The Early Years - Part 10 - Chapter 11

Flashpoint: Diagon Alley

Previously:

The knife-wielding thug, brimming with arrogance, retorted, "So, what's next, Sailor Loony? Planning to toss that glittering tiara at us?"

Sailor Moon felt the weight of their scepticism but stood resolute. She might've wished for backup as the thug's weapons frightened her, but she wasn't going to back down. With a swift motion, she plucked her tiara off her brow. The gem in its centre illuminated, casting a golden hue, and it transformed into a gleaming disc its gem glowing fiercely. "Actually, yes... Since you asked so nicely," she smirked. That's exactly what I'm going to do."

Taking a deep breath, she channelled her energy and, ensuring it was non-lethal, with a graceful swing and shout, "Moon Tiara Boomerang!", she released the tiara with all her strength. The tiara spun through the air with uncanny precision.

It caught the first thug off-guard, striking his chest and drawing a pained gasp. Seamlessly, it then changed direction, disarming the second and toppling the third.

In the background, whispers grew into a cacophony as onlookers congregated. But Sailor Moon was undistracted. The fight was not yet over. Instead, she chose to quickly finish off the thugs before they could react, fight back, or try to get away.

With nimble grace and enhanced speed, she moved swiftly, incapacitating the thugs with a flurry of calculated moves. A series of precise strikes and kicks later, all three lay unconscious.

By the time she reclaimed her tiara, returning it to its rightful place, applause erupted. A crowd had formed, cheering her bravery and celebrating her triumph.

She approached the elderly man, genuine concern evident in her voice, "Are you okay?" His eyes, shimmering with gratitude, met hers as he murmured, "Thank you, Sailor Moon, Thank you so much for saving me and my dog."

Sailor Moon blushed and smiled warmly.

"You're welcome. I'm glad I could help.

Absorbing the scene - the cheering crowd, the subdued foes - pride swelled in her heart; today had not only marked her emergence as a guardian of justice but also a new beacon of hope for those in distress.

And now the continuation:

One year later, a few months before Aryanna's 1st year at Hogwarts.

A year had passed since Aryanna had first donned the mantle of Sailor Moon, revealing her secret identity to an unsuspecting muggle world. Now, she stood as a beacon of hope, a full-fledged agent of hope and justice – albeit underage - of the UK Youma Defence Force, second only to the enigmatic Sailor Pluto.

Her youthful visage often led to her being underestimated, casting her in the shadow of her elder counterpart. But Aryanna thrived in this obscurity. To her, heroism wasn't about glory but about safeguarding those who couldn't protect themselves, especially against the ever-looming Youma threats. This misjudgement became her secret weapon, lulling adversaries into a false sense of security. She intended to exploit this advantage for as long as possible, aware that it wouldn't last forever given her rapidly growing fame.

Even though she was often seen merely as Sailor Pluto's sidekick, Aryanna found contentment in her role. Her daring exploits were steadily making headlines in the muggle world and already there were rumours of the beginnings of Sailor Moon Fan clubs. Aryanna was not certain how to feel about those.

As for the magical world: While they were aware of the Youma threat, whispers of her daring exploits had yet to ripple through the hallowed cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley. The magical world's isolationist tendencies meant that news travelled slower here than in its muggle counterpart. As such they still knew little of the Sailor Guardians which protected them or indeed of the ever-rising Youma threat. An unfortunate side effect of staying hidden and being in a world of isolationists for hundreds of years.

But Aryanna knew it was only a matter of time before her reputation would seep through to every corner of the magical world. For now, she would enjoy the relative quietness of the hidden world of magic, while she still could. While she hoped it would never be necessary, it was now only a matter of time, not if but rather when the magical world learned about her and Pluto.

At this moment, Aryanna found herself participating in the second half of her life – her not-so-secret and far more believable civilian life. That of a common tweenaged ten-year-old girl helping her best friend with her shopping.

As a superhero, she was the mysterious unknown, a saviour of many, a bane of the wicked few. Currently, however, she was amidst the magical hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley accompanying Susan on a shopping expedition in preparation for their upcoming term at Hogwarts. Beside them, providing guidance and supervision was the enigmatic, firm yet fair, Setsuna, the Lady Regent of the Potter family.

Within the sacred confines of Ollivanders, both girls were anxiously awaiting Susan's wand selection. The air was thick with anticipation as wand after wand refused her friend in random spectacular ways, from simply not working, right up to making things explode and setting other things on fire as she tried each wand out. Ollivander's excited squeaks of glee only adding to the near-chaotic drama.

Aryanna watched with a mix of envy and amusement. She could hardly wait for her turn but as Aryanna was still ten and would not be eleven for a few more months she would have to wait a while longer.

Hermione, her other best friend also already had her wand. She had it since last September as she was nearly a year older. Sometimes being the youngest girl sucked…but that was how it was…and it did allow her the opportunity to experience the joys of wand shopping a few times as well.

Susan had just picked up another wand. She had lost count of how many it had been. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Could this finally be the one?

A wave... a bang and another little shriek of surprise.

Nope!... wrong again.

"Arya, did you see that? That one almost turned Mr. Ollivander into a toad!" Susan exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief as she held the most recent wand that had just misbehaved.

Aryanna chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "At this rate, we might leave with a zoo instead of a wand."

Setsuna, always the voice of calm and reason, smiled gently at the girls. "Patience, Susan. Your wand is here. You just haven't met it yet."

Finally, after countless tries and a quick wave of colourful sparks, Susan found her wand - an Oak with a Unicorn tail core 7 1/2 inches long with firm flexibility.

Aryanna cheered and quickly turned towards Setsuna. "My birthday is only a few months away do you think it would be ok to get mine now as well?" she asked hopefully, looking at her with her best imitation of a puppy dog look. Setsuna smiled and acted as if she was thinking, even frowning for good measure.

Normally students were not supposed to do magic out of school, but Pluto knew that nearly all pure-blooded families didn't care about that rule and it technically wasn't illegal either…as long as you were not officially a student yet. Some purebloods started their children on simple spells when they were 8. It wasn't fair on the muggle-borns, but that was pure-blooded bigotry and loopholes at its finest. That aside, with the rising Youma threat, she felt it was a good idea. It was now even more important than ever to teach Aryanna some magic sooner rather than later, as such, even though it wasn't morally correct, she would allow it.

With these thoughts in mind, Setsuna finally nodded. "I'll allow it… If it's ok with Mr Ollivander, that is," she answered giving the man a nod. Aryanna quickly shifted her hopeful attention to the old wand maker. His accepting smile and nod elicited a joyful "YES!, thank you!" from Aryanna. Everyone in the room laughed at her eagerness.

And so, the wand selection process began anew. Aryanna stepped forward, her heart pounding with excitement and nervous anticipation. The countless wands around her seemed to echo whispers of ages past. The dim, mystical atmosphere of Ollivanders felt almost overwhelming as wand after wand was tried, only to be discarded shortly after.

Mr. Ollivander, after a thoughtful pause, reached for another slender wand made of Holly with a Phoenix Feather core. "Give this a whirl," he suggested, handing it to Aryanna.

Aryanna gave it a flick, and a deafening bang echoed in the room, followed by a billowing cloud of black smoke. Coughing from inhaling the smoke Aryanna hastily returned the wand. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment she sheepishly looked at Ollivander.

Mr. Ollivander chuckled softly. "Not that one. Let's try another," he said kindly.

Next came a Cherry wood wand with a Unicorn Hair core. Aryanna waved it, and the result was a sudden gust of wind that sent papers and lighter items flying off the shelves. Susan couldn't help but laugh at the chaos caused by the gusty wind.

"Interesting," Ollivander mumbled to himself as he searched further through his collection of wands. "How curious. Could it be?" The old wandmaker, looking more intrigued than ever, presented her with yet another option - "Yew, with a Dragon Heartstring core, 8 inches, slightly springy."

However, this too proved to be an ill fit as wand boxes flew off the shelves and began to briefly fly all around the room before the wand caught on fire and fell to the floor.

"Oh my, well that definitely was a bad fit. That won't do at all" Mr Ollivander said as he hastily put out the fire and vanished the remains of the wand without any sign of shock or dismay on his face. A quick whirl of his wand later, order was restored in his shop as he continued his search for Aryanna's perfect match.

Mr. Ollivander studied Aryanna with keen eyes, his gaze penetrating as if trying to unravel a mystery. "For someone so young, there's a profound depth to you," he said thoughtfully. "I wonder!"

Suddenly, his eyes lit up as if struck by an epiphany. "It's the core…yes…I'm sure of it…and the wood wasn't the best either…hmm…could it be?.. Maybe" he mumbled to himself, lost in his thoughts.

With renewed determination, he moved towards a particular shelf and began shuffling through a few wand boxes until he found what he was looking for.

Taking out the wand inside, he held it reverently, almost nervously, as if it were an old friend rather than an object. Then he handed it to Aryanna. It was a beautifully crafted wand.

" This…this was one of the first I ever created. Rowan wood with a Unicorn hair core, 9 3/4 inches, supple," he said softly, his voice filled with nostalgia. For a second it seemed as if the old wandmaker had a tear in his eye.

Aryanna hesitated for a moment before taking the wand from him, feeling its weight and balance in her hand. Unlike the others before it, this one felt… right, as if it were an extension of herself rather than an external tool.

Suddenly she found herself in awe as a cascade of brilliant, silvery sparkles erupted from its tip, enveloping the room in a brief, ethereal glow that seemed to dance around her like tiny stars. For a second it even seemed as if a set of wings had superimposed themselves over her childish form, only to fade away a few seconds later. The atmosphere was imbued with a sense of calm and warmth.

Mr. Ollivander clapped his hands together in delight as he watched the display unfold before him. "That… is rather rare," he said, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "Such a strong connection between witch and wand is seldom seen. It seems you and your wand are destined for great things."

"Rowan is known for its protective nature and is often used against dark magic," he explained further. "Paired together with a Unicorn hair core, it makes for a wand dedicated to love, justice, and healing - qualities that seem quite fitting for you."

Setsuna and Susan shared a proud glance at Aryanna who was beaming with joy as she gripped her new wand tightly.

As Aryanna held the wand close to her heart, she felt an inexplicable connection - this wand was not just an instrument for casting spells but also a symbol of her journey into the magical world and her destiny as Sailor Moon.

Soon after securing their new wands in dragonhide holsters, Aryanna and Susan set their sights on Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, their hearts light with the joy of their new acquisitions.

Lost in admiration of her new wand, Aryanna didn't see the figure before her until it was too late. She collided with him, and they both tumbled onto the cobblestones.

"Hey! Watch it bun head," sneered a voice.

Pushing her hair out of her eyes, Aryanna's face flushed as she recognized the platinum-blond hair and haughty eyes of Draco Malfoy, heir apparent to the Malfoy legacy.

Fortunately for Aryanna, as the heiress of House Peverell, she held equal political rank to the Malfoys. A simple apology would suffice.

Draco's sneer deepened. "Humph, Potter! I should have known. Only a Potter could be so careless."

Rising gracefully, ignoring his rude comment, Aryanna extended a hand. "My apologies, Heir Malfoy." She used his title purposefully, knowing her heritage as the heiress of the Peverell house matched his in rank and significance. Her title as heiress of House Peverell wasn't something she flaunted, but in moments like this, it provided a welcome shield against the Malfoys' scorn.

Before Draco could respond, a sharp voice cut through the air. "Draco, a Malfoy does not sprawl on the streets." Lucius Malfoy approached, his eyes cold. "And certainly not because of… accidents."

Meeting the elder Malfoy's gaze, Aryanna curtsied lightly. "My apologies Lord Malfoy. The fault was mine," she responded diplomatically, hoping to defuse the unfortunate encounter swiftly and re-join her friend who was watching the unfolding drama from nearby.

Just then, Setsuna emerged from Ollivanders. She had stayed behind to discuss some last-minute business with the old wand maker. Her gaze immediately assessed the situation.

"Is everything alright, Aryanna?" she asked calmly, her gaze shifting between Aryanna and the Malfoys.

Aryanna nodded. "Just a slight mishap, Aunt Setsuna," Aryanna replied smoothly, smoothing her robes.

Lucius, ever the consummate diplomat, inclined his head toward Draco. "Draco?"

"But father…" Draco began to protest but was silenced by a sharp look from Lucius.

Draco hesitated for a moment before nodding begrudgingly and muttering an apology under his breath.

With that confrontation settled amicably enough for now at least, they resumed their journey towards Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour for some well-deserved ice cream.

A few minutes later, Aryanna and Susan found themselves nestled comfortably in a booth at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, their minds abuzz with the excitement of their new acquisitions.

Aryanna, eager to put her recent encounter behind her, quickly decided on the Golden Snitch Caramel Crunch. "A luxurious golden caramel ice cream with chunks of butterscotch and a dash of salt… Embedded with delicate, gold-coated chocolate replicas of the Golden Snitch that flutter briefly in one's stomach. Perfect," she declared, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Beside her, Susan rolled her eyes playfully. "Only you would immediately go for something with the word 'snitch' in it." She scanned the menu before pointing at an item. "I think I'll go for the Golden Heart Cherry Charm," she announced, "Velvety golden vanilla with enchanted cherry swirls and effervescent heart-shaped candies… Embrace the warmth of protective spells with each bite."

"Hmm…didn't take you as a romantic type" Aryanna teased as they took their place at a nearby table.

Susan raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "Whatever do you mean?"

Aryanna simply smiled mischievously. "Oh, nothing at all." She then took a bite of her ice cream, sighing in contentment.

From behind them, Setsuna chimed in, "For me, the Temporal Toffee Twilight. What a delightful name." She read the description aloud, nodding in agreement. "Dive into the mysteries of time with this sumptuous dark chocolate blend… A favourite amongst those who appreciate the older magics." She winked at Aryanna. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

Aryanna blinked in surprise, then whispered with a grin, "It suits you perfectly." The two Sailor Guardians exchanged a knowing glance, cementing the bond of their shared secret.

"So, tell me, Arya. New hairstyle?" Susan asked, tilting her head curiously. "It's lovely, but so different. Why the change?"

Aryanna hesitated for a moment, her fingers brushing against an Odango. How was she going to explain to her friend it was because of her transformation into Sailor Moon and not out of choice? Ever since her initial transformation, her hair had steadily grown to near unmanageable lengths.

But then she shrugged nonchalantly. "My hair's been growing uncontrollably. Even when I cut it, it grows back by morning. It became so long, I stepped on it."

"And the Odangos?" Susan prompted curiously.

"Just… a way to manage it without daily trims," Aryanna admitted with a shrug.

Susan frowned thoughtfully. "That's not normal. Have you been to St Mungo's? Though," she smirked teasingly, "the Odangos do suit you."

Suddenly Susan's eyes widened as if struck by a sudden realization. "Wait, I think I've read about this!" She paused for a moment as if trying to recall something important. "Your uncontrollable hair growth… the color of your eyes changing… Tell me, Arya, have there been any other changes?"

Setsuna's eyebrows shot up in realization as she turned to look at Aryanna. "Of course!" she exclaimed softly.

Aryanna shot them both a frustrated look. "What? What's going on?" Aryanna echoed her confusion aloud this time, irritation creeping into her voice as she shot back, "Would someone please tell me what's going on?"

Setsuna leaned in closer to Aryanna and Susan, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and caution as she revealed what she suspected might be happening to Aryanna: "Aryanna," she began slowly and deliberately as if trying to soften the impact of what she was about to say next: "what Susan suggests is not common but it is possible - You could be a Metamorphmagus."

A bewildered Aryanna echoed back in confusion: "A Meta… what now?"

"Metamorphmagus," Susan clarified eagerly as if excited by the prospect of witnessing such a rare phenomenon first-hand: "a rare individual who can change their appearance at will. I've read they're born that way - it's an extremely rare and useful magical ability."

Aryanna sat in stunned silence for a moment as she tried to process this new information - could this be true? Could this explain all the changes she had been experiencing lately? Could this somehow be related to being Sailor Moon? Does one identity influence the other? As these questions swirled around in her mind unanswered for now - one thing was certain: things were about to get even more interesting.

Just as Setsuna was in the middle of explaining Aryanna's newfound powers, a pair of synchronized beeping sounds interrupted them. Both she and Aryanna groaned, realizing the significance.

"I'm sorry, Arya. Duty calls," Setsuna said, extracting a small electronic device from her pocket. She stepped away, murmuring, "Setsuna here," into the device.

Beside her, Aryanna ignored the chimes of her own device and did her best to distract Susan while her aunt took the call.

"What was that?" Susan asked her friend, intrigued by the obvious muggle device Setsuna was currently using. "Is that a…what's it called again…a felitone?"

Aryanna smiled at her friend's mispronunciation. "Close…That Susan," Aryanna began, removing her mobile phone and presenting it, "is a muggle mobile phone."

Susan's brows furrowed. "Mobile… phone? It's like a sleek, shiny stone. Why would anyone need it?"

"Hmm let's see…" Aryanna pondered for a moment how to explain a mobile phone to her friend. She was very conscious of the fact that Susan had never seen one before and had no real idea of what muggles were capable of. It also didn't help at all - but would probably not make a difference for the explanation - that her mobile phone was a far more futuristic model of what the current muggles had. Indeed, the type of phone she currently held in her hands would not officially be invented for at least another twenty years.

Aryanna was about to explain how it worked. However, before she could say anything, Setsuna returned. Her expression was sombre.

"Sorry to interrupt you girls," she said grimly. She looked at Aryanna with a mix of concern and regret. "I need to leave. There's been an incident. A weapons test…went wrong." Her gaze lingered on Aryanna, heavy with unsaid emotions.

Aryanna felt a surge of fear. She knew what that meant. Someone was hurt…or worse. "Oh…Is it serious? Do I need to go?" she asked sadly, and angry that her day may just have been disrupted by another Youma attack.

Setsuna shook her head, her voice, soft yet firm. "No…stay here and enjoy yourself. Just be home by six," she said, giving her niece a comforting touch and a meaningful look towards Susan. She didn't want whatever had happened to ruin her and Susan's day as well.

Aryanna watched her aunt leave, then turned back to Susan. She tried to shake off the worry and shifted the topic back to her phone.

"You see this, Susan?" she said showing her the mobile phone again.

Susan looked at the little device with interest.

"This, Susan," she began, flourishing her phone, "is the muggle's answer to the Floo Network. Think of it as the muggle's Floo Network in pocket size…," she explained.

Susan's mouth curved into an O of wonder. She leaned forward, fascinated by the shiny object. "So, it captures voices and sends them… where?"

"Communication towers, then to another person's phone," Aryanna elaborated.

Susan gasped and leaned back, her eyes wide in amazement. "So, muggles communicate anytime, anywhere, without owls? How remarkable!"

"Exactly! As long as they're within reach of those towers. It's their way of staying connected without using owls."

Susan laughed. "The muggle world is full of wonders!" she exclaimed, drawing attention from nearby tables.

A wizard from the next table leaned in, curiosity evident in his eyes. "Did I hear right? A portable Floo? Can it really capture voices like you say? Can it do it now?"

Aryanna jumped slightly in surprise, noticing she'd attracted an audience. She activated her phone's voice recorder and said, "Hello, magical world. This is Aryanna speaking from the future, or at least that's how it might seem to some of you." She played it back, and the small crowd listened in amazement.

The wizard's face lit up with fascination, while a witch sneered, "Relying on muggle contraptions? Unseemly for any self-respecting witch or wizard!"

An older wizard grumbled, "More muggle nonsense. In my day, we didn't need such trivialities."

A younger witch of Hogwarts' age whispered, "Can it really show pictures?"

Aryanna felt the atmosphere growing excited yet tense. She showed them a picture of a sunset she took a few days ago. As murmurs of appreciation and scepticism rose, she exchanged a knowing glance with Susan, and the pair discreetly made their exit.

Outside, catching their breath, Aryanna mused, "Seems the wizarding world isn't ready for mobile phones." She gave her friend an awkward look.

A few minutes later, Aryanna and Susan were perusing the newest available brooms at a nearby Quidditch store.

"No broom beats my Nimbus," Aryanna declared happily as she inspected the newest models.

Susan chuckled. "What? Did you expect something better so soon after the 1000 Extreme's release?" she quipped, rolling her eyes.

"Just hoping," Aryanna smirked. "Not from Nimbus maybe… but surely one of the other broom makers might have something for us." She was suddenly cut off by an urgent cry, "HELP!.. Somebody HELP!"

The two girls spun around, alarmed by the sudden cry. A dishevelled wizard slammed into a display, while others scrambled, launching spells at an unseen enemy. Aryanna's face blanched when she saw the dreaded form of a Youma materialize from behind a building.

Shoppers paused, gawking at the unfolding scene.

"A Youma, here?" Aryanna cried, backing away. "Stay back! It's deadly!"

A puzzled wizard, shepherding his family to safety, echoed, "A what?"

"A Youma! It's a dark creature—a wizard killer!" Aryanna warned.

Her warning only intensified the panic. Shopkeepers hastily shut their stalls, and wizards sent a barrage of ineffective spells toward the beast, merely aggravating it.

Suddenly, Aurors appeared, launching a more coordinated assault. Aryanna watched anxiously; she knew conventional spells wouldn't halt a powerful Youma. In fact, most spells didn't even affect them at all.

Her apprehension was justified when the Youma unleashed an energy blast, easily breaking an Auror's shield and sending him crashing into a building.

The poor wizard was taken by surprise. He had tried to cast a quick shield spell, but the Youma's attack had smashed through it with ease.

Another Auror's voice, thick with frustration, pierced the chaos. "Damn it!.. Why isn't anything working? Cover me—I'm getting him out!"

Meanwhile, as chaos unfolded around them, Aryanna knew she couldn't assist in her current form. At least not as her current self. Her top priority was to usher Susan to safety and find a secluded spot to transform. Only then, as Sailor Moon, could she confront the threat effectively.

She reached Susan, who was cowering nearby behind an abandoned food stall, and urged her to run away. Unfortunately, Susan seemed frozen in fear. Aryanna felt a pang in her heart. She realized this was the first time her friend had seen or even been near a dangerous creature.

Suddenly, a deafening bang echoed. Aryanna shot a glance over her shoulder and paled. The Youma had incapacitated several more Aurors and was advancing their way. Could this day get any worse? she thought, redoubling her efforts to rouse Susan.

The rest of the surviving Aurors were desperately scrambling to rescue their fallen comrades and shield the few witches and wizards who remained nearby. One of them, a witch, shouted at Aryanna and Susan, "Run! Get to safety!" She hurled another spell at the Youma, trying to divert its attention from the two girls.

But time was running out. Seeing no other alternative, Aryanna grabbed Susan.

"Snap out of it, Susan! We need to move, NOW!" Her voice seemed to jolt Susan into action, and together they sprinted towards a nearby alley.

Unfortunately, it was also at that moment that the Youma seemed to sense their intentions.

Evidently deciding that they made a far better - and easier - 'energy snack' than the resisting Aurors, it fully turned its attention towards them instead.

'It's probably sensing my energy…or the crystal,' Aryanna thought with a pang as the Youma began to make its way towards them.

The Auror leader realized what was happening and cursed loudly. "Protect those girls!" he commanded.

One Auror shouted back, frustration evident, "How? Nothing works!"

The leader of the Aurors, exasperated, made a grim decision. "We have no choice… on my authority… I'm authorizing the use of the unforgivables. Take it down!" Almost immediately, a voice cried out, "Avada Kedavra!" The deadly green curse sped toward the Youma.

With an agonized roar that echoed through the alley, the Youma stumbled and crumpled, seemingly lifeless. A brief, heavy silence hung in the air before cheers erupted. Then shopkeepers began to emerge, offering their gratitude to the Aurors.

But Aryanna wasn't one to celebrate. She knew the truth. While the Killing Curse would normally kill most beings instantly, it would only temporarily incapacitate a Youma. She once again mentally cursed the secret isolationism of the magical world. If the magical world followed the actions of their more mundane counterparts they would know about this.

Quickly seizing the momentary peace for all it was worth, she continued to pull Susan into the alley.

If only they could make it in time before the Youma woke up again…

Aryanna and Susan barely made it into the back alley when a frantic scream echoed from behind them.

"It's not dead! HELP!" The voice was silenced abruptly, its terror palpable.

Aryanna whipped her head around and saw a harrowing sight: the Youma, once believed fallen, now loomed over an incapacitated Auror, its malevolence evident.

The cries of panic and fear intensified as spells bounced off the Youma's seemingly invincible form. Now every second counted.

Breathing heavily, Aryanna realized her dilemma. They were out of time!

'Damn it,' she thought. If she wanted to save the Auror, she would have to transform now, but revealing her secret identity meant revealing herself to Susan.

They were safely concealed in the alley for now, but for how long?

She turned to face Susan and saw the paralyzing fear in her young friend's eyes. Tears shimmered, her face pale as death.

'Was she ready for this?' she wondered.

"Damn!…" 'Well…looks like my choice is about to be made for me,' she thought, making up her mind.

Cursing inwardly at the dire situation, Aryanna steeled herself. "Susan, what you're about to see… I never wanted you to find out like this."

The confusion in Susan's eyes was evident, but time was a luxury they no longer had.

"There is only one choice…" 'Arrgg, what a mess.' Aryanna thought and with a groan of frustration, she grasped her transformation brooch.

'Better than letting him get dusted!'

"Moon! Prism! Power!... Make up!" she chanted, her voice echoing the destiny she was about to embrace.

As the transformation magic enveloped Aryanna, swirling lights cascaded around her. To Susan, it was like watching a celestial dance, a manifestation of pure magic before her eyes. In mere moments, the transformation was complete, and in place of her long-time friend Aryanna, now stood Sailor Moon, guardian of love and justice.

Susan's wide eyes took in the transformation, her mouth agape.

She recognized the superhero in front of her from numerous muggle newspapers she had seen lying around the Potter mansion.

"Arya…you're… you're…?" she stammered, unable to believe her eyes.

"Shhhh," Sailor Moon whispered her finger to her lips.

"There's no time for that now. I promise I'll explain everything to you later."

From the mouth of the alley, the roars of the Youma grew louder, interspersed with the desperate cries of wizards and the ever-evident impact of spells.

"Damn it… get it away from him…" came a frantic voice.

"I'm trying… nothing is working," came a desperate reply.

"By Merlin…it's sucking him dry," came a third voice filled with horror, followed by screams and moans of dismay and even some of despair.

Without hesitation, Sailor Moon stepped forward, the shimmering crescent moon on her forehead glowing with purpose, leaving Susan behind, frozen in a near-dumbfounded stupor.

"Susan, stay here. I'll handle this," she said with a newfound authority in her voice.

Susan found her voice, stammering, "But, Arya—Sailor Moon, you can't face it alone!"

But Sailor Moon didn't turn and continued to advance towards the Youma. Her voice was heard by her friend all the same. "I have to… Don't worry, I've got some tricks up my sleeve." With a flourish, she removed her tiara from her head and it began to change shape into a disk and glow. "I'm the only one here who can."

She took a deep breath and stepped out of the shadows, ready to face the Youma. Its attention immediately shifted towards her.

"Youma! By the power of the Moon, I will punish you!" she cried defiantly, getting the Youma's attention. Then with agility that surprised even some of the onlooking wizards, Sailor Moon launched her now brightly glowing tiara at the Youma.

"Moon Tiara Boomerang!"

The Youma, momentarily taken aback by this unexpected adversary, only had a split second to react before the tiara hit it head-on. Seconds later it roared with pain as it stumbled back. But…it wasn't enough.

'Damn it,' Sailor Moon thought with a mixture of dismay and acceptance. 'It wasn't enough to take it down.' A direct hit of a Moon Tiara Boomerang would normally have been enough to take down the usual weaker Youma she had been dealing with…until now. 'Looks like my worry was justified…it's at least a level 4.'

The worst she had to face until now was a level 3. 'This is going to take some creative thinking,' she thought as she clenched her teeth in frustration. Quickly she recalled her tiara to her hand, just in time to dodge a furious swipe from the now enraged Youma. A swipe that promptly impacted a nearby wall making it shatter into several pieces.

Aurors and a few unlucky civilians cried out or cursed as a part of the building collapsed a second later.

From her hiding spot, Susan could only watch in awe and fear as she worried for her friend's life. This was a side of Aryanna she had never seen. Was this really her friend? She couldn't recognize her anymore.

Gone was the insecure abused child of the past. In her place was a warrior, a protector, a beacon of hope and she was fighting something which could damage buildings with a single swipe of a claw. She didn't know what to think anymore.

On the side-lines, a few of the Aurors exchanged glances. "Who is she?" one whispered.

"I don't know, but by Merlin I don't care, and neither should you. At the moment she's the only one who seems to be able to do anything against this beast and that's all I need to know," another with scares all over his face replied with a growl and a stern look in his eyes, one of his eyes rolling around in his head wildly as if it looked into several places at once.

"Keep it distracted," he gave the order. "Buy her the time she needs to do…whatever she needs to do to defeat this thing," he ordered. Soon the Aurors began to rally around Sailor Moon, firing spells at the Youma, distracting it in any way they could.

The battle for Diagon Alley had now truly begun.

Summoning her tiara back to her hand, Aryanna's heart raced. The situation was not going her way. This enemy was unlike any she'd ever encountered so far. She had hoped a direct strike might defeat the creature, but the Youma had batted the tiara aside with ease and was now advancing on her. Doubts clouded her resolve; was she truly prepared for this?

'NO!.. she was not allowed to think like that. She had to succeed!

With a sense of determination, she summoned her tiara. Hoping that a second Boomerang might do the trick, she channeled her energy and threw it once more, aiming to incapacitate the creature. However, this time the Youma anticipated her move. With a swift claw swipe, it deflected the tiara, sending it skidding across the ground. Its dark eyes locked onto Aryanna's, a smug grin forming.

Seeing her attack fail, realizing that her long-range attacks were fruitless, Sailor Moon allowed herself a brief moment to sigh.

"Yeah…I didn't think that would work a second time," she remarked with a grim smile of her own. She had expected it.

'At least not against a level 4 or above,' she thought to herself.

"Guess round two wasn't going to be easy," she remarked with a wry smile, seeking to distract it. "And here I was hoping for a day off."

The Youma, caught off-guard by her light-hearted banter, momentarily stopped advancing and raised an eyebrow as it looked at her curiously. It didn't know what to make of the young human in front of it.

That was exactly what Sailor Moon had hoped for.

Quick to adapt, using the momentary lapse, Aryanna lunged forward, launching into a flurry of martial arts strikes. Yet, every strike met thick hide and muscle. The creature's might outmatched her agility. In a swift counter, it sent her crashing into a building. The world blurred as she grappled with the pain, feeling the wetness of blood in her mouth.

A normal person would have died there and then, crushed by the impact and the pressure of the G-forces of the hit. But not a Sailor Guardian. Still, it hurt and it hurt a lot. It left her world spinning around her as she desperately tried to recover from the ordeal she had just suffered. Aryanna knew she would have bruises and that she would be feeling it the next day as she spit out a glob of blood from her mouth. Slowly she tried to push herself back up to her feet, ignoring the spider cracks her body had left behind in the wall of the building.

Gasps echoed around the alley. Fearing the worst, Susan's eyes filled with tears. She could do nothing but watch helplessly as Aurors moved to intervene, their protective barriers proving futile against the Youma's might.

Quickly rallied by the same stern grisly Auror from before, the Aurors jumped into action, launching a barrage of protective and offensive spells to shield the dazed Sailor Moon as she got back up on her feet. All of them fully aware that without her they would have no chance to defeat this…Youma. She was their only hope.

Their efforts, however, proved to be in vain. No matter what they tried the Youma's might overpowered their spells, leaving Sailor Moon vulnerable. In her dazed state, Sailor Moon felt the creature's cold grasp lifting her off the ground. Panic surged. Crying out in pain from the rough treatment she was receiving Sailor Moon desperately tried to think of a way to get out of her predicament. Desperately she tried to hit the Youma with her hands. She was becoming more and more frantic by the second. Could this be the end? she wondered. She didn't know what to do. It seemed so.

Suddenly, a sharp pain echoed from the creature, releasing her. A glinting red rose had embedded itself into the Youma's claw. Fearing the worst onlookers turned their attention towards the Sailor Guardian, however, miraculously it was the Youma, not the hero who was in pain.

For a brief baffling moment, everybody could only stare in disbelief.

"Don't let despair cloud your judgment, Sailor Moon. You have the strength to triumph," a commanding voice echoed, originating from nearby.

The stare of countless eyes promptly shifted towards a mysterious masked figure, dressed in a black and red tuxedo who was standing, cape flowing behind him as he stood confidently atop a nearby rooftop, his silhouette striking against the sun.

Still dazed, Sailor Moon's eyes met his. Instinctively drawing strength from his words and presence, she pushed through her dazed state and ignored her pain. Her resolve strengthened she saw an opportunity and seized it.

Ejecting her new wand from its holster on her arm she muttered an incantation. "Lumos Maxima!"

It was the only spell she had learned, having only just received her wand that day. She hoped it would be enough.

A blinding light emanated, forcing the Youma to release her.

With the Youma reeling in pain and blinded by the sudden blast of blinding white light, Sailor Moon knew she didn't have much time to spare and that she would not have another chance. She had to act now.

Getting to her feet she mentally reached deep inside her and asked the crystal for help. She knew she needed a boost in power if she was going to succeed. The crystal sensing its host's need for power reacted instantly.

She quickly grabbed her tiara, which had returned to her hand, and transformed it into a disk again. She channelled all her remaining energy into it, hoping it would be enough to finish the Youma off.

The air crackled with energy as the crystal amplified her power. Her tiara, now supercharged glowed brighter than ever.

"Moon Tiara Boomerang!" she shouted, throwing the tiara one more time with all her might. A blast of energy erupted from her tiara, shaking the ground and lighting up the sky like a flash of lightning. The tiara flew towards the Youma, spinning faster and faster. It sliced through the air, leaving a trail of light behind it. The Youma, still dazzled by her Lumos, was caught off guard. It hit the Youma right in the chest, piercing its dark heart.

The Youma let out a final scream of agony, then exploded into dust. The dust scattered in the wind, leaving no trace of the creature but the unconscious form of a female child behind.

Sailor Moon breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She had done it. She had defeated the Youma.

Meanwhile, the alley was silent, save for the soft murmurs of shock and awe. Murmurs quickly turned to surprise at the child's sudden appearance.

Aryanna looked up at the mysterious masked figure, who was still standing on the rooftop. He smiled at her, then threw another red rose at her feet.

"Well done, Sailor Moon. You have proven yourself to be a true hero," he said, his voice full of admiration.

"Who are you?" Sailor Moon asked, feeling a strange attraction to him but she received no answer.

Instead, seeing that the situation was under control and the enemy was defeated, he quickly used the distraction of the child to disappear. Before anybody could even hope to react, a quick twist of his cape and a sudden jump from the building later, he was gone.

Thinking it best to do the same, wanting to avoid having to answer questions, Sailor Moon quickly turned around and ran into a nearby side alley and vanished from sight.

As she ran she couldn't help but wonder 'Who was he? Why did he help her? And why did he make her feel this way?'

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had more pressing matters to deal with. She had to find Susan and explain everything to her. She hoped her friend would understand and forgive her for keeping this secret from her.

A few minutes later, hidden in the alley's shadows where Aryanna had left her, Susan felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Aryanna, no longer the celestial warrior, but her friend once more.

They exchanged glances that held a million unspoken words.

"Susan…I'm so sorry…I can explain…" Aryanna began, hoping to find the right words but Susan held up her hand stopping her.

Before she could say anything else, Susan hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her face.

Aryanna felt a surge of relief and gratitude. Susan didn't hate her. She didn't reject her.

She hugged her back, feeling a bond of friendship stronger than ever.

"It's time to go home," Aryanna murmured soothingly a few minutes later when Susan seemed to have calmed down. Slowly she led Susan away.

Susan, glancing at her friend nodded. No further words were necessary, not at the moment. But both friends knew, tonight there would be a lot of questions… and Aryanna would have to give a lot of answers. But that was alright. The time of answers and the end of secrets had come.

"Thank you, Susan…" Aryanna said softly, smiling through her own tears. She now knew that all would be ok.

Come what may however,…after tonight…both knew nothing would ever be the same again.

But as long as they had each other...then all would be ok.