Hey, all! OK, OK, I know this is looking like it's focusing on Lita, but
oh well. So what if it is? Anyway, let's get on with the show. Shall we?

Chapter 3

Serena ran through the forest as fast as she could. There was no telling
what was up ahead, and she certainly didn't want to know what was behind
her. But she could hear footsteps behind her. They kept drawing closer,
little by little. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of running,
she felt a hand on her shoulder. It jerked her backward, and slammed her
to the ground. She skidded on her back some twenty feet.
The first thing Serena noticed when she stopped was that her back felt
moist. This was not due to the dew on the forest ground, but the fact that
her back had been cut in several places upon the skid.
Serena saw a shadowy figure loom over her as she looked up, through the
haze of the tears in her eyes. It seemed to be reaching down for her. It
was. It grabbed her throat with both hands, and lifted her violently
upward. It started shaking her, and spat in her face. Finally, her vision
became clear enough to see the figure. It was Zoisite.
"Be afraid. Be very afraid." Zoisite threw Serena away, into a tree. As
she made impact, she bent backwards, and a flash of whiteness came...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena shot up in bed. The nightmare had come again, but it was different
this time. It was still as real as daylight; however, it was scarier this
time. No one was there to help her. No one was there to even try. In
this nightmare, she had been alone. Abandoned by all her friends.
Serena looked at the little black cat which slept at the foot of her bed. 
She had awakened also, and was staring at Serena.
"Serena, is everything all right?" The little black cat spoke with a
British accent, which was odd for her to be living in Tokyo. Of course,
most people would say it was more odd that the cat was talking at all.
"Oh, sure Luna. I just had a bad dream. But I'm fine now."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, Luna. Just go back to sleep. Got a big day tomorrow."
"Serena, tomorrow is Saturday."
"I know," Serena said slyly.
{Oh silly me, how could I forget? Serena is going to see Darien all day
tomorrow.} "Well, get some sleep." Luna closed her eyes, and being a cat,
was asleep instantly.
Serena lied back down, and closed her eyes. She snuggled in for some
rest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Black Warlock opened his eyes as his ability to end dreams to Serena
suddenly stopped. He knew she had awoken. And now, he decided was the
time to strike with the big blow...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zoisite sat on his blue throne. Malachite was not with him; he was
meditating in his private chambers. And so Zoisite was alone. But not for
long. A shadowy figure appeared before him, some twenty or twenty-five
feet away. It did not move closer.
"Who's there?" Zoisite asked, trying to make out the figure. It raised a
hand, and seemed to be pointing at Zoisite. His intuition told him to
move, and to move quickly. So, he jumped up, going nearly thirty feet
high. The second he jumped, his throne had shattered, due to the force of
impact from a dark blue ball of negative energy.
"What the hell is this?" The figure's blue eyes opened, and two small
beams shot from them, heading straight for Zoisite. Zoisite dodged, but
didn't see the blue beam that was sent right behind the first two. It hit
him, and froze him on impact.
Zoisite's ability to remain airborne was lost. He fell to the ground, and
the shadow turned away. All the shadow heard was the sound of shattering
ice, and
it had the satisfaction of knowing that Zoisite was in a thousand pieces. 
Phase one was complete.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Black Warlock appeared before Malachite, who was still in solitude. He
had not been witness to the attack on Zoisite. So, Black Warlock would
fill him in.
"Malachite, your highness. I have a matter to discuss with you." 
Malachite did not open his eyes, trying to remain in meditation.
"Can it wait?"
"Sir, this is of the utmost importance." Malachite opened his eyes.
"All right, you have my attention."
"Sir, I just saw the most dreadful thing. Zoisite was killed." 
Malachite's eyes widened, knowing perfectly well that there were only three
beings that could have had the power to do it. And he was one of them.
"I am assuming it was not you, since you are the reporter."
"Sir, it was Nephlite. If you don't mind my saying, he needs to be dealt
with. The ample punishment is death." Malachite knew Nephlite was a
strong warrior, and could not believe that he would do anything of this
nature.
"I'm not so sure."
"Sir, I am the first to defend him. He created me! But, if the security
of the Dark Kingdom is jeopardized, then he needs to be done away with. 
Otherwise the entire plan to get rid of the Sailor Soldiers will be all for
nothing. I implore you sir, do not let him get away with this, or you
could be next."
Malachite pondered the situation briefly.
"He will be... dealt with. But do not get his suspicions up that you know
of this. Which, by the way, how do you know this?" The reply came with no
hesitation.
"I saw it. From the shadows. He must not have seen me, or surely I would
have met the same fate."
"Very well. Go now, and say nothing to Nephlite. He doesn't need to know
I know about this."
"Of course." Black Warlock finished his visit with a bow, and a
disappearing act.
{Nephlite, I thought I could trust you.}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien and Serena strolled down a beach, hand in hand, watching the sun
set. Serena felt so happy, to be with the man of her dreams, but for some
reason, it felt different. The dreams had already started to take effect
on her mind. The one where she had been all alone had done it to her. She
felt like he wasn't really there. She felt like she was about to wake up
to
find herself alone.
"Darien?" Serena said, not really looking at him.
"Yes, sweet Serena?"
"Darien, you love me, right?" The tow stopped right then and there, as
Darien turned Serena to face him.
"Serena, it hurts me to think that you would have to ask such a question. 
Of course I love you. I always have, for a thousand years, and I always
will. I will love you through the end of time. Nothing can change that."
Serena looked into Darien's caring, sincere eyes. She could tell he meant
what he said, so why did she not feel any comfort? Was it the dream? 
Serena did not know. All she knew was that she felt no comfort.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rei and Lita sat on a park bench, talking about a certain relationship. 
Needless to say, it was the one between Nephlite and Lita.
"Rei, I don't know what to do. I love him so much, I can't stand to be
away from him. I know he's a danger, but he loves me too."
"Lita, I know this is difficult. But you have to be strong."
"But what's gonna happen when we meet in battle?"
"You don't wanna hear this." The pain was starting to get to Rei. How
could she say this? "You'll have to kill him."
Lita knew Rei was right. She knew her duty as a Sailor Soldier. She only
wished she knew her duties as a lover.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To Be Continued......

Well, if it isn't another part, I don't know what it is. Anyway, I hope
you liked it. And, the plot thickens (so it is now 1 centimeter thick) 
^_^
And, since I am sending this out on December 18, 1998, Merry Christmas,
Happy Hanukah, and may everyone have a safe and happy holiday season.