Chapter 12: Behind the Mask

"Powers of the negaverse. Lend me your guidance. Show me Sailor Moon's greatest weakness," Adam said connecting his mind to the stars.

Slowly a picture began to form in his mind of a certain caped hero who was usually around whenever the scouts were.

"Of course," Adam laughed, "Tuxedo Mask. That's how I'll beat her. I'll pretend to be Tuxedo Mask to lure her into a trap. It's foolproof."

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That afternoon as Ruby was heading home from school she spotted a pink envelope sticking out of her mailbox.

"What's this? A love note?" Ruby questioned before turning the envelope over, "hey no way it's addressed to me?!"

She quickly raced inside and up to her room before tearing the envelope open.

"Come to the mall tomorrow at nine o'clock pm I must see you again. Yours, Tuxedo Mask," she read.

"Oh my gosh Tuxedo Mask sent me a letter!"

"Somehow he must've discovered that you're Sailor Moon but how?" Zwei asked.

"Does it matter? Zwei this is huge! Finally a guy I like is noticing me!" Ruby gushed falling back on her bed.

The corgi was skeptical though, "I don't know something about this seems weird. Why would he be sending you notes all of a sudden?"

"Maybe because he really likes me and had to tell me right away?" The redhead suggested.

"Well-"

"Ruby!" Yang suddenly yelled pushing the door open.

"Hey sis what's up?" Ruby asked.

"Did you get a weird card signed Tuxedo Mask in the mail today?" Yang asked.

Ruby felt her heart begin to sink, "umm y-yeah why?"

Her older sister held up her own pink envelope, "because I got one too. Must be some stupid prank."

Ruby set her own letter down on the bed, "yeah must be..."

Yang sighed and sat down next to her little sister, "Rubes don't take it so hard ok? Boys are stupid and think it's ok to pull crap like this. Don't let it get you down."

Ruby looked up and nodded. "Ok Yang."

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The next morning Ruby was horrified to find that all the other girls in her class had also received letters signed by Tuxedo Mask.

"Ok now I know somethings up," she muttered.

"Hey Ruby did you get a letter yesterday signed Tuxedo Mask?" Jenni asked.

"Yeah but Yang told me that it was probably just some guy pulling a prank."

Jenni looked down at her letter, as much as she wanted to believe her friend a part of her was wishing that someone really had sent her a love note.

"I mean that cute millionaire guy Garrett Hunter has to own some tuxedos. Maybe he sent me the letter," Jenni said to herself.

After class was over Zwei and Ruby were explaining what had happened with the letters to Blake.

"It just doesn't make sense Blake," Zwei said, "why would Tuxedo Mask invite every girl in the school to meet him at the mall?"

"I don't know," Blake admitted, "you would think that if he was trying to get in touch with Sailor Moon or Mars or me he would've just told us during one of our battles."

Thinking a bit more she added, "after school I'm going to go ask Cinder if she's had any visions. Maybe she can figure out what's going on."

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"I've invited every girl from Beacon Academy here," Adam said to himself, "one of them has to be Sailor Moon."

It was a few hours before the designated meet up time that Adam had put in the card but he decided to hang around the mall just to see if anything would happen.

Meanwhile Jenni was also making her way through the mall. She thought that a walk would clear her head.

But she hadn't gone far when she noticed Adam standing outside a storefront. She gasped a little.

"What's he doing here?!" Jenni asked herself, "of course the day I'm trying not to think about him I see him." But then she stopped for a second, "but...maybe he's here because he really did write those notes."

She took a deep breath, "well no shame in asking."

Slowly the blue haired girl made her way toward Adam.

"E-excuse me...Mr. Hunter?"

Adam turned to look at her.

"M-my name is Jenni Opal. I met you a few weeks ago at the tennis courts." Jenni stuttered out.

"Oh yeah you were Linh's little cheerleader."

Jenni blushed a bit, "you remember me."

Adam walked over to her.

"Umm so anyway," Jenni began, "I was curious. Did you by any chance send a bunch of letters signed Tuxedo Mask?"

The auburn haired man feigned confusion, "where would you get an idea like that?"

"Well all the girls at my school got these letters signed Tuxedo Mask. And I don't know I thought maybe you sent them trying to get in touch with someone."

Adam began to feel something strange as Jenni kept talking, "she's radiating a strange energy. I can tell this girl possesses a great power. Maybe she's Sailor Moon."

He then realized that he had tuned the teenager out while she was talking.

Jenni realized this as well and her face turned red, "oh I sound stupid babbling like this don't I?"

Adam walked a bit closer to her so they were only an inch apart, "not at all. In fact I find a mystery meeting rather romantic." He winked at her causing Jenni's heart rate to speed up.

"Well I have to go. Hope to see you around Jenni."

He gave her a smile before walking away.

"He did send those letters," Jenni muttered, "and I-I think he might actually like me. I have to come tonight and see him."

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Over at Ruby's house Ruby was rummaging through her clothes trying to find the perfect outfit to wear to the mall. She wanted to take her sister's advice and ignore the letter that she had received from Tuxedo Mask. But she also couldn't shake the feeling that she was supposed to go.

So here she was pulling on a pair of maroon jeans, a black t-shirt, and black combat boots. She applied a tiny bit of eyeliner and fixed up her short black and red striped hair. Lastly, she clipped her locket onto her belt just in case she needed it.

Then, without even saying goodbye to her family, the redhead raced out the door and headed to the shopping mall.

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By this point it was 8:45 and Jenni was entering the now empty mall alone.

"H-hello?" She called out, "anyone here?"

Jenni felt her stomach do flip flops as she walked through the darkened halls.

Suddenly she heard the sound of the escalator start up and she found herself looking at Adam, dressed as Tuxedo Mask, coming down the stairs toward her.

"I'm here," he said tipping his top hat.

The blue haired girl's cheeks heated up, "I knew it was you who sent those notes."

"Did anyone come with you?" Adam asked, still keeping his distance.

Jenni shook her head, "and sorry that I came a little early. I just couldn't wait to see you....t-there's something I have to tell you."

"Oh you do? I'll bet I already know what it is."

Jenni looked at her feet, "you do? So are you mad at me?"

Adam felt himself sneer and he leaped over the few remaining stairs and got up in the younger girl's face, "alright that's enough, quit playing games with me sailor girl!"

"W-what?" The blue haired girl said stepping backward.

"I know you're Sailor Moon. You tried to trick me before but it won't work now!"

"I-I'm not Sailor Moon! I don't even know who she is! I've been saved by her a few times but that's it!"

The auburn haired man poked Jenni hard in the forehead, "then how do you explain that strange power you possess?! You're sending out waves of strong energy directly at me!"

Jenni began to cry a tiny bit, "that's what I wanted to tell you. I'm in love with you Garrett Hunter."

Adam rolled his eyes and placed his palm on her forehead absorbing her energy. He smiled when he felt how much he was getting from her.

"Well whatever this stuff is it's powerful."

Jenni's golden eyes rolled up in her head and she sank to her knees as all her energy was drained out of her.

It was lucky then that Ruby had made it to the mall and was able to witness this.

"What is Tuxedo Mask doing to her?!" Then she mentally swore, "what am I saying Tuxedo Mask would never do something like that. It's gotta be the negaverse. I'm gonna turn that guy to dust for hurting my best friend. Moon prism power!"

Her locket glowed and turned her into Sailor Moon.

A couple streets over though just as Sailor
Moon summoned her transformation Oscar, who was walking home, suddenly dropped to his knees and gripped his head in pain. Suddenly, without his knowing, he transformed into Tuxedo Mask. This always happened whenever Ruby would transform but Oscar didn't know that. He didn't even realize that he had an alter ego.

Adam dropped Jenni on the floor, "well now I just have to wait for the real Sailor Moon to show up."

"You won't have to wait long," Sailor Moon said stepping into the light, "I am Sailor Moon champion of justice. On behalf of the moon I'll right wrongs and triumph over evil. And that means you."

The heroine then took in Adam's appearance, "no way are you Tuxedo Mask. Take off that mask and show me who you are!"

Adam chuckled and used his magic to change his costume into his normal attire, he then reached up and removed the mask he was wearing revealing his pale blue eyes.

"W-wait you're Garrett Hunter!" Sailor Moon realized.

The slightly older man scoffed, "don't you get it sailor brat? I'm not human like you. My name is Adam and I'm the general of the army of the negaverse queen Salem. But now that you know who I am I can't let you live."

He was about to attack her when a red rose sliced across his left hand, courtesy of the real Tuxedo Mask.

Adam picked the flower up and crushed it in his palm, "you know roses are supposed to be my thing."

Tuxedo Mask leaped down from the window, "sorry looks like you'll have to find a new thing. And it can't be impersonating me."

"I knew that couldn't have been you who sent those letters," Sailor Moon said in relief.

"Of course not. Now let's say we destroy this guy together," the caped hero said.

The negaverse general began to laugh, "do you really think it's gonna be that easy?"

He closed his eyes and connected his mind to the stars, "powers of the negaverse multiple my power and unleash Taurus the bull!"

A constellation appeared in front of them and formed a bull with skin as dark as the night sky.

"I'll leave you two to play with your new friend," Adam said disappearing.

The bull charged toward Tuxedo Mask and he grabbed it by the horns, "Sailor Moon your tiara!"

The heroine nodded and took her tiara off her head where it promptly turned into a discus, "Moon tiara magic!" She threw it at the large animal but it didn't even seem to leave a scratch.

Taurus rammed its head into Tuxedo Mask's chest knocking the hero flat on his back.

Sailor Moon quickly picked up her tiara and put it back on before grabbing her friend's arm, "c'mon let's shake this monster."

Tuxedo Mask and she went into an elevator and closed the door just as the constellation ran toward them full force and slammed into the metallic door.

Slowly the elevator began rising upward.

"I think we're safe now," the heroine said.

But suddenly the elevator began plummeting downward extremely fast.

"Spoke too soon," Tuxedo Mask deadpanned, "we need to get out of here. If this thing stops while it's moving this fast we'll be crushed."

He extended his cane up toward the ceiling and knocked out one of the panels. He quickly climbed out of the elevator into the shaft before pulling Sailor Moon up with him.

They barely had time to grab onto a ledge before the elevator snapped free of its wires and crashed down at the bottom of the shaft.

Sailor Moon clung tightly to Tuxedo Mask's left hand as he hung onto the ledge with his right hand.

"Please don't drop me,"

"Hey have I ever let you down before?" The hero asked, "trust me it'll be easier if you don't look down and think about something else."

The moon heroine nodded, "Umm ok so I have a question for you. Why do you always come to my rescue?"

"I guess you could call it my mission. I feel as if I'm sworn to protect you for some reason."

He then reached his leg out and caught another tinier ledge. "Here climb up on my back. That way I can use both arms to pull us up.

Sailor Moon nodded and did what she was told.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

"So are you from Remnant or another planet? Are you a sailor scout? Hey if you are then you must have a human name like me, maybe we know each other wouldn't that be cool-"

"Sailor Moon," Tuxedo Mask said cutting her off, "I-I don't remember where I'm from, nor if I have a human name. The only thing I can remember with confidence is you. I remember that we met a long time ago. And when we did meet that's when I made my vow to protect you."

Suddenly the ledge he was standing on gave out from under him so he tightened his hold on the small ledge that he was gripping onto with his hands.

Sailor Moon looked scared and let out a small shriek.

"Calm down, it'll be ok," Tuxedo Mask told her as he tried to pull them up.

But he couldn't keep a firm grip on the ledge and he felt himself begin to slip.

That is until the elevator door opened above them and two pairs white gloved hands reached out and pulled the two heroes back onto solid ground.

"Need a hand?" Sailor Mars asked.

"Guys you came for us!" Sailor Moon said in relief.

Sailor Mercury nodded, "Zwei told us what you were up to so we figured that we had to get down here before something bad happened."

Sailor Moon looked over and saw Zwei checking on Jenni who was still out cold.

"Is she gonna be ok?" Sailor Moon asked.

The corgi nodded, "she'll get her energy replenished soon enough don't worry."

"What happened to her anyway?" Sailor Mars asked.

The moon heroine sighed and told her teammates what she had learned about the mysterious Garrett Hunter's true identity and his ties to the negaverse.

"Well at least now we know to look out for him," Sailor Mercury said.

Sailor Moon nodded and picked Jenni up in her arms, "yeah. But Jenni's in for a rude awakening....she's crazy about that guy."

"Then we'll just have to protect her," Sailor Mars said and her teammates nodded in agreement.

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Back in the dark kingdom Adam had just returned to give Salem his most recent report. Along with the news that he had killed Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask.

But, the dark queen was able to see that Taurus the bull actually hadn't managed to kill the heroes, something her general was unaware of.

"Aww you failed again. How sad," Neo said from behind him, "all you brought back to our queen was some energy from a silly little girl."

Salem examined the collected energy that Adam had given to her, "yes...but that girl's emotions are quite powerful. This energy has given the negaforce a powerful boost. Well done Adam."

Neo was flabbergasted, "but majesty! He still failed! Aren't you gonna punish him?! Or something?!"

Salem's eyes glowed red, "maybe I should punish you Neo. And if you ever question my judgement again Mercury won't be the only one in eternal sleep."

The mute young woman bowed her head, "yes. Forgive me my queen."

Adam walked past her with cocky smirk on his face.

He was soon back in his hideout on Remnant and for the second time that night he was connecting his mind to the stars.

"Powers of the negaverse let it be so that my latest victim doesn't remember anything from this night."

He then opened his eyes, "if Jenni remembers what I did to her then she won't let me get near again. I can't let that happen if I want to keep harvesting her energy."

Adam then smirked a bit, "I should thank her though, after all it was her silly crush on me that saved me from Queen Salem's wrath."

Neo was lurking out the window and she clenched her fist, "your days are numbered Adam. Soon I'll be the head general for our queen. And there's nothing you'll be able to do about it."

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