First off I would like to thank those that have taken time to review my story. Especially ffgirlmoonie for her continued support. This chapter should hopefully clear up any confusion about why the scouts powers got stripped. chapter 7 happens at the same time as chapter 4-6. So on with the story

Chapter 7: Senshi Discussions and Revelations

Ami stared up at the moon it had barely been twenty-four hours since Usagi had lost it and stripped the senshi of their powers. Thinking back Ami didn't blame her Princess for doing what she did. Usagi went through so much in becoming Sailor Moon, giving up friends like Naru to save the world. Fighting Queen Beryl and even Endymion to prove who she was and to meet her destiny, and that was only the first in many tests or obsticles she went through. Then there was Ali and Ann, with those two she didn't even have Mamoru to help. Ali and Ann, the misguided aliens, that given her choice Usagi would have fought on her own. Putting her compassion for others over her own desires. Ami sighed as she continued to reflect and reminisce over everything that Usagi had gone through.

The tests just continued after that as Mamoru broke up with her to protect her when Chibi-Usa first came to them. Ami could only guess at the anguish and heartache that her friend went through. Just as she knew that even though some of the senshi were mad at Usagi, they understood where she was coming from.
So far Ami had only covered about a quarter of what her friend had gone through and they all knew it was far from over. Looking around Ami realized that she had reached her destination, Fire Mountain Temple. Approaching the pond in the back she noticed that she wasn't the first on there.

"Hi, Ami-chan," greeted Hotaru, who sat next to Rei, Mina, and Makoto. Thinking to herself, I should have known that it would be us five first. The loyal senshi by choice.'

"Hi," Ami smiled. "Where are the other outers Hotaru?"

"They are ..."

"We are right here." Haruka growled.

"What is up with you, Haruka?" Makoto asked.

"We did our tests today and still don't have our powers back. She doesn't like being defensless." Michelle answered.

"Well lets all finish our tests tonight and see what happens, maybe there is an additional group test at the end." Ami suggested.

The group nodded if some not reluctantly, Setsuna stepped forward, "I volunteer to go first."

"Go first? You mean we have to do them one at a time?" Mina asked.

"Yeah, Princess Serenity apparently wants us to be tested individually." Haruka's anger was apparent to all in the group.

Rei, who had been silent the whole time, stood up, "Haruka, you of all people have no reason to complain. On top of everything she went through before we met you outer senshi, Neptune and you have to challenge her for her own birthright and kingdom. For one I agree with Princess Serenity making us do these tests." Rei's anger flaming, then slowly she took a breath. "If she has to be tested more times than I can count, then why shouldn't our loyalties and ablilities be tested as well?"

Everyone looked silently to Rei and nodded their agreement. Even Haruka looked a little unsure of where she stood now. "But we have stood by her ever since..."

"But she had to prove herself to her own senshi, on top of proving her self to the world and you don't think that effects her. I personally would have given up and said scew it a long time ago. As a senshi I gave up a lot but Sailor Moon gave up her child hood friends, any semblace of a normal life, and even being a teenager." Mina stopped here. Looking around she shook her head, "None of you get it? I am stunned. Think about it second only to me Usagi, has been Sailor Moon since she was 14 and now at 16 she is raising 6 kids."

"But we all became senshi at fourteen, Mina."

"But Rei we weren't required to be at every battle. Did we ever once defeat a youma by ourselves without Sailor Moon? She defeated them without us or not all of us."

"Mina is right. I can't believe we never registered that and while the outers travel the world and raised Hotaru we were still fighting, Usagi was still fighting."

Silence rang through the temple grounds as the realization hit them as to the extent of what Usagi had and does go through. Mina said, "I am taking the test not to get my powers back but to protect and show my loyalty to Princess Serenity and my friendship to Usagi. Sailor Test Begin!" In flash of orange and gold Mina disappeared into the night, leaving her comrads to think about why this had happend and what they were going to do to get it back, if they could get it back.

Venus' Guide:

Mina found herself in a cave that looked to hold gold. "Who dares enter my cave?" Demanded a soft masculine voice.

Thrown back the venisian princess had to think before she answered, " I am Princess Ishtar and the Senshi of Venus; cousin to Serenity of the Moon; last leader of the Sailor Senshi."

"Very well, Princess Ishtar. You are as you were a thousand years ago one of the wisest and loyal guards of the moon. Welcome to the golden cave of love and my home."

Mina smiled and then took a double look, this person looked like a baby with a bow, That can't be cupid? Could it?'

"I am glad you remember me, cousin. In this place thoughts are projected to me to help protect me from those who would harm me. I am Cupid, the messenger of love and by Princess Serenity's I am also the one incharge of your test." The child like man explained.

"So you are incharge of the tests?"

"No, just yours. Each senshi has a chosen representative to guide them through their test. I was chosen because I am a symbol of your planet and very close to your ancestor Aphrodite."

"So, lets get this started. How does this work?" Mina said slightly excited.

"The test has five parts, two for Mina Aino, one for Princess Ishtar, and two for Sailor Venus. After each test you will be returned to me here before being sent for the next test. Due to a time flux you will only appear to be gone for about 10-15 minutes. So in real time each test should only take around 2 minutes although in the test it may appear longer. So who would you like to have tested first? Mina? Ishtar? or Sailor Venus?"

"I would like to do Ishtar first."

"Very well, may your test begin..."