Good morning, afternoon or evening, whichever the case may be, and 
welcome to another episode of Universal B.  I know some of you have 
been wondering what the B stands for, and it is now time for you 
to know.  Look below.  See the title of this chapter?  Well, there 
you have it.  That's the B.  Took long enough to get to it, right?
Congratulations Mordenkainen, for figuring it out!

Remember the disclaimers, and keep the peace. <grin>

And remember, that I really do like mail at Jendra@aol.com.

Sailor Moon Universal B

Chapter 14:  Belief


Quartz looked at the youmas surrounding her.  She had managed to keep
herself free for almost ten minutes, but knew she couldn't keep it up
for much longer.  From the gloating looks on their faces, the youmas
knew it too.

*Lot they know,* Quartz grinned to herself.  *As if I'd ever let myself
be caught as easily as that.  Serena should have had enough time to get
to Travis, and they should now be convinced of my sincerity.  Geesh,
they're hard sells, especially considering I meant every word.*  With
that thought, Quartz put up her knife and put down her hand.

"Ready to surrender I see," the head youma purred.

"Oh, I wouldn't say so," Quartz purred back.  With a quick movement, her
arms touched three points on the wall behind her.  As the youmas looked
on in shock, the floor fell from under her and she dropped down a long
chute towards the bottom levels of the fortress.

::Okay, I'm away,:: she thought to Crystal.  ::Now what's this plan you
have?::

::I want to get the Scouts to the Negaverse,:: Crystal replied.
::Especially Tuxedo Mask.::  Back on Earth, Crystal was still with the
other girls.  Although they had rather pointedly mentioned that they
wanted to be alone, she had `misunderstood' and was still around.  She
looked off to one side, where a tall figure stood with rage and worry
written all over his face and a golden falcon on his shoulder.  ::If you
open a portal to the Negaverse, they'll come, especially `him'.::

::Won't they think it's a trap?:: Quartz asked, even as she headed
towards the portal room.

::Yes, they will,:: Crystal replied.  ::But if you could see them, you'd
realize that at the moment they wouldn't care.  They want their friends
back.  Period.::

::I still don't see why you want them here,:: Quartz said.  ::Without
their powers, they're practically worthless.::

::You obviously haven't seen them fight,:: Crystal replied.  ::And in
this kind of mood, they will do whatever is necessary to get Serena,
Reenie and... and Travis back.::  Her mental voice cracked and Quartz
suddenly understood.

Crystal was scared.  She had gone along with the plan because she wanted
to save her father, but the idea that Travis might fall into the same
straits hadn't really impacted on her.  She hadn't really believed how
far Spessarite would go.  She hadn't seen for herself how he had acted,
she had only heard about it.  Now, after seeing what had happened to
Serena's and Travis' family, and seeing how that had impacted on their
friends, suddenly it was real.  It was dangerous.  And she was grasping
at straws to try to fix it.

Quartz stopped.  ::Look Crystal,:: she thought gently.  ::Bringing them
into the Negaverse when they have no powers of their own is only more
likely to get them hurt or killed, and you don't want that, do you?::

::No, of course not,:: Crystal agreed.  ::But Tuxedo Mask would be a big
help, and if he goes, the others are going to go too.::

::Any help would be good right about now,:: Quartz reluctantly agreed.
::Are you going to come through with them?::

::Mm hmm, sure am, whether they want me to or not,:: Crystal said
determinedly.  ::And if I can get the Silver Imperium Crystal to Serena,
she can heal Father!::

::I still say it's a stupid plan,:: Quartz told her even as she opened
the portal.  ::It's just going to give Spessarite another five hostages
to use against Travis and Serena.::  *Not to mention another one to use
against me and Dad,* she finished the thought to herself.  If Crystal
heard, she chose to ignore it.


On Earth, outside of the Tsukino's house, the remaining Scouts had
gathered in a group to discuss what to do.  They knew it was rude to
exclude Crystal, who was standing not far away, staring into space.
Still, what they were discussing was sensitive material.

"What are we going to do?" Mina asked, absently petting Artemis.

"I don't know if there's anything we can do," Amy said softly.  "They
needed all three stones and the Crystal Time Key to go to the Negaverse
the first time, we have none of those.  Unless we can find an open
portal, there's no way we can go after them."

"We can't just stand here and do nothing!" Lita exclaimed.

"Yeah, who knows how much trouble Meatball Head is getting into over
there," Raye said, trying to cover her emotions.

"Find a way, Amy," was all Darien said.

"I'm trying, Darien," Amy told him.

Luna and Diana were huddled up together in Darien's arms.  Diana had
seen the head youma as he was leaving and recognized him instantly.  She
was still trembling from the memories he brought back.  Luna was trying
to comfort her, while at the same time calming herself down.  Seeing
Serena taken away like that... she shuddered, remembering.  "I wish I
could claw that man's eyes out," she hissed to herself.  Diana,
listening, felt reassured.

Suddenly Amy's computer beeped.  She pulled it out and punched a few
buttons, then her eyes widened.

"What is it?" Darien asked immediately.

"A portal," Amy whispered.  "There's an open portal less than two blocks
from here."

"It's a trap," Raye said.

"So?" was Darien's reply as he took off running in the direction Amy
pointed.

"Yeah, so?" Lita said, less than a step behind him.  "It's the only
chance we have."

The other Scouts took out after them as well.

"Hey, wait for me!" Crystal called out.  She ran to catch up to them.
"If this has something to do with Travis, I want to know about it."

"It's too dangerous, Crystal," Mina said.

"But you're going!" Crystal responded.  "It can't be okay for you and
not for me.  Besides, if you don't let me come with you, I'm just going
to follow.  I want to know that Travis is all right!  And Serena and
Reenie, too, of course."

"There it is!" Lita called out.  Everyone looked forward to see a
shifting section of darkness.

"As far as my scans can determine, nothing has come out," Amy announced.

"It's definitely a trap," Raye said looking at it.

"Should we go through?" Mina asked softly.

"We've got to," Lita told her.

"We don't have a choice," Darien said.

::Start to close it, Quartz,:: Crystal asked.  ::Don't give them a
choice or time to think.::

"It's closing!" Amy exclaimed.

Lita turned to Crystal.  "I'm sorry about this," she said with an
apologetic look.  "But it's in your best interest."  With only that much
warning, she pulled back and punched her on the chin.  Crystal dropped
quickly.  "Let's go," Lita said.

Darien nodded at her, then put down the cats he was still carrying and
pulled out a rose.  Tuxedo Mask headed into the portal with the Scouts
and guardians close behind him.  Crystal was still unconscious outside.

::Crystal?  Crystal!?:: Quartz called when she lost her sister's mental
touch.  It was almost a minute later that Crystal groaned and sat up.

::I didn't expect that,:: she said in a pain filled thought, ::Lita
knocked me out so I wouldn't follow them.::

::So... they know,:: Quartz thought fatalistically.

::No, I don't think so. They just didn't want me getting hurt in the
Negaverse,:: Crystal replied.  ::I think that's why anyway.::

::I don't think I can go in and try to stay with them now,:: Crystal
said thoughtfully.  ::Let's meet in the tunnel under Father's quarters,
okay?  I think we can both get there easily, and as far as I know, no
one but us knows about it.::

::I'll be there,:: Quartz agreed.  Crystal stepped through the portal
which had just opened before her, and, for the first time in months,
stepped within the Negaverse again.


Meanwhile, in a room in the security wing of the Negaverse palace,
Serena kept backing away from the advancing youmas.  "Watch out!" Travis
shouted, "Don't let them back you into a corner!"

Serena took a deep breath and nodded.  Her mind was racing, trying to
find a way out of this predicament.  Half of her was terrified and just
wanted to run, but she fought it down.  She was not going to run and
leave the others behind.  With a cry she suddenly threw herself forward.
The youmas didn't expect this, having become used to her backing away
from them.  She managed to get in several good strikes among the group
before bursting out of the back of the pack.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself as she'd been taught.
She found herself wishing desperately that she had begun martial arts
training much earlier in life; the three months she'd been taking
classes seemed woefully inadequate.

"Believe in yourself, Serena," Travis suddenly said seriously, "You can
do it if you just believe in yourself."  He shrugged and grinned as
Serena threw a glance over at him, wondering if the drugs had started to
get to him.  "Hey, it always works when Tux says it."

Reenie giggled.  "Yeah, believe in yourself and you won't even need
Sailor Moon!"

Serena smiled as she heard her daughter giggle.  She didn't see the
sudden thoughtful expression on Travis' face as she set herself to
attack again.  She charged forward and jumped into the air in a jump
kick.  She landed and jumped again, only to have her leg grabbed by a
youma she was trying to jump over.  She fell hard and had to fight off
the pain as she rolled away from the hands grabbing for her and kicked
off the one holding onto her ankle.

She rolled desperately, trying to get free of the pack of youmas, or at
least enough room to get to her feet.  She yelped in disgust as she
rolled across the trail of slime that one youma had left behind.  *Come
on Serena, you've got to `jump'!*  Gathering her will as much as she
could, she leaped up, sailing over the tops of the youmas bearing down
on her.  "A powerjump!  Yes!" she cheered.

"I didn't know she could do that untransformed," Reenie leaned over to
whisper to Travis.

"Amazing what you can do if you have to," Travis said absently.
"Reenie," he said, his expression suddenly intense, "What do the Scouts
use to transform in the future?  Do they have new pens?"

Reenie thought for a long moment.  She wasn't sure why he wanted to
know... *Maybe he's hoping to find the newest pens!* she suddenly
thought, becoming hopeful.  Then her hopes fell.  "I don't think so,
Uncle Travis," she said in a sad tone.  "I've never seen them use pens
to transform, they just do."

Travis didn't seem to mind that answer at all.  "I don't have many
memories of the Moon Kingdom, but I don't seem to remember mother's
Scouts using pens to transform either, just hers."

"But what does that have to do with anything?" Reenie asked, confused.

"Maybe... maybe she can transform without the brooch," Travis answered
hesitantly.

"Transform without it?" Reenie asked.  "Is that possible?"

"I don't know," Travis answered, "I just don't know."

Serena was a little too busy to pay attention to the low voiced
conversation going on between the captives behind her.  Her jump had
taken her out of immediate danger, but the danger had come straight back
for her.  Once more she was in the middle of it, with kicks, punches,
blocks and occasionally throws.  She was very aware of the fact that if
Spessarite hadn't wanted her alive, she would be dead by now.  As she
jumped again, a youma with a long reach managed to snag her leg.  This
time she wasn't allowed to roll away as hand after hand grabbed her arms
and legs, holding her down.

"Serena!" Travis and Reenie yelled.  They were very surprised when their
yells were echoed from the now open door.

As they looked on in disbelief, Tuxedo Mask entered the room, followed
by the rest of the Scouts and the guardians.  The youmas were also
surprised, and not ready for the barrage of roses hitting among them.
Apollo started dive bombing the heads of the youmas holding Serena as
the cats wove through the horde to get to her.  They also attacked with
claw and fang, and the surprise of these attacks soon caused Serena to
be released.  She hugged the three cats to her in relief.  "You're
here," she murmured.

Apollo yelled, "Look out!"

Serena looked up to see more youmas bearing down on her.  She took a
deep breath and set herself, then powerjumped to the other side of the
room.  She landed next to Reenie and quickly started to untie her.

Meanwhile, Tuxedo Mask was throwing roses and using his cane to block
and jab.  Raye stood in the middle of the room with her eyes closed,
before exploding into motion, throwing out a circle of charms in all
directions.  Mina and Lita were in the middle, punching, kicking, and
doing a lot more damage than anyone expected.

"Enough of this!" Spessarite called.  "Kill them!"

"Get out of here!" Travis yelled, panicked.

"Are you kidding?  We can take these guys!" Lita called back.  She
looked around at the youmas and suddenly gulped.  "Um... or maybe not,"
she said stepping back.

The others did as well.  The youmas facing them had suddenly sprouted
knives and sharpened claws.  Several had energy gathering around their
hands or eyes.  They were also in between Serena and Reenie, and the
others.  Travis had also been separated from the others, but the youmas
were smart enough to realize that Spessarite had not meant him in his
kill orders.

"Get out of here!" Serena yelled.  "You can't fight them!"

"We're not leaving you!" Raye yelled back, dodging desperately from a
set of claws coming straight for her.  She threw a charm at the youma,
temporarily stunning it.

Apollo suddenly backwinged to a hover in front of Serena.  "There's a
hole in the roof, over in the corner.  If you can jump high enough, it's
big enough for you to get through and there doesn't seem to be any
youmas in the next room."

Serena nodded but looked at her brother instead.  ::Go,:: his thought
came slashing in.  ::I'll be fine with you to keep me awake and aware.
Besides, I think I might know a way we can win.::

"All right," she said softly.  Raising her voice, she called to the
others.  "Go on, I have a way out!"

"No!" Spessarite yelled.  "Stop her!"

Several of the youmas headed towards her, but she backed up until she
could see the hole.  It was big enough for her, even holding Reenie, but
the edges were jagged.  It was obviously a natural feature, and not a
bolt hole of some sort.

She held Reenie tight and wrapped her arms around her.  The three cats
were squished between them.  Looking back at the youma, she jumped.

And fell short.

::Come on, Serena!  You've jumped higher than this!:: Travis thought to
her.

::That was transformed,:: she thought back.  ::I don't even know how I
can do it in this form, much less with this much weight!::

::You can do it because you have to,:: Travis said seriously.  ::And
because you believe you can.  What made you falter?::

::Those edges are sharp,:: Serena thought back.  ::If I don't go through
exactly right, it'll really hurt.::

::And if you don't make it, those youmas have really sharp claws too!
And the others aren't going to leave until you do!  You can make it. I
know you can.::

Serena nodded slowly.  Taking a deep breath, and looking over at the
others for support, she set her legs and jumped.  She almost missed.

Serena almost screamed as she felt the sharp edges tear into her back.
Still, she managed to get herself and Reenie over the edge and into the
room, before she collapsed from the pain.

"Mommy!?!" Reenie asked as she got up.  She turned to look at her mother
and stared.

Serena's eyes were closed, her face clenched in pain.  As Reenie and the
cats got up and off her chest, she gratefully rolled over onto her
stomach and fainted.

Tuxedo Mask was almost out of the room when he suddenly felt Serena in
trouble.  With a quick glance backward he pushed the girls out of the
room, slammed the doors closed and broke the lock with a rose.  Then he
ran.  Jumping from youma head to youma head, he stopped for a moment to
glance at Travis, but Travis just jerked his head towards the hole
Serena had gone through, his face clenched with worry and echoed pain.
Tuxedo Mask nodded and managed to get under the hole without wasting
much time fighting or avoiding the youmas trying to catch and kill him.
With another look back at his blood brother, he jumped upward, and
through the hole, with the jagged edges catching nothing but his cape.

As he landed on the floor of the room above he saw Serena, covered in
blood, with Reenie and the cats leaning over her worriedly.

"Serena!" he cried, rushing forward.

She moaned slightly as he carefully picked her up.  Her shirt was torn
all the way down her back and several deep scratches were bleeding
furiously.

With an oath, Tuxedo Mask used his cape as a pad for her back, trying to
stop the bleeding.  "It's all right, Serena, it'll be all right..." he
crooned gently.

"Daddy?" Reenie asked worriedly.  "How... how is she?"

"She'll be okay," he says gently, pulling her into a gentle hug.  "She
just got a nasty scratch on her back and the pain knocked her out."  *I
hope,* he thought.

He picked her up gently and carried her out of the room, not wanting
there to be a chance of a youma managing to come through the hole in the
floor.  Reenie, the cats, and Apollo followed silently, Diana held
securely in her mother's mouth.  Neither Luna nor Diana were willing to
let go of each other at the moment.

"What's been happening?" Tuxedo Mask asked Reenie as he found a secluded
corner for everyone to settle down in.

"Yes," Luna said.  "Were you treated all right?  Did they hurt you, try
to brainwash you?  What?"

Reenie took a deep breath.  "They treated us okay. They knew about
Travis being Sailor Sol, but not about me and Serena.  Except for
Quartz.  She knew.  She's... Crystal's twin sister."

"What?" Apollo screeched, almost busting their eardrums.

"Crystal's from the Negaverse.  Quartz said that she changed Serena's
hair so no one would figure out it was her and they were trying to help,
but I don't think Travis believed her," Reenie said.

"Why didn't Serena transform?" Artemis asked.

"She can't," Reenie admitted.  "Her brooch is missing, it got lost
during the fight or something."

"She LOST her brooch?!" Luna asked in disbelief.

"I think so," Reenie said quietly.  "And... when I woke up here... I...
I didn't know who she was.  For just a moment, I didn't recognize her.
I didn't remember her.  Daddy, I don't want to forget my mommy or you,"
she whispered.

Tuxedo Mask swept his daughter into a hug.  "You won't, Sweetheart, you
won't."  He rested his chin on the top of her head and patted her back
soothingly as she sobbed into his tuxedo.  "We won't let you forget," he
whispered.

It was almost ten very worrisome minutes before Serena groaned and
started to wake up.

"I hurt," she whispered hoarsely.

The others quickly gathered around.  "Mommy?  Are you okay?" Reenie
asked in a small voice.

"Yes, Small Lady," Serena said gently, then groaned again as she tried
to get up.  Tuxedo Mask's cape slid off her back and it became obvious
that the cuts had already started to heal.  "Tuxedo Mask?" she asked in
wonder.  "What are you doing here?  How did you and the others get here?
And where are they?"

Tuxedo Mask swept her into a hug and held her gently for a long moment
before finally letting her go.  "I thought I'd lost you this time.  If
that portal hadn't opened when it did, we never would have gotten here."

Serena reached up and gently kissed him.  "I'm glad you're here," she
said softly.  "Where are the others?  Were you able to get Travis out?"

"I managed to get the other girls out, but you got hurt and I went after
you.  Travis is still there."

::TRAVIS!:: Serena screamed with all of her might.

Nothing.

::TRAVIS!  PRINCE TRANQUILLITY!:: she screamed again with all of her
thoughts.

::I hate that name,:: came through very quietly.

::Travis!:: Serena sent in relief.  ::Are you okay?  It's hard to hear
you. Why didn't you answer?::

::It's hard to focus,:: he sent back, his sending a little clearer.

::Then talk to me,:: Serena said.  ::You said you had a plan, right?
Tell me about it.::

::A plan?  Oh... yeah... I remember.  It was something that Reenie said,
and some things I remembered.  I think, maybe, you can transform without
the Crystal.::

"::Transform without the Crystal!?::" Serena says out loud in her shock.

"Can you do that?" Diana asked in surprise.

"No, of course not," Serena answered out loud unconsciously, but it was
transmitting as well.  "::I have to have the Crystal to transform. It's
what gives me the power to do so.::"

::Is it?:: Travis asked.

"::Yes, it is, what else could it be?  Right?::" she looked around at
the others who had been listening interestedly to the one sided
conversation.  "::I get the power from the Crystal.::"

::Then why can't anyone use the Crystal?  Or the pens?  If all the power
is in the objects, then anyone should be able to use them right?::

"::Don't be silly, no one could use the stones or pens except for us,::"
Serena told him indignantly.

::Why?:: he asked again.

"::Because... because they're made for us,::" Serena explained.  "Right,
Luna?"

"The pens and your brooch resonate with your own power," Luna said.

::Ask Luna if mother's Scouts used the pens,:: Travis said.

"::Mother's Scouts?::" Serena asked confused.  "::Who are they, and why
would they use the pens?::"

"The Queen's Scouts didn't use pens, they didn't have to," Artemis said.
"They could use their powers without them."

"They could?  How?" Tuxedo Mask asked.

"Travis is right," Luna said.  "They didn't need the pens to transform, 
because they could access their power without them.  But they were 
much older and more experienced before they were able to do so."

"Wait a minute," Serena said.  "Are you saying that I have power of my
own?"

"::Of course you do,::" Luna and Travis said together.  Luna continued,
"The brooch only focuses the power to allow you to use it.  The Crystal
has power of its own, of course, but you rarely use it."

"So I could transform without it?" Serena asked.

"I don't think so," Luna said softly.  "You're just not experienced
enough.  It would require a great deal of focus and concentration to do
that."

::No, it requires belief,:: Travis said.  ::If you think you can
transform, you'll find the focus, like you did when you had to jump.
You did it because you had to and believed you could.::

"::It's not the same thing Travis,::" Serena said.  "::Besides, Lita,
Mina, and Raye believed that they could transform when they got their
new pens, but they couldn't.::"

::They believed in the pens, not themselves,:: Travis' thought wavered.

::TRAVIS!:: Serena yelled through her mind.

::I'm okay,:: he answered.  ::They're upping the dosage, just keep
talking to me.::

"::Maybe it's true for the others, but there never used to be a Sailor
Moon.  I need the Crystal to transform,::" Serena said.

"You didn't start out with it," Tuxedo Mask reminded her.  "I seem to
remember a long search for that particular Crystal, and you could
transform then."

"True, but I had my first brooch," Serena responded.  "::And there's the
problem with your logic, Travis. I didn't believe in it when I first
transformed.  I didn't even know what was going to happen.::"

::You're more powerful now,:: Travis replied.

"Luna?  Is the power in me or in the Crystal or brooch?" Serena asked.

"You," Luna replied.  "The brooch and pens focus and amplify the power.
But if it wasn't already there, there would be nothing for the pens to
use.  They have very little power themselves.  However if the power came
from the pens anyone would be able to use them.  You could say that the
pens resonate to the power of the Scouts.  The Crystal holds power of 
its own, but you can transform without it."

"Kind of like the reason Reenie can use all three stones, right?" Serena
asked, deep in thought.

"You remembered," Luna said proudly.  "That's right, Reenie's power
resonates to all three of her bloodlines, so she can use all three
stones.  The Scout's powers resonate to their pens, so they can use the
pens to focus their power enough to transform."

"But they `do' need the pens to transform, right?" Serena asked.

"At this point of time," Luna started.

"There's an easier way to figure it out," Serena suddenly decided.  She
stood up and closed her eyes, trying to focus as much as she could on
what she wanted.  She wavered slightly from the pain in her back , but
then her stance firmed again.  "MOON CRYSTAL POWER!" she cried as she
thrust her hand into the air.  She stood there for a long moment as
nothing happened, before slumping to the ground again.

Reenie, Diana, and Tuxedo Mask all sighed in disappointment.

::It didn't work,:: Serena said softly to her brother.

She got no response.

::Travis?  Did you hear me?:: she asked.

Still no response.

::TRAVIS!:: she screamed silently.

::Wha...?:: Travis' thought was very faint and there was little sense in
it.

"::TRAVIS!  Wake up!::" she yelled.

Apollo took one look at her worried expression and headed back to the
room they had come from.

Apollo came winging back with a worried expression on his beak.  "He's
unconscious," he said to their questioning expressions.  "I couldn't get
him awake before the youmas drove me away."

"Travis," Serena said.  "We've got to save him."

"We can't!" Reenie cried.  "If you can't transform, we can't save him!"
She burst into tears.

Serena stared at her daughter's tears and tried one more time to reach
her brother's mind.  She stood back up, her face determined.  She closed
her eyes and reached inside of herself.  *I `can' do this,* she thought
to herself.  *I `can' and I `will'!  I will because I must.  I must for
the lives of my family and friends. I will because I believe I can!  I
believe I can!*  "I believe I can!" she finished out loud.  Her eyes
snapped open.  "I believe I can, and I will!  MOON POWER!" she screamed
as loud as she could.

As the others watched with bated breath, she started to glow.  The
familiar ribbons covered her.  When the light faded, Sailor Moon stood
there.  "Yes!" she screamed in delight.

Reenie jumped up and down in delight.  "You did it!  You did it!  We can
fight now!"

"It worked," Sailor Moon said softly.  "It really worked."

As she turned with a big smile to the others watching, the smile faded.
"Wha?" she said, as she detransformed.  "No!  I can't hold it," she
said, flopping down.  "It won't stay.  What did I do wrong?"


Meanwhile, Quartz and Crystal were holding a meeting of their own.  They
had met in the tunnel under their father's quarters, and for a long
moment just stood there looking at each other.

"Looking in a mirror just isn't the same," Crystal said with a teary
smile.

"I know," Quartz responded as they hugged.

"So, what do we do now?" Crystal asked as they finally separated.

"I don't know," Quartz said distractedly.  "Serena, I think, believes
us.  Whether Travis does..." she shrugged.

Crystal looked down at that.  "I still can't believe you did that," she
said.  Then she looked up.  "Yes I can," she sighed.  "I `do'
understand.  I don't see how you could stand being here with 'him',
though.  I think I definitely got the better deal on terms of
assignments."

"Oh, I agree with you there," Quartz smiled slightly.  "If it wasn't for
Father, I would have been glad to go to Earth and never come back."

"But Father is here, and in trouble, and we have to figure out how to
get him out.  And then we'll take care of Spessarite," Crystal almost
snarled.

"Oh yes," Quartz agreed with hard eyes.  "Then we'll take care of
Spaghetti."

Crystal was forced to giggle at that.  "Spaghetti?" she asked.

"It fits him, don't you think?" Quartz grinned.

"It does indeed," Crystal agreed.  "He still doesn't know about us,
right?"

"Right," Quartz answered.

"Then let's surprise him," Crystal grinned as her clothing flashed and
she changed into the uniform of a Negaverse captain.  Now the two girls
looked exactly alike, all the way to the devilish glint in their eyes.

"Let's go find Serena, and then we can really surprise him," Quartz
smiled.

Crystal agreed.

One thought ran through both of their minds.  It was good to be together
again.


"But you did it," Reenie reminded the disconsolate Serena.  "If you did
it once, you can do it again."

"It wasn't very strong," Serena said.  "I could tell that."

"No, it wasn't," Luna agreed.  "The Crystal amplifies your power more
than you know.  But you did it!  I honestly didn't think you could!  I
never expected you to even be able to go that far.  I didn't believe
you'd have the focus necessary.  I'm very glad to see I was wrong."

"It doesn't do any good, though!" Serena told her.  "I need to be able
to be Sailor Moon for longer than thirty seconds!"

"You'll get better with time and practice," Luna soothed.

"We don't have time," Serena reminded her.

"Mommy?  Why can't I do it?" Reenie asked quietly.

"What do you mean, Baby?" Serena asked softly.

"Why can't I transform on my own?  I've got the three stones inside me
still. I should have lots of power. Why can't I transform by myself?"
Reenie looked unhappy.  "I don't like not being able to help," she said
softly.

"I know, Sweetheart, but you're too young to use the power of the
stones... just like I'm too young to use my own power," Serena sighed.

"Don't, Serena," Tuxedo Mask said.

"What?" Serena asked.

"Don't put yourself down like that," he said.  "You did it, even if it
was for less than a minute.  And maybe that form was a little less
powerful than usual.  But if you use it at the right time, it'll be a
total surprise."

"You mean, don't go busting in there as Sailor Moon, but wait until the
last minute?" Serena brightened then her mood darkened again.  "But I
can't stay in that form for long enough to do any good," she sighed.

Tuxedo Mask smiled and shook his head.  "When you really need it, it'll
be there, if I know you," he said.

"Of course, it would work even better if we could all do it," Serena
said, suddenly brightening again.  "If we can find the others, and they
can all do it too... That would really be a surprise, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, it certainly would be," Apollo said in a thoughtful tone.

"And if I can do it, they can," Serena continued.  "After all, I'm the
flighty one of the bunch."

"I'm not so sure about that," Artemis answered.

Serena grinned.  "Mina's been extremely good lately at leading the
Scouts.  She hasn't been flighty at all."

"True," Artemis agreed.  "And that worries me," he said in an aside.  "I
used to think the only time that would happen was if the world was
coming to an end."

"If we don't do something," Serena said seriously, staring at him, "The
world, as we know it, `will' come to an end."

Artemis fell silent.

"So!" Reenie said, standing up.  "Let's go find them, and then save
Uncle Travis!"

They nodded at each other seriously, and left the secluded corner.

"You do know there's no telling where they might be," Luna said from
Serena's shoulder as they walked along.

"Yeah," Diana mewed from Reenie's head.  "This place is a maze!"

"I'll go look around," Apollo said.  Without waiting for a reply he flew
down the corridor.

"Be careful!" Artemis called from Tuxedo Mask's shoulder.

Serena turned a glare on him.  "We can't let him go alone," she scolded.
"He might get hurt!  We need to catch up with him."

Serena started running down the corridor and the others quickly
followed.  After several twists and turns they saw a greatly excited
falcon flying towards them.  "I found them!  And they're in trouble!"

The already running trio started to run even faster.  They followed
Apollo through several more corridors until they reached a knot of
youmas.  They could hear Raye chanting as she threw out her charms.  Amy
was calling out weak spots and Mina and Lita were talking to each other
about their score in taking down youmas.  Still there was a nervous edge
to their voices.

"If I can't do it now, I'll never be able to do it," Serena said.  Luna
jumped down as Serena gathered herself.  *I can because I have to,* she
thought again, almost as a mantra.  *I believe I can.*  "MOON POWER!"

The youmas all turned to look as did a relieved group of Scouts.  They
saw Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask standing there ready.

"MOON TIARA MAGIC!" Sailor Moon yelled.  Her tiara and Tuxedo Mask's
roses took out a great number of the unprepared youmas.  Then her
transformation faded once more.

By then the remaining youmas were in a rout.  The attack from behind had
been so unexpected that it threw them into disarray.  First one started
to run, then the others joined her.

"Serena!  You're okay!" was the first remark heard as she was rushed by
the other girls.  She winced as their hugs ran across her healing cuts,
but the little time she had spent as Sailor Moon helped them heal even
more.  While her back wasn't back to normal, the cuts likely wouldn't
break open again.

"Why did you detransform? The fight wasn't over yet," Raye asked as she
stepped back.

"And were your transformation words different?" Lita asked.

"The power reading I got on my computer was not as strong as usual, is
something the matter?" Amy asked concernedly.

"Artemis!" Mina exclaimed.  "You're all right!"  She picked up the cat
and hugged him until he gasped for breath.

Serena explained what had happened, including her missing brooch and
what Travis had figured out about their powers.

"So we might be able to transform even without our pens?" Amy asked.
"That would certainly be a great advantage."

"That would be awesome," Lita told her.  "Not that I really mind going
hand to hand with these guys every once in a while."

Raye was meditating quietly behind them.  Her priestess training had
taught her how to go into a trance, and she reached downward, into
herself.  She found what she was looking for, a seething fire at the
bottom of her soul.  She focused her attention on it, as she would if
she was sitting in front of the Great Fire looking for answers to a
question, or a glimpse of the future.  "MARS POWER!" she suddenly cried,
surprising the others.  They turned to find Sailor Mars standing there.

Amy got to work with her computer as Raye detransformed.  "It looks as
though the level of power is comparable to that of Sailor Mars before
her power-up," she announced.  "And Serena's was similar to her power
level when she first transformed."

Mina grinned almost cockily.  "If she can do it, I can do it," she said
breezily.  "VENUS POWER!" she cried.  Nothing happened.  "Hey!" she 
cried, "Why can't I transform?  I believe I can!"

"You need more than belief, you need to focus as well," Artemis told 
her.  "Focus and 'concentrate'.  If you can," he added in an aside.

Mina glared at him for a long moment, then sighed.  She nodded and 
settled down to thinking of Sailor Venus.  *Okay,* she thought.  *I 
need to concentrate on being Sailor Venus.  Maybe... maybe if I 
concentrate on how it feels to transform?  I know I can do this, 
after all, Raye did.  Of course, she is a priestess.  So?*  The 
others wondered what she was thinking about as she suddenly threw her 
hair back.  *I am Sailor Venus, and if I'm not able to transform, one 
of the others might get hurt.  And I'm not going to allow that, 
because I'm Sailor Venus and nobody hurts my friends!*  "I am 
Sailor Venus!" she said out loud.  "VENUS POWER!"  As the others 
watched, her transformation overtook her and Sailor Venus stood 
posing before them.  Seconds later she detransformed.

"Told you I could do it," she laughed, turning and glaring at Artemis.

Lita was next to try.  *Belief, hmm?* she thought to herself.  *Belief,
confidence and focus... I can do this.  I know I can.  I think.  No,
Lita, don't think like that.  I `can' do this.  And as Sailor Jupiter I
can do a lot more damage.*  She suddenly grinned.  "JUPITER POWER!" she
called.  Lightning flared around her, and Sailor Jupiter stood there for
half a minute before letting the transformation drop.  "You're right,"
she told Amy.  "I could tell that the power wasn't as strong.  I don't
think I can use my newest attack, or the dragon, but I should be able to
use Supreme Thunder, right?"

"Correct," Amy agreed.

"Your turn, Amy," Serena smiled.

Amy didn't even bother closing her eyes.  She just took a deep breath
and called for the power.  After seeing the others doing it, she didn't
have any problems believing she could do it, or finding the focus she
needed.  "MERCURY POWER!" she cried.  Sailor Mercury stood for a few
seconds before letting the transformation fall.  She didn't want to
waste any power.

"Time to go save Travis," Serena said softly.  "Right?"

"Right!" the others yelled back.

"Remember, keep the transformations secret for as long as you can," Luna
admonished.  "There's no telling how long you'll be able to keep them up
once you're in there."

Serena and the others nodded.  Serena turned to Reenie.  "I don't
suppose you would..." she started.

"No, I won't," Reenie said immediately.  "I'm helping too!"

Serena knelt down.  "All right," she said softly.  "I won't try to stop
you.  But you be careful, all right?  Please?  I don't want to lose
you."

"I promise, Mommy, I love you too," Reenie hugged her tight for a long
moment.  Then she turned to Tuxedo Mask.  "You too, Daddy, you be
careful too, okay?"

"I will, Small Lady," Tuxedo Mask said, sweeping Reenie up into his arms
for a hug.  Serena flowed into his arms as well, and the small family
stood together like that for several moments.

"Let's go," Raye finally said.

Serena nodded and pulled away after a moment.  Together, the six girls,
one guy, three cats, and a falcon headed towards the room they had last
run from.

::Hold on Travis, we're coming,:: she thought to him, sure he got the
message, even if he never responded.

They reached the door and stood there for a long moment, psyching
themselves.  "Let's do it," Serena finally said.

The lock was broken, obviously the youmas had forced it open after the
Scouts had left.

"Why did they stay here instead of moving to another room?" Amy wondered
quietly.

"Let's just be glad they did," Lita said.

Tuxedo Mask threw open the doorway and the Scouts ran in.  "Travis!"
Serena said in anguish, seeing her brother unconscious in the chair he
was still tied to.

"You came back?" Spessarite said gloatingly.  "I didn't think you would
be that stupid."

Before he could say anymore, another door opened in what had looked like
a blank wall.  "Spaghetti!" one of the twins cried out as she stood
there.

As Spessarite's attention was taken by the troublesome girl who called
him that awful nickname, an identical girl walked through yet another
door.  "Spaghetti!" she said in exactly the same tone of voice.

"Yep, they're definitely twins," Serena muttered, looking at the two
absolutely identical girls.

Spessarite turned and stared, doing a doubletake between the two girls.
As he was turned away from the first one, she looked at Serena.
"Catch!" she mouthed, holding up Serena's Crystal brooch.

Suddenly, from where he'd been standing unnoticed behind Spessarite,
Rhyolite spoke, "Quartz, Crystal, your master calls," he said.

Quartz and Crystal stopped instantly.  Their eyes went blank and they
stared at him.

Spessarite turned without any surprise and kneeled down.  "Your plan
worked perfectly, Emperor," he said.

"You played your part well, Spessarite. You will be well rewarded,"
Rhyolite announced.

Rhyolite snapped his fingers and Quartz and Crystal walked towards him.
Without hesitation, Crystal handed the brooch to him.

"Humans, so weakwilled, don't you think?" he said conversationally to
the shocked Scouts.  "So easily brainwashed."  He turned to the twins.
"Kill them," he said, pointing to the Scouts.  "But first, Crystal, kill
Travis."

"Yes, Master," they said in a flat voice turning to obey.  No trace of
emotion remained in their eyes.

-----------------------
This is it, we're coming down to the wire!  One more chapter and an 
epilogue to go and then this one is through!  I have trouble believing 
it myself <grin>.  Thanks, as always, to Doug and Will whose comments, 
suggestions, and criticisms constantly help to make the story better.
Especially Will, who gave me the idea for the biggest twist in this 
chapter.

Jendra@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/Jendra