Last time in the Vega Saga, A new enemy, the Blackstar Empire, had come to earth seeking to open the mysterious "Vault of Astra". Led by Prince Vega, unknown to all but himself as both a now elementary school teacher Victor Harp and as Princess Serena's older brother, he sought to use the vault's energies to restore the old Moon Kingdom. However Merlor, Vega's right hand man, sought to open the vault to release an entity known only as Astra back into the Universe after five thousand years of imprisonment. After the scouts gained astral power to fight the Blackstar and recruiting the Sailor Knights, Ursa of the Black Vanguard despicably kidnapped Sarini and brainwashed her and the other future children of the Inner Scouts to fight as the five Wicked Ladies. When the spell cast on them was broken Ursa attacked in force but was soon defeated with the help of the Mini-Scouts. Now two new players have entered the game, Aquila and Scorpio; both members of the Black Vanguard. Now the second act is about to begin...
Chapter 1: A State of Debate
"Tell me why we are going to this college for a week?" asked Serena. "We haven't even finished high school yet."
"Lita and I have been selected to represent Angel Wing High in the all metro debate championship." said Amy. "We have to stay on campus for it and we convinced the principal that some other students could benefit from studying with us for the competition."
"You I can understand, but why was Lita selected?" said Raye. "I thought Melvin was your debate partner."
"He got appendicitis, he'll miss the first day and the rules say that the same team has to be present for every debate."
"Still why Lita?" asked Mina.
"It's actually a good reason." said Lita. "We make a good team in this, Amy is really smart and I hate to lose an argument!"
"We can all attest to that!" Serena, Raye and Mina said simultaneously.
They came on the vast grounds of the college and noticed someone they knew. "Hey is that Hotaru?" said Raye.
Sure enough it was Hotaru AKA Sailor Saturn walking with three text books in her arms. Even now after about a month of adjustment it hard to believe that the little girl that aged so quickly from a baby after sacrificing herself had aged rapidly again into a beautiful young woman the same age as the other Outer Scouts. She had just noticed them as well. "Oh, hi guys, what are you doing here?"
"We're here for the Debate competition." said Amy.
"Wow, I'm going to be in the competition too! Guess that I'll have to watch out for you Amy."
Lita had a sweat dropped on her head. "Uh, you do realize that the topic for the whole thing is going to be 'The affects of a flat tax rate on third world nations' don't you?"
"Yes, so?"
"It may be a little too much for you right now." said Amy.
Hotaru looked steamed. "Hey! I may have been a little kid a short while ago but now I think and act like an adult! Unlike some people I know!"
"And what does that supposed to mean!" Mina shot back.
"Frankly if you were as old as you behaved the five of you would still be wearing diapers, drinking from bottles and going 'Goo-Goo, Gaa- Gaa'!"
"Hey! We're as mature as the next guys!" said Serena.
"Well then they must be very mature." said a young man wearing a fancy blazer. "Bradley Upperman the third, at your service."
"Yes, four of them are defiantly Kappa material." said a young woman wearing a lot of jewelry. "Beverly Waterbench; pleased to meet you."
"Brad, Bev, must be my lucky day." said Hotaru sarcastically.
"Now, now you weren't discouraging potential candidates were you?" said Bev.
"Now why would I want to do that?"
"What do mean by Kappa material?" asked Lita.
"You must be high school seniors; well if the four of you are going to come here after you graduate from high school you'll definitely have a place in the sorority of Kappa Beta Sigma."
"You mean the five of us right?" said Serena.
"Sorry, but we only accept those with the potential to be something in the world and to be honest you don't have it."
Serena thought to herself. She'd be begging me to join if she knew that I'm going to be queen of the earth someday!
Hotaru snapped at them. "Brad said the same thing when Anthony asked to join his club for idiots!"
"If you mean the fraternity of Omega Delta Pi then you are mocking my family!" said Brad. "My father was an 'idiot' as was my grandfather and my great-grandfather happened to be a founding 'idiot'."
"Gee, I didn't know that being a jerk was genetic."
"The only reason you're in this school is because your father happens to one of our best professors." said Bev. "But don't worry, they say talent skips a generation, your kids will probably be as sharp as tacks."
"It feels a little unbearable right now so I'm going to class. Goodbye!" Hotaru then stormed off.
"Hotaru wait!" said Serena.
"Come now." said Bev. "I want to discuss the advantages of our sorority." She led the other four away.
Serena caught up with Hotaru later that day. "I have to get home so..."
"What's your problem! You attacked us like we were the enemy!"
Hotaru stopped and turned to her. "Sorry it's just that adjusting to this has been hard for me. We've managed to make daddy think that I am this age, but while I feel that I'm this way for a reason I still wasn't ready for it. When you guys, the outer scouts included, treat me like I still am a little girl it seems like no one respects or understands what has happened to me."
"We should respect it but I doubt we can understand without it happening to us."
"Those two showing up made me even more defensive. They should do the world a favor and marry each other so there will only be two more miserable people instead of four!"
"What did they do?"
"I just hate how they pick and choose for those clubs based on 'potential'. Anthony has more potential in his little toe then they have in both their entire bodies!"
Serena raised her little finger. "Sounds like you and Anthony are a hot item! Can you tell me more about him?"
"Anthony Griffin, he's great guy. We have a lot in common, for one thing he's a gymnastics fan and I found out I have talent for it. We also both have the same medical condition."
"Condition?"
"A genetic disorder called Harrison's syndrome, turns out if the lab accident didn't happen my immune system would have collapsed in a couple of years anyway. Anthony also has it, so we're pretty much in the same boat, getting sick a lot and such."
"I don't think you'd do it."
"What?"
"Sacrifice his life, I mean if the situation arose where it seemed that you had to sacrifice his life to save the Earth you wouldn't bring yourself to do it."
"I'm not sure, I know my duty but I feel so strongly for him, but if I have to sacrifice myself again..."
"Don't let that love go; you have to hold on to that hope."
"I'll try."
"I better get going. See you tomorrow!"
Aquila and Scorpio meet with Merlor in his lab. "We have to get our focus back on finding the vault and keys." said Merlor.
"But how are we gonna do that without any Nightmare stones?" said Axel.
"I have that covered." said Scorpio. He put his hands together and when he parted them a Nightmare stone appeared. "With my powers I produce unlimited numbers of them."
"So like, who's our victim?" said Prim.
"This young man." said Merlor. The image showed a guy wearing a gold chain around his neck. "Aquila will supervise your efforts."
"Altair and I will make sure that you will achieve results."
Axel pointed at the eagle. "I like his beady eyes." Suddenly Altair closed his beak on Axel's finger. "Hey, he bit me!"
"You provoked him first."
"Show the bird respect." said Merlor. "He's clearly smarter than you."
The debate competition was fierce. Over the past week competitors from schools all over the Tokyo area met in debate after debate. Amy and Lita did very well as did Hotaru and Anthony. After four days of competition it came down to the two teams in the finals. Rini and her friends decided to wish them luck the day before the final. They were all dressed in the blue sailor uniform of Sparrow Hill elementary school. "Hi, we all came to wish you luck!" said Rini.
"I know that you will win Amy." said Ariel.
"And you're gonna win with her Lita!" said Daisy.
"Thanks, it means a lot to us." said Lita.
Hotaru came up with a young man with salt and pepper, red and black hair and blue eyes. "Oh hi Hotaru!" said Rini.
"Hey Rini! I like for you to meet a good friend of mine, this is Anthony. Anthony I'd like you to meet Rini."
"A pleasure." said Anthony.
"Nice to meet you too, good luck to you both!"
"Thanks."
"So Hotaru after this is over you want to hang out like we used to?"
"I'm sorry but I have classes and I don't have the time."
"But that never was problem for us before!"
"Can I talk with you alone for a little bit?" She escorted Rini out of earshot. "Listen I'm an adult now and I can't drop everything to do little kid stuff."
"So you think that you're better than me because you're grownup is that it?"
"No, but I'm too mature to do some of the childish things we did."
"I get it; no one here knows about your healing power and is afraid of you because it, so now that you have more friends you think you don't need me anymore!"
Rini seemed to have struck a nerve. "Right now I think you're more annoying than friendly; so yes I rather have adult company than a brat like you right now! You have to face facts, what we had is gone now and it isn't coming back!"
"Fine, some friends of mine came back with me so I don't need you either! You go grow up; I'll be with my real friends!"
"You do that! I'm glad I'm not a kid anymore! I have to go home and study on the debate, something you have to wait till you're older to understand!"
Rini came back to the others. "Hey where is Hotaru?" asked Anthony.
"She went to study!" said Rini. "Come on girls let's have some real fun!"
"I better go talk with Hotaru tonight." said Anthony.
After they left the girls stopped her. "Rini we're a little worried about you." said Annika. "It's not like you to be like this."
"It's her fault!"
"Come on, you can tell us." said Gloria.
"When I came here before we were close friends about the same age, it was great it felt like I never had a best friend before and she was the first. Now all of this happened and she seems like a different person. You couldn't know what it feels like, losing a best friend."
"Actually I can." said Ariel. "I miss Madelyn a lot."
"Who?"
"You don't remember her?"
"Not all of my memory has come back yet. You guys are the only ones I can recall."
"So you don't remember Maggie either?" asked Daisy.
"No."
"What about Hope?" asked Annika.
"Or Faith?" said Gloria.
"Neither one rings a bell."
"They're friends of ours." said Ariel. "While I'm glad to have you all as friends, Madelyn would have to be my best friend."
"I feel the same way about Maggie, I miss her too." said Daisy.
"Annika and I are best friends." said Gloria. "But I still worry about Hope and Faith."
"I'm sure they will be alright." said Annika.
"But if Crystal Tokyo was destroyed how can they still be alright?" said Rini.
"It'll come back to you." said Daisy.
"Come on, let's do our homework at Raye's house, Mr. Harp will be glad we worked together." said Ariel.
That night at Hotaru's house she went over her notes with Anthony in her room. "...so that means a flat tax rate would actually have an adverse impact on third world societies."
"I think we're ready then." said Anthony.
Just then there was a knock on the door. Dr. Tomoe peeked in "Everything alright?"
"Yes Daddy, we were just studying for the final debate tomorrow that's all."
"Studying IS the only thing going on here right?" he said looking at Anthony.
"Dad, Anthony isn't that type of guy!"
"Okay, you are old enough to make your own decisions. Just make sure they're the right ones." As he left Hotaru heard him say "They grow up so fast."
"You don't know how fast daddy." she whispered.
"What did you just say?" Anthony asked.
"Nothing!"
"I'm sure you said 'you don't know how fast.'"
She was totally unprepared. "Well, I was just..."
"Are you like me?"
"What!"
"I never told anyone but I'm not really as old as I look. About a month ago I was a little boy going to elementary school then one day when I was by myself I felt dizzy and then I passed out. When I woke up I was like this and everyone I knew thought I was always this age, I still don't know how or why it happened."
"The same thing did happen to me! I was a little girl a month ago and now, well you can see."
"Do you have any idea how this happened to us?"
Hotaru wanted to lie about why it happened to her but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. "I can't tell you."
"What do you mean can't!"
"I don't want you to go through anymore hurt than you already have been. I don't have any answers for you and if I tell you why I've changed it will just put you in danger."
"Listen, I'm sorry I pried. I just wanted to know so badly, I wanted there to be some purpose for it. But I know how I feel, I don't want to go back, I might not feel the same way about you if I did. Just meeting you was worth everything I've been through."
Just then something was glowing in one of Hotaru's drawer's. "My locket!"
She opened the drawer and the locket soon produced a ring with a purple stone with the symbol of Saturn on it. The ring flew on Anthony's finger. "What is this!" said Anthony.
"You, You're my prince! I can't believe it, I have a Prince too!"
"Prince, what do you mean?"
Hotaru suddenly had serious look on her face. "There are things I have to tell you and some of them aren't pretty, but you have to know before you go down this path." She told him about the Moon Kingdom, her identity as Sailor Saturn, his role as Saturn Knight and about both of her powers. "So you see you have a choice now, if a situation were to arise where I would have to use my death power again I would have to die and be reborn, so I'm asking you do you still want to fight with me even though this could happen?"
"You told me we share the same power so there is only one answer I can give you. If you have to sacrifice yourself and be reborn as a baby girl, I would sacrifice myself at the same time, so I could be reborn as a baby boy right next to you."
"And I would do the same thing!" the two made a passionate kiss. "You better get back home, we a debate tomorrow."
"Ok, as team no one can beat us!"
The next day the final debate was held in the college auditorium. On the stage two tables were set up and the two teams took their seats at them, Amy and Lita for the affirmative and Hotaru and Anthony for the negative. The three judge panel announced the topic and went over the procedures of the debate. Amy and Lita did well on their statements, cross examination and rebuttals as did Hotaru and Anthony. When the debate ended the judges made their announcement after some discussion. "The winners are Hotaru Tomoe and Anthony Griffin of Tokyo University." Cheers came from spectators and friends as the judges showed them what mistakes were made.
Later, they talked outside. "I guess we lost just because we underestimated you." said Amy.
"Well if it's any consolation you two were honorable opponents." said Anthony.
"I'm just glad that after this we're all still friends." said Serena.
At that moment Brad and Bev came up with a young man wearing a gold chain around his neck. "How dare you lose!" said Bev.
"We tried our best!" said Lita.
"Bev here has been showing you four off to the whole campus as the next Kappas; do you how much that hurts her reputation?" said Brad. "See what I mean Harry?"
"If you say so." said Harry in a disinterested voice.
"Well you can all forget about becoming sisters in the Kappa house!" said Bev.
"I thought that it was something important, but now none of us want to join your sorority after we graduate!" said Raye. "Right girls?"
"Right!"
"Those houses actually did some good but you two ruined them with your elitist attitude!" said Hotaru.
"You will always be trash to us Hotaru Tomoe!" said Brad.
"That's my friend you're bad mouthing!" said Rini as she came with the other girls.
"Oh look, she has a friend in the same IQ level." said Brad.
"She's a lot wiser than the two of you ever could be!" said Hotaru.
"Hello, doesn't anybody notice the guy and girl in the treetops!" said Prim. Sure enough the two were sitting in a tree.
"We have a little business with the quiet guy." said Axel.
"Look pal!" said Harry. "I'm just a member of his fraternity I wasn't doing anything!"
"No, but you will!"
"NIGHTMARE GO!"
Harry became a giant lizard that had microphone in its hand. "Rapzilla's in the house and I'm here to say you all going down the old school way!"
Brad and Bev ran off terrified. "I figured they'd run from any problem their checkbooks couldn't solve." said Anthony. "Let's take this guy!"
"Excuse me?" asked Mina.
"Hotaru didn't tell you? I'm the Knight of Saturn so I can fight with you!"
"Then let's make this lizard a belt!" said Serena.
"MERCURY ASTRAL POWER!"
"MERCURY LULLABY POWER!"
"MARS ASTRAL POWER!"
"MARS LULLABY POWER!"
"JUPITER ASTRAL POWER!"
"JUPITER LULLABY POWER!"
"VENUS ASTRAL POWER!"
"VENUS LULLABY POWER!"
"SATURN ASTRAL POWER!"
"SATURN NOBLE POWER!"
"MOON FAIRY POWER!"
"MOON INFINITY POWER!"
Saturn Knight's armor was purple and his weapon was a Kusari-gama (a traditional ninja weapon consisting of a short sickle connected to a weight by a chain). Sailor Moon started to speak "How dare you..."
"We know!" said Prim. "How dare we litter a little kid's playground, blah blah blah."
"Ok, maybe my speech has been getting a little old."
"Then I'll hit you this, no way I can miss!" said Rapzilla.
Rapzilla hit Sailor Moon with a bolt from his microphone; Sailor Moon was knocked to the ground. "You ok?" asked Sailor Mars.
"I'm alright, so let's win this fight!" she covered mouth then spoke again. "Oh that slime, he made me only able to speak in rhyme!"
"And this helps us how?" said Axel.
"It's probably all part of his igneous plan!" said Prim.
"Still I better lend a hand." said Aquila as she came in.
"Who is the nut with the over grown feather duster!" asked Saturn Knight.
"This overgrown feather duster is Altair my beloved companion and I am Aquila, darkness warrior of cruelty and member of the Black Vanguard."
"Don't let your guard down!" said Sailor Jupiter. "She's probably a lot tougher than she looks!"
"From my scans she capable of high speeds but can't take much damage." said Sailor Mercury.
"Not that any of you can hit me." said a perfectly clam Aquila. She turned to Rapzilla. "I'll take most of them why don't you attack the sickly looking ones?"
"I'll take your advice and show I'm not nice!" said Rapzilla.
"You plan won't succeed, my words you must heed!" said Sailor Moon who then smacked herself in the head.
"Alright then why don't you the rest of you take this!" she stretched her arm then quickly moved it.
"AIR SLICE!"
A vacuum in the air cut the scouts in its path.
"JUPITER LIGHTNINGORB BLITZ!"
"MARS WARFIRE INCINERATE!"
Aquila dodged with little effort. "Missed me!"
Sailor Mini-Moon had a plan. "If we surround her then attack we can get her!"
"Give it your best shot!"
"MOON GLOWING STARBURST!"
"MERCURY SNOWFLAKE SHARDS!"
"MARS SCARLET EMBERS!"
"JUPITER ELECTRIC SPARKS!"
"VENUS BEAUTIFUL FLASH!"
Aquila didn't bother moving this time and just blocked the attacks with her hand. "I think some people still need training!" she said in a sing song voice.
"But we can take you!" said Sailor Venus.
"Not if I do this!"
"LIGHTSPEED BATTALION!"
She disappeared then a number Aquilas showed up.
"Are they clones or illusions?" asked Sailor Mars.
"Illusions, caused by moving faster than light, each one represents where she was one second ago."
"Then hitting any of them won't do any good!" said Sailor Jupiter.
"Don't worry she has to stop to attack."
Just then Altair swooped in and hit each of the scouts. Aquila stopped. "Nice tactic, huh? Having Altair attack while my move confused you."
"You coward!" said Sailor Venus.
"Coward? I just had a tactical advantage that was all. I'm going to take destroying you slow; I always enjoy torturing my victims!"
Meanwhile Rapzilla kept hitting the others with his tongue. "You're butts I'll now kick, with each and every lick!"
Suddenly an unknown voice shouted an attack.
"SATURN NIGHTSHADE ENVELOP!"
A dark bubble surrounded Rapzilla and caused him minor damage but it was enough to his attention. "What was that attack, who hit me in the back!"
They turned and saw a little girl in Maroon scout uniform with a purple bow. With her black hair and purple eyes she could have been a dead ringer for Hotaru as a child. "I am Sailor Mini-Saturn, how dare you attack my future parents!"
"Her future parents?" asked a confused Saturn Knight.
"Us." said Sailor Saturn. "She means us!"
Rapzilla was less than impressed. "You got some nerve kid; I won't forgive what you did!" He charged toward her.
"Attack him now I implore, then maybe I won't rhyme anymore!" said Sailor Moon.
"SATURN SHADOW STRIKE!"
"SATURN DARK CHAIN!"
Saturn Knight threw the chain while touching it with the sickle end causing it to become pitch black. Rapzilla was severely weakened by the combo.
"Now to make him pay for forcing me to say such awful poetry!" said Sailor Moon after Rapzilla's spell broken.
"MOON MAGNUM STARBEAM!"
"No, no, no! What a way to go!" Harry was freed and the Nightmare stone shattered.
Aquila noticed Rapzilla's defeat. "Prim, Axel, we better get going." She then turned to the scouts. "Consider this a stay of execution, I will return." She Teleported away while giving a very haughty laugh.
Later, they all gathered in a secluded spot. "Madelyn I'm so glad you're here!" said Ariel.
"I'm sorry everyone!" said Madelyn. "When we were coming back I somehow got separated from everyone. I wish I could have been with you."
"No, you don't." said Gloria. "Trust me on this."
Rini then went up to Hotaru. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier."
"Me too." said Hotaru.
"I just wanted it to be like old times."
"I shouldn't have acted like that toward you, could you ever forgive me?"
"Yes, but I'll still miss doing the things we used to."
"Maybe not." Hotaru said pointing to Madelyn. "She seems share a lot of my interests at that age, you two should already be good friends at this point."
"Yeah, in that case I'm glad you grew up so you could be her mom!" Rini then went to join the others.
Hotaru looked on the scene. "You know Anthony; I think I can see the why now."
"Me too Hotaru; Me Too." said Anthony.
Serena also watched. "Strange, the darker things seem to get in the present, the brighter they seem to become in the future."
Richforce: Don't let your guard down yet Sailor Moon, Aquila will be back! Start sending in your reviews people!