Footprints in the Snow

Author: MoonStarDutchess

Chapter 11: Sailor Sun and Comet

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon and gain no profit from writing this fanfiction.


Sailor Sun and Comet

Serena growled and glared at jasmine. I thought you said she got off at eight," Serena said and then heaved a huge sigh. They had been waiting for almost an hour and there was no sign of Miko. They were waiting on the ledge of the roof of a nearby building where they had a clear view of the doors of the radio station from all sides.

"That's what I overheard her say to some guy," Jasmine said and smiled inwardly. It served them right to wait this hour after doing what they did to her regarding the contest.

Serena sighed again and turned her gaze to Sapphire who was staring at the building. If he had any complaints about the wait, he decided not to verbally express them. She let her eyes trail over his body, taking in his appearance. He was wearing the outfit that he wore when he was with the Negamoon, the only difference being the accessories that now accompanied it. The dark blue cape draped over his shoulders, created a more regal look with the outfit. He wore a white mask over his blue eyes. On his right side, secured by several thick belts were a katana and a wakizashi.

"There she is," Sapphire said, breaking Serena from her observance. She looked in the direction he extended his hand and spotted Miko leaving the studio. They watched as she made her way through an alley. "Come on, we need to catch her."

They leaped across the rooftops until they made arrived in front of the alley. They froze when Miko leaped into a defensive stance, holding an item in her hand that the three on the roof couldn't recognize.

"Whoever you are," her voice said sternly, no hint of fear displaying in her tone, "come out and I won't hurt you."

Serena, Jasmine, and Sapphire jumped down from their perch on the roof and landed in front of her in crouched positions before rising to their feet.

Miko instantly relaxed when she saw who they were. "You are Sailor Moon, correct?"
"Yes, that's right. And you are Sailor Sun."

She nodded and her lips formed a smile. "I'm very happy to see you. Your mother told me that you would be seeking me out. I just didn't think it would be this soon and certainly not at night."

"For a dead woman my mother sure is busy," Serena said with a giggle.

Miko kneeled in front of Serena with her head bowed, causing her to take a step back in shock. "Your highness. It is my great honor to fight for you against whatever dangers that come upon the world," she said, her voice much more formal than what she used on the radio.

Serena raised both of her hands in front of her and waved them frantically, closing her eyes and sweating slightly as uneasiness took over her body. "Please stand that's not necessary."

Miko nodded and stood. Serena opened her eyes and smiled. She extended her hand. "Welcome Miko and you fight with me. Not for me."

Miko's eyes widened. "But your highness. You are queen and shouldn't be fighting. You should leave that to those who protect you."

"If I was meant to do that, then I wouldn't be able to become Sailor Moon. We shall fight together."

Miko nodded and watched as the others turned back to their normal looks.

"I'm Serena, this is Sapphire," she said, motioning to him, "and this little girl here is Jasmine."

"I am not a little girl!" Jasmine snapped and folded her arms.

"Oh, I remember you! You are the one that got so nervous over the radio that you fainted!" Miko said.

Serena and Sapphire turned to look at the youngest of the group before bursting out into laughter.

"It's not funny!" she protested.

"I am pleased to meet you all," Miko said.

"I know it's late but do you have time to come back to my place. We have a lot to talk about."

"Yes of course. It's only eight o'clock after all," Miko replied.

Sapphire and Serena looked at her strangely.

"We left my apartment at eight. That is impossible."

"No, its eight now. Well, it is fifteen after. See?" Miko showed them her watch and sure enough, she was right. Serena and Sapphire turned to look at Jasmine who was slowly backing away, while rubbing the back of her head and laughing nervously. Suddenly, she turned and ran away from them.

"What's her deal?" Miko asked.

"Let's go and we will explain on the way," Sapphire said and they all took off running after the young girl.

--

"Okay I so tricked you, but was it really necessary to throw me into the fountain?" Jasmine mumbled as she dried her hair with a towel. She was wearing a pair of Serena's warm sweats that seemed to engulf her tiny form. Though it had been a way since the "dip" in the fountain, she was still shivering.

"We waited there an hour," Sapphire said, then took a sip of the tea in his mug.

"It's your fault for not looking at the clock," she replied, and then added, "and for leaving me alone at the contest."

"Let's just drop that for now and get on to business," Sapphire said.

Serena turned toward Miko. "How long have you been a scout?"

"Only about a month," she said. "It took me about half of the month to realize that all this magical girl wackiness was actually real."

"I know how you feel," Jasmine said with a giggle. She came to me in a hologram and I thought I was seeing things. Then, I thought she was a ghost. It took me a good two weeks to not go into denial every time I looked at my power wand."

"Yeah, but now I find it to be pretty cool. It's as if I have a solid goal in my life. A purpose instead of just roaming around doing radio gigs."

"Exactly," Jasmine replied. "I'm happy to know I'm not just a freak who can see visions."

"Did my mother ever tell you anything about rounding up the scouts? Did she give any hints to who they were?"

"No, she didn't tell me anything. You mean you have no information either?"

"No, nothing. We are just relying on fate and luck to guide us to them."

Miko bit her bottom lip and directed her gaze from her mug to Serena. "I know this girl," she began, hesitantly. "Since I've become a scout I've been getting weird feelings from her. Do you have a way to find out if someone could be a scout?"

"If I get near her enough my crystal would react a bit. Who is she?"

"Her name is Nikita. She comes to the studio every Friday and does the movie reviews. There's an aura about her that tells me there's more to her. That she's more than a normal human being. Obviously I can't approach her about it."

"Think you can get me near her?" Serena questioned.

"Yes, you three come to my show tomorrow. Then we can find out. If she is a scout, I don't think she knows it yet."

---

The next day, Miko greeted Serena, Sapphire, and Jasmine at the door and easily escorted them past the security in the station. She guided them to a place where they could watch what was going on and pointed to Nikita. "That's her," she said.

Serena took in the young woman as she sat down in front of one of the microphones. Serena felt a shock jolt through her when the brown haired girl directed her hazel gaze directly at her. It was as if she was being continuously jolted with static electricity. Serena absently grabbed Sapphire's hand and squeezed it, unable to keep from looking at the girl.

Sapphire looked over at Serena, his face painted with worry, when he felt her squeeze his hand tightly. "Serena are you alright?"

She didn't answer him until Miko sat down in front of her, blocking the direct line of vision to the other woman.

"I'm fine now," Serena said and pulled her hand away from his. She sifted through her purse.

"What's going on?" Jasmine said, ignoring the broadcast that had started.

Serena's eyes widened when she saw a new item resting in her purse. She slowly pulled it out and showed it to Sapphire and Jasmine. "Looks like Miko's hunch was right. When her gaze met mine, I felt like my body was constantly being subjected to static electricity. That's why I grabbed your hand," she said, directing her gaze to Sapphire. "I was scared.

Sapphire nodded. "So she's Sailor…"

"Comet," Serena said, looking back down at the wand in her hand.

After the broadcast, Miko directed her gaze to Serena. Serena nodded affirmation that Nikita was a scout. Miko stopped the woman before she left the studio. "Nikita, would you mind if I introduced you to my friends. They really want to meet you. "

"Sure, all right," she replied, her soft, meek voice a stark contrast with the confident tone she used in her movie reviews. They made their way to the audience area where Serena and the others were waiting.

"Everyone, this is Nikita," Miko said.

"Nice to meet you," Serena said, extending her hand.

Nikita nodded and took her hand. "Likewise," she replied then looked at Miko. "Now what do you really want with me? I have a feeling this is more than introducing me to these people."

Miko sighed. "You're right. We have something important to tell you. Would you mind coming with us to my place?" Miko questioned. Nikita blinked in surprise, and then nodded.

"Sure, I'll go. What do you need to talk to me about?"

"You'll see when we get there. It's nothing we can talk about here."

When they arrived at Miko's apartment and sat down, they got straight to the point.

"Do you know what a Sailor Scout is?" Miko asked.

Nikita looked surprised and nodded, "I had heard about the sailor scouts from the news broadcast but they were just a publicity stunt to promote the movies. They needed more help than that to promote those. They were horrid."

"What if we told you that they weren't just a publicly stunt and that you are one yourself?" Sapphire asked.

"To put it bluntly, I would ask what you were smoking."

"Guess we have to show her. Jasmine, would you do the honors?" Serena asked.

"Sure," she said as she stood.

She raised her power stick in the air and spoke the words needed for her transformation, "Sailor Star Cosmic Power!"

Jasmine was engulfed in blue light, as pink stars surrounded her, at parts of her body; they tied together into cloth and flashed pink before turning into her outfit. When the light faded from her, she was completely dressed in her Sailor uniform.

Nikita's eyes widened and her mouth formed a wide O.

"Are you okay?" Serena asked, covering the woman's hand with hers.

"Are you saying that I can do that?" Nikita questioned.

Serena nodded, removed the comet wand from her purse, and handed it to Nikita. "Stand up and say, Sailor Comet Cosmic Power," Serena said.

Nikita slowly stood and stared down at the gray and maroon wand. "Okay… Sailor Comet Cosmic Power!"

She was engulfed in a maroon light as small gray orbs surrounded her body. When they hit her, they gave off a yellowish tint and her uniform appeared. After thirty seconds, the young woman found herself standing there in a uniform as well.

Everyone waited anxiously for her to start freaking out. To their amazement, she didn't say a word, she just stared down at the clothing she was wearing, nodded once, and then fainted.

Serena and Jasmine rushed to her and sat her in a chair as Miko got her a cold compress for her head.

"That went well," Jasmine said sarcastically.

"Oh, she'll be fine once the reality sets in. We were," Miko said.

"That's still being debated," Jasmine said.