It was January 2004, the first month of a fresh year. Some hoped it would mean a fresh start to a better path. Others hoped it would be a new chance to set things right. Some just hoped it would bring change to get rid of the monotony of their lives. This was a hope Tenou Wakai, Tenou Kainashi, Kaiou Shizuka, and Meiou Hanshi held amongst themselves. The four of them had different mothers, except Wakai and Kainashi, and yet lived together with the three of them like a big family. Only Kainashi seemed to oppose it, but she kept it to herself.
The family of seven was really a family of eight, but the eldest adoptee was at college. Tomoe Hotaru was her name. She was different from the others, though. Her last name was different from theirs and was not the same as it was at birth. Of course, whenever Kainashi would ask, she would get no answer.
During the school year, the four of them lived in Tokyo, Japan with their mothers. During vacations, they would be traveling in America with two of their mothers, Kaiou Michiru and Tenou Haruka, while Meiou Setsuna would disappear.
In this month of vacation, the four children were in Flint, Michigan, at an airport. They were waiting with Michiru and Haruka for their connecting flight to arrive to take them to Atlanta, Georgia. Apparently, it had been held over somewhere due to the approaching snowstorm. "Please tell me we will not be stopping here next year," Hanshi said he curled tighter into his winter coat.
"Why Hanshi," Michiru said in an amused tone, "I thought you were excited about visiting a new state."
"I would hardly count this as visiting," Kainashi said bitterly. "All we've seen in this airport and snow. Even from the plane we couldn't see anything but snow!"
"But we have seen tons of snow!" Shizuka said enthusiastically. "Even in Tokyo we never see this much snow!"
"It wouldn't be so bad," Hanshi said, "If I could actually go and play in it."
"We'd lose you too quickly," Wakai said, ruffling Hanshi's dark brown hair from the seat behind. "Setsuna Oba-san would not be pleased."
"That is certainly a large group," Haruka said from behind her magazine. Her eyes were peering over top of it and were looking at a large group of kids walking into the seating area. They all wore similar black shirts under their open jackets or lack-there-of. The visible shirts had a logo of some sort on the front corner.
"'Chicago Summer, Orlando Winter,'" Michiru read, "I wonder what that means?"
"Maybe they are in Chicago during the summer and in Orlando during the winter," Haruka suggested.
"I'll ask," Hanshi said, suddenly jumping out of his chair. Before anyone could stop him, he was walking over to the large group. It was separating into smaller groups, so Hanshi went up to the closest one. "Hello," he said in English. "What does your shirt mean?"
The girl closest to him had a blue bag on her back She wore a white and green jacket that had an S symbol on it. Her long hair was reddish-blond and in a ponytail that reminded him of a certain florist in Tokyo. The girl smiled and said, "It is for marching band. Our songs this year were by the band 'Chicago.' Today we're going down to Orlando to march at Disney World on Sunday."
Hanshi only understood half of what she had said, but smiled and nodded anyway. He said thank you in English and hurried back over to his chair, leaving behind a few very confused teenagers and adults. Hanshi repeated exactly what the girl had said. Haruka and Michiru smiled to each other. "She is in a marching band for her high school," Michiru explained. "Chicago is both the name of a city and the name of an American band. Hence, 'Chicago Summer.'"
"This must be her marching band," Haruka said, looking at the many teenagers. "There is a theme park in Orlando, Florida called Disney World. Disney World is like Disney, Japan. Do you remember it?" Wakai, Shizuka, and Hanshi nodded. Kainashi didn't look like she was listening. "In Disney World, marching bands from high schools all over America march in the different theme parks. Obviously, 'Orlando Winter' refers to this trip of theirs." Hanshi nodded in understanding.
Shizuka smiled. "'Chicago Summer, Orlando Winter,'" she said in English, "That is very unique."
"Not quite," Wakai said, "But it is clever."
"It there a difference?" Hanshi asked as he curled back into his coat. Everyone but Kainashi smiled. In fact, Haruka noticed that Kainashi wasn't with them anymore.
"Where did that girl disappear to now?" Haruka asked irritably.
"'Big happy family,'" Kainashi said in a mocking voice. "Some family. We're all adopted, one of us is all grown up and moved out, and Setsuna is always away during vacations." She stopped at a row of vending machines and looked at the selections. "I hate coming to America," she said. "I hate English," she said in English for emphasis. Of course, she was speaking to no one but herself. She suddenly had a feeling of worthlessness at this thought.
"Why do you hate English?" someone asked. Kainashi looked over to an American girl in a black shirt like that large group was wearing. The girl wore glasses and had short black hair with brown roots. She was rather tall, even for Kainashi, who was also very tall.
"Butt out," Kainashi said in English. "Why do you care?" She ran her hand threw her short light blond hair and turned around. (Note: Her hair isn't short like Haruka or Ami, but rather like Hotaru.)
"I was just wondering," the girl said. "You seemed a little down and I've found that taking helps." Kainashi stopped and turned around, squinting her ice-blue eyes at the girl. "If you don't want to talk, that's okay. I was just trying to help."
"Don't you American's have a rule that says, 'Don't talk to strangers?'" Kainashi said sarcastically.
"Well, sure," the girl said, "But you seem like an okay person." She held out her hand. "I'm Ariel."
Kainashi gave a wary eye to the hand before taking it. "Kainashi,"she replied. "Are you with that group that is going to 'Orando?'" she asked.
Ariel smiled. "It is 'Orlando' and yes, I'm with the band," she said. "Where are you from and where are you going?"
"I'm from Tokyo," Kainashi replied, "And I'm going to Atlanta for vacation." Kainashi secretly admitted that talking to this girl felt nice, even if it wasn't about why she was so irritable.
"Our group has two planes," Ariel said. "Almost all of our chaperones and guests are on a connecting flight leaving for Atlanta." Ariel pointed to a plane out on the runway. "They were suppose to leave two hours ago."
"It must be really full," Kainashi said in Japanese, "Or else the six of us would be on it." Ariel was obviously confused. Then, someone began calling her name.
"Oh, that is my chaperone," Ariel explained. "I need to go." She pushed one of the buttons on the vending machine and grabbed the bottle that came out. "It was nice talking to you!" She smiled and waved as she walked quickly around the corner and disappeared. Kainashi smiled a rare smiled and looked at the machine. She inserted a few coins and pushed the button Ariel had. Out came a glass bottle with brown liquid inside. The label read, 'Yoohoo!' and the liquid reminded Kainashi of chocolate milk. She twisted the top off as she walked away. It smelled like chocolate milk. She took a drink and smiled. It tasted like chocolate milk. Kainashi smiled wider.
"I'm feeling perfect now."
"A fine, cold day," Miranda said to her snow-haired older sister.
"Indeed," Titania said. "Though, it isn't right that these humans hide from nature within these buildings. It isn't right that they hide from their natural existence."
"Agreed," Miranda said. "Let us help them return to their snow."
"Maybe we'll flush her out of hiding," Titania said.
"Maybe."
"There she is!" Hanshi said, pointing into the crowd. Everyone looked to see Kainashi emerging from the sea of band students. She dropped a container of some sort into a trash receptacle as she walked.
"Where have you been?" Haruka asked demandingly.
"I was just getting a drink," Kainashi said coldly. "I was thirsty."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Haruka asked.
"You were talking and it would have been rude of me," Kainashi answered.
"Then you could have waited," Wakai said, "But it doesn't matter now since you came back." Shizuka and Hanshi nodded. Michiru nodded too and nudged Haruka.
"All right," Haruka said in defeat, "But don't do that again."
"Fine," Kainashi said. "Next time I'll ask you to hold my hand." Haruka looked angry at this remark, but she didn't get a word out before the terminal was filled with screams. The group looked over at the entrance to the terminal to see the teenagers of the band group turn into ice.
"Get down!" Michiru shouted. Wakai grabbed Hanshi and Shizuka and pulled them down. Kainashi was still watching the growing ice and exploding lights when Haruka shoved her down. She hit hard but was in too much shock to care.
"What's going on!" Hanshi shouted fearfully. Suddenly, they heard a pair of voices shout. The four recognized them.
"Neptune Planet Power!" shouted Michiru's voice.
"Uranus Planet Power!" shouted Haruka's voice.
"Make Up!" They shouted in unison. The two women were out of sight but a strange teal and orange glow could be seen from the corner of Shizuka's eye. She turned her head slightly and saw the boots the two women were wearing. She gasped then the snow boots changed into a pair of teal high heels and a strange pair of dark blue boots.
"What is going on!" Shizuka shouted. "Mother! Haruka Oji-san!"
Michiru and Haruka had transformed into sailor senshi for the first time in over 20 years. They felt younger again, and yet they felt weary. Sailor Neptune looked at her partner as the Deep Aqua Mirror appeared in her hands. Sailor Uranus looked back as the Space Sword appeared in her own hands.
"Tennousei!" shouted a rather amused voice. "It is so good to see you again!" Uranus and Neptune looked forward and saw a pair of floating figures above the half-frozen band group. The unfrozen half was on the floor, crouched in between their frozen peers. "We really didn't think you would be here," said one of the figures. It floated into the light, showing it to be a female with long snow-white hair and blue and white outfit that barely covered anything.
"You do remember us, don't you?" said another female voice as the second figure floated into the light. She, too, had snow-white hair. It was held up in pigtails and, while the girl was floating, she was in a lady-like sitting position.
"Why would I know you?" Uranus asked. The two figures chuckled.
"You obviously don't know a thing about your past!" the second female said. "Or else you would remember me, Miranda!"
"You would remember me, too!" the first female said. "It is I, Titania!"
"Again I ask," Uranus said, "Why would I know you?"
Titania and Miranda smiled. "If you don't know," Titania said, "Then we'll leave you in the dark."
"Just know that while you are Sailor Uranus," Miranda said, "You will always be Tennousei to us." Uranus' cold glare turned into confusion. Neptune's face remained stone.
Meanwhile, Hanshi, Wakai, and Shizuka listened to what was said. They didn't speak, being too cold and afraid. Kainashi was looking under the seats at the frozen students. She smiled when she saw Ariel. She was yet unfrozen. She was crouched next to the girl Hanshi had spoken to earlier. Her eyes widened in hear as the two girls picked up some frozen objects and chucked them at Titania and Miranda. One of the objects obviously connected, as the red-haired girl smiled in satisfaction and Miranda yelled out in shock.
"Ooh, that hurt!" she shouted. She looked down at the two girls and saw the smile on the red-haired girl's face. "You think that was funny, do you?" she said with a bit of a growl. She wheeled her arm back and threw a ball of ice at the two girls. They jumped up and ran, the ice ball hitting the floor.
"Neptune Deep Submerge!" Sailor Neptune cried. Her watery attack charged at Miranda, but Titania floated in front and froze it. She took the frozen ball into her hands. "Protect those two!" Neptune yelled. Uranus nodded and ran after the two girls. Titania lifted the frozen orb up and threw it at Neptune. Neptune sent another attack at it, but it didn't stop and instead got bigger. Knowing she couldn't avoid the attack without those behind her getting hurt, she put up her hands and caught it. The force threw her backward over the row of chairs.
To avoid her, Shizuka and Hanshi moved out of the way. Shizuka's head appeared over the top of the chairs where she got a good look of the two bad guys. She ducked her head under again and tried shaking Sailor Neptune into consciousness. "Mother!" she whispered urgently. "Mother, please wake up!"
Uranus caught up to the girls and grabbed the wrist of the black-haired one. The two of them stopped and turned around. Their eyes widened, causing Uranus to spin around. Arrows of ice were heading straight for them. Uranus swung up and sword and shouted, "Uranus Space Sword Blaster!" As she swung it back down, pulsing energy from it sliced the arrows in half.
"Very good," Miranda said, clapping slowly. "Too bad Sailor Neptune can't be as good as you." She pointed to the seats where Neptune lay unconscious.
Furious, Uranus shouted, "Uranus Meteor Strike!" She sent her attack at Titania and Miranda who dismissed it with their ice arrows. They sent them at her furiously, keeping her pinned down as she tried to ward them all off.
Meanwhile, Shizuka and Wakai were trying unsuccessfully to awaken Neptune. "Oh mother, please wake up!" Shizuka cried as tears began to form. One slid slowly down her cheek and fell from her chin. It landed on the top of her left hand, where it began to glow in a teal color. Shizuka gasped as it grew into flat teal disc. The sign of Neptune burned on it in a lighter color. She picked up the little disc and as she did, it filled out into a perfect sphere. It floated in front of her face, a soft glow falling on her face from it. She took it into her hand and was suddenly enveloped in a teal light. Hanshi and Kainashi yelled out in shock. Wakai tried to take the sphere away, but he was pushed back several feet. Hanshi and Kainashi were also pushed back. As everyone else caught sight of the light, Shizuka's voice rang out clearly. "Neptune Neo Crystal Power Make Up!" A soft shimmer of light filled the room. Then the glow disappeared. Where Shizuka had stood now stood the strangest sailor senshi Sailor Uranus had ever seen.
The senshi had the same sky blue hair that Shizuka did, but it was held up in a ponytail by a red bow. The collar was long like a cape and was navy blue. On her face was a light purple mask like that of Tuxedo Kamen, but it was rounder. Shizuka stood and took off the mask, letting it float to the ground. She looked up at Miranda and Titania and glared coldly. "You picked the wrong people to mess with," she said. Miranda and Titania scoffed. Titania lifted her hand and sent a volley of ice arrows at Shizuka. She held up her hands, clutching the Deep Aqua Mirror tightly. With the mirror facing the attack, she shouted, "Neptune Whirlpool Gaze!" A whirlpool of water appeared from the mirror, sucking in the arrows, then it disappeared.
"Who are you?" Miranda asked.
Shizuka's red eyes seemed to burn as she spoke. "I am Neo Sailor Neptune, The New Warrior of Water! I am protected by Neptune and I call my power from water!" With the mirror hanging by her hand at her side, she lifted her other hand and yelled, "Neptune Crushing Tsunami!" A tall wave of water charged at the snow-haired villains. They held up their hands and sent a burst of energy at it as if to freeze it. The water absorbed the energy and kept going. In shock, the siblings held up their arms and put up white barriers. The water swallowed them up. It disappeared in moments, leaving no trace of them. The excess water disappeared as the frozen population began to unfreeze.
Uranus looked at the two girls and said, "Get moving." Ariel nodded and began moving. The second girl was still staring at Neo Sailor Neptune.
"Alyssa, come on!" Ariel said. The girl named Alyssa nodded and hurried off after her. When they turned around, neither of the senshi were anywhere to be seen.
Wakai and Hanshi looked at Shizuka's sailor uniform in awe as Haruka and Kainashi tried to revive Michiru. The six of them were sitting in the back of their empty plane. While all of the passengers and personnel were investigating the strange occurrence, Uranus and Neo Neptune had hurried their own group onto their arrived plane. Shizuka stood in the aisle, looking herself over from top to bottom. She looked down at her purple boots with its strange red ribbons. She softly touched her purple skirt which had a red ribbon that connected to the middle of her navy blue belt and went around to connect with her red bow. She looked at her white gloves; They went past her elbows and ended with a single navy blue band. The bow that connected to her long collar was the light purple and had a slim oval brooch that was navy blue. The bow had an extra pair of tails that were red. She touched the soft puffy material that encircled each of her shoulders. The material was light purple and had a navy blue band.
As Shizuka looked over her uniform, Michiru came about. Haruka looked up at Shizuka and said, "You had better get out of your uniform."
Shizuka nodded and as she did, her uniform turned back into her winter coat and dark blue skirt. "How did I do that?" she asked as she sat down. "How did I become a sailor senshi? How did I change back?"
"You got your powers from me," Michiru said. In an amused voice, she added, "It seems my powers are moving on to the next generation."
"But why?" Haruka asked to no one in particular.
"She was hurt badly," Hanshi said. "Maybe the powers went to Shizuka because Michiru Oba-san couldn't use them."
"Maybe," Wakai said, "Is Setsuna Oba-san a sailor senshi too?" Michiru smiled and nodded.
"There is a lot you don't know," Haruka said, "And I have a feeling you will find out soon enough."
"I think we should head home," Kainashi said. "It might be safer."
"Not necessarily," Haruka said. "It could be just as dangerous, if not more. If those two were looking for me, who is to say there aren't others looking for the other senshi? But, you are right: We need to go back."
"We need to get to the other senshi," Michiru explained. "It seems that we have our first threat in almost 25 years."