It was a cold, wintry December day. The sky was overcast; a drizzle was beginning to fall. The board on a store nearby read the temperature to be thirty-five degrees. Everyone was bundled up in heavy overcoats going about their day.
A teenage girl was walking home from school when she heard something odd. It was a weird buzzing noise. Amy stopped to find out what it was, her curiosity aroused. She looked in between the bushes lined along the sidewalk to see if it was coming from there. It was. But there was something else — something wrong. Amy moved the branches further apart so she could see more clearly. She did not like what she saw.
A grade school was next door. There was an after school day care going on. A droidan from the Negaverse was hovering in the air, taking energy from all the kids on recess. I've got to tell the others! she thought frantically. Taking out her Scout communicator, she punched in Lita's number, since she was with Serena and Nina already — the three went to the same school.
"What's up, Amy?" Lita answered promptly.
"I'm right outside the elementary school near the new coffee shop. There's a Negaverse droidan stealing the kids' energy! I've got to go help, so get Raye and come quickly!" Then Amy hung up and transformed into Sailor Mercury.
* * *
"I believe this droidan will be very effective in disposing of those Sailor brats," commented Lady Rayna of the Negaverse as she gazed into a crystal ball showing what was going on between the droidan and the grade school kids on earth. "Your choice was excellent, Cerzite."
"Thank you, my Lady," he replied, bowing. Inside he was glowing with her praise. She rarely gave out positive comments to anyone. And she decided to bestow one on me, he thought with evil glee. What an opportunity! She may yet promote me to the highest rank of the Negaverse soldiers!
* * *
The other girls got a hold of Raye and told her the bad news. Then they transformed and dashed straight to the school. They arrived just in time. Sailor Mercury was cornered by the droidan.
"Jupiter thunder!" Sailor Jupiter exclaimed. Immediately green lightning surrounded her and focused on her hands. She pointed them at the droidan and released the energy. The droidan cried out and turned on them, thankfully ignoring Sailor Mercury. Raye -- as Sailor Mars -- jumped in to Sailor Mercury's side to see if she was okay.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but that was too close!" Mercury told Mars.
Then Sailor Venus threw her "Venus crescent beam" at the droidan. She—the droidan—deflected it with a careless toss of her right hand. Venus was stunned. Gosh, she's more powerful than we thought! she said to herself.
A ball of bluish energy suddenly formed in the droidan's outstretched hand. Raising the ball high, she took aim and threw it at the three Scouts—Sailors Moon, Venus, and Jupiter. They went flying to the ground with a cry from the force of the blow.
The droidan then noticed a movement from the corner of her eye. She turned around to see Sailor Mars power up to hurl her "Mars fireball charge" at her. The fire-energy flew towards the droidan at an amazing speed, but it was to no use. The Negaverse being tossed it to the side as well, and the effort of deflecting it seemed to take no toll on her.
The droidan decided to retaliate. She tossed an energy beam at Mars. Mars had no time to react. She was hit, and fell to the ground with a groan. Then the droidan turned to face Sailor Mercury, who had gotten up from her sitting position and was ready to defend Mars.
"You won't get away with hurting my friends!" she announced.
"Oh, but I think I will," the droidan replied with a hint of derision in her voice.
Mercury then exclaimed, "Mercury bubbles!" and created a mist surrounding the evil creature. But this attack was ineffective as well, for with one breath, the droidan blew the mist away. She responded with an attack on Mercury which was so powerful, it lifted her up off the ground and dropped her – hard -- on the sidewalk ten feet away from where she had been standing.
Tuxedo Mask arrived seconds later. He saw all the Scouts on the ground, unconscious, and rage built up inside of him against the Negaverse soldier. "You won't get away with this!" he shouted at the droidan.
"That is what your friend, Sailor Mercury, said to me as well, and look what happened to her!" the droidan cackled. "Now you will share the same fate!" She took this chance to use her wild card -- an explosive attack that could only be used once. A ball of crackling, orange fire-energy formed between her hands. She tossed it at Tuxedo Mask. He tried to deflect it, with no luck. It was just too powerful. The energy surrounded him, and he fell to the sidewalk with a cry of pain. Now all six of them were down.
* * *
Meanwhile, April was at home working on her math assignment. She had been working for quite some time. Why does math have to take so long? she asked herself, grumbling. Looking up, she rubbed her eyes and tried to re-moisturize them. Then she felt something, like someone was tugging at her. An urge then came for her to transform to Sailor Nova. She looked down at her locket -- it was glowing. What is going on? she wondered.
"April, are you feeling a little odd?" Vega asked her.
"Funny you should say that -- yes, I am."
"So am I. Do you think it has anything to do with the Scouts?"
"Yes, I do, because I feel this strong urge to become Sailor Nova. Should I?"
"Should you what?"
"Become Sailor Nova."
"Yes, just to see what happens next."
"Okay." Grasping her locket in her hand, April cried out, "Corusca gem power!" As soon as the violet light faded, she was translocated unconsciously to the place where Amy had first spotted the droidan. She then heard a cry. Peeking through the bushes, she saw Sailor Mercury fall, then Tuxedo Mask.
Whoa, she thought. Could my locket have some connection with the others' icons? Because I think it brought me here somehow…
As she heard the cries of pain from the downed warriors, Sailor Nova could not stand it any longer. She translocated herself in between the droidan and the fallen warriors, not five feet away from the enemy. Her sudden appearance startled the droidan.
"Stand back, trash. I don't like it when my friends are hurt -- especially by the likes of you."
* * *
Lady Rayna had been watching the entire time. She laughed evilly when she saw all of them defeated. "Excellent choice, Cerzite. You have proved yourself worthy of the highest rank under me. Consider yourself Commander now," she told him. Suddenly the crystal ball began to short circuit. "What is this?" she exclaimed. Violet lightning played all over its surface, making it hard to see through. Then, through the ball, they heard a voice. A strong voice, full of authority and determination. Immediately the lightning subsided. They gazed into it and saw another Scout, one whom they had never seen before.
"Who is this?" Lady Rayna exclaimed, frightened. But she let none of her fright leak into her voice. She took it out on Cerzite. "Why didn't you tell me about a sixth Scout?" she asked him angrily.
"Because, my Lady, I had no idea of her existence," he replied, trying to stay calm and pacify his superior at the same time. He knew what she could be like in one of these moods.
But she was paying no attention to him. Her eyes were riveted on the ball…
* * *
At this time another teenager was doing homework—Daran. He had started just fifteen minutes previously when he had a strange feeling come over him. Nothing of the sort had ever happened before. He was very confused.
The feeling was a feeling of protectiveness. But why? he wondered. Then an image came up before him. He blinked. Why would I have to protect her? I mean, I like her and everything, but still…protect her? She's very capable of taking care of herself…
No sooner had he thought this than he was whisked away to the courtyard where the battle was. For some reason the edge of his vision was dark. Daran reached a hand up to his face and felt soft cloth. Then he looked down at himself. Whoa, where did this getup come from? And why am I wearing a mask? He looked down further. Aah! I'm hovering in the air! How am I doing this?!
Then he noticed the battle going on…
* * *
"I believe you could use some help, Sailor Moon," the sixth Sailor said.
Sailor Moon, just now having regained consciousness, looked up at the sound of the voice. She saw a girl of about sixteen standing six feet away from where she was lying. Who is that? she wondered. She has the same outfit as we do… Then she realized something. She has the same voice as… "Are…are you the Shadow Advisor?"
"Yes," the girl replied. "You may now call me Sailor Nova."
Nice name, Sailor Moon thought.
Sailor Nova then turned to face the droidan. She cried out "Nova twister!" and a spiral of violet light surrounded her, the force of the energy blowing her hair around. It swirled around her and sped swiftly towards the enemy. The droidan, taken off guard, was barely able to dodge the attack. "Argh!" she cried out as the energy singed her. In retaliation, she created an energy beam and was about to throw it when a ring of pure light cut the beam in half, causing it to dissipate. Both Sailor Nova and the droidan looked up in the direction from which the ring had come.
There, hovering in the air about six feet off the ground was a figure masked and clothed in black. He -- she figured it was a guy by his hair length and his voice -- said, "Looked like you needed a hand, Sailor Nova."
"Who are you?" she asked him. Why is that voice so familiar? Sailor Nova wondered.
"I am the Star Guardian. I'm similar to Tuxedo Mask," he replied. Whoa, he thought again. This…this is all instinct! But where am I getting this from, who is this Sailor Nova person (what's a Sailor?), why do I feel so attached to her, and where have I heard her voice before?
Nova noticed a sudden movement. "Look out!" she cried. Her warning came too late. The Negaverse creature, while the two warriors' attention was elsewhere, had powered up with a green, swirling mass of energy. She hurled it at him -- and it hit square on. The Star Guardian was completely unprepared for this. He fell, and hit the ground with an oof. Nova dashed to his side, concerned. She gasped when she reached him. His mask had caught on a bush in the fall, and had been ripped off. The face it revealed was… "D…Daran? Is that you?" she asked him, still in shock.
"How do you know who I am…" and his voice trailed off as he felt his face and touched the tattered remains of his mask. "Oh, that's how."
Nova lowered her voice to a whisper. "Well, since I know who you are, I might as well tell you who I am." She paused for a moment, and continued, "I'm April."
"What?" he gasped, startled. Then he looked more closely and realized it was her.
"Time to break up this party, you two," said the droidan, breaking into their conversation. She then gathered up her strength, and threw a huge ball of energy at the pair. Nova shouted "Nova shield!" and a violet- tinted semi-transparent bubble about three feet in every direction from the two suddenly formed, blocking the attack. Then Nova stepped out of the bubble, fury plain on her face. She declared "Nova blast" and threw a small ball of violet energy at the droidan, who was hit with a cry.
"Sailor Moon," she said, turning to face the fallen girl, "I'm going to give you something. Then take care of this trash." Nova pointed a hand, palm facing Moon, and said "Nova power gift." A beam of pure white light came from her hand and surrounded Moon. Moon felt strength pouring into her as Nova felt some of her own leave.
By now the others had regained consciousness. They looked up and saw Nova finish giving Moon strength. All of them were confused as to who this was.
The droidan was now weak. Sailor Moon stood up and raised her moon scepter. She cried out, "Moon scepter elimination!" The crown on the tip of the scepter began to glow. Out from it poured energy -- pure white energy. This energy surrounded the droidan and with a scream she dissolved into dust. "Now you're moon-dusted!" Moon exclaimed.
"Who are you?" Jupiter asked Nova once the others had stood up -- with plenty of groaning.
"I am Sailor Nova," she replied simply. Daran had reached into one of his pockets -- which he had not known he had -- for his spare mask -- had not known he had had this either -- and had put it on before the others had stood up. "And this is the Star Guardian," she introduced him.
The two cats of the five Sailors had reached them by now. "What happened?" Luna asked them. Nova's guardian cat, Vega, trotted up as the other cat spoke. Noticing them Artemis, Venus' guardian cat, asked, "Who are they?"
Sailor Moon spoke up. "This is Sailor Nova, who pretty much saved us, the one in black is the Star Guardian, and I think the cat is Nova's guardian."
"Well, I've never heard of you before," commented Luna.
"I know," Nova responded. "I'm sorry, but I really must go."
"But who are you really?" Venus asked her.
"I'm not allowed to tell you -- yet. Farewell." With this last word the three newcomers disappeared.
"Well, at least we now know who the Shadow Advisor is," Moon commented. The others looked at her strangely, having been unconscious when Sailor Nova arrived.
"You mean this Sailor Nova is the Shadow Advisor?" Mercury asked.
"Yes."
"C'mon, you guys, let's go. I'm getting cold. Anyone want to come and build a fire at my place?" Mars offered.
"Yes!" they all exclaimed in unison, then laughed.
* * *
For the next few months most attacks made by the Negaverse's rulers were met by defense from the five Sailors and Tuxedo Mask, and defeated. Every now and then, however, the attacks would be too great for them to handle on their own, and April and Daran, in their warrior identities, would step in to help. Sometimes the pair would fight on their own as well. But then, the next May, an unprecedented attack came, and April was forced to make a decision…
"Mmm, mmm, mmm!" Serena exclaimed around a mouthful of ice cream one sunny spring afternoon. Darion and April gave her funny looks at her piggish actions with her food.
"Serena," April admonished.
"Sorry—mmf—I'll slow down," Serena answered, her mouth full.
"Same old Serena," Darion commented, chuckling.
They continued chatting idly as they walked along the path. It was like a green tunnel, created beautifully by the overhanging trees. It was a picture perfect scene, with the newly budding trees, the fresh flowers, and the crisp air. Then, it was all sharply broken by evil.
April had dropped back for a second to tie her shoe. Serena and Darion continued walking along, hand in hand. They walked between two trees, and were greeted by an energy trap. "Aah!" they cried out together as they fell, wreathed in black lightning.
At their cry, April looked up sharply. What the… she thought, and then saw a figure leap out. It was a guardian, from the Negaverse. Suddenly the sky grew dark. "Give me your energy!" the she-guardian cackled in a sinister voice.
April knew she had to act quickly. She jumped in between her friends and the she-guardian. Darion had been knocked unconscious by the trap, and Serena was struggling to get up. The trap had stopped its action by now.
Darn it, April thought. I have to transform, since Serena obviously can't do it herself. But, it'll be in front of them, and I'll lose my cover! She glanced over at them. They were still in the same condition. A friend's got to do what a friend's got to do, she decided firmly.
"Back off from my friends, trash!" April shouted to get the guardian's attention off Darion and Serena.
"What?" Serena asked, confused. "April, how do you know—" she started to ask, but was cut off by April. "Don't talk, Serena -- keep your strength."
Clutching her locket, which held her Corusca gem, April thought resolutely, Here goes. She raised it up into the air and cried out, "Corusca gem power!" As usual, a violet hue surrounded April. Two seconds later, she emerged from the violet cloud as Sailor Nova.
"April…you're Sailor Nova?" Serena asked, dumbfounded.
"Yes," she replied simply. She then pointed her hands towards her fallen friends, palms facing them, and said "Nova shield!" They were instantly enveloped in a violet bubble. Nova then turned to face the enemy.
The she-guardian blasted an energy lance at her. Nova dodged it – barely -- and picked up a stance where she landed. It threw more energy at her in the form of a beam: too much for the warrior to avoid. Now what do I do? she asked herself. I can either make a shield -- which would take it away from my friends -- or I can absorb it and throw it back at her. But, I've only done it once, with the effort zapping all my energy. All right, I'm running out of time. I'll do it!
Sailor Nova had only a split second to think all of this through. She determinedly put herself in a stance so that she would get the most of the energy being thrown at her. The energy, reaching her, quickly covered her from sight. Serena let out a small cry, assuming the worst had happened. Just then Darion regained consciousness, lifted his head up gingerly, and was shocked at the scene before him. Serena told him quickly about April and pointed to the object of the attack -- Sailor Nova.
Seconds later there was a blue glowing -- the guardian's signature color -- where Nova had been standing. Serena noticed that once the energy hit Nova, it seemed to dissipate. Nova was beginning to pulsate with energy. The attack finally ended.
She -- the guardian -- let out a cry of shock at seeing Nova still there. Sailor Nova herself was outlined in a violet flame, as if she were on fire. Suddenly the fire went out. The energy was concentrated between Nova's cupped hands and absorbed into a ball, which was slowly forming. Flames swirled around the ball in Nova's hands, moving in such a way that it seemed alive.
"How… how could you have survived the attack I gave you?" the guardian exclaimed in disbelief. She was so shocked that she took no heed of the pulsating activity taking place in Nova's hands.
"By absorbing the force you threw at me," Nova replied. At this the Negaverse guardian's jaw dropped down.
"Impossible!" she exclaimed.
"It isn't, because I just did it. Now I will show you the fruits of my labor." The ball was at its peak, in size and force. It was about a foot across by now, positively glowing with energy, ready to be unleashed. It acted like a caged, enraged tiger.
Nova moved into a stance where she could get enough force to throw it at her -- hands level with and slightly behind her left hip, legs apart to hold her, and a look of pure determination on her face. "Say hello to my supercharged true nova blast, Negatrash!" she shouted, and threw it at her with all of her might.
The ball traveled at a very great speed, but to Serena and Darion it seemed like an eternity before it finally hit and enveloped the guardian. She dissolved with a scream. Nova then staggered to one side, completely worn out. She used what little strength she had left to translocate herself to her room. Turning back to her normal self, she plopped on her bed into an exhausted sleep.
* * *
Darion and Serena could not believe their eyes. What they had just seen must be impossible. But their experiences told them that it was real.
"It makes sense now!" Serena exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" Darion asked, puzzled.
"I remember, back when I first met April, that her voice seemed vaguely familiar. Now I know why I thought that! I met her soon after my first visit from the 'Shadow Advisor.' "
"You're right!" Darion agreed. "Wow, she's powerful."
"No kidding."
"Where do you think she went?"
"Home, probably. At least that's where I would go. Will you talk to her tomorrow at lunch, Darion? See how she is?"
"Sure, Serena."
* * *
The next day, April was not at school. Darion looked everywhere at lunch. He asked around to see if anyone else had seen her. Then, he ran into her best friend, Cara.
"Hey, Cara," he greeted her.
"Hi, Darion," she replied.
"Have you seen April today?"
"No. She called me this morning before school telling me she wouldn't make it. She said she wasn't feeling well, and sounded awful."
"April isn't doing well?" Daran's voice entered their conversation.
"Yeah. I talked to her this morning, and she sounded like she'd caught the bad cold that's been floating around."
Daran and Darion exchanged looks, which Cara missed. In that one second, Daran realized that Darion knew something about April. In his turn, Darion realized that Daran also knew about April's being Nova.
"Thanks, Cara," Darion said. "Daran, I have something to tell you," he told him as he led him off to where they could talk privately.
"Are you Sailor Nova's Protector?" he asked as soon as they were in a secluded area.
He simply nodded in reply, the strangeness of their sudden burst of telepathy far from his thoughts. With a worried frown, he queried, "So, what happened, Darion?"
"Well, we -- Serena, April, and I -- were taking a walk when Serena and I walked into an energy trap. April had stopped to tie her shoe, so she avoided being caught. Anyway, once the black lightning stopped attacking us, I was knocked out by hitting my head on a tree stump. Serena told me that April jumped between us, transformed, and drew the guardian's attack from us to herself, since she avoided being knocked out as well. Then the guardian launched a huge attack on her!"
Daran's eyes widened, his frown deepening.
Darion continued, "But somehow she absorbed the attack's energy! By now, I had regained consciousness. I have no clue how she did that, but she then used the energy to make a powerful ball, and threw it at the guardian. The guardian disappeared. She was very wobbly, looking very weak, and then disappeared herself. The only reason I know she's still around is from what Cara told me."
"Thanks, Darion." Daran glanced at his watch. "It's almost time for my next class. I better run. See ya."
"Later," Darion answered, and they left in their respective directions to get to class.
* * *
Right after school got out, Daran dashed to the nearest gift shop, got something for April, and took off in his car for her house.
April's mother greeted him at the door. She led him to April's room, where he found her reading. She was pale and propped up on pillows. She was startled out of her book by his soft knock on her open door.
"Hey, Daran," she said in a weak voice. "How did you know I was sick?"
"Well, I didn't see you in study hall, and Cara told me you weren't feeling well at lunch." He walked inside, closed the door behind him, and sat down on the couch next to her, looking at her with concern written all over his face, then continued, "I brought these for you." Daran produced a box of April's favorite chocolates and a small bouquet of flowers.
"Daran, this is lovely! Thank you!" she exclaimed. There was a short pause, with them looking at each other. After searching his face, April realized there was something hidden. "What else did you do?"
Daran had always known she could read his mind. "Then I talked to Darion."
"Oh. So, what did he tell you?"
"All about the fight."
April was stunned. "How did he know who you were?"
"I'm honestly not sure. I somehow realized he knew about your other identity, and he realized I knew the same thing. It was rather strange." Daran shook his head. "Anyway, we went off by ourselves and he told me about the fight. I wish I could have seen it. But it must have really taxed you, from the way he described your departure."
"Yes, it did. That's why I didn't come to school today. Good thing there's a three-day weekend. I'll only have missed today."
Then there was another knock on the door, which was now closed. "Come in," April said faintly. The door opened to show Darion and Serena, the latter holding flowers.
"Hey, April," Serena greeted her. Looking her over, she commented, "You don't look so great."
"I don't feel so great."
Darion said, "Here. We brought these for you," and he handed her the bouquet of roses.
"You guys really know how to make a girl feel special," she said, smiling.
The four of them played a few card games and chatted idly together. By the end, a few hours later, April had some color back in her cheeks, partly from laughing so hard. Darion and Serena said goodbye, and Serena said she would call the next day. Then it was just Daran and April.
"You look much better, April," Daran told her.
"I do feel a little better," she admitted.
"I'll go now, so you can get your rest. Would you like me to come back tomorrow?"
"Sure. Just call beforehand, okay?"
"No problem."