Chapter Three
In Raye’s Temple…
“That spoiled brat! How dare she turn on us!” Raye yelled, for the fourth time in ten minutes. “She even attacked us!”
Ami was working furiously on her computer. “We know Raye, and what’s worse, she’s going to give Beryl the crystal.”
“We can’t let that happen!” Lita declared.
“How could she? I mean, she knows she’s not fit to be leader. Can she really blame us for feeling this way?” Mina finished. All four of them couldn’t see why Serena had been so surprised at their decision.
“I don’t know about her, but I sure can.” came a very UNEXPECTED voice from Raye’s dresser.
All the girls turned with shock and fear as they realized Luna had come in without them noticing.
“Oh, Luna,” Raye cried, trying to sound innocent, “We didn’t hear your come in.”
Luna sat on her haunches looking very upset. “I cannot believe I trained a group of hypocrites. How dare you get angry at Serena for her decision, when you were going to betray her yourselves? Can you really blame HER for feeling THAT way?” she sighed. “And you, Artemis, you didn’t even try to stop them! I am very disappointed in ALL of you.”
Raye was the only one who didn’t hang their heads, trying to fake shame for Luna’s sake. “Luna, you know as well as the rest of us that she just isn’t princess material. If she kept on being Sailor Moon, she’d totally end up getting us all killed. The world would be doomed.”
“Then how did you expect her to be able to beat Beryl? Wasn’t that the plan? Let her do the dirty work and then take the crystal and the credit?” Luna asked, “Raye, I regret that I didn’t see it sooner. You are greedy and power-hungry, and such an ego. You talked the others into this didn’t you?”
Raye still refused to be sorry for her actions. “Hey, all I did was let them know I was thinking the same thing and come up with the plan. They agreed with it and I don’t see why it’s such a problem. She’s a pathetic excuse for a scout, forget princess.”
Luna lashed her claws out quickly, a single, long scratch forming on Raye’s face. “No, Raye, YOU are a pathetic excuse for a scout. You’ve forgotten your duty, as have the rest of you.” She turned and looked at the wall. “I’m going to have to ask you each to give up your pens and communicators, and Ami, I will need your computer. You have each disgraced your posts as Sailor Scouts.”
“What!” All of them looked at Luna in shock.
“But Luna,” Ami reasoned, “With Sailor Moon gone and the Negaverse with the crystal, the Earth will need us.”
Luna shook her head. “No, the Earth does not need scouts who only think of themselves and plot behind another’s back, especially when that another is a dear friend who would do anything for any of you. Serena may not have been the smartest, most graceful, brave or refined, but she was still learning, just as the rest of you. Sure, she’s not exactly mature, but at least she’s kind and good. She thinks with her heart and in the end, that’s what matters. But you, you are all different. Ami, you are highly intelligent when it comes to books, but when it comes to matters of genuine friendship, you are truly lacking. Raye, you are very serious, you do a very good job of keeping the temple running smoothly, and your psychic abilities are beyond compare, but you have a tendency to want more than you can have and react too easily to your temper. Lita, you’re the last person I ever expected to do what you did, but I guess the opportunity to have more power was too tempting. And Mina, I suppose you were just so used to being famous that you wanted to be so again. You each have failed in your duties to protect Sailor Moon, the Moon Princess. Your own desires became more important than the Earth’s welfare. This crime makes you each unfit to fill the position of scout. Now, give up your pens and other items immediately.”
Raye stood defiantly. “No, Luna. We’ve EARNED our powers. It is our destiny. Sailor Moon is the one who’s unfit to be a scout. She’s lazy, selfish, clumsy, stupid AHHHH!” She screamed as suddenly a sword was sticking in the wall, meters from her face. It bobbed up and down for a moment as the one who threw it became clear at the open door of the temple.
“Next time Mars, I won’t miss,” Darien told them, anger and malice in her voice. He glared at each one of them, his armor gleaming in the sunlight.
Raye trembled at the sight of the sword, “D…Darien…I…”
Mina held up her pen to transform, “It’s the Negaverse! Venus…” The pen was taken from her hand before she could finish saying the activation words. Darien twilled the pretty orange stick in his hand. “Hey, give that back.”
“Why? You’ve been fired remember.” He threw the pen at Luna who caught it in her mouth. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to kill you. But only because Serena asked me not to.”
“Serena? You remember her?” Lita asked, standing to her feet. “Does this mean you don’t work for the Negaverse anymore?”
He shook his head. “No, I still work for them, but again, only because Serena asked me to. Seems she made some sort of deal with Queen Beryl to save this world and myself, in exchange for the crystal. Now, why would she do that?” He gave them a sickeningly, sweet grin that told them he was merely playing dumb.
Raye again tried to fake innocent, “She betrayed us Darien. She thought Queen Beryl could give her more power and…” She was cut short as the sword, once in the wall, now against her neck, held there by Prince Darien. “Ummm…”
“Go ahead, finish that sentence. I’d love to have an excuse to take your head off for what you did to her.” His voice was venomous. “You’re supposed to be her best friends, her closest friends, and I find out you were merely taking advantage of her naiveté. Planning to take away what was rightfully hers and throw her away like yesterday’s bread. I always thought you were better than this, even you, Raye. I guess I was wrong. If any of you ever come near her again, you will regret ever knowing either of us.” He pulled the sword from her neck and sheathed it.
Raye fell to her knees, shaking and fighting tears. “But…but Darien…”
“Where is Serena?” Ami asked, “Please, tell us so we know she’s alright?”
Darien’s glare turned Ami’s insides to ice, “Not that it’s any of your business, but she was returned home last night. She will be in school tomorrow, but don’t you dare think about trying to speak to her.” He turned from them. “If you wondering, by the way, this means she’s joined them as have I. She will be protected by them and myself. Don’t go near her.” he walked out of the temple.
Luna put the orange stick on the table. “Now, the rest of you, I need your scout things please.”
Lita and Ami reluctantly placed the sticks and computer in front of Luna. Raye was a little harder. She seemed to hold the stick like it was a life or death situation. “Raye, I need your pen, please,” Luna sighed. “Now!”
Raye grit her teeth, “Fine! But you’ll be wanting us back. The next time the Earth is in danger!” And she placed the red pen with the others with a pout.
Luna touched the items and with a bright light they vanished back to wherever they came from. “Now, I’m going to go see Serena. I hope you all will think long and hard about what you’ve done.” She leaped from the dresser.
“Luna wait!” Artemis called, “please,” he followed her from the temple.
Luna fought tears as she stopped and looked at him, “How could let them do this, Artemis?”
“I’m sorry, Luna. But, I honestly just thought they wanted to protect the crystal from future enemies. To be honest, I don’t think Serena has what it takes to be princess either. Wouldn’t it be better for her to just be a regular girl. That’s what she’s always wanted anyway.”
“No Artemis, you’re wrong. She does have what it takes, she just doesn’t know it yet. I believe in her. But it doesn’t matter now. It’s all been ruined. All because they didn’t. And you’re just as bad.” She bounded off before he could catch her.
AN: So now we see what is to become of the other four scouts. And Raye, what is up with her? I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
