Lita explained.

"Where is she now?" Serena asked now remembering.

"She must have left. Who was she, anyway?" Lita pondered.

"Alisa was my lady-in-waiting and my best friend in the Moon Kingdom." Serena replied thoughtfully.

"I wonder what happened to the other scouts as well." Lita said curiously. Lita helped Sailor Moon up and they started walking again to the door. Lita slowly turned the handle of the door and opened it quickly. Inside was a room that led to more stairs. Lita groaned. "Isn’t there an elevator or something?"

The two scouts ran up the stairs and came to the top rather quickly. They suddenly heard voices in front of them and bent low on the stairs.

"How come you’ve only trapped two of the three scouts from the other group? It was your job to capture all three. What about the other two?" A woman’s demanding voice sounded in the echoing hall. Serena peered over the top stair and saw a girl who had blonde hair and a green dress on yelling at Geo.

"The other two were hit by my lightning and trapped around a pile of rocks. They are out of the way for now," said Geo.

"Well good. It’s bad enough that Darien tried to escape this morning. He actually thought that he could get away in the shape he is in. Anyway, the Wiseman sent word that Serena is to be taken prisoner and her Crystal is to be given to him. He will deal with the Princess as well." Nexus grinned at Geo.

"Now, you go get the two scouts and bring Serena to my room." Nexus said over her shoulder as she started to walk away.

"How does that lady know my name?" Serena asked Lita.

"I don’t know but what happened to the other scouts? I wonder who escaped?" Lita questioned as Geo disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"We have to find Darien now. Who knows what might happen to him." Serena cried out in a whisper.

Darien was slouched against a pillow and his arms were bound together. When he fell to the floor he slammed his shoulder badly. Nexus found him on the floor and put him on her bed. He was really weak at this point. He had trouble breathing again but it was his own fault for trying to get past Nexus. Just then she glided into the room with her green dress and gold sash. She grinned at him kindly.

"Your rescue team has failed. We’ve captured two of the scouts and Serena and another scout are in a pile of ruble right now." Nexus gloated.

"Why are you doing this? Don’t you remember anything that really happened?" Darien was desperate to get her to remember. It was his only chance to save Sailor Moon.

"You and your friends can’t use those dumb and amateur tricks on me." Geo suddenly appeared in the corner of the room. Darien thought she looked familiar but the face was too vague.

"What are you doing back so soon? Did you get the other three scouts?" Nexus asked harshly.

"They’re gone." Geo admitted. She looked at the floor realizing how upset Nexus was going to be.

"What?! Find them and bring them here. NOW!" Nexus bellowed at Geo. Darien finally recognized Geo. That’s Serena’s friend from the Moon Kingdom, he realized. He tried to get out a rose from his pocket to pick the lock but couldn’t manage the energy. He slumped back into the pillows and fell into a troubled sleep.

Serena and Lita were heading towards the long corridor. There were two large doors.

"I don’t think we should split up, Jupiter." Serena said to her friend, remembering about the other scouts.

"We have to. It is the fastest way to find the other scouts and Darien." Lita whispered back.

"Okay," Serena said with a wavering voice. The two looked at each other and quickly shook each other’s hand. Then, they ran off in opposite directions.

Lita reached for her door and heard a loud creak as it opened. Fearlessly, she peered in and gasped. Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus were pinned up against the wall in chains. They were unconscious at the moment. Sailor Jupiter quickly ducked into the shadows as movement caught her eye. A youma was standing guard. The musty room smelled like burning oil and the ceilings reached high into the rafters. This was the first room, Lita had seen that wasn’t made of the green glass windows. They were stone walls and stone floors.

"Jupiter Thunder Dragon!" Jupiter said with anger in her voice. He youma left a pile of dust where it had stood. The scouts regained consciousness at the sound of Lita’s voice.

"Wait!" They cried but it was too late. The door slammed behind them locking them in with total darkness.

Ami was sitting at the door with her computer trying to open it. She suddenly gave up and started walking up the stairs on the other side of the room. I wonder how Serena and Lita are doing, she thought to herself. The stairs were so tall and she grew dizzy just looking at them. A figure appeared at the top of the stairs. It was the youma that had attacked the scouts earlier, except that it was now wearing a gold dress and didn’t resemble a bull. The figure smiled sweetly at her as Ami’s eyes grew heavy and the figure was fading from view. The youma jumped down and attacked Ami knocking her down the stairs. Ami cried out in pain and kicked the youma in the face with a sharp jab. Ami stood up and was wide-awake.

"Mercury Bubbles Blast!" Ami desperately cried out and searched for the youma. Ami groaned as a blow to the head sent her sprawling on the ground.

Ami fell into a deep coma. The youma, smiled and said, "Four down, one to go."

Serena opened the door carefully. She suddenly felt very alone. A chill sent a sudden shiver up her spine. The room was the largest room yet. The room had no furniture in it. The south and north sides of the room were glass windows. The windows allowed the eerie glow of red into the room.

There was no lighting but the strange glow was enough to see with. Serena stepped out of the shadows. Over in the corner was Geo, staring directly at Serena.

"It’s about time, Princess." Geo snickered. "Your friends are already comfortable with their permanent surroundings. You’re the last one."

"Where are my friends?" Serena demanded.

"In a place that you are not." Geo laughed at Sailor Moon’s pathetic expression. "You were left all alone. No one is here to help you. Just like you left me." Geo’s face contorted into anger as she remembered what the Wiseman had told her. The Wiseman cared for her, as Serena had not. Serena left her to die.

"I never left you, Alisa. I wanted you to live. I set you free. Now we can pick up where we left off." Serena explained gently.

"No, I’m not your friend." Geo burst out and charged at Serena. Serena just barely dodged the attack. Geo turned and held out her hand. A fierce streak of lightning raced towards Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon jumped over the attack. She fell flat on her back on the stone floor. Geo stood over her with a huge grin on her face. Geo was about to blast her unconscious when

Sailor Moon kicked her foot at Geo and pulled herself up. Sailor Moon turns towards Geo. Geo was on the floor shaking. Sailor Moon went over to her and held out her hand. Geo just looked at it.

"Go ahead. Take it." Serena said in a soothing voice. Geo’s eyes opened in pure surprise as Sailor Moon offered her a hand.

"After all I’ve done to you, you still want to help me? Why?" Geo exclaimed as she took Serena’s graceful hand. Geo was extremely puzzled by this gesture.

"You’ve always been my friend, Alisa. That will never change. I never wanted to fight you in the first place. You must understand now that I was once your friend you cared for you. The Wiseman just used you to get to me." Serena explained with gentleness.

"I’m so sorry, Serena. I never meant to hurt you. I missed you." Geo sobbed as the tears of joy welled in her golden eyes. Those eyes that Serena had once knew. "Can you help me? I have so much anger in me. I want to feel love again." Geo cried to her beloved friend.

"Of course I’ll help you. You’re my friend." Serena took a couple steps back and took out the Silver Crystal. She held it in her pale hands. "Moon Crystal Power!" Serena cried out. Geo stood in a pool of white light as all her true memories came racing back to her. Alisa forgot the meaning of her alias. Alisa was standing in the room with a smile on her face. Sailor Moon was a little weak from using the crystal but ran to her friend anyway. They grasped each other in a friendly embrace.

"It’s been so long." Alisa said in a teary voice.

"Too long." Serena replied with tears in her eyes.

Nexus was pacing the room. Darien just watched with desperation. He felt worse than he did before. He knew it had to do with the dagger. The closer he was to it, the worse he felt. It was three feet away. Nexus stopped pacing and mumbled something about Geo.

"Where is she? She should already have Serena by now." Nexus walked over to Darien. Her eyes were cold. "Don’t even dream that you can help your princess. You will forget about her in time." Nexus gazed right into his dark eyes. His hand chains unlocked as she waved her finger in the air.

"Why do you want her dead? She is kind." Darien whispered.

"She stole you away from me! Isn’t that enough?" Nexus screamed. Her rage was reaching its limit. Darien realized that Nexus was on edge because she feared Sailor Moon. Even though she had the power Sailor Moon always seemed to win and that frightened Nexus.

"She won’t hurt you if you don’t fight." Darien said softly.

"Won’t hurt me? Won’t hurt me! She already has!" Nexus held out her white arm and sent Darien flying into the corner. With that, she stormed out of the room, looking for a fight.

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