Chapter 9: The Crucial Hour

Atalia was shocked that there were other Sailors and that the Shadow Guards had been defeated so quickly. The Sailors and Ganymede converged on Atalia. Let them think that they had won, she thought bitterly. She would have the last laugh.

"Give up, Atalia," Sailor Jupiter Moon demanded. "Your Shadow Guards have been defeated."

"You haven't won everything, yet, Sailor Jupiter Moon," Atalia spat. "You have only begun to witness the power of the Shadow Moon Empire!"

The wind began to howl, whipping small stones and sticks at the Sailors.

"Atalia, stop this now!" Jupiter demanded.

"Getting scared now?" she mocked. "The end is just beginning!"

Laughing, Atalia threw her arms out. As in response, the wind became more violent, flinging larger rocks at the warriors.

"Jupiter Moon Electrical Eruption!!"

The ground under the floating Atalia began to glow. Then, the flashes of lightning appeared. However, instead of hitting Atalia, the lightning struck the Sailors and Ganymede.

"You give up, Sailor Jupiter Moon," Atalia called. "It is you who has lost."

Atalia floated higher in the air, towering over the group. The wind again became fiercer, relentlessly bombarding the Sailors with debris. Atalia laughed as the Sailors and Ganymede cried out in pain.

"It is only beginning of your end," she called. The wind shrieked, hurting the humans' ears. "I, Princess Atalia, call upon the vast powers of the Shadow Moon. Help me to vanquish my enemies!"

Dark purple light surrounded Atalia, growing to include more and more area. As the purple light grew, the wind became harder. Ganymede tried to shield Sailor Jupiter Moon from most of the debris.

"Now is your end, Sailor Jupiter Moon. But first, the loss of those you love."

The other Sailors and Ganymede screamed in pain as the purple light surrounded them. Slowly, they each collapsed. Jupiter watched helplessly. Suddenly, the wind died and the moon reappeared.

Jupiter realized that she had to face Atalia alone.

* * * * *

Serena sat on the edge of the huge fountain of the old city park. She glanced around the area, nervously waiting for Molly. She was somewhat reassure to see Darien reading under a nearby streetlight.

Serena knew the others were close. Ami and Mina were hiding among some trees with Artemis. Luna was stationed with Rei and Lita in a defunct carousel.

"Serena?"

"Whaaa!" Serena nearly fell into the fountain. Luckily, Molly grabbed Serena's jacket and pulled Serena back to her feet. "Molly! Thanks."

Molly shrugged. "No problem. So, what the big mystery, Serena?"

"Mystery?!" Serena cried. She laughed hysterically. "Molly, what ever gave your such an idea?!"

"Well, you call me at home in the middle of the night, telling me that I have to meet you at the old city park pronto."

From the safety of the carousel, Luna banged her head against a pole in aggravation. "That girl!"

"What a Meatball Head!" Rei muttered.

"Man, I can't believe Serena would do something like that," Mina whispered harshly, staring at Serena in disbelief from the shadows of the trees.

"I don't know why it should surprise you, Mina," Artemis said.

"After all, remember how Serena told Molly about Nephlite," Ami added.

"Oh, yeah. I guess Serena never changes."

"Molly," Serena began, becoming serious, "I have a problem."

"What is it, Serena?" Molly asked, leaning against the fountain beside her friend.

"If you were asked to do something to save another person, would you do it?"

"Well, yeah," Molly answered, watching her friend closely. She was surprised by the question, especially coming from Serena.

"Even if you didn't know the person?" Serena continued.

"Sure."

"What if you had do something to another person that might put them in jeopardy?" Serena watched Molly's reaction closely.

Sighing, Molly looked into the distance. "Look, Serena, you and I have been friends for a very long time. If you have to do something to me to save someone else, then do it. I believe in you, Sailor Moon."

"What?!"

Molly turned to Serena and smiled. "I have known for a very long time, probably since you saved my mother from whatever she was. I never said anything 'cause I understood it was a secret. Do what you have to do, Serena."

"Molly, you don't know what you're saying," Serena said.

"Serena," Darien said, approaching the two girls, "explain everything to Molly and then let her decide."

* * * * *

"What are they doing?!" Rei muttered, trying to catch a better view of the fountain. "And why is Darien out there?"

"I don't know," Lita said, stretching her long legs, "but I hope they do something soon. My legs are killing me from squatting so long!"

Mina, Artemis, and Ami scurried to where the others were hiding.

"What are doing here?" Luna demanded, looking at Artemis.

"We can't see anything from our spot," Mina complained.

"We were hoping that you had a better perspective," Ami added, squatting by Lita.

"Come on out, everyone!" Darien called, looking in the direction of the carousel.

"What?!" Mina cried.

"Is he out of his mind?!" Rei muttered.

"We'd better go see what's going on," Artemis said. "Right, Luna?"

Luna nodded. "That's the best idea."

"Okay," Lita said cautiously, rising to her full height. "Man, that feels good."

They emerged from the carousel, crossing the courtyard to the fountain. Serena was crying, while Molly was strangely calm. Darien looked grim.

"Molly, are you sure?" Serena asked, her voice weak with emotion.

"You have to do it, Serena. I have to let you do it."

"Molly knows everything," Darien explained to the others. "She's known a lot for a long time."

"I have known that Serena was Sailor Moon. I have had my suspicions about the rest of you since then."

"I thinks it's only fair that reveal ourselves to her," Darien said softly.

"Transform?" Lita asked.

Darien shrugged, an ironic smile slowly spreading across his face. "She already knows everything else."

"You might as well," Luna said.

"Molly does deserve that much," Artemis added.

In a blink of an eye, Tuxedo Mask replaced Darien. Bowing to Molly, he removed his mask. "Tuxedo Mask at your service."

"Thank you, Darien," Molly said, shocked by the transformation.

"Ladies," Tuxedo Mask called.

"Right," Lita said, nodding. "Jupiter Star Power!"

"Venus Star Power!"

"Mars Star Power!"

"Mercury Star Power!"

Molly eyes danced from one transformation sequence to another. Almost too soon, the Sailor Scouts were before her.

"The Sailor Scouts are here. Sailor Jupiter," she introduced, posing.

"Sailor Venus!"

"Sailor Mars!"

"And Sailor Mercury!"

Molly stared at the Scouts in disbelief. Then she turned to Serena. Immediately, Serena began crying again.

"Molly, please," she begged.

"It's time, Sailor Moon," Molly said quietly, squeezing her friend's hand. She gestured toward the others. "This way everyone is safe."

"Molly."

"Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Mask called.

"It's okay, Serena," Molly said. "Have faith."

Serena walked a short distance away from the fountain. She gave Molly one last pleading look. Molly shook her head.

"Moon Crystal Power!!"

Molly gasped as she watched her friend become the fighter for love and justice. Sailor Moon posed, gleaming in the moonlight. Then she approached Molly.

"I'm ready," Molly said, standing to face Sailor Moon and cutting off another protest. "Do it now." She closed her eyes and waited.

"Sailor Moon may need some help," Sailor Jupiter said.

"Right," Sailor Mars agreed. "Mars Star Power!"

"Jupiter Star Power!"

"Venus Star Power!"

"Mercury Star Power!"

Sailor Moon paused, studying Molly for a moment. "Moon Crystal Power!!"

The Silver Crystal glowed, floating free from the brooch. A white light began to shine from Molly's stomach, growing larger to reveal a void. Inside the void, a white, rectangular gem hovered, encased with gold.

The Stone of Hope floated from Molly to Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon watched, mesmerized by the process. Then, reluctantly, she grabbed the Stone, flooding the park with light.

Tuxedo Mask caught Molly before she fell to the ground. She was unconscious and very pale. Sailor Moon rushed to her friend, the Stone of Hope still clutched in her hand. The other Scouts watched in concern.

"Is she okay?" Sailor Moon asked, bending closer to her friend.

Tuxedo Mask nodded. "She's just tired, Sailor Moon." He gently shifted Molly in his arms before carefully rising to his feet.

"Go home, Scouts," he said. "Sailor Moon and I will get her home."

Nodding, Luna turned to the Scouts. "Let's go home, girls."

Each took a last glance at Molly before turning to leave the park.

"Moon," Molly murmured, moving weakly in Tuxedo Mask's arm. "Thank you, Sailor Moon." Then, Molly grew still again.


The Crucial Hour Atalia was shocked that there were other Sailors and that the Shadow Guards had been defeated so quickly. The Sailors and Ganymede converged on Atalia. Let them think that they had won, she thought bitterly. She would have the last laugh. "Give up, Atalia," Sailor Jupiter Moon demanded. "Your Shadow Guards have been defeated." "You haven't won everything, yet, Sailor Jupiter Moon," Atalia spat. "You have only begun to witness the power of the Shadow Moon Empire!" The wind began to howl, whipping small stones and sticks at the Sailors. "Atalia, stop this now!" Jupiter demanded. "Getting scared now?" she mocked. "The end is just beginning!" Laughing, Atalia threw her arms out. As in response, the wind became more violent, flinging larger rocks at the warriors. "Jupiter Moon Electrical Eruption!!" The ground under the floating Atalia began to glow. Then, the flashes of lightning appeared. However, instead of hitting Atalia, the lightning struck the Sailors and Ganymede. "You give up, Sailor Jupiter Moon," Atalia called. "It is you who has lost." Atalia floated higher in the air, towering over the group. The wind again became fiercer, relentlessly bombarding the Sailors with debris. Atalia laughed as the Sailors and Ganymede cried out in pain. "It is only beginning of your end," she called. The wind shrieked, hurting the humans' ears. "I, Princess Atalia, call upon the vast powers of the Shadow Moon. Help me to vanquish my enemies!" Dark purple light surrounded Atalia, growing to include more and more area. As the purple light grew, the wind became harder. Ganymede tried to shield Sailor Jupiter Moon from most of the debris. "Now is your end, Sailor Jupiter Moon. But first, the loss of those you love." The other Sailors and Ganymede screamed in pain as the purple light surrounded them. Slowly, they each collapsed. Jupiter watched helplessly. Suddenly, the wind died and the moon reappeared. Jupiter realized that she had to face Atalia alone. * * * * * Serena sat on the edge of the huge fountain of the old city park. She glanced around the area, nervously waiting for Molly. She was somewhat reassure to see Darien reading under a nearby streetlight. Serena knew the others were close. Ami and Mina were hiding among some trees with Artemis. Luna was stationed with Rei and Lita in a defunct carousel. "Serena?" "Whaaa!" Serena nearly fell into the fountain. Luckily, Molly grabbed Serena's jacket and pulled Serena back to her feet. "Molly! Thanks." Molly shrugged. "No problem. So, what the big mystery, Serena?" "Mystery?!" Serena cried. She laughed hysterically. "Molly, what ever gave your such an idea?!" "Well, you call me at home in the middle of the night, telling me that I have to meet you at the old city park pronto." From the safety of the carousel, Luna banged her head against a pole in aggravation. "That girl!" "What a Meatball Head!" Rei muttered. "Man, I can't believe Serena would do something like that," Mina whispered harshly, staring at Serena in disbelief from the shadows of the trees. "I don't know why it should surprise you, Mina," Artemis said. "After all, remember how Serena told Molly about Nephlite," Ami added. "Oh, yeah. I guess Serena never changes." "Molly," Serena began, becoming serious, "I have a problem." "What is it, Serena?" Molly asked, leaning against the fountain beside her friend. "If you were asked to do something to save another person, would you do it?" "Well, yeah," Molly answered, watching her friend closely. She was surprised by the question, especially coming from Serena. "Even if you didn't know the person?" Serena continued. "Sure." "What if you had do something to another person that might put them in jeopardy?" Serena watched Molly's reaction closely. Sighing, Molly looked into the distance. "Look, Serena, you and I have been friends for a very long time. If you have to do something to me to save someone else, then do it. I believe in you, Sailor Moon." "What?!" Molly turned to Serena and smiled. "I have known for a very long time, probably since you saved my mother from whatever she was. I never said anything 'cause I understood it was a secret. Do what you have to do, Serena." "Molly, you don't know what you're saying," Serena said. "Serena," Darien said, approaching the two girls, "explain everything to Molly and then let her decide." * * * * * "What are they doing?!" Rei muttered, trying to catch a better view of the fountain. "And why is Darien out there?" "I don't know," Lita said, stretching her long legs, "but I hope they do something soon. My legs are killing me from squatting so long!" Mina, Artemis, and Ami scurried to where the others were hiding. "What are doing here?" Luna demanded, looking at Artemis. "We can't see anything from our spot," Mina complained. "We were hoping that you had a better perspective," Ami added, squatting by Lita. "Come on out, everyone!" Darien called, looking in the direction of the carousel. "What?!" Mina cried. "Is he out of his mind?!" Rei muttered. "We'd better go see what's going on," Artemis said. "Right, Luna?" Luna nodded. "That's the best idea." "Okay," Lita said cautiously, rising to her full height. "Man, that feels good." They emerged from the carousel, crossing the courtyard to the fountain. Serena was crying, while Molly was strangely calm. Darien looked grim. "Molly, are you sure?" Serena asked, her voice weak with emotion. "You have to do it, Serena. I have to let you do it." "Molly knows everything," Darien explained to the others. "She's known a lot for a long time." "I have known that Serena was Sailor Moon. I have had my suspicions about the rest of you since then." "I thinks it's only fair that reveal ourselves to her," Darien said softly. "Transform?" Lita asked. Darien shrugged, an ironic smile slowly spreading across his face. "She already knows everything else." "You might as well," Luna said. "Molly does deserve that much," Artemis added. In a blink of an eye, Tuxedo Mask replaced Darien. Bowing to Molly, he removed his mask. "Tuxedo Mask at your service." "Thank you, Darien," Molly said, shocked by the transformation. "Ladies," Tuxedo Mask called. "Right," Lita said, nodding. "Jupiter Star Power!" "Venus Star Power!" "Mars Star Power!" "Mercury Star Power!" Molly eyes danced from one transformation sequence to another. Almost too soon, the Sailor Scouts were before her. "The Sailor Scouts are here. Sailor Jupiter," she introduced, posing. "Sailor Venus!" "Sailor Mars!" "And Sailor Mercury!" Molly stared at the Scouts in disbelief. Then she turned to Serena. Immediately, Serena began crying again. "Molly, please," she begged. "It's time, Sailor Moon," Molly said quietly, squeezing her friend's hand. She gestured toward the others. "This way everyone is safe." "Molly." "Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Mask called. "It's okay, Serena," Molly said. "Have faith." Serena walked a short distance away from the fountain. She gave Molly one last pleading look. Molly shook her head. "Moon Crystal Power!!" Molly gasped as she watched her friend become the fighter for love and justice. Sailor Moon posed, gleaming in the moonlight. Then she approached Molly. "I'm ready," Molly said, standing to face Sailor Moon and cutting off another protest. "Do it now." She closed her eyes and waited. "Sailor Moon may need some help," Sailor Jupiter said. "Right," Sailor Mars agreed. "Mars Star Power!" "Jupiter Star Power!" "Venus Star Power!" "Mercury Star Power!" Sailor Moon paused, studying Molly for a moment. "Moon Crystal Power!!" The Silver Crystal glowed, floating free from the brooch. A white light began to shine from Molly's stomach, growing larger to reveal a void. Inside the void, a white, rectangular gem hovered, encased with gold. The Stone of Hope floated from Molly to Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon watched, mesmerized by the process. Then, reluctantly, she grabbed the Stone, flooding the park with light. Tuxedo Mask caught Molly before she fell to the ground. She was unconscious and very pale. Sailor Moon rushed to her friend, the Stone of Hope still clutched in her hand. The other Scouts watched in concern. "Is she okay?" Sailor Moon asked, bending closer to her friend. Tuxedo Mask nodded. "She's just tired, Sailor Moon." He gently shifted Molly in his arms before carefully rising to his feet. "Go home, Scouts," he said. "Sailor Moon and I will get her home." Nodding, Luna turned to the Scouts. "Let's go home, girls." Each took a last glance at Molly before turning to leave the park. "Moon," Molly murmured, moving weakly in Tuxedo Mask's arm. "Thank you, Sailor Moon." Then, Molly grew still again.


Chapter 10: The Intended Jupiter's Gone