Chapter 3: A New Beginning, the Forbidden Scout

A young woman hit the snooze alarm on her alarm clock. She could hear her mother calling for her to wake up, could even smell breakfast cooking. She didn't hear her little sister come into the room. She moaned as she jumped on her "You're gonna be late for your first day Saku!' She exclaimed.

The teen rolled over to glare at the cheerful little girl with groggy violet eyes "How do you do it?" she asked as she heaved herself out of bed "How can you be so happy in the morning? Especially a Monday morning?"

"Skill," The little girl replied as she hopped out of the room.

Sakura yawned as she pulled her uniform on and quickly ran a brush through her hair. 'I hate Mondays' she sighed and braided her hair. Even braided it hung down past her thighs. It annoyed her mother to the high heavens.

She slowly walked downstairs, her school bag slung over her shoulder. "I'm not eating breakfast today she called into the kitchen as she headed for the door.

Once outside she headed down the block towards her new school: Juuban.

She saw a black sports car filled with young women about her own age wearing similar uniforms and couldn't help staring at the man driving. He was gorgeous! His hair was just a little lighter than her own...

She took off running towards the school 'Maybe I'll be able to find out who he is...'

She was just reaching her destination, feeing a little awkward as she watched friends reunite. She was quite seriously considering going home, was in fact turning to do so, when an arm snaked around her waist and she was swept off her feet. She pounded on the chest of her captor...just to hurt her own hands. "Put me down!" se cried in indignation.

"Hey, Darien," Her captor called running towards that black sports car 'Oh, no! This is not how I wanted to me introduced to him!' "It's a new girl transferring in!"

"Put her down, Solan!" Darien called back "You're embarrassing her!"

She looked up at 'Solan' and was met by sky-blue eyes, blond hair, and a smile that promptly turned her to mush.

Solan looked back to Darien "But she's so light and cute! I think I'll just tote her around all day."

"Oh, no!" She choked out. 'How very embarrassing!' "I assure you I can walk on my own." She kicked her feet in an attempt to get him to let her down.

Solan tightened his grip on her, "Most girls would love to be carried around." He smiled at her, "Especially by me."

Sakura poked him in the chest, losing her temper. "I am NOT most girls. I demand that you put me down right this instant." She shifted her weight to the outside so he would be forced to put her down.

Darien and the girls around him began laughing.

Sakura straightened her uniform before marching into the school building, her face bright with blush.

Sakura slung her bag over her shoulder and sighed. The day hadn't gotten any better. The bright sunlight greeted her.

"Hey!"

Sakura sighed hoping to never hear that voice ever again.

"Sakura!"

She sped up, nearly running. He sped up too. She was passing that black car. A hand grabbed her arm and pulled her towards it, placing her in the front seat, before taking off. Sakura saw Solan standing in the parking lot watching the car leave.

Looking around Sakura saw four other girls. "Um...Hi." She said nervously as they all smiled at her.

"We figured you needed saving." A blue haired young woman stated, "I'm Amy." She pointed to a blond girl with her hair pulled back by a red ribbon, "That's Mina." She pointed to a brunette who had her hair up in a ponytail "That is Lita and the girl with the meatballs is Serena."

"They're not Meatballs!" the blonde screamed.

They all laughed.

Sakura brushed tears from her eyes "I'm Sakura Azuragi. It's nice to meet you all." She smiled, fighting the blush that threatened when she realized how close she was to Darien. Until he swerved the car around and she landed right in his lap. Then she ended up in his lap, unable to keep herself from falling as she was.

She pulled herself up as he opened the door to leap out. Her expression clearly said 'What was that for?'

The other girls were leaping out of the car as well. The one called Serena peaked her head back in quickly, "Don't leave this car, and keep down on the seat."

Sakura was curious as to of why she was given these instructions and almost immediately brought her head up to see what was so serious about this situation. She wasn't quite ready for what she saw, or what she was feeling.

In the place of the girls and Darien, she saw the Sailor Scouts and Tuxedo Mask! They were being joined now by five other Sailors. 'What's going on here?' her mind screamed.

"Give us the Princess of Universe!" She heard a voice demand. "Never!" was the unanimous reply by the Scouts.

Sakura's chest began to glow. "Wha..." Her eyes closed as the light enveloped her. Short white skirt appeared and was then covered by a filmy silvery layer. Then her hair flew up and her top appeared. A silvery bra like thing with sleeves that hung off her shoulders and went on to cover her hands. Her Choker appeared as well...A crystal charm in the shape of the Universe symbol dangled from it. A small star dangled from her tiara to rest on her forehead. Her hair was pulled into a very elegant bun. Stray curls dangled down her back. Her hands weren't covered by gloves as was usual for Scouts; instead, her nails were painted a glowing silver. She held her arm out as her staff appeared.

"Give us the Princess of Universe!" 'Who do these slime balls think they are?' Jupiter's mind raved "Never!" The Scouts screamed as one.

They knew who the Princess of Universe was of course. Luna and Artemis had shown them when she first arrived three weeks ago.

A bright light came from Darien's car. "Oh, no!" Sailor Moon cried, "She looked!"

Sakura opened her eyes 'I remember now,' Flashes of Lita dieing in her arms, of Solan betraying her, betraying the Universe by protecting Beryl. Of hearing about her Cousin's tragic death. Her family...her home. Her eyes opened "Everyone...I'm here now. No more hurting...I will not allow suffering."

Luna Ran up to Sailor Moon "It's happened The Forbidden One has reawakened!" The cat stopped by Sailor Moon's boot "Chaos will follow!"

The Scouts looked up to see a bright light hovering above them, an elegant figure slowly descending into the center of their circle. They all gazed at her. She was so eerily...beautiful.

Sailor Universe raised her Staff, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "Evil beings, Dark souls who destroy Love and Happiness. I will purge this planet of your evilness...In the name of Universe and those lost, I will banish you! I'm Sailor Universe!"

She twirled her Staff expertly, the crystal globe at the top seeming to suck in all light. "Universe...Star...SHOWER!" She cried and beams of light struck down her enemies, turning them into star shards. She Bent to pick them up, stumbling slightly.

Everyone gasped as she nearly fell.

She scooped the shards into her hand, purifying them instantly. She turned towards the Scouts as she stood. Her legs buckled beneath her, her eyes drifted shut 'I'm weaker than I remember...' She began to fall.

Tuxedo Mask quickly grabbed the weak Scout, his cousin, and pulled her slight weight up into his arms. "She did too much too soon." He remarked dryly, carrying her to his car. Her fuku began to disappear, turning into ribbons of light and returning to her chest.

Sakura's eyes opened sleepily. 'Why do I feel like I've had a ton of bricks dropped on my chest?' She looked around. A picture of Serena and Darien was on the stand beside her. 'Where am I?'

She slowly got off the bed, her hair tickling the backs of her legs. She heard voices...

"What are we going to do about her?" – That was Amy

"What can we really do?" – Mina

"I'll consult the fires." She didn't know that one

"We have to train her." She heard Serena pitch in, "What's coming this time is worse that Galexia! I am afraid I have no other forms to use!"

"She's sailor Universe right?" Lita spoke up, "That must mean that in her prime she is the strongest...taking power from the whole Universe."

"Right now she is weak...from the past." Darien put in "I agree with Meatball head; we need to train her."

Sakura decided go digest this new information. She had thought it was a dream. Had hoped really. Her life was messy enough. She went back into the bedroom and silently opened the window leading out to the roof, "I've officially lost it." She whispered to herself, "Turning into a Sailor Scout, gaining another life, and now jumping onto roofs from open windows." She jumped, landing gracefully. "It's official, Kura, your life is going down hill." She jumped off the roof and disappeared into the night.

Back in the apartment the group went to check on her, to find her gone. They looked at each other, "Do you think she heard us?" a raven haired girl asked.