Chapter Four: Powerless No More

Batafurai, eventually, calmed herself down, falling to sleep. However, just like all the nights before this one, it was not without its share of disturbing dreams:

She looked around, confused. She was kneeling in a foggy area and could not see more than a few feet in front of her. Panicked, she pulled herself to her feet. "Anyone here? Help! I don't know how I got here!"

A soft, gentle laugh sounded from in front of her. Batafurai could make out the figure of a woman, bearing long hair and a tall staff, approaching her. "I brought you here, Batafurai-hime."

Batafurai shook her head, more nervous than before. "I'm NO princess, trust me! Who are you, and why—nevertheless HOW—did you bring me here?"

She could now see the approaching woman clearly. She wore a uniform somewhat like Batafurai's school uniform, only it had two mini-skirts, large bows, a body-suit of white, gloves reaching above her elbows, and a black sailor collar. The woman's sleeves were large and bubble-like. The entire outfit was done in grey and black. A thin, V-like tiara rested on her forehead, bearing a black, star-shaped jewel within the point. Stars dangled from her ears, and a V-shaped chocker was around her neck. The woman had dark green hair and sad, garnet eyes. Her staff was just barely shorter than her and shaped like a key. Batafurai gasped, knowing she had seen this person many years before.

"My name is Sailor Pluto. I guard the Gates of Time throughout eternity. How I brought you here is not of importance, but my reason is to help you gain your powers, Batafurai-hime."

Shaking her head again, Batafurai said, "Pluto-sama, you have the wrong girl. I'm powerless and NOT a princess."

"I assure you that you are mistaken. But, if you are so sure that I am wrong, will you be willing to perform one test to prove which one of us speaks the truth?" the Time Senshi asked.

Batafurai thought carefully. After a while, she replied, "Okay, Pluto-sama, you have a deal. But how will I know if I'm right?"

"You will know, trust me. Now, hold your hands in front of you like so," here Pluto demonstrated, holding both of her hands in front of the garnet bow at her chest, "and focus on yourself. Search deep within your heart."

Now convinced that the woman in front of her was a raving lunatic, Batafurai decided it was better just to humor the woman than to anger her. She made the motion and focus hard. Deep within her heart, she saw something deep within her. Before she realized what she had done, she felt it explode forth from her chest. Once the shock of this wore off, she opened her eyes to see a purple gem hovering between her hands. "…Oookay, you were right about the power thing…I think…"

Pluto walked foreward to her, holding out a purple brooch. It opened, drawing the gem into it. It situated itself within a butterfly-shaped setting inside of the brooch. Pluto then closed the lid and placed it in Batafurai's right hand. "That is your brooch. Carry it with you always. It is an heirloom of your family's, passed down for generations. Once the time is right, it will show its true powers to you. Until then, trust in Usagi and her friends. They are not of the force that wants your life. Good luck, Little Moon." Pluto's staff began to glow garnet, nearly blinding Batafurai.

"Wait! How will I know? How do you know me? TELL ME PLUTO-SAMA!"

Batafurai jumped up into a sitting position, sweating and gasping for breath. She looked to the nightstand, seeing the brooch from her dream. It was butterfly-shaped and purple in color. Near the tip on each of the four wing sections, there was a silver crescent moon. The body of the butterfly was a deep red. She clutched the brooch in her hand, closing her eyes. I guess that wasn't truly a dream…but what on Earth am I going to use this for? And why the heck did she call me Little Moon?

Batafurai stood back, giggling to herself. Usagi and ChibiUsa were rushing around the clothing store, trying to outdo each other at picking out things for her. Those two…sheesh! They might as well be twins! She carefully made her way to a clothing rack, something catching her eye.

A few minutes later, the three met up near a dressing room, choices in hand. Batafurai was amazed that they had found so much in so little time. "Um…guys…We don't really have the rest of the week for me to try all these on…plus I couldn't afford all of them anyways…"

"We know that, Bata-chan!" ChibiUsa said cutely. "Just pick out a few you like from each and only buy what you're SURE you'll like…though I really think you'll love that pink one."

Worried that the two of them would end up in another argument, she grabbed random objects from each of their piles and locked herself in the dressing room. Hopefully that'll calm those two for a while.

While she was trying on things, she noticed that the store was growing more and more quiet. Finding this supicious, she changed back in to her own clothes and stuck her head out the door. Seeing no one, she stepped out further. A flash of pink caught her eye, causing her to turn her head quickly to the store window. A girl in a pink sailor uniform, nearly identical to the one Pluto wore in her dream, was flung to the street, followed by a blast.

Suddenly, Batafurai was filled with the urge to use the brooch she had been given. She snuck back to the dressing room and locked the door. Taking the brooch from her pocket, she stared at it, confused. "I don't know what else TO do, and that girl needs help, so I guess this is it." Not sure what she was doing, Batafurai raised the brooch over her head and yelled the first thing that came to mind. "LITTLE CRYSTAL POWER!"

The top of her brooch disappeared, the gem inside reacting to its owner's command. It released a blinding flash of purple light. Batafurai's clothing disappeared, her body a swirl of red and purple lights with her brooch resting upon her chest. Butterflies composed of energy flew around her in random patterns as she spun, eyes closed. Some of the butterflies landed on her chest and abdomen. With a flash of light, they formed a bodysuit, purple sailor collar, red front bow, and white shoulder pads. As she leaned over, her arms over her legs, more butterflies landed on them, forming elbow-length gloves with purple padding at the top and purple knee boots. She stretched herself back out, more butterflies resting around her waist. From these a purple pleated mini skirt was formed, along with a red back bow. The smallest of the remaining butterflies formed a golden, V-shaped tiara on her forehead, a purple chocker around her neck, and a pair of dangling earrings. Opening her eyes, she spun and posed: arms folded across her chest, leaning slightly to the right, left toe pointed a little.

Now very unsure of her decision, she turned to the mirror behind her. Her eyes immediately were drawn to how tight the outfit was on her and how short the skirt was. "…oh, if my mother could see me now…WHO was insane enough to give this a MINI SKIRT!" She sighed, touching the oval shaped purple jewel in her tiara. Her chocker bore a red rose bud on the front of it. The pads on her shoulders appeared to be three ridges of white fabric. Identical ones, only in purple, were attached to the tops of her gloves. Her boots formed a point over each knee and was framed by a white line. A golden crescent moon sat on the point of the boots. A roll of red fabric was situated where her skirt began. Guess Pluto-sama really WAS right… "Okay, judging by the marks on my brooch and boots, along with that phrase, I was this "Little Moon" character she refered to…my outfit is like that Sailor Moon person's, so I must be some type of Sailor Senshi and able to stop those youma thingies…" She turned in the direction of the window as she heard another scream. "…I don't have time to think on this!" She quickly unlocked the door and rushed out of the store.

MY FIRST REVIEW ON MY REVISED SERIES! Hugs all around for that! You have NO idea how much that made my day! A REVIEW! And one from a person that I wasn't related to, a co-author with, and/or was a friend I begged to read this and review! THANK YOU!