Chapter 5

Who is 'Princess'

Lost in a haze of darkness, is a silence so thick you could almost see it, Melody wandered through her mind. As soft silver kisses from her eyes wet her cheeks, she softly asked the darkness, "Who am I? Why am I all alone?" In the bleak blackness stretching out before her, Melody saw a small sliver of light coming towards her. Smiling, Melody tried to walk towards the light but found she was unable to. The light was a pale pink in color and stopped about three feet in front of Melody. Softly a voice came from the depths of the light saying, "Little one do not cry. You are not alone in this place of darkness. Your friends are waiting for you to wake up. Take heart for you possess a strength even I didn't foresee. Take care and trust yourself!" Then suddenly the darkness left Melody and she was surrounded by white light.

"Will she be okay? Why hasn't she come around yet? Ami, what's wrong with her?"

"Rei, I don't know. All I know is that she's not hurt she's just drained of energy. We'll just have to wait."

"If you two hadn't noticed, she is awake and trying to say something."

Surrounded by comfort and warmth, Melody slowly opened her eyes to see four frightened faces above her. Melody tried to smile but it came out more like a grimace as she said, "Hey guys...what's going on?"

"We're so glad your okay Melody," Rei began. Mina swiftly followed with, "That was scary! When you fainted away I thought you'd been hurt. Are you okay, really?" Worried about their friend's health Ami, Mina, and Rei all looked her over as she slowly pushed herself up from the pillows.

"I'm alright Mina, truly. I am awfully tired though...why I can't say." Glancing towards Lita, Melody saw a quick flash of...what looked like relieved horror in her eyes and then it was gone.

Lita couldn't speak for the emotion she felt clawing its way towards her throat. Blinking several times, she finally managed to grasp a hold of the threatening flood and stifled it. "Melody..." 'I don't know what to say to her. She reminds me so much of Serena when she first became my best friend. I'm so sorry Serena.' "Ready to head home?"

Wondering about the flicker of emotion that she'd seen in Lita's eyes, Melody smiled softly and said, "I'm more than ready Lita. Lets go!" So ten minutes later, with a warning from the doctor to take it easy for a few days, Melody and her friends left the hospital.

When they had reached the parking lot, Melody heard a familiar voice behind her say, "Fancy meeting you here. Visiting a sick friend Melody?"

Turning slowly, Melody smiled as she saw Chris standing behind her with four friends of his own. "Yes and no, you see I was the one sick and my friends came to see me. You've met Rei and Mina, but I don't think you've met Ami or Lita. Ami, Lita this is Chris. So, who's brave enough to be here with you?" Smiling mischievously, Melody was shocked at her own teasing. 'I don't even know this guy and here I am teasing him!'

'Wow! She's maturing as we speak! This could be interesting. And maybe if she's changed this much maybe there's hope for...no that will never happen Chris get over it!' "These are my brave friends," Chris said. With a mischievous look, Chris continued, "This is wacko, crazy, clumsy, and..."

Laughing, the five girls watched as Chris was tackled by his friends and a friendly scuffled unfolded before them. After a minute or so, one of the men detached himself from the fight and said, "Please forgive our friend here. He seems to be missing a few brain cells. My name is Kevin, and these other clowns are Max, William (aka Will), and Sam." Quickly getting to their feet, the five men bowed before the girls.

Bowing elegantly, the five girls said, "Very nice to meet you, gentlemen." Stepping forward, Rei said, "Why don't you guys join us? We were just about to go get some ice cream. Interested?"

Grinning, Chris said, "Thank you. We'd be delighted." Following the girls, Chris noticed that Melody was in the rear of the pack. Grinning he caught up to her and said, "So, what happened? We're you seriously hurt?"

"No.." Melody said softly. Then she related the entire tale to the five men and, when she had finished, sighed. "I can't seem to stay out of trouble. But I couldn't leave Ami there alone. I'm lucky the Sailor Scouts or whoever where there to save my friends and me." Thinking deeply, Melody didn't realize that the other girls were now a block ahead of them, the men were looking at her and each other with new purpose, and that she had just reveled herself to total strangers.

Understanding the look in Melody's eyes as she continued to think, Chris was about to say something when Sam stepped forward. Grasping Melody's shoulder, he softly said, "You shouldn't blame yourself Melody. It's not your fault that there are evil forces in the world that seek to harm innocent people. You've just had a run of bad luck. I mean, I think everyone in this city has been saved by the Sailor Scouts at least twice. We all need to be rescued once in a while. It is only a rare few that are as brave as Hercules and have the power to stop evil in their tracks. The scouts are some of those rare few. I can't begin to imagine everything you've been through in the past few weeks but I do know this. If your patient, eventually your skies will clear." Squeezing her shoulder, Sam smiled and pointed. "If we don't hurry, I fear the others will eat without us! Race you all there!"

Melody listened as Sam spoke and let his words sink into her heavy heart. Feeling better and somehow lighter, Melody smiled at Sam and then took off ahead of the guys. "I'll see you guys there!" The men purposefully let Melody race off towards her friends.

"So now do you believe me? Can we tell her now? I know you guys probably didn't see it, but when I touched her, I connected with her. The real her! It was something else. I bet it helped her too. She's got all her energy bottled up tighter than the Hoover Dam and its wearing her out. I think that connecting with me might have eased her a little. If we don't hurry, I'm afraid that she might do something even we've never expected. What I cannot say...but something."

"Yes, I think that our time is approaching. We must reveal ourselves to her sometime, but not yet. First she must realize who her friends are...and," Chris said with a smile, "we now have some help in this department. Kevin, will you go pick up Jessie at the airport? She'll be your little sister until the truth is revealed."

Grinning, Kevin said, "Sure, throw me on the mercy of that brat. Sure I'll go get her. At least I have a cute little sister and you guys don't. Now I'll get all the ladies." Laughing, Kevin waved to the guys and ran to the airport.

Chris smiled as Kevin raced off and waved towards the door. Just then Melody came out the door and said, "Are you guys coming? We're waiting on you to order." Laughing, she led the way to two tables pushed together in the front but the only window in the whole place.

The ice cream shop wasn't a great place but it wasn't bad. The tables were clean, the floor was swept, and the air smelled nice. So what if the tables were a little rough, the chairs had no cushions, and the temperature in the shop was twenty degrees? Quickly sitting down with the girls, the four men laughed and talked with everyone until they had ordered their ice cream. Chris stiffened as he felt an evil presence in Tokyo but didn't let the girls feel it. His friends, however, felt it like a knife in the heart.

Jumping to their feet as a scream filled the air, the girls looked at one another as Rei said, "What was that?! Melody you stay here, we'll check it out okay? Back in a few!" With a quick wink in Melody's direction, Rei, Mina, Lita, and Ami raced out of the shop and down the street.

Melody was just about to follow the girls when Chris placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll go see what's up. Please stay here Princess." Then with a quick kiss to her temple, Chris and the others raced after the girls.

Melody was stunned! "But...why'd you call me Princess? And who is she? I've been called Princess twice now....." Melody couldn't figure out why she'd been told to stay here. Turning to ask they someone what they thought about it, Melody gasped to see that she was alone at their table...and the only person still in the shop! Stunned, she quickly followed in the girls wake as she tried to understand what was going on.

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Jessie smiled as she floated down through the clouds alongside the 747. She waved to the little girl with innocent eyes who was the only one who could see her at the moment and then prepared to touch down on the ground. 'I should've worn different shoes....' Glancing down, Jessie realized that she'd worn the wrong outfit to float down to Tokyo in. Her long lilac dress was billowing softly around her and her tiara and earrings where totally from a different time than this Tokyo. Her heeled shoes were definitely the wrong choice when she could barely stand up in them, let alone land in them.

Taking a deep breath, Jessie landed softly on her feet on the center runway of the Tokyo Airport. Glancing around to make sure no one had seen her arrive, she sighed as she noted that everyone she needed were within four miles of her. Hearing her name called, she turned to the left and smiled at Kevin. Racing towards him, Jessie jumped the fence that separated the road from the runway and said softly, "So, have you missed me?" Then she hugged Kevin and said, "So are you ready to show your little sister around the town?"

Kevin grinned as he watched Jessie gracefully float down out of the clouds and land on her feet and not her face. Feeling proud for her, Kevin called her name and watched as she quickly joined him. Hugging her back, Kevin teased, "Missed you, a six-year old brat? Never." Returning her grin, Kevin quickly put Jessie into his black Dodge jeep and said, "Of course, but are you ready to meet everyone?" Hoping she'd tell him something good, Kevin stiffened as he felt a cold shift in the air.

Jessie also felt the change. "Yes, I'm ready but she's not. At least not yet...Swerve Right Now!" Watching as Kevin obeyed her without question, Jessie frowned at the black vortex of evil energy blew up the road three inches to their left. Had they not swerved, Jessie and Kevin would've been dead from all the evil energy in that vortex.

Kevin brought the car to a screeching halt and the two of them quickly jumped out of the way as a ball of black energy crashed into the jeep, totally destroying it. Kevin stared for a moment at the blackened ash that was his jeep and let out a cry of outrage. Quickly putting his hands in a prayer-like stance in front of him, Kevin said, "Your going to pay for destroying my car. Nova Storm Power!" In a whirling wind, Kevin transformed into Storm Knight. Staring into the sky, Storm Knight wondered, 'Where is this bad guy?'

Standing next to Storm Knight, Jessie wondered if Kevin made a habit of transforming in front of people in open places like the parking lot of a major airport. Sighing, Jessie pointed to the right and said, "She's sitting in mid-air right there. Who are you and what do you want?" Wondering how long she had until the sailor scouts got there, Jessie quickly felt for their energies and smiled as she called to Storm Knight softly, "She is awakening..." and then softer, "she is coming!" Smiling, Jessie began to glow a light blue color as she whispered to her princess, "May angels watch over you as you find your true self." Continuing to glow Jessie transformed into Nova Star. "My dearest Princess, may you find peace and happiness in the upcoming awakening." Closing her eyes she joined her knight in the fight for the airport.

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Racing through alleys and streets, Melody smiled as she caught site of her friends racing into a nearby abandoned temple. 'What are they doing? Something isn't right here.' Following her friends inside, she hid behind a towering oak, as they did something amazing!

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"Mercury Crystal Power!"

"Jupiter Crystal Power!"

"Light Fairy Power!"

"Flame Fairy Power!"

In a flash of brilliant lights and clouds, Rei, Mina, Lita, and Ami transformed into the Sailor Scouts. "Scouts, the enemy is at the Tokyo Central Airport. We need to hurry because there are two other energies there. One is familiar and the other is new. We may be fighting two enemies here." Following Sailor Mercury's advice, the four girls quickly joined hands and teleported to the airport.

Shocked over what she'd just seen, Melody staggered out of the temple. 'They're the Sailor Scouts. That's why they were so worried about that news coverage. That's also why I never see them in any of the battles that I'm in, because they're the ones who always protect me...' Without thinking about it, Melody continued to walk towards the airport. Shocked out of her daze by a little girl bumping into her, Melody realized that she'd reached the airport.

Walking towards the area that seemed blackened and torn, Melody looked skyward as she heard a familiar voice say, "Melody Heads Up!" Jumping to the left, Melody smiled as a hole about the size of a baseball appeared in the pavement to her right. Smiling, Melody turned towards Sailor Mercury who was running towards her and said, "Thanks...Ami look out!"

Rushing forwards, Melody pushed Sailor Mercury out of the way of an oncoming black ball of energy. Taking the hit herself, Melody cried out as the blast seared her skin and tore her clothes. As she fell, Melody winced as Ami caught her and lowered her to the ground. "Why did you do that?...And how do you know who I am?" "I saw you in the temple today, all of you. It's okay Ami, I'm fine with it. Just kick some butt okay?" Smiling, Melody gave up the battle to stay awake and fell into blissful darkness.

Ami didn't know what to say. Melody had just saved her and she'd known that the four of them had been keeping this information from her. She wasn't sure what to think of all of this, all she knew was the she was now royally pissed. Leaving Melody lying on the pavement behind her, Ami gave the laughing yoma a glare that would have frozen the center of the Earth. As the yoma advanced towards her, Ami softly said, "Just try it, and see what happens. Your not going to hurt my friend any more. She's too important to me to let that happen."

Searing, the yoma sent another blast of energy at Ami. She didn't ever blink. Gritting her teeth, Ami took the hit and stood her ground. Nova Star watched all of this from the air. She was shocked and surprised at Melody's action and doubly shocked at Sailor Mercury's reaction. 'They've come to care for her as they did their own princess. This changes everything...' Floating down, Nova Star held up her hand to the five knights who were helping the Sailor Scouts up. Signaling that she didn't need their help, Nova Star walked towards the yoma and Ami. But before she could reach either of them, Sailor Jupiter raced in and knelt by Melody.

As Nova Star got closer to the scene, she heard Jupiter's voice saying, "Melody, talk to me. Are you okay? Melody?" Standing, Sailor Jupiter joined Sailor Mercury in her stand against the yoma. Star was proud of the scouts. 'Maybe they have learned from their mistakes...what's this?'

The yoma didn't know what to think about this turn of events. Now there were two wimpy scouts blocking him from his target and they weren't crumbling like they were just two minutes ago, and now the two standing against him were glowing lilac?

Ami and Lita were startled when they felt a presence in their collective minds. "Brave soldiers, you have proven your loyalty beyond any doubt. Please be true to my daughter for she will need your help more than ever. She has gifts for you, please accept them." Then a strangely familiar voice said softly, "Sailor Mercury, you are the guardian of water. The Earth is covered in water and the currents of the water are strong and deep. Sailor Jupiter, you are the guardian of thunder. Combined with water, you can create a storm that will drive evil from this place. Be strong, both of you and protect the earth who's powers you control."

Feeling as though they'd been gone for a month, Ami and Lita saw the fight through shocked eyes. Then suddenly, each felt a light weight settle in their right hand. Instinctively knowing what to do, they smiled and said, "Ice Fairy Power!" "Earth Fairy Power!"

Immediately, Ami was surrounded by a light blue cloud and ice formed around her entire body. When the ice shattered, she was in a different fuku. Her shoes were now light blue heels, and her skirt was light blue with a dark blue bow and her shirt was dark blue with a light blue bow. In the center of her front bow was a dolphin pendent and in the center was her light blue fairy crystal. Her tiara was a copy of Mina's and Rei's but her teardrop jewel was light blue. Her earrings were light blue dolphins and she now had a silver bracelet on her right wrist with a small light green stone tree on it. With a sound like an ocean wave, Nova Sailor Mercury stepped out of the cloud of ice ready to fight!

Lita also went under a transformation. Only she was swallowed up by the ground in a flash of lightning. Under the ground, Lita felt the Earth's warmth surround her as her fuku changed. Her skirt was now light green and had a black back bow while her shirt was black with a light green front bow. Her earrings were light green trees and in the middle of her front bow was a tree pendent with her light green fairy crystal at the center of the tree. Her tiara was like Ami's only her jewel was light green and on her left wrist was a silver bracelet with a small light blue stone dolphin on it. Then the earth erupted and Nova Sailor Jupiter was ready for action.

Nova Star was pleasantly surprised with this new turn of events. 'She's powered those two up...wait a minute!' Noticing Nova Sailor Venus and Nova Sailor Mars's smiles, Star also noted that they too were powered up. 'She's powered them all up without realizing who she is. I didn't think that was possible. We were sent here to find the chancellor of hope, and to do that we need our Fairy Princess...but maybe we should leave her alone...' Leaving the Earth Sailors to fight the yoma, Star walked straight to Melody and knelt beside her. Hearing rather than seeing the five knights come up to form a protective ring around them, Star was surprised to hear an angry female voice say, "You lay even one finger on her and you'll not live to see tomorrow. That's a promise not a threat." Looking up into the angry eyes of Nova Sailor Mars and Nova Sailor Venus, Nova Star smiled softly as she said, "Do not be afraid sailor scouts of Earth. I am here to help her, just as the knights are. If you do not let me help her soon though, she may not be able to return to us. Will you allow me to help your friend?" Waiting, Nova Star knew this moment was critical to the success of the mission and for the first time in her young life, she was worried about the outcome.

Mina didn't know what to do. First, Melody enters their lives and makes them all happy again, and now they had to decide if they could trust her life to the hands of a stranger. Looking at Rei, Mina knew when she came to an answer. When Rei looked at her, Mina smiled and nodded her head. "Go ahead, but we're watching you." Nova Star nodded her head and softly said, "Fairy Star Renewal." Rei and Mina watched as Melody and this new scout were outlined in a rainbow light, and as Nova Knight knelt down and held Melody's hand with an expression that almost looked like concern...

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Nova Sailor Mercury and Nova Sailor Jupiter glared their hatred and anger at the bulky airplane-shaped yoma. "You overgrown mechanical snake, your going to pay for all the damage you've caused." "Your also going to regret messing with an innocent who's only concern was her friend's welfare. Planet Fairy...." Touching Nova Sailor Mercury's bracelet with her own, the two sailor scouts began to glow with a blue-green flame. "Storm Power!" Raising their now linked bracelets, Mercury and Jupiter threw a blue-green blast of energy at the yoma which disintegrated with a crash of ocean wave and thunder. Turning towards each other, they laughed with seer joy at their new connection. Hearing a soft grown to their left, they turned to find Melody slowly opening her eyes.

Melody blinked several times as she opened her eyes. Hearing Lita's voice from far away, Melody gave the group a weary smile and said, "I'll be okay...I'm just a little burnt right now. Guess that's what I get for trying to be like a piece of toast huh?" Everyone laughed at Melody's joke in seer relief.

"We were so worried about you Melody. Why did you run out in front of a blast like that?" Rei still was shocked at her reaction, and the fact that she'd heard Melody call Sailor Mercury, Ami.

"I did it because I knew Sailor Mercury didn't know it was behind her." Looking directly at Rei, Melody knew exactly when Rei figured out she knew who she was. Turning her gaze inward, Melody mused, "The one thing I want to know is, why did Chris call me princess?"

Jessie was shocked to learn that Chris had called Melody by her true self so soon. Seeing his crimson face, she knew it had just been a slip. Standing with the knights, Nova Star said, "Well now that you're safe, we'll be on our way. See ya!" And with that, the six of them raced off into the deepening twilight.

Melody didn't exactly understand what was going on. She did know one thing, she wasn't going to the hospital this time. "Guys, lets go home. I'll explain everything to you then, okay Rei?" Nodding her head, Rei saw how wore out Melody was. It wasn't surprising either considering the blast she'd just lived through. 'She's as tough as Serena, but as frail as Hotaru...what an interesting combination...' Then the six girls walked home, where they all dreamed of the past...and the sailor scouts remembered a long ago prophecy. A prophecy about a chancellor of hope...and a little girl called the star of light....