Serena hung up the communicator and flopped down onto the couch. “I’m bored, but just knowing that Amy has news makes me feel better.”
Lita, a tall girl with brown hair in a high ponytail, looked at Serena. “You could study, but I’m so worried that I can’t.”
“Amy’s all right, she just has news,” Serena replied. “She seemed awfully serious about it.”
“Amy’s serious about a lot of things, but that premonition I had obviously came to life,” murmured Rei. “A monster…and then bright lights and the dragon destroyed.”
Mina, a pretty girl with long, shiny blonde hair with an orange-gold bow tied in it, glanced up from her book. “I wonder what the bright lights were.”
Serena shuddered. “The dragon is just too scary.”
“Serena, we’ve faced so many things before that,” Mina groaned. “Honestly, you shouldn’t be freaked. I wonder how Amy is.”
Serena fell silent, her pigtails dangling down. Lita let out a deep sigh and leaned against a chair, putting her hands behind her head. Mina chewed on the edge of her pencil while Rei swept the ground with her broom, still wearing her priestess outfit. It was dead silent in the room until there was a noise of a door opening. All four girls leapt to their feet.
“It’s Amy!” Mina cried.
Two cats emerged from behind a couch. One was black and one was white. Both had crescent moon symbols on their foreheads.
“Amy has arrived?” Luna, the female black cat, echoed. “Goodness gracious, let her in!”
Artemis, the male white cat, followed Mina to the door. They returned with a very bedraggled and soaked Amy. The girls gasped at Amy’s state and placed her in a chair, wrapping a blanket about her. Lita brought a plate of cookies and a cup of tea. The four girls and the two cats patiently waited while Amy sipped her tea.
“What happened?” Serena burst as soon as Amy set the mug down.
“It’s such a long story,” Amy began. She slowly told the tale about meeting Rose Opal at the bookstore, getting Rei’s message, and finding the dragon. She related to the parts when the dragon yelled about a woman named Pearl and capturing Sailor Moon and the scouts (Serena turned pale) and the rainstorm that pierced her. She told about her powers had failed and she was about to surrender when Rose and her friend Phoebe showed up.
Amy took a breath, much to the suspense of her friends, but continued telling about the two scouts…Sailor Earth and Sailor Phoenix. She told about the attacks they had used and the courage they had displayed. Amy also told of her confusion because they thought Tuxedo Mask was basically Sailor Earth. She told of how fast Phoebe and Rose had run after the dragon was defeated. And she concluded the tale with how she had quickly called Serena.
Darien, surprisingly, had shown up to seen the girls and was listening at the window. His eyes widened at the story (he had caught bits and pieces but hadn’t heard the two soldier’s citizen names), and he quickly rapped on the door. Lita opened it and stared at him in surprised.
“We didn’t think you’d come,” she informed.
“Couldn’t help overhearing the conversation,” Darien answered, following Lita into the room.
“Oh, Darien, I’m sorry we didn’t let you in earlier,” Mina purred.
Darien gave a small smile. “It’s perfectly fine, Mina, I’m just surprised at the news.”
Amy took another sip of tea and looked up at the tall, dark-haired young man. “You know why I’m surprised? I’m surprised that Serena hasn’t thrown herself on you yet.” She laughed suddenly, surprised at how much she sounded like Rei.
“Amy!” Serena whined. Then she smiled. “I have one Rei already.”
“Hey! I am not that mean!” Rei growled.
“Really?” Lita gasped sarcastically.
Rei rolled her eyes. Darien sat down next to his girlfriend and kissed her tenderly on the cheek. Serena let out a high, childish sigh. Her friends suppressed their giggles, but they stopped after hearing Luna speak.
“I suppose it’s time to finally tell you girls,” Luna started and gazed at Darien, “and boy (meaning Darien) about the Gaea Scouts.”
“The what?” Mina asked curiously.
“The Gaea Scouts,” Luna repeated, sounding a bit irritated. “They were another group of 5 girls.”
“Geesh, as if all these scouts weren’t enough,” Lita laughed. “9 in all, not including the Starlights.”
“Well, there are more. And more. So many Sailor Scouts,” Luna sighed.
“I’m personally surprised why no one has found them all,” Artemis added. “Only three of them remember their past.”
“How many Sailor Scouts are there?” Mina asked inquisitively.
“I’d say…” Artemis made some mumbling noises. “27.”
“27?” Rei gasped. “That many?”
“That many,” Luna echoed. “But for now we’re concentrating on the main group, the most powerful of the other three groups.”
“Ohhhhhh geesh!” Mina groaned. “It’s like…like meeting one’s Hotorhoo!”
Everyone else in the room groaned.
“It’s Waterloo, Mina, and this isn’t really one,” Amy sighed.
“I meant Waterloo! That’s what I said!” Mina complained.
“Anyway,” Luna growled to get their attention, “every Gaea Scout except for their leader came from the planet Iris.”
“Hold on a sec,” Lita stopped. “Who is their leader?”
“Sailor Earth.”
“Ok…tally mark for me knowing that…” Lita chuckled.
“The planet Iris,” Luna continued, “is the planet of magical elements.”
“Like fire…and water?” Rei asked.
“No, no, no,” Artemis argued. “Not necessarily. We have no clue if there is any Sailor Fire, Sailor Water, Sailor Terra, and etcetera. But the four other scouts were born there.”
“Born from mothers or born from element powers?” Serena asked, looking interested. “I mean they can’t possibly be sprouting up from the earth like flowers!” Serena giggled. Rei rolled her eyes again.
“Hush, Serena,” Darien urged, his eyes showing the deep curiosity for this subject.
“Let me tell a while, Luna,” Artemis rushed before Luna could say a word. “Two of them originated from elements, and the other two were born to their own mothers.”
“Which two were originated from elements?” Amy asked.
“I’m not quite sure, but I know one of them is the other girl you met: Sailor Phoenix,” Artemis replied.
“Go on,” Rei insisted.
Luna took over. “No one knew about the planet of Iris until Prince Endymion’s mother and father discovered it.” She gazed at Darien knowingly and then continued. “You see Endymion wasn’t the only one born in Elysion.”
Serena’s eyes bulged. She looked around the room, a huge smile growing across her face.
“You thinking what I’m thinking?” she squeaked.
No one replied.
“Darien here has a little sister!” Serena squealed, hugging Darien’s waist.
“Wha-what?” Darien goggled, staring. “Ah-ah…”
“It’s so cute!” Serena screeched, laughing.
Rei seemed to be trying to resist some urge. Lita glared at her, as if saying, “You touch Serena and you die.” Mina sweat-dropped and Amy took another sip of tea. Darien’s eyes darted around the room and rested on the two cats.
“Is what Serena says true?” he demanded.
Luna looked down. “Is it a good thing or a bad thing?”
“I-it’s good b-but…” Darien’s voice rose. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did it have to be a secret?”
“It was for Rosemary’s and your own good!” Artemis snapped.
“R-Rosemary?” Darien stammered.
“The name of Sailor Earth, your sister,” Luna replied. “Princess Miyoko is her Japanese Celestial name, but everyone called her Princess Rosemary or Princess Gaea. The only one who called her Miyoko or Miyo-chan was you, at times, and Princess Setsuna of Pluto.”
Darien was silent for a moment. “We can’t be brother and sister. We are years apart, and the accident happened when I was 4.”
“That was your mortal parents,” Luna reminded. “Queen Serenity decided, after Beryl’s attack, that you and your sister would be separated on Earth. Sadly, both sets of your mortal parents died, and you two met once in the orphanage. Just one brief time.”
Darien’s eyes widened. He now understood.
“Rose Opal,” he suddenly said.
“Huh?” Mina asked. “Oh yeah! That’s who Amy said was Sailor Earth.”
Serena looked at him. “Darien, I thought you heard our conversation.”
“I did…parts of it,” Darien admitted. “I didn’t hear that it was her!” He paused. “But Rose and I look nothing alike.”
“You got your father’s dark hair, and Rose got your mother’s brunette hair color. But if you see your faces, you do notice a similarity. The same soft and caring look,” Artemis informed.
Darien nodded knowingly, his cheeks glowing at the thought of having a kind look. “Do you think I should tell Rose?”
“You should…when you meet her as Tuxedo Mask and she is Sailor Earth. That is the best time,” Artemis told him.
“You both have Earth Symbols, right?” Serena asked.
“That’s obvious!” Rei cried despite herself. “You’re acting stupid again!”
“Waaah! Rei’s bullying me!” Serena bawled, but she turned red and became composed again. “Be nice,” she sniffled.
“But,” Luna replied, glaring at Rei and Serena, “Rose knows nothing except that she has a brother, went through time, and must gather her Sailor Scouts.”
“Who are her Sailor Scouts? Besides Sailor Phoenix, I mean,” Lita demanded.
“That will be revealed in due time,” Luna murmured.
The room was silent, and then Mina spoke up. “Do you think she knows who we are?”
“Rose apparently senses a familiarity with Serena,” Darien informed. “Once I heard her talking to her cat, Comet, saying ‘Serena sounds like the name Serenity, and I have heard that name before.’”
“Comet?” Artemis sat up abruptly. “That must mean your mother sent him to Rosemary before Elysion was attacked!”
“Comet was in the Golden Kingdom?” Mina asked.
“Yes. He was the family’s pet, although Rose was the closest to him.” “Can Comet talk?” Rei questioned.
“Yes, and he is a sociable cat. I suppose he has revealed his talking to Rose,” Luna answered. She gazed at the clock. “We’ve been talking for a long time. I suppose we take a quick break and I’ll explain a bit more.”
“Good idea,” Lita broke in. “I think we better get some research and see where all these youmas are coming from! I can make a snack for the break, and then we’ll get back to chatting!”
“Oh yum! I’m starved!” Serena laughed.
Mina groaned. “Serena, you ate a big bowl of ice cream earlier!”
Serena sighed. “That was a whole hour ago!”
Everyone in the room moaned.
“Some things change,” Amy mumbled, shaking her head. “I don’t think Serena’s appetite ever will.”
“So your mom said it was ok if you spent the night?” Rose asked, looking up from Myths of the Moon.
Phoebe sat down on the bed where Rose was lying and replied, “It took some persuasion…you know, the fire and all. But I finally told her we were fine and that even though you didn’t have parents you were very mature.”
“Well, sue me that I don’t have parents,” Rose laughed coldly.
“It was kind of cruel,” Phoebe admitted, “but my mom says things that she doesn’t mean.”
Rose closed her book and fingered the Earth charm around her neck. “Do you feel the same excitement I feel whenever I think about transforming again?”
Phoebe nodded. “Being Sailor Phoenix gave me strength.”
“But still, I feel frightened, like a heavy weight has been shoved onto my back and now I’m supposed to carry it,” Rose murmured, shuddering. She looked at her necklace. “This necklace…it’s a blessing but a curse.”
“Same with the brooch,” Phoebe added. She was silent for a while but then said, “You are my friend and leader, Rose. You see that, don’t you? And that wand you found…there are more than you and me.”
Rose’s eyes rested on the sky-blue transformation pen that lay on her nightstand. She gazed at the little lightning bolt. “I’m almost certain her name will be Sailor Storm and she’ll have the same powers as that youma.”
“Maybe,” Phoebe agreed. “Then maybe not.”
The tall redhead sighed and collapsed down onto the bed next to Rose. Her red hair spread on the coverlet, around her head, because it was undone. She sighed and looked at the window, watching a few cars drive by. Their lights reflected off the glass gently.
“Pho, do you think that Serena could possibly be a Sailor Scout?” Rose asked.
Phoebe nodded. Rose and herself had spent a while talking about Mercury and Serena and Amy. “Since Amy is a Sailor Senshi, I’m positive Serena is. And if she has other friends, I bet they’re scouts too.”
“They are planets…I bet they’re the originals,” Rose hypothesized.
“We better not jump to conclusions,” Phoebe informed.
Rose nodded. “Yeah.”
“But all the planets…” Phoebe then listed: “They would be Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Saturn, Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, Sailor Pluto.”
“And we know who Sailor Mercury is,” Rose added. She thought for a second and then remembered the four girls she had met. “Those girls in the café seem awfully…I don’t know…familiar to me.”
“Maybe they’re Sailor Scouts too?” Phoebe suggested.
Rose lowered her eyes. “I don’t know. And we’re jumping to conclusions again.”
Phoebe laughed. Rose smiled and lay down, her hair flowing over the pillow. The two stared at the ceiling for a while, and then Phoebe got up, stretched, and walked over to Rose’s bookshelf.
“Anything interesting to read?” Phoebe asked.
Rose grinned. “Yeah. I’ve read most of them.”
Phoebe turned back to Rose. “You know that book Myths of the Moon?”
“Of course. Why?”
“Do you think…do you think Serena is possibly…Sailor Moon or something?”
“The Moon isn’t a planet!” Rose exclaimed, giggling.
“But still…” Phoebe sighed, sitting down on the bed.
Rose stopped. “Perhaps you’re right, Phoebe.”
The two girls sat in silence.
Serena munched on a chocolate chip cookie as everyone gathered into the room again. Amy was still curled up in her chair and Artemis and Luna sat side-by-side, waiting. Lita and Mina sat down on the floor, each on one side of Amy’s chair. Rei leaned against the wall, her waterfall of black hair cascading down. Darien put his arm around Serena as Luna began talking again.
“The Queen of Earth, Endymion’s mother, became pregnant but did not tell anyone except her husband. They wanted it to be a joyful surprise to the whole kingdom. Joy had been scarce, especially since the Moon Kingdom and Elysion weren’t in agreement. Young Endymion did not find out until one night when he heard piercing cries from his mother. He rushed in and saw a beautiful baby girl lying in his mother’s arms. He was thrilled to have a new baby sister.
“The subjects were thrilled as well. They brought gifts for the new princess and celebrated on the streets. However, there was a problem. The king and his council had to discuss what this princess would grow up to be. Since Endymion was first-born and therefore the Prince and heir of earth, he was basically Sailor Earth. But they knew the baby girl had some power, so they went to her mother. The Queen decided right then that her baby girl named Rosemary would receive the sacred Earth Charm.
“The Earth Charm was a special relic, full of magic white power. When Rosemary was of age, she would begin training. She would be Sailor Earth but would protect her brother. Rosemary and Endymion, as they grew, became very close. But Endymion did not like the idea of his little sister protecting him. Neither did Rosemary. That is when four girls arrived as guests to Elysion.
“The four girls were Sailor Senshi from the Planet Iris and had come to beg for the queen’s loyalty to their planet. Forces had been trying to conquer it, but with the Moon Kingdom and Elysion on their side, they would be able to thrive. In order to seal the agreement, the Queen signed a treaty. Then she, the King, and the council agreed that Rosemary was trained enough to be a fantastic leader of these Senshi. Therefore, Sailor Earth became the leader of the Gaea Scouts.”
Luna’s voice trailed off. There was a hush around the room. Then Rei spoke.
“Go on. I’m sure there’s more.”
Artemis took over. “When Endymion went to the Moon Kingdom, Rosemary practiced hard with her companions and they battled opposing forces. When she became 16 years old, she was allowed to go to the Moon Kingdom. Although she made friends with all of you, she felt as if Queen Serenity favored her brother more than her. But Queen Serenity sent Sailor Earth on an unknown mission. Alone.
“Sailor Earth went to Sailor Pluto and narrowly escaped a Negaverse force. However, Queen Serenity had chosen Sailor Earth to travel to the future and change it forever by sending the Dark Ruby back to the present. The Dark Ruby’s power is unknown, but Queen Serenity destroyed it. Rumor has it that a shard of it is still around today. And now I am sure Rose is searching for her other companions, and the youmas are searching for you and the shard of the Dark Ruby.”
Artemis stopped, letting out a weary sigh. Amy swallowed her last sip of tea. The room was quiet once more; the only sound was the girls’, the boy’s, and the cats’ breathing. Suddenly Amy got to her feet.
“We better start researching about this Dark Shard right away,” she informed.
“I agree. Who knows what it does?” Lita agreed.
Rei opened her mouth but instead of words a low wail came out. She clutched her head. Her friends gasped and gathered around her. Serena shook Rei wildly.
“Rei? Rei, what’s wrong? Rei!” she squealed.
Rei opened her eyes, beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. “I had this terrible vision. Like an awful thing was happening. I think there’s a youma in town.”
“What are we waiting for?” Mina asked. “Venus Star Power!”
“Mercury Star Power!” cried Amy.
“Mars Star Power!” shouted Rei.
“Jupiter Star Power!” yelled Lita.
“Moon Crisis Power!” exclaimed Serena.
There were brilliant flashes of light as the girls flipped through their transformation sequences. Pretty soon the heroines were shown.
“Let’s get this party started!” Sailor Jupiter crowed, her brown ponytail bouncing as she slammed her fist into her palm.
“Right!” Sailor Moon consented.
The five Senshi raced out the door, Artemis and Luna hot on their heels. Darien vanished out the door, ready for any chance to protect the scouts.
At the same time, Rose sat up with a start.
“Phoebe, I hear screams,” she murmured. “Then let’s get moving! Phoenix Creation Transform!”
“Earth Life Force Power!”
And these two scouts bolted out the door, awaiting the beast’s challenge.
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