Seven Sailor Scouts stood before Beth, Uranus and Neptune the only ones in a fighting stance. Beth frowned slightly, watching the seven girls in front of her.
"MARS FIRE IGNITE!" A swirling mass of fire spiraled towards Beth who just stood there. Right then, the sign of Proteus glowed on her forehead. A golden wall of protection formed between Beth and Mars' attack, blocking it. But she still hadn't transformed.
"Proteus Guardian Power!" All the scouts blinked with surprise as Beth was enveloped by a sea-green and gold aura. When the light faded, she wore a uniform made up of tan leather pants, boots, gloves, and tunic, with a short-sleeved white shirt, and a shiny metal breast plate, bracers, and shin and thigh guards. A brown strip of cloth was tied around her head to make a headband of sorts, with the ends tied together and hanging down to the middle of her neck.
"NEPTUNE DEEP SUBMERGE!" Neptune threw a blue energy ball at Sailor Proteus.
Beth's mind was suddenly filled with various attacks. "PROTEUS TWISTER!" Proteus sent a blast of white energy at Neptune's attack, dispersing the blue energy. The white blast writhed, twisted, and formed a slight spiral before vanishing.
Uranus frowned slightly. "Maybe our Sailor Attacks won't do much against her." she said.
Sailor Jupiter nodded. She flew at Proteus like a bullet, her fists raised high. Proteus held her right fist out in front of her. "TORNADO BATTLE WALL!" Another shield of gold light appeared between Jupiter and Proteus, and threw Jupiter back and onto the ground.
Sailor Venus and Sailor Uranus attacked together. Proteus frowned, trying to think as to how to fight a one-on-two battle. Uranus jumped over Proteus and held her from behind. Venus stood in front of her, waiting for something to happen. "Aren't you going to fight back?" Uranus asked, still holding her from behind. Proteus just grinned. Suddenly, Uranus felt a sudden coldness cover her hands. She let go and looked at her hands to find a layer of ice forming over them. She flexed her hands, causing the thin ice to break and crumble off.
"VENUS CRESENT BEAM SMASH!" Venus threw a beam of light with the power of an ore drill at Proteus, aiming for her chest.
"TORNADO BA-" Proteus didn't get to finish the defensive move. The beam caught her and threw her back into Uranus, and they both flew back and into the pond. Uranus coughed up pond water and Proteus blanched and spat water from her mouth. "GURLOX TYPHOON VENGEANCE!" A swirl of blue and red energy in the shape of a Gurlox hit Venus, forcing her to the ground. Afterwards, the energy spun around before dissipating.
"MOON TIARA MAGICK!" Sailor Moon threw her tiara at Proteus. Proteus blinked and put up both her arms to shield herself. The attack hit her bracers hard, and pushed against her as if trying to knock her over. Soon the tiara had returned to Sailor Moon, looking a bit dull. Everyone but Beth abandoned their Sailor forms.
"I see you had some fun?" Queen Serenity walked into the garden and saw Haruka still sitting in the pond. Haruka crawled out and twisted her shirt dry while Minako stood up. "Beth, I'm very pleased as to how well you use your attacks." Serenity started. "And how fast you adapted to yourself.. You will become very a skilled Guardian, and it will be hard for a single enemy to defeat you. But if you do not learn to use your powers to fight an army, the future could worsen."
"What do you mean?" Beth asked. The others nodded and murmured in agreement.
"Never mind. You'll learn soon enough. Come to the gazebo when you're ready." Queen Serenity left yet again.
"You are very powerful, Beth. But I didn't know there where other scouts that came from moons, other than Phobos and Deimos." Rei said.
"Hey, how did you coat my hands with ice?" Haruka asked, raising an eyebrow at Beth. The Guardian Scout held her hands out and a small ball of blue energy formed between them.
"Apparently, she can control ice elements. Maybe even wind and earth, since she's a Guardian to both Neptune -and- Uranus." Ami mused. "It wouldn't surprise me."
"Well, whatever elements you can use, you're good with them."
"Sorry." Beth said as she lost her form. Everyone laughed, including Haruka.
"What was that one attack you used on me?" Mina asked.
Beth shrugged. "All these words came into my head at once, and I kinda lost control. I didn't know what I was doing, but I woke up when you threw that beam at me."
"Sorry." Everyone laughed again.
"Well, come on. Let's go." Serenity led everyone out and to a gazebo, where balloons hung and presents lined the edge and a table with food and drink stood at the center.
...........................................
William Timberlin sat at his desk, examining pictures of moon Proteus, the former training base for the soldiers of Neptune. The flag that flapped bore the same sign Beth had on her forehead when that dog came racing around the castle. A thought hit him. I can't believe it! He thought. My daughter is Sailor Proteus! Protector of this planet, and planet Uranus! Defender of the throne! Trainer of the soldiers of Neptune! Guardian Sailor of Princess Michiru and Princess Haruka. Guardian Sailor of the Solar System and-
"So nice to see you again, William." a cold voice said behind William, interrupting his train of thought.
"Who? Jedite!" William spun around and saw Jedite of the Nega-Verse standing behind him. A ball of dark energy was pulsing in Jedite's outstretched hand, and was pointed at William. "What are you doing here?!" William bellowed and slammed his fist down on a button on his desk. "Guards! Guards! Come quick! Jedite-"
"I don't think so." Jedite's black energy ball shot from his hand and hit William in the neck, killing him. "Revenge is so sweet." Jedite said as pounding feet came down the hallway. He disappeared quickly.
....................................
"So, how was the party?" Haruka asked as she, Beth, and Michiru walked into the Moon's control room.
"Great!" Beth was still on a slight sugar high, but the funny thing was that Michiru and Haruka were also a little hyper.
Michiru chuckled and was about to insert her key to the gateway to go back home when it glowed. All three stepped back as a Soldier of Neptune stepped through the gate. "Princess Neptune, Princess Uranus, Miss Timberlin, it's an emergency. Come quickly." The young man said, motioning for the three to follow him.
"What happened?" Michiru asked.
"Just hurry. It's Advisor Timberlin."
"Daddy!" Beth rushed through the gateway.
"Beth!" Haruka and Michiru ran after Beth, and the Soldier followed them through. Once Back on Neptune, and once Haruka finally caught up with Beth, Haruka, Michiru, Beth, and the Soldier ran down to the first floor to William's office. There, on the floor, was the lifeless body of Beth's father.
"Daddy!" Beth cried and fell to her knees beside her father. Michiru gasped and Haruka hung her head. Right then, King and Queen Neptune ran into the room. Queen Neptune pulled Beth from her dead father's side. She struggled and yelled, wanting to know what happened, and if her father was all right while the sign of Proteus began to glow on her forehead.
"Mother! Let go of Beth, quick!" The Queen did what Michiru told her, just as a wall of golden energy flared up around Beth, then vanished. She ran forward to her father yet again. "What was that?" King Neptune asked Michiru.
"Queen Serenity apparently revealed Beth's powers. She is Sailor Proteus." Haruka walked over to William's desk. She shifted through the papers, and found pictures of the moon Proteus, a couple sketches of a legendary blade called the Blade of Darkness, and some notes on the legend of Sailor Proteus and her connection with the moon Proteus and the planets Uranus and Neptune. "Advisor Timberlin wrote a couple things here on the legendary Guardian Sailor, Sailor Proteus. A bit about her powers and abilities. He also commented a little about her intelligence, and as a side note he wrote that Beth, too, was extremely smart, with a high vocabulary for a girl her age. And her strength and stamina, which was shown when she helped him with their unicorns." Haruka said, flipping through the papers and stopping on the first sketch of a pair of odd looking kama. "And here is a sketch of the Spirit Kama. It shows the Kama at their normal stage, and then when they're pow-"
"Who did this?" Beth finally spoke after yelling herself hoarse.
"Miss Timberlin, Advisor William yelled something about Jedite before he was cut off. When we arrived, all we found was his body. No mark, no blood, nothing." a guard said.
Beth looked faint. "I want to go home-" she collapsed on top of her father. Michiru cried out and knelt by Beth, and gathered her up in her arms. Haruka nodded, and led Michiru with Beth from the room.
"We'll be right back. Tell the other planets what has happened!" Michiru called as she and Haruka ran down the hall to the stables. Michiru didn't realize how heavy Beth was. Haruka burst through the door, and found Poseidon and Deathdancer. Poseidon was confused, and Dancer was hysterical.
"What'd you do to her?!" Dancer lunged at Michiru, but Poseidon knocked him down.
"Pull yerself together, Dancer!" Poseidon bellowed, allowing Haruka to fit him with a saddle and bridle. "Just carry Princess Neptune and Beth, and let's get home fast!" Haruka quickly put a saddle and bridle on Dancer, and helped Michiru up onto him. She gathered Beth up and handed her to her friend, then climbed onto Poseidon. "What's happened?" Poseidon asked as he spun around and ran out of the stable, then took to the air. Dancer was right behind him, taking off as carefully as he could to avoid making Michiru drop Beth.
"Mister Timberlin's been assassinated." Haruka answered.
"What?" Poseidon faltered in his flight, nearly dumping Haruka.
"I said William Timberlin has been assassinated! Keep going! We need to get Beth home!" Haruka yelled, trying to keep Poseidon under control.
"Go! Now!" Dancer pushed against Poseidon with his shoulder to steady him, then flew ahead of Poseidon, following the dirt road.
"How can this be?" Poseidon asked, flying after Deathdancer.
"We think it was Jedite, from the Negaverse. There was no blood, or marks, or broken bones. He was just dead... I think it was dark energy." Michiru called over her shoulder.
"Mistress Timberlin will be very burdened. And Beth is to young to take care of our small herd of Pegasus', we are the last. And the Mistress will be very tired, and sick, and Beth will no longer do well in her classes. There's no way they can make do without Master William... he provided the money to give them the clothes on their backs and the food on their table, not to mention their house, our stalls and field, and the grain in our feed bags. How are our masters supposed to survive?" Poseidon asked.
"My father will still provide. They are family friends, and not to mention that Beth is our Guardian Sailor, Sailor Proteus." Michiru answered this time.
This time it was Dancer that stalled. "Beth is Sailor Proteus?"
"Yes, Queen Serenity revealed her at Serena's birthday party. I brought some of the papers from Mister Timberlin's desk. I hope it will make Mrs. Timberlin understand." Haruka said.
Dancer noticed the papers clutched in Haruka's hands. "Those are the papers about moon Proteus and Sailor Proteus?" Dancer asked.
"Yes, they are... is that the Timberlin's place?" Michiru asked, pointing at the Timberlin's house.
"It is. We will stop at the front." Poseidon said as he landed right at the front steps. He knelt to let Haruka off, then stretched his neck up and whinnied into the window, startling Marie. Marie opened the door just as Haruka was helping get Beth down from Deathdancer. Michiru slid off Dancer's back, then took Beth from Haruka.
Marie gasped and took Beth from Michiru. "What happened? she asked.
"William has been assassinated. We found him in his office, but there were no marks on the body. We think the Negaverse is behind it. I found these papers on his desk; I think you should look at them." Haruka panted as she handed the papers she was carrying over to Marie.
Marie accepted them but put them into her dress pocket. Tears were streaming down her face. "We'll look at them later. Right now, we need to treat Beth. Would you two put Dancer and Poseidon into the stables? I hate to ask, but I need your help." She murmured.
"We would be happy to help." Michiru responded as she touched Dancer under the chin to tell him to follow, then led him into the stables. Haruka followed, leading Poseidon.
When Haruka and Michiru entered the house again, they found that Marie had put Beth onto the couch, and had placed a wet cloth on her forehead. She was mixing some herbs in a small bowl of water, making a paste. Michiru knelt next to Marie and took the bowl and spoon from her and finished the mixing, then handed it back. Marie nodded her thanks as she took the bowl and spread the paste on a separate dry cloth, then held it under Beth's nose. Beth groaned and slowly opened her eyes. "Daddy..." She murmured softly, staring off into space.
"Daddy's not here, but Mommy is. And so are the Princesses Michiru and Haruka. They brought you here... Do you remember anything?" Marie asked Beth, tears still rolling.
"Daddy's dead... he's dead..." Beth sobbed and started to cry.
"The killers won't get away with this. King Neptune will hunt them down. And you will, too, if they don't find them by the time you grow to fighting age." Haruka said, putting a hand on Beth's head.
Michiru opened her mouth to say something when a loud knock came from the door. Marie got up and opened it to find Kind Neptune standing at the door. She burst out crying and let the King come in. "I'm sorry, Marie. As soon as William called for help all the guards in the area rushed to the scene. We were to late. He was killed instantly." He said.
"Yes, I know... I just don't know what I'm going to do about Beth... Oh, I'm sorry, Haruka, I was going to look at those papers... where are they? Oh, wait..." Marie took the papers from her dress pocket and unfolded them. She studied each sketch carefully, and read the notes. She then took Beth's right hand in her own. "Beth is Sailor Proteus-"
"Yes, she is. William had been doing research on the moon Proteus and Sailor Proteus. I can only think of two reasons why the Negaverse would kill him. One, is that that particular individual disliked William terribly. The other reason, it could be that the Negaverse feared Sailor Proteus' fabled powers." King Neptune said as he put a big hand on Marie's shoulder. "If you would like, you and Beth could move into the castle. The Pegasus' can stay at the stables, and I know Beth is very fond of my daughter and her friend." He said quietly so only Marie could hear.
Marie shook her head. "No, we can stay here. It will be just a bit of an effort to run the house now. I'll have to take Beth out of school and home school her. But thank you for the offer." Marie replied.
The King nodded gravely. "Alright then. With your permission, I would like to start training Beth to take her role as Neptune's Guardian Sailor as soon as possible. I don't plan on any physical teachings, not yet. Not at her age. More of literacy teachings, advanced math, possibly battle tactics." The King said.
"Maybe... I just don't know how soon. I need some time alone, please." Marie murmured. The Kind nodded and motioned for Haruka and Michiru to follow him, and the three walked out of the door. Marie gazed at Beth a moment, and Beth just stared at the roof.
"Daddy's gone..." Beth murmured softly.
"Yes, in body he is. But not in Spirit. He's with us both. He would want you to accept the responsibility of being Sailor Proteus. Will you accept?" Marie said, still gazing at Beth.
"What will I do?" Beth asked. She held up her right hand, which clutched her transformation pen.
"Defend Neptune and Uranus, meet other Scouts, be on the King's council, and help to fight evil when you are needed." Marie replied. She was trying to be strong for Beth. She could cry later.
"I accept, Mommy. I met some other people when I went with Haruka and Michiru to the Moon. They are Scouts, too." Beth said. She managed to sit up, but she was sore in the chest.
"Then I suppose I will begin your training." Marie said with a slight smile.
"How?" Beth asked. She looked at her mother funny.
"I will teach you the healing arts, and of the Spirit realm. We will begin right now. Come with me to the stables." Marie said and helped her daughter up.