Amberite paced back and forth in front of her throne as Jadeite and Opal looked on.

"Even though Sailor Moon is out of the way, you must continue to gather energy. If you do not, my crystal will cease to work, and Sailor Moon will again be able to transform. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Yes, Queen."

"Each of you take one Negamon. What you do after that is not my concern. But if you fail, I will blast you into oblivion, understand?"

Both of them nodded, saying nothing.

"Now go!"

ELSEWHERE:

Sauro and the girls were sitting on the steps of the Hino Shrine.

"What do we do? This isn’t like those other times when she couldn’t transform." Minako said. "This is completely different."

"Usagi is useless right now. If she can’t transform, she can’t fight." Raye added

"Amberite had a good plan, and it looks like it worked. Without Sailor Moon we can’t possibly defeat her and break the crystal. But Usagi-chan can’t transform as long as that crystal exists." Makoto said.

"Look at all of you! Did you forget that you have powers of your own?"

Everyone turned and looked at Sauro.

"Amberite had a brilliant idea, so what? I’m not going to just give up."

"We never said we were giving up!" Minako shouted.

"We do need a temporary leader, you know." Makoto said, intervening.

"…"

A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY:

Jadeite leaned against the side of a building, idly watching the mammoth Negamon Mamut rampage up the street, picking up people in his trunk and draining their energy into the globe he was holding. He looked at the shrine on the hill, and suddenly shivered.

Why does that place look so familiar?

Although he had no way of knowing it, he had unconsciously blocked his memories of what had happened to him before he was frozen into that crystal.

AT THE SHRINE:

Sauro looked down towards the street.

"Negamon."

He stood up.

"A Negamon? Here?" Makoto said.

"Down there."

Without saying another word, Sauro started running. He got out his transformation stick as he ran.

"Raptor Crystal Power, Make Up!"

Now Dinozore, he took a flying leap through the trees and onto the road. He paused to take in the scene, and laughed. A mammoth was charging around, grabbing people with its trunk. It turned around and trumpeted at the sight of Dinozore. It charged, but before it could get too far a glowing yellow whip smacked the ground in front of it. It slowed, and then backed away. Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Venus, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Gaia landed next to Dinozore.

"Were you going to start the party without us?" Sailor Gaia said.

"Be quiet."

The mammoth turned around to face Dinozore and the Sailor Senshi, pawed the ground, and trumpeted.

"It’s going to charge us again!" Sailor Jupiter said.

The mammoth launched itself forward. It covered the distance between the Sailor Senshi and itself surprisingly fast. They scattered to avoid the charge.

"It’s more dangerous than it looks." Sailor Gaia noted.

"Just standing here like this isn’t any good. We need a strategy."

Mamut trumpeted and charged again. Dinozore stepped calmly to the side without any concern. Suddenly he smiled.

"I’ve got it!"

"Got what?" Sailor Gaia asked, irritated.

"A strategy. I need you and Rei-chan, and Same-chan too."

"What do you need me for?" Sailor Jupiter asked.

Dinozore pointed at Mamut. "Keep him busy for a few minutes, but please, Same-chan, try not to get hurt."

Sailor Jupiter nodded. She picked up a rock and threw it at the Negamon. It whirled, trumpeting with rage, and charged. Sailor Jupiter jumped out of the way.

"Now," Dinozore said, walking up to a tree and slicing it down with a swipe of the killing claw on his foot. He then did the same to another tree on the other side of the road. "Rei-chan, set fire to these trees."

"Alright. Mars Fire Ignite!"

Dinozore looked at his sister.

"Flora-chan, fan the flames."

Sailor Gaia said nothing, but wind started to swirl around her. She sent it towards the fire, increasing its size.

Dinozore leapt into the air, and flew towards the Negamon.

"Same-chan…"

Sailor Jupiter turned to look at him. "Yes?"

"Attack it."

She nodded.

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

The spray of electric leaves startled the Negamon, and it ran the other way. However, it came to a screeching halt when it saw the fire. Trumpeting, it tried to go around.

"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"

The attack sent it reeling, and it tried to go the other way.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

The Negamon was hemmed in on three sides. It started to go one way, then stopped abruptly and started to go another way. Then it turned around and saw an opening. There was just one thing in the way. Sailor Jupiter. It trumpeted in desperation and charged. No attack would make it turn back; it was hell-bent on escape. It pounded relentlessly forward, its huge curved tusks gleaming. Sailor Jupiter tried to run, but she fell. The Negamon lowered its head, ready to gore this puny creature. Dinozore sprung into action, extending the blades of the Crystal Claw into the two-bladed sword mode, and brought the weapon down. Mamut stopped dead in its tracks, upright and motionless. Then it suddenly burst into little fragments of energy. Sailor Jupiter looked and saw Dinozore standing to her left, where he had landed after delivering the final blow to the Negamon. He briefly took flight, landing right in front of her, and helped her up.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, thanks to you." Sailor Jupiter said, her eyes bright.

"Well, that was a dumb plan!" Sailor Mars said loudly. "Are you trying to be our leader now?"

"I only took charge because no one else did."

"You have to admit, using the fire was a good idea." Sailor Mercury said.

"Mammoths are, I mean, were wary of fire. Amberite doesn’t change the instincts and natural fears of an animal species she uses as a Negamon, she just overlays their instincts with her own programming."

"Well, you did admirably, but it was all in vain, Dinozore! Goodbye… for now!"

Dinozore whirled around just in time to see Jadeite vanish.

IN THE NEO-DARK KINGDOM:

"Jadeite, you lost another one of my Negamon. Why should I even be putting up with you?" Amberite hissed.

"I gathered quite a bit of energy, and Opal will be ready with Shellshock in a matter of hours."

"Good. Now get out of my sight!"

Jadeite lost no time in doing so.

"Well, I know Jadeite is plotting against me, but he’s foolish to think it will do him any good. I’ll be rid of him and Opal before too much longer." Amberite said, laughing.

IN TOKYO:

"What?!"

"Usagi, what is wrong with you?" Sauro said calmly.

"I’m still the one in charge here, you know!" Usagi fumed.

"Well, then maybe you should transform to show just how much in charge of the situation you actually are."

"Fine! Moon Eternal-"

Black energy crackled across Usagi’s body, and she collapsed. Flora, who had been quiet, spoke up.

"We came to your house to tell you about the Negamon attack, not to be yelled at."

"Usagi, I know you are still the true leader, but you’re powerless as long as Amberite has the Anti Silver Crystal. For your own sake, as well as ours, stay away from the fighting, alright?" Sauro said. Then he stood up. "I’m going now."

Sauro walked out the front door, and Flora quickly followed. Luna came downstairs just then.

"What was that about, Usagi-chan?"

Usagi frowned. "Sauro’s trying to be leader."

"Well, someone has to. You can’t fight anymore, and you shouldn’t try. You’ll just get hurt."

"That’s the best advice I’ve heard yet." A sibilant voice said.

"Slither?" Usagi said.

"Who else? This isn’t like those other times you couldn’t transform. As long as that crystal Amberite has is functioning, you’re worse than useless in a fight."

"I guess."

"Besides, Sauro did well against that Negamon earlier." Slither said.

"Yes, Usagi-chan. There’s no point getting yourself hurt. Unless that crystal Amberite has gets destroyed, you’re helpless." Luna added.

"Fine!"

LATER:

"Sauro-kun, what were you doing earlier today? Are you trying to be leader or something?" Rei asked sharply.

"I told you before and I’ll tell you again, someone has to be in charge. If we don’t have a leader, you’ll never defeat Amberite. If you don’t defeat her and smash that crystal, Usagi will never be able to transform again."

"Sauro-chan does have a point." Makoto added.

"You’re just saying that because he’s your boyfriend!" Minako said.

"I am not!"

Usagi listened to the whole argument without saying a word, very unusual for her. Eventually Ami stopped the argument.

"Sauro-kun is right. We need somebody to be in charge." Ami said. "But it can’t be just anyone."

"What you need, little girls, is a leader who has good tactical skills, as well as fighting ability." Draca said from her perch in a tree. "I’m not the leader type, but I’d be a better leader than that frail little Usagi, that’s for sure!"

"Draca!" Sauro hissed. "Don’t talk about Usagi like that."

Draca turned away and vanished into the trees.

"She’s right. I’m a terrible leader." Usagi said. "I can’t even transform."

"Don’t worry. You’ll get your powers back eventually." Makoto said, trying to console her.

"But it’s not like the other times. Amberite has that crystal and-" Sauro was cut short as Makoto clapped a hand over his mouth.

"We know that, Sauro-chan." Makoto said.

"But all we have to do is destroy Amberite’s crystal, right? How hard can it be? We’re Sailor Senshi, this should be easy!" Minako said.

"I think not Minako-chan. Opal and Jadeite are powerful, but Amberite probably has even stronger warriors waiting in the wings." Ami said.

"Amberite is no pushover herself. She’s drastically more powerful than she was before." Sauro pointed out.

"Why all this beating around the bush? We need someone to be in charge."

"This isn’t a decision to be made lightly, you know, Mako-chan." Ami said.

"Well, we have to pick someone, right?" Flora said. Sauro nodded.

"Unless we want to get killed. I think we’ve all become the worst nightmares of Opal. She wants nothing more than to destroy us."

"I don’t think we should choose our new leader without Haruka-san, Michiru-san, and Setsuna-san here." Ami said.

"Good point. We should have their input."

THE NEXT DAY:

"You as leader? That’s the worst idea I have ever heard!" Haruka said loudly.

"What does that mean?" Sauro replied indignantly.

"I’d rather be led by an ape!"

"Then why don’t you volunteer?"

"What?!"

"Oh, wait, now I’m insulting the apes."

"You-"

"Haruka, what are you doing?" Michiru said, entering the conversation.

"The raptor wants to be leader." Haruka said, gesturing towards Sauro.

"Only until I destroy the Anti-Silver Crystal."

"I think you’d make a good leader. You know more about how to fight Amberite’s Negamon, and you fought Amberite herself once as well." Michiru said.

"You just want to prove that you’re better than Usagi-chan, don’t you?" Haruka said. Sauro lowered his head.

"No. I realized a long time ago that I’d never be able to reach her level. I’m trying to help her. If I defeat Amberite and destroy that crystal, Usagi will be able to transform again."

"You have my support." Michiru said.

"Thank you." Sauro said.

LATER:

Opal floated effortlessly a few feet above the ground, watching her Negamon at work. Shellshock plodded along, using its electricity to knock its victims unconscious before grabbing them with its horny beak and draining their energy. Its armored tail swung slowly back and forth as it drained one victim after another. Opal floated down to the ground and landed there.

"Very good, Shellshock! Keep it up and we will make the Queen very happy indeed!" she praised. The turtle Negamon looked at her, blinked, and continued to do as it had been ordered.

"Stupid turtle."

Opal sat down under a tree and watched Shellshock for a while.

ELSEWHERE:

Sauro, and Makoto were walking together, holding hands. Suddenly, Sauro stopped and looked around.

"Strange."

"What?" Makoto asked.

"I smell a Negamon."

"Another one?"

"Yes."

"Let’s get it!"

"Of course."

ELSEWHERE:

Shellshock stopped draining energy and turned away.

"Stupid turtle! What are you doing?"

Then Opal saw two figures standing on the roof of a nearby building.

"Great. Dinozore’s here. Just what I need."

Dinozore and Sailor Jupiter leapt down to the street. Sailor Jupiter started to attack, but Dinozore cut her off.

"Wait. Something is strange about that turtle."

Sailor Jupiter moved around him, and started to gather power.

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

The attack hit Shellshock right in the face, and yet it seemed to have no effect at all. Indeed, it almost seemed as if the Negamon liked it.

"What?" Sailor Jupiter exclaimed.

"Same-chan, it absorbed your lightning attack. It’s emitting electricity."

"That’s not very good."

Opal appeared next to Shellshock, seemingly out of nowhere. The electricity generated by the Negamon caused Opal’s hair to stand on end.

"Prepare to die, lizard!" Opal said.

"Hurricane Wind Bomb!"

Opal leapt up out of the way of Sailor Gaia’s attack and Shellshock simply crouched down. Sailor Gaia and Sailor Venus appeared from the area opposite of Dinozore and Sailor Jupiter. Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune appeared suddenly behind Dinozore. Shellshock remained immobile. Sailor Gaia cocked her head and looked at the Negamon.

"Did I kill it?" she wondered. She walked over to it.

"Flora-chan! Don’t-" Dinozore began, but Sailor Gaia touched the turtle’s shell. Thousands of volts of electricity coursed through Sailor Gaia. The shock knocked her unconscious and sent her flying. "touch the turtle…" Dinozore finished his sentence too late. Shellshock got to its feet and walked slowly away from the Sailor Senshi and Dinozore.

"Holly, are you all right?" Sailor Venus said. Sailor Gaia sat up, singed.

"That was certainly a shocking experience." she said.

Dinozore shook his head. "She’s fine."

"An electric turtle. That’s a new one." Sailor Neptune said.

"It’s a Meiolania, actually." Dinozore corrected.

"What’s that?" Sailor Neptune asked.

"Meiolania is the name of a species of extinct spiked tortoise from Australia." Dinozore explained.

"How do we defeat that thing?" Sailor Venus said.

"I’m more concerned with Opal than the Negamon." Dinozore said. "As long as we keep our distance from the Negamon and do not touch it, we should be fine."

"All right, I won’t touch the stupid turtle again!" Sailor Gaia said.

"Opal Lash!"

A gleaming green tendril of energy came striking down out of nowhere. Dinozore casually stepped aside as it tore a line in the street right where he had been standing. Opal flew down and landed next to Shellshock.

"Shellshock, show them what you can do with your lightning!" Opal said. Electricity began to build up in Shellshock’s body. It expelled the energy all at once in a massive wave of lightning. The lightning hit all of the Sailor Senshi, as well as Dinozore, and stunned them. It hit Opal as well.

"Stupid turtle! Attack them! Them!" she screeched. Shellshock started to move forward slowly. Dinozore was the first to recover. Ignoring Shellshock, he ran to Sailor Jupiter. She had also just recovered, and looked at him.

"Sauro-chan, what do we do with that thing."

Dinozore smiled. "Don’t worry. I have a plan."

"Well, what is it?" Sailor Neptune asked.

"We’re going to give it all the electricity it can handle." Dinozore said casually.

"What? Tell me you’re not serious!" Sailor Uranus said. "It absorbs lightning! You’ll just make it stronger!"

"What is he thinking?" Sailor Venus said.

"Trust me, guys."

Dinozore walked towards Shellshock. Sailor Jupiter quickly caught up with him.

"Sauro-chan, what are we doing?" she whispered.

"If Shellshock absorbs too much electricity, what will happen to it?"

Sailor Jupiter thought for a moment. "It will probably overload and hurt itself, right?"

Dinozore nodded. "Exactly. Then I can kill it with the Crystal Claw."

Sailor Jupiter smiled. "That just might work.

"Let’s both attack at once. My Thunderbird Air Strike and your Thunderbird Scream should do the trick."

The air around Dinozore began to pulse with electricity. Sailor Jupiter began to power up as well. Suddenly they heard Io’s voice in their heads.

<Try combining your attacks! Say ‘Double Thunderbird Scream’ together!> Io said.

"All right." Dinozore said.

"Double Thunderbird Scream!" Dinozore and Sailor Jupiter shouted together. The lightning around them coalesced into a giant eagle. This eagle flew at Shellshock. It hit the Negamon with staggering force but, as expected, it absorbed the lightning energy. Unfortunately, the lightning didn’t overload Shellshock, it just made it stronger!

"Was that part of your plan, Sauro-chan?" Sailor Jupiter asked.

Dinozore smiled nervously. "No."

"Then we’re in trouble."

Shellshock stepped forward. Sparks flashed from its eyes, and it let loose with a powerful bolt of lightning. This lightning hit where Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune were standing. It hit both of them. Sailor Uranus got back to her feet.

"I told you that you would just make it stronger, but you didn’t listen!"

"Haruka, calm down. It’s not like he did it on purpose." Sailor Neptune said.

"This is bad." Sailor Uranus said.

"This is the end for you, Sailor Senshi!" Opal said, landing only about ten feet away from them.

"I have a Plan B. All of you need to distract Opal and Shellshock for a few moments." Dinozore said.

Sailor Jupiter nodded and turned to Opal. "That Negamon is the second ugliest thing I’ve ever seen, and it’s standing next to the ugliest thing!"

Opal turned red and clenched her fists.

"You’re going to pay for that, you wench!" she hissed. She lashed at Sailor Jupiter with her whip, narrowly missing her.

"Do you even know what the word aim means?" Sailor Jupiter taunted. Opal got even more enraged.

Meanwhile, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune were taunting Shellshock. When it turned to attack one, the other distracted it.

Dinozore maneuvered himself carefully. He walked up to a fire hydrant that was close to Shellshock. However, the Negamon did not notice him until he spoke.

"Hey, Shellshock, are you thirsty?" he said, smiling wickedly as the tortoise turned around to look at him. As it did, Dinozore extended the Crystal Claw and struck downward with it. Water cascaded towards the Negamon. As the water washed over it, Shellshock short-circuited. Tendrils of electricity started to go off in all directions. Shellshock began thrashing, turning itself on its back before disintegrating into a cloud of energy. The color drained from Opal’s face.

"You destroyed Shellshock!" she said. As she regained her composure, she smiled. "It doesn’t matter. I have already gathered plenty of energy for Queen Amberite. Shellshock was expendable."

Opal Leapt straight up and faded out of sight.

Dinozore smiled.

"That was quite an irritating battle." he said.

"Well, I’m getting out of here." Sailor Gaia said as she left.

THE NEXT DAY:

"Well, what are we going to do?" Makoto asked.

"I don’t know." Sauro said.

"Have we reached any decisions?" Michiru asked. "Who’s going to take responsibility and lead the fight against the Neo-Dark Kingdom?"

"Let Sauro-chan do it." Makoto said.

"Why? We all saw how effective his plan was against that tortoise Negamon." Haruka said.

"But you said that Sauro-kun did defeat it, right?" Ami said.

"Yeah, but he almost got us electrocuted in the process." Minako said.

"But hasn’t he also contributed to the defeat of every Negamon we’ve fought so far?" Rei said.

"But I defeated most of those!" Usagi said indignantly.

"Yes, you did." Sauro said. "But you could never have defeated Falcatus, for example, without me."

"But now Usagi-chan is worse than useless. In a battle she would be a dangerous liability to us." Flora said.

"Then I’ll take her place for now." Sauro said. "Until the Anti-Silver Crystal lies in pieces!"

Makoto smiled. "I think it’s a good idea."

<Of course you do.> Io said.

"Well, Mako-chan does have a point." Ami said.

"Then are we really going to let Sauro-kun be our leader?" Haruka said irately.

"Why don’t we take a vote?" Sauro suggested. "How many want me to be our leader?"

Makoto raised her hand before Sauro had even finished speaking. Draca was almost as fast. Flora quickly raised her hand, and Michiru did as well. Ami raised her hand. Usagi slowly raised her hand.

"Who doesn’t want Sauro-kun to be leader?" Haruka said, raising her hand high above her head. Rei raised her hand. Minako also raised her hand.

"I guess that settles it." Sauro said. "I’m your leader until Amberite is defeated."

Haruka glared at Michiru. "I can’t believe you took his side."

"He’ll do fine, Haruka." Michiru said.

"But he almost got us killed by that Negamon!"

"Everyone makes mistakes. Besides, he did defeat it in the end."

Haruka shook her head slowly from side to side.

"I can’t believe he’s our leader."