The New Princess
The Early Years - Part 9 - Chapter 10
A New Beginning
Previously:
"Well, Black?" he said. "What do you have to say now?"
Sirius felt a mix of emotions. He felt anger at the guard for taunting him. He felt confused at the woman who claimed to be James' sister. He felt relief that Aryanna was safe and happy. He felt jealous that the woman was hugging Aryanna. He felt betrayed that he was never told about Aryanna's aunt, James' sister. He felt sadness that he could not hug Aryanna himself. That woman was living his life, doing his job instead of him. 'He' was supposed to look after Arya, not her. He felt fear that he might never see Aryanna again.
He did not know what to say. He did not know what to believe. He did not know what to do anymore.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He closed his mouth and looked away.
What could he say? He had no answer.
Allowing the guard his victory he stayed silent as the guard laughed, then left.
He wondered if he could trust the woman.
He wondered if Aryanna was in danger.
Whether he should try to escape from Azkaban.
He wondered if that was even possible.
He wondered if she even needed him now that she had an aunt to look after her.
Clutching the newspaper in his hands in frustration and uncertainty he transformed back into his animagus form, a big black grim.
'James...why didn't you tell me?' Did you really not trust me?' he wondered.
He needed time to think.
And now the continuation:
Setsuna Potter, formerly known as Meiou, was lying on her favorite lounger on the third-floor balcony of Potter Manor. She sipped her favorite brand of Da-Hong Pao tea while watching her adopted niece and friends play in the backyard. Adjacent to her, Artemis slumbered peacefully, a picture of contentment, the summer sun casting a golden hue on his plush fur.
Two years had passed since Aryanna had formerly adopted Setsuna into the Potter family and Setsuna had officially become a Potter and thereby Aryanna's new Aunt and Guardian. Still, Setsuna couldn't quite wrap her head around referring to Aryanna as her niece. After all, Aryanna was meant to be a princess, her superior, not her ward, and not her niece. The idea of having a daughter or a niece at all felt foreign to Setsuna.
A lot had changed in the past two years. Setsuna and Aryanna had officially moved into Potter Manor, the ancestral home of the Potter family. Nestled in the heart of Gloucestershire, the stately Victorian manor stood concealed, nestled deep within land that defied all mapping efforts. Enchantments masked the manor, ensuring its invisibility and eluding any mapmaker's attempt to chart it.
Although Setsuna, as Sailor Pluto, remained the official princess of Pluto and the primary guardian of the Time Gates, she now spent most of her time on Earth acting as Aryanna's official parent and guardian. From time to time, Setsuna would still journey to Pluto, ensuring that the outer celestial body of the solar system remained in order, but the planet was now mostly managed by Artemis and the triplets, who now oversaw its affairs and regular operations.
While on duty, Artemis, the Mau, oversaw the huntress teams tasked with defending planets from Youma attacks. The triplets took turns guarding the Time Gates on Pluto, each alternating shifts. Meanwhile, Luna wholly committed herself to assisting both Setsuna and Aryanna on Earth, resumed her position as a royal adviser, and frequently posed as Aryanna's 'pet', joining the Potters whenever possible.
To the magical world, Setsuna was now Lady Setsuna Potter, the regent of House Potter, Arianna's guardian, and overseer of House Potter until her niece reached either the age of 17 or somehow became emancipated. Whichever came first.
Aryanna herself had changed significantly over the past few years. She was no longer the insecure, abused girl she once was. It had taken a lot of work and numerous counseling sessions with the best therapists money could buy to help her overcome the abuse she suffered at the hands of her former guardians. But she was finally on the road to recovery, becoming the lovable, headstrong girl she was always meant to be.
In a mere year, Aryanna and her companions would embark on their journey to Hogwarts – the eminent school of Witchcraft and Wizardry – to begin their arcane education. Hogwarts was the oldest and most prestigious school for witches and wizards in all of Europe.
Aryanna, who had lately taken to the moniker Arya, whizzed about in the meadow behind the manor, expertly maneuvering her state-of-the-art Nimbus 1000 Extreme series racing broom, currently the best broom on the market. Her two best friends watched enviously as she soared through the air. Setsuna grinned at the sight of her new niece's natural talent for flying. It was as if she was born to fly. Little did the world realize the depth of this truth. As the reincarnation of Sailor Moon and the Moon Princess, Aryanna would one day not even need a broom to fly. When she was ready, she would have her own set of wings.
Setsuna watched fondly as Aryanna and her friends flew, or in Hermione's case, failed to fly. The poor girl was afraid of heights, much to her chagrin. Setsuna remembered how Aryanna had first made friends with each of them.
Hermione Granger, an astute eleven-year-old born to high-society dentists, was the first to form a bond with Aryanna. She and Arya attended the same local private primary school. They first met during a lunch break when Aryanna saw Hermione being bullied by several older children. One boy held Hermione down, calling her a know-it-all and telling her to stop showing him up in class. Another was ripping apart one of her school books while the third laughed and jeered them on.
With the scars of her past, Aryanna harbored a deep-seated disdain for bullies. When she saw Hermione being picked on, she leaped into action without hesitation. The ensuing brawl was not pretty: windows shattered, hair was brutally yanked, and there were plenty of black eyes, bruises, and even broken bones. Even their teacher, who had tried to break up the fight, was knocked unconscious when she was blasted out a window by a burst of accidental magic from a panicked Hermione. In the end, five students and the teacher ended up in the hospital, accompanied by a flustered principal and several sets of furious parents.
It was the talk of the local community and had even been on the news.
The only reason Aryanna was not expelled on the spot for the injuries she inflicted on the boys was because multiple eyewitnesses had backed her and Hermione up, stating that it was self-defense and that the boys had started it. In the end, the scales of justice were tipped in Aryanna's favor, thanks to Setsuna's swift intervention.
"Setsuna, now Aryanna's official guardian, made good use of her vast fortune. She took swift action, engaging the services of several skilled and ruthless lawyers to take on the school and the parents of the bullies." In the end, Setsuna volunteered to pay for all damages, the three boys were expelled, and Arya and Hermione were suspended and grounded for a month for their part in the brawl. But they shrugged it off. While the suspension and being grounded for a month sucked, they had earned the respect of their classmates, they were no longer bullied, Hermione learned that she was a witch, and they had been the best of friends ever since. All in all, it was a great victory for the two girls.
Aryanna also shared a profound bond with Susan Bones, the imminent heiress to the illustrious and Ancient House of Bones, a beacon among the Sacred Twenty-Eight – the crème de la crème of Pureblood families in the British Isles. Susan was the niece of Amelia Bones; the regent of the Bones family and director of the magical police. She was also the daughter of Roseanne (Rosie) Bones, Aryanna's deceased sworn godmother, who was one of two people originally meant to care for her if her parents died. The other was Sirius Black, her secondary godfather and Lord of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black.
Aryanna first encountered Susan at a prestigious Ministry political ball, where they were both in attendance as heiresses of renowned families—Aryanna notably representing two. As the dual heir to the respected Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter and the esteemed Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Peverell, Aryanna's presence at several annual balls was not only a tradition but an obligation, especially when school commitments didn't interfere. While - due to their age - she and Susan usually spent their time in the 'kiddie corner', upholding this societal ritual was paramount in the magical world—a realm where politics intriguingly blended modern and Victorian-era norms, ensuring she maintained her status and privileges as a recognized Pureblood.
Though the Potter family wasn't among the Sacred Twenty-Eight—the foundational houses that established the magical community and Ministry of Britain—the House of Peverell was one of the oldest magical houses in existence, predating many of these esteemed families. Recognized as a 'Most Ancient' House, its influence was comparable to the elite houses within the Twenty-Eight. In a nation steered by Pureblood elitists, such stature was paramount. Setsuna saw it as vital preparation for Aryanna's eventual ascension to Queenhood, ensuring Aryanna's attendance, always under Setsuna's watchful guidance.
Thankfully, Aryanna's first meeting with Susan was far more peaceful than the one she had with Hermione and did not end in a brawl. It also allowed her to make a good friend in Susan. The two girls hit it off immediately, like two peas in a pod, and just like with Hermione, they had been nearly inseparable ever since.
Of course, there were other friends as well. For instance, Hannah Abbott of the Ancient and Noble House of Abbott was one of Susan's other close friends and, therefore by default, also a friend of Arya's and Neville Longbottom, the heir apparent of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Longbottom, as his family had long been allies of the Potters.
There were also the Greengrass sisters, Daphne and Astoria, from a neutral politically grey-leaning family, the Weasleys with their seven children, the Lovegoods who owned a local newspaper, and the Patil twins, daughters of two influential Indian diplomats. But these were more political and social acquaintances than full-time friends.
Of course, there were also others, but Aryanna had never had many friends in her life. Her past had left her wary, often preferring a tight-knit group over a vast social circle. The few friends she did have in earlier years were ruthlessly driven away by the antics of her cousin, Dudley. As a result, too many friends tended to overwhelm her. She preferred to keep a few loyal, long-term friends rather than many short-term associates or uncertain ones.
A soft, insistent electronic chime broke through Setsuna's reverie. Drawing a sleek device from her pocket, she activated it. "Pluto here," she responded crisply, "What's the situation?"
"Apologies for the interruption, my lady. Eris One reporting. We've detected a Class 5 Youma in Walberswick, Suffolk," came the urgent reply.
Setsuna's eyes sharpened. "Class 5? Maintain distance and only engage if lives are in imminent danger. I'll handle it." She swiftly ended the communication, her posture straightening. With a sigh, she rose from her chair.
"Another attack?" Artemis inquired, also rising from his chair with a stretch from where he had been dozing in the summer sun.
Pluto nodded, her face lined with concern. "Yes, duty calls. "It's a high-level Youma. The huntresses aren't equipped for this. I will need to intervene personally." As they moved towards where Aryanna and her friends frolicked, a sense of urgency marked their steps.
Artemis frowned. "These emergencies are escalating. Will you involve Aryanna?" he asked with concern.
"No, she's not ready for such a high-level target yet," Setsuna said, shaking her head firmly. "She hasn't even faced a class three Youma on her own yet. Let her handle a lower-level one first, and then we'll see about allowing her to take on a higher-level Youma. Besides, she has friends visiting today. I'll introduce her to a mid-tier Youma soon and I promise she will be able to fight at least a level 3 on her own before she starts Hogwarts," Setsuna replied, receiving a nod of agreement from Artemis.
"That's good… it's about time she graduated from school brawls to actual combat," he said with a grin. "I know she's still young and should enjoy her childhood while she can, but she's also a guardian. She needs some real combat experience before she goes to Hogwarts where she'll mostly be on her own," Artemis added.
"I mean, sure, Luna will be there to help… but she can't fight a Youma," he continued.
"Indeed," Setsuna agreed, "Luna can provide support, but she's not equipped for Youma battles. Let her have this one final day with her friends… I'll take her with me on patrol next week. In the meantime, a few criminals should suffice, and if one appears, a low-class Youma. I'll let her handle the next tier three on her own and will only intervene if she can't manage it. That should provide her with some low-risk experience until she's ready for more dangerous Youma," Setsuna said as they left the manor and walked into the backyard where the girls were playing.
"Has Arya settled on her first inner guardian?" Artemis inquired, looking towards the sky, casting a glance towards the flying figures.
"She's keen on both Susan and Hermione joining as the first of her inner guardians," Setsuna sighed, "But it's too soon. I have advised her to wait for now," she answered.
"Setsuna, as Sailor Moon, Arya's role isn't solely combat. She's primarily a princess... a leader and a healer. Her guardians are vital for her protection. This can't wait for much longer," Artemis emphasized, as they stepped onto the field where the girls were practicing their flying.
Setsuna nodded, "I'm fully aware of this. But I want her to grow independently first. The crystal's integration is also still in process. It could be perilous for her to invoke its powers prematurely. I'll consider allowing Venus as her initial guardian as she transitions to Hogwarts. The rest can wait until she is ready."
As they neared the field, Setsuna noticed Aryanna touching down, her broom leaving a trail of dust. Seizing the moment, she hailed her.
Aryanna had just touched down, about to pass her new Nimbus 1000 Extreme broom to Susan for another try. It was the newest and fastest model on the market. That's when she heard Setsuna's voice.
"Arya!"
Aryanna turned towards the sound of Setsuna's voice and smiled upon seeing her walking briskly towards her with Artemis by her side. However, her expression quickly turned serious. Artemis only accompanied Setsuna when he was pretending to be a normal house cat in search of food or when there was official business to attend to. Since it was not mealtime, it had to be the latter.
"Coming, Auntie," Aryanna called out, handing Susan her broom and excusing herself from her friends before walking over to meet Setsuna.
"What's the matter? Do you have another 'board meeting' to go to?" she asked wearily, using the code word they had agreed upon for whenever Setsuna had to meet with her huntresses or government officials.
Her friends didn't know about her alternate life as a Sailor Guardian and thought Setsuna was a successful CEO of a Muggle military weapons company working on experimental weaponry to fight the increasing Youma threat. As such, they knew not to ask questions about what she was doing. It was all classified, Top Secret.
The people of Earth, mostly the governments, knew about the Youma, they always had as they had always been around since ancient times. Until recently, they had done a pretty good job of keeping them away from the general public. However, the Youma had started to become more aggressive recently and were now coming out of hiding more frequently. Civilians were beginning to worry. This led to the emergence of superheroes, like Sailor Pluto, and secret organizations, established to deal with the rising threat.
Setsuna was the founder of the oldest 'Anti-Youma Defense Organization,' known simply as 'The Huntresses', the descendants of her original huntresses from when she was still Artemis the goddess of the hunt. As such, she worked closely with the governments of the world and sometimes even directly with the United Nations to address any Youma threats that arose.
"No… I'm being called to supervise another weapons test," Setsuna replied, indicating that she was being called out to take care of a Youma attack that the huntresses and government couldn't handle on their own.
"Ah, I see. Will you be gone long? Shall I ask the elves to keep dinner warm for you?" Aryanna asked. She knew that if Setsuna, or Special Agent Pluto aka 'agent double oh one' as the government sometimes called her, was being called out, it had to be a very strong Youma attack that the government forces and huntresses couldn't handle by themselves. Pluto was their trump card, used only when all other options were depleted. Aryanna hoped to join the team soon, as Special Agent Moon, aka 'Double Oh Two' whenever Pluto thought she was ready. She would have preferred 'Double Oh Seven'...but...well...maybe later.
Presently there are several different levels of Youma threats:
Level 1 included ordinary criminals and weak low-level Youma that could be handled by the normal police or military.
Level 2 included stronger low-level Youma that only the military and above could deal with.
Level 3 included strong mid-level Youma that were too strong for the normal military and required high explosives, armored vehicles, or a huntress squad to handle. This was the highest level the mundane military could deal with by themselves.
Level 4 included high-level Youma that could only be dealt with by a specialized squad of huntresses. These used to be rare but have become increasingly prevalent in recent times, leading governments around the globe to team up and share resources to find ways to combat them and find out why they were appearing.
And then there was the Level 5 class Youma, the current highest level. These - for now - extremely rare Youma were known as Youma commanders and could only be defeated by several huntress squads at once, or by Sailor Pluto herself.
So far, Sailor Pluto, as the only known Sailor Guardian, had been able to handle them all by herself. But for some reason which Setsuna has been trying to find the reason for, they had been becoming more numerous and powerful lately, so it was only a matter of time before multiple Level 5s appeared at the same time. When this happened Setsuna was no longer certain she would be up to the task. This is why she was so eager to start Aryanna's training and for her to choose and create more Sailor Guardians.
The other major reason why she was so interested in progressing Aryanna's training was that, as the holder of the Legendary Silver Crystal, Aryanna was the only one with the power to create new Sailor Guardians. Even then, she could only make as many guardians as there were available planets, as there could only be one Guardian per planet. This was a great responsibility that she could not afford to mess up.
Aryanna's gaze often lingered a little longer on her friends, silently assessing their potential as Guardians. She had to be sure before making a choice.
Setsuna was not looking forward to the day when the Youma returned to their old strength from Beryl's war. She could only hope they would be ready when it happened.
"No, don't fret about me. A long night filled with paperwork and government reports awaits. I'll grab something to eat at the UKYDF HQ." Setsuna replied before stepping closer to hug her ward and adopted niece. Then she turned her head enough to whisper in her ear, "Arya, get ready. Next week, after your counseling session, I'm taking you with me. It's time for Sailor Moon to make her official entrance as Earth's newest superhero."
'The void knows I'll need the backup soon enough' Setsuna thought to herself dismally.
Hearing this, Aryanna froze for a second before grinning widely. "YES! Finally!" she said a little too loudly, excitedly, loud enough for her friends to hear her.
Setsuna immediately adopted a firm and serious demeanor. "Arya, understand this isn't a game. It's serious. Many people's lives could be at risk if these weapon tests fail," she said sternly. With that, she released Aryanna and, with a final nod toward her and her increasingly curious friends nearby, disappeared with a crack, leaving a solemn-looking Aryanna behind.
'She's right,' Aryanna thought. 'This isn't a game. If I make a mistake, not only could I be injured or killed… others could be as well. I need to take this seriously.'
Nodding to Artemis to show that she understood Setsuna's message, Aryanna turned back to rejoin her friends and resume playing Quidditch. She would enjoy the rest of the day and her time with her friends while she could. From next week onwards, she might not have as much time for such activities.
"So, what was that about?" Susan asked, fishing for information, while Hermione listened attentively.
"Oh, just another weapons test, nothing special… come on, show me that new move you were bragging about. I bet I can do it better than you," Aryanna said quickly, redirecting the conversation to a safer topic. Knowing better than to pry further into her friend's aunt's work, Susan complied.
A minute later, Susan was showing off on her broom. None of the three friends noticed Artemis giving Luna an update on the situation or Luna's worried yet accepting expression, while Aryanna helped a nervous Hermione stay up on her broom.
Riddle Manor, Little Hangleton, somewhere in Yorkshire
Amidst the emerald tapestry of the English countryside, where mist often clung to the valleys at dawn and sunsets painted the sky in rich hues, there lay the village of Little Hangleton, a quaint Muggle village in a remote area of Yorkshire. It was a peaceful place, where the only signs of life were the occasional smoke rising from the chimneys of the cottages or the distant sound of a tractor plowing the fields. The villagers, who usually kept to themselves, rarely ventured out of their homes after dark.
At the edge of the village, there was a large and imposing manor, surrounded by a high stone wall. This was the ancestral home of the once wealthy and powerful Riddle family, who had, at one point, been powerful and ruthless landowners. The villagers had respected and feared them, never daring to cross them or question their authority. Even now, years later, with all the Riddles thought to be dead, and their oppression at an end, few dared to approach the Manor. And for good reason. Riddle Manor had a dark and sinister secret.
For many years, unknown to the locals, it had been occupied by a mysterious and evil wizard - a Dark Lord. Not just any dark Lord but Voldemort, formerly known as Tom Marvolo Riddle - a name he hated. He was the last remaining heir of the Riddle family, but he had renounced his name and heritage in favor of creating a new world order under his rule. He had killed his father and grandparents, using their deaths to create a Horcrux - a part of his soul that he hid in an object to make himself partially immortal. It was one of many Horcruxes that he had created over the years and the reason for his continued survival.
During the war, Voldemort had used Riddle Manor as his base of operations, where he had plotted and schemed with his ambitious followers, the Death Eaters. He had also used the nearby graveyard as a place to perform dark rituals and experiments, such as creating an army of Inferi, reanimated zombie-like corpses that obeyed his commands which he had used to raise chaos and fear in the land.
But his reign of terror came to a rather sudden unexpected end on that fateful Halloween night of 1981. The night that had ended the war and shattered his rule.
That night he had attacked the Potters at Godric's Hollow, to kill a one-year-old girl, one of two possible infants who he believed were prophesied to defeat him. He had not expected any real resistance from her parents and none at all from the child. But he was wrong.
His spell, the infamous Avada Kedavra, a spell thought to be unblockable, was stopped by the barrier or shield he had never seen before. And then his former body was torn apart. Not by the girl's hands, but by someone else who had attacked him from behind.
Caught by surprise, he had not reacted in time, and in the end, it was he who had been defeated, instead of him killing the child. While his Horcruxes had indeed saved him from death that night, preventing his soul from passing on, it had come with a devastating price. With his body destroyed he had lost access to most of his magic as well.
So heavy was the price of his defeat that, severely weakened and unable to continue the fight, Voldemort had fled that wretched house and had existed as a mere shade of his former self ever since. Thought to be dead and unable to remain in a country that actively hunted his remaining followers, he had no choice but to seek refuge in one of his secret hideaways in Albania. There, as a shade, he waited until his damaged soul had recovered enough for him to venture forth once more.
It was only recently, seven years after his defeat, that Voldemort finally felt strong enough to leave his hideaway and restore himself to a body he could somewhat call his own. He was determined to regain his power and continue his quest for domination.
It took several attempts, but Voldemort eventually managed to persuade a lone witch to help him by possessing her. Though he would have preferred using a man for what he had planned to do, he was out of options and unwilling to wait any longer. Deeming her body satisfactory, he made her go to the nearest magical community and gather certain ingredients. After that, he had her brew a complex potion that he had found in the ancient book he had stolen years prior. He had studied the potion for years until he was able to recite it perfectly without fail ten times in a row. So serious he had been with learning the potion that as a motivator, he had even resorted to using the Cruciatus Curse on himself whenever he failed, before finally being satisfied with his progress.
It wasn't easy, as the woman had tried to resist him at every possible moment, even succeeding and briefly escaping his mental grasp for a short while to cry out for help. But in the end, Voldemort had killed her potential rescuers - thereby fully breaking her will - and then managed to retain control of her long enough to successfully brew the potion. With its aid, he had expelled her soul from her body and taken it as his own.
While he would have preferred to regain a more powerful body, one more attuned to his magic - this one only held a third of the power of his former body - especially one of his former gender, it had been satisfactory for his - now her - needs. The next few years of living as a woman had been worth it. After all, beggars can't be choosers.
With nobody looking for her anymore, since everyone thought Voldemort was dead, the newly christened Miss Riddle returned to England a changed woman.
Knowing that it would be futile to try and restart a lost war and that her former followers might not even believe her, or be willing to obey her, she instead reunited herself with the book and stayed in Riddle Manor, researching alternate ways to regain her lost power.
This is how the newly christened Dark Lady Valda T. Mort began learning her newest hobby: Summoning!
With no followers to rely on, she looked for different minions instead. In this, the ancient book helped her tremendously and so, in the end, the answer to all of her problems became: Youma - powerful creatures she could summon to do her bidding.
The ancient book had clearly described how to summon Youma from another dimension, which the former owners of the book had called the Negaverse. Like with all things worth doing, Valda's first attempts had been unsuccessful. But she was not discouraged. Far from it. If experience had taught her one thing, it was that the more difficult something was, the more worthwhile it would be. And in the end, she was proven right.
A year later, eight years since her defeat as Lord Voldemort, Valda finally managed to summon her first Youma. It was an ugly weak little thing, hardly worthy of a Dark Lady like herself, but she persevered. As a bonus, she now had an intelligent companion to talk to and ask questions of. So it hadn't been a complete waste of time.
Then finally, nearly ten years after her defeat that fateful Halloween night, Valda managed to summon a worthy Youma - one powerful enough to even make her pause in worry and wonder if what she was doing was a good idea.
Valda had a moment of panic when she realized that the Youma she had summoned looked frighteningly familiar to the beast she had once fought as a young Tom Riddle in the summer of 1954. However, luck was on her side. According to the book and her little friend, a summoned Youma was loyal to its summoner, as its life force was directly tied to them. As long as the summoner existed, so would the Youma. Valda laughed out loud in a girlish giggle when she read this, a giggle that would have made her former minion Bellatrix proud and maybe even green with envy had she been there to witness it.
From that moment on, Valda began sending her newest minions out on 'test runs' into Muggle areas. At first, everything went according to plan - her new minions were powerful and brought fear to the local muggles. Right until the arrival of a woman in a short-skirted sailor suit holding some sort of staff. Valda couldn't remember her name - Sailor something? - but the resulting battle had been very short... and not in her Youma's favor.
Valda was shocked at the one-sided defeat. So shocked that for a while she was unable to process what had happened and simply stared, frozen in disbelief. A beast as strong as herself in terms of power and even more magically resistant had just been easily defeated by a pretty girl in a sailor suit. Not just defeated, but decimated. The girl had made it look easy, like a professor fighting against a first-year student. It had been no challenge at all.
Valda remembered a line from the manuscript that had once led her to the book. The manuscript had mentioned that the cult of Metalia had once worshiped powerful demonic entities that were nearly impervious to harm and controlled great and terrible forms of magic. This had piqued her interest and ultimately resulted in her traveling to the temple in the first place.
But there was something else as well, something she couldn't quite remember. It took her searching for and finding the section in the old manuscript she had pilfered from a professor all those years ago, hidden in the manor's basement under piles of old newspapers and other literature before she finally got her answer. And when she did, her face went bone white with fear.
According to the manuscript, the cult of Metalia had once fought against elemental deities of extreme power, dressed in short-skirted suits. These were guardians of some sort, followers of a great enemy who held a Silver Crystal of immense power. They were thought to have come from the stars themselves, each warrior connected to one planet from where they got their powers, during an age before time itself came to be.
Valda had thought it was just superstitious mumbo-jumbo at the time - the ravings of fanatic cultists who had spent too much time with their heads in the stars. But what if it was all true? If that was the case, then the woman her Youma had just fought and lost against so one-sidedly was one of these ancient guardians - an elemental deity of old.
That changed everything!
Valda, a Dark Lady who had nearly conquered the British magical world, would never admit it, but at that moment she felt intimidated, scared, and even a bit helpless.
Behind the facade of the formidable Dark Lady who once had the British magical world at her mercy, Valda harbored a rising tide of dread. Her breaths grew shallow as a panic attack started to emerge, a feeling she hadn't felt in ages – not since she had been cornered by the group of bullies back at during the time at Wool's Orphanage - the chilling tendrils of fear and vulnerability creeping into her heart. Fighting powerful wizards like Dumbledore was one thing - difficult, yes, but possible. However, fighting powerful deities from planets was more than she had signed up for.
The memories of her past defeat resurfaced, unbidden. The dark, silent street of Godric's Hollow, the eerie glow emanating from the windows of the Potter residence, the echo of a baby's cry, a flash of purple light, and then—unexpected agonizing pain. A surprise blow from behind had left her past self's world spinning and her plans shattered.
It took her a few months to regain enough courage and willpower to try again and find a way to combat this new powerful threat. Wanting to see just how powerful her enemy truly was, she began sending out more and more dangerous Youma, sometimes even in small groups as her skills in summoning increased, to test the waters. The results were varied.
Valda quickly realized that normal Muggles didn't stand a chance against Youma. It was as if Youma were specifically designed to hunt and harvest humans. Even the police had a hard time against all but the weakest of Youma, with bullets being nearly useless against them unless used in overwhelming amounts. Going against a Youma with a knife was just plain suicidal. Youma was far stronger and faster than a mundane muggle.
Witches and wizards didn't have it any easier either. Most spells didn't do anything to a Youma, as they were simply too magically resistant. Valda had found this out herself when she was still Voldemort in 1954. Only spells of a more destructive nature seemed to have any effect at all, such as Bombarda or Confringo, and even most of those hardly harmed them unless you got a direct hit. Most annoyingly, even the Avada Kedavra seemed to be nearly useless, only managing to stun them for a short while but nothing else. This was quite an insult to Valda, as she had always considered the green spell her favorite. So far, the only spells that seemed to be the most effective were Fiendfyre, other pure elemental spells of the same magical power, and surprisingly... healing magic of all things. Valda was taken completely by surprise when she tried healing one of her Youma once, only to see it turn into dust instead.
Valda also discovered that her Youma were not the only ones in existence - there were many more, appearing randomly in various shapes, powers, and sizes all over the world. However, they were usually so weak that they were hardly worth mentioning. This actually made her breathe easy, as it meant that her enemies would not start looking for her specifically. Fighting Youma was normal.
Valda also found out that the Sailor Woman was not her only new enemy. There were others - entire teams of warriors, both men and women, who called themselves Huntresses, as well as specialized military and task groups who actively hunted, fought, and defeated Youma. However, the Sailor Woman was without a doubt the most powerful of her new enemies - her new Dumbledore.
Valda was relieved to find that her minions were not simply weak or worthless and wondered how they would fare against Dumbledore himself. When she was ready she would consider sending one after her old arch-enemy. She giggled as a picture of Dumbledore frantically running away from her Youma filled her mind. She mused that at minimum it would be a fun experience.
When fighting against some of the other adversaries, her Youma fared better, sometimes even much better, even if they were all eventually defeated. This gave her hope. All she needed to do now was find a way to create an even stronger Youma, and then sooner or later she would manage to create one powerful enough to defeat even the Sailor Woman. She was sure of it - it was just a matter of time. For now, she would simply continue to send out a few more and practice.
One week since Setsuna left to fight the Youma, towards the end of Aryanna's counseling session.
"That's a heartening progression, Arya," Mr. Brown commented, letting his eyes briefly drift to the watch on his wrist, indicating the nearing end of their session. "The way you assisted your friend in overcoming her acrophobia speaks volumes about your personal growth. It shows just how far you have come from the shy, insecure little girl you were when you first arrived here. Back then, you told me that being around people made you nervous, even sick. Do you feel the same way?" he asked her.
Aryanna shifted in her seat, clearing her throat. "Forming friendships with Hermione and Susan was a turning point for me. Initially, even simple conversations felt like insurmountable hurdles. Yet, everything changed after I escaped the clutches of the Dursleys and reconnected with my aunt. The friendships I've built since, especially with Hermione and Susan, have been invaluable. My suspension on the first day of school, as daunting as it was, proved serendipitous. The harsh painful reprimand from the principal and subsequent suspension for confronting those boys was unexpected and disheartening. However, it led to a deeper bond with one of my closest friends and eased my friendship with Susan," Aryanna concluded with a decisive nod.
Mr. Brown's eyes softened. "It's wonderful that you've found such good friends who support and help you," Mr. Brown said with a smile. "It's clear that you've grown a lot in confidence and self-assurance since then. Keep up the good work!"
Aryanna's eyes momentarily clouded with memories. Back at the Dursleys she was cornered and oppressed. She would get beaten by her uncle Vernon every time she stood up for herself or others, especially against their precious Diddikins. Back then, she often retreated to the sanctuary of the library, away from the menacing shadow of her cousin. It was one of the only places she had left safe from him. Now she had far more self-confidence in herself and was not afraid to stand up for herself and her friends.
"Being able to fight back without fear of unjust punishment is great too," she added. "Having the strength to stand up against oppressors, knowing there won't be any unjust repercussions—that's been liberating. Aunt Setsuna is great that way. She only punishes me if I truly deserve it and never before listening to my side first."
"That's wonderful, Arya," Mr. Brown acknowledged. "It's great to hear that you feel safe and supported by your aunt. Your aunt's support has provided you with a stable environment. What about school? Have you encountered any other bullying incidents?" Mr Brown asked her studying her carefully.
"No, I haven't had any problems with bullying since then," Aryanna replied, shaking her head. "The bullies, especially Ashley, usually know not to pick on me and Hermione now...or any of the other younger kids for that matter. They know what to expect if they do," she said with a small smile, remembering how she had stopped a bullying attempt only a week ago. The boy had dared to slap her ass. He had been too afraid to even look at her since.
"I think standing up to those boys on my first day really made a difference. Nobody has tried to bully me since then. If they do, I know I can stand up for myself now. Aunt Setsuna has taught me a lot about self-defense and how to protect myself."
Mr. Brown's eyes remained steady, though inwardly he processed the depth of Aryanna's experience. "You seem to be holding something back. Would you like to discuss it?" he asked her gently.
"Not really. I mean, it's nothing special. Happens all the time. Sometimes one of the older kids tries to bully one of the younger ones. You know, like mess with their hair, trip them in the corridors, pinch or slap their bums if it's a girl... rip off their shirt pockets. Little yet annoying things like that. Last week I saw Peter smack Julie on her ass as she walked past. I comforted her in the toilet later. That's when we found out that it had left a little bruise too. I got him back for it later though. He never saw it coming," Aryanna answered nonchalantly, a smirk on her face as she remembered the incident and how sorry he had been afterward. The apology she had been forced to make to him and her resulting detention had been well worth it.
Mr. Brown sighed, his optimism replaced by a frown. This was not what he had hoped for. He wondered what the staff was doing to combat these incidents and was about to comment more on this when the alarm clock on a nearby table, signaled the end of their weekly session.
"Well... looks like our session has come to an end once more. For our next meeting, I'd like you to think of a few alternative methods of dealing with what you have just told me. Physical retaliation can't be the answer. Instead, tell me what else you could have done when Peter smacked Julie, one which does not include hitting him back...or similar," he said as he got up from his chair and began to lead Aryanna out of the room.
Aryanna simply nodded understanding his perspective, but internally wrestling with the complexities of school dynamics. She wasn't happy about it but she understood that he was trying to tell her. She couldn't always fight back fire with fire. But it sometimes seemed like the only language they understood. Especially when the teachers didn't or simply couldn't do anything about it.
Thinking he had managed to get through to her Mr Brown smiled. "Alright then. See you next week and remember, if you ever need someone to talk to, we're always here for you," he told her.
A few minutes later
After her counseling session with Mr. Brown, Aryanna wandered through a back alley, Luna's black form beside her. The residue of her emotions from the session persisted, but Luna's presence was a comforting balm from her recent troubles. Preferring the quiet walk over the cacophony of buses or taxis, she reveled in the day's beauty, where colors seemed unusually vivid, making the sky appear like an artist's finest work.
Navigating the industrial district via her usual shortcut, an unexpected cacophony halted her steps. While she initially dismissed it — loud noises and even cries were not uncommon here — a second listen hinted at a more sinister situation. Soon, a distressing scene unfolded: thugs menacing an elderly man trying in vain to shield his injured dog. His visible distress, combined with the knife one thug brandished, amplified the tension.
Most children her age would instinctively flee or call for help. But Aryanna wasn't a typical child. Rather than retreat, she sought refuge behind a dumpster. Despite Luna's silent objections, she tried to gauge the situation.
Between the elder's desperate pleas, the blatant threats from the thugs, and the presence of a knife among the thugs, it was clear this wasn't a mere disagreement.
One thug vehemently claimed the dog had bitten him and demanded compensation, while the older man, through his frantic cries, defended the whimpering animal nursing a visibly broken leg beside him. To Aryanna, the scene painted a clear picture. Even if the dog had bitten the thug, which seemed dubious given his lack of apparent injuries, their current actions, particularly the knife threateningly placed near the man's throat, screamed of malintent.
Aryanna could see that the dog was in no shape to be any danger to the thugs. Even if it had indeed bitten the man, which was unlikely as the man did not seem injured, there was no reason to harass the older man like the three thugs were currently doing. Add the fact that one of the thugs was holding a knife to the older man's neck... and it was pretty clear that they were up to no good.
"Well, no time like the present. Time to step up," she whispered to herself as she nervously grasped and looked at her brooch which now hung from a chain from around her neck that rested on her chest 'Besides I was to join Setsuna in a few hours anyway. A bit earlier won't hurt,' she reminded herself. What difference would a few hours make?
Seeing what Aryanna was about to do, Luna's eyes widened slightly but then sighed in resignation. Discerning her intent, she sighed but offered a supportive nod. As Aryanna concentrated on her transformation, an anxiety she hadn't anticipated swelled within. This venture was her solo debut, and the weight felt different without Setsuna's presence. Giving Aryanna a brief smile and a nod of support, she stepped back to watch. She too knew the time to act and for Sailor Moon to appear had finally come.
The old man needed help and she knew there was nothing to fear. At least not for Aryanna, not once she was transformed. These were just everyday lowlife thugs who were probably just running a scam. No threat at all to a fully transformed Sailor Guardian.
Beside her Aryanna thought the same. It was clear that she felt nervous. 'Why am I suddenly feeling so scared?' Aryanna wondered. This was no different from the other times when she had watched Setsuna as Sailor Pluto take on similar thugs... and those had guns. It was probably just because, for the first time, she was doing it on her own. Yes, that was it. No pressure. She could do this. She had to do it. The old man and his dog needed her. They needed Sailor Moon.
Ensuring no prying eyes were on her, Aryanna murmured her transformation incantation. In a blinding flash, her attire dissolved, making way for the iconic garb of Sailor Moon.
Just like it had happened before, in the blink of an eye, her clothes; her jeans and the tank top, in fact, 'all' of her clothes disappeared, leaving her momentarily naked to the world. She always hated this part, it was always so embarrassing, but she also knew that nobody would be able to see through the sudden bright light that was now surrounding her.
Quickly, a crimson ribbon began to form and twirl around her body, to create a white leotard with a scarlet bow which soon covered her chest. A blue skirt, complete with underwear, formed next, tucking around underneath her, secured by another ruby bow at the back. Then white gloves appeared on her hands and a pair of white boots rose to her knees, decorated with the crescent moon shapes that announced her as the Sailor Guardian of the Moon. Her black hair that usually swept down her back, formed together into two buns, held together by vermilion odango, with two twin tails that cascaded down her back, with golden crescent earrings dangling from each of her ears. Finally, a golden tiara with a red gem appeared to rest atop her forehead to complete her look.
The whole transformation took only a few mere seconds to complete. Hardly enough time for anybody who had not been looking directly at her to realize what had just happened.
The brilliance of the metamorphosis caught the thugs off guard, their faces a tableau of confusion and curiosity but by then it was already all over.
"Was that lightning?" One mumbled, scanning the clear sky. "Could've been a camera flash. Search around!" another instructed.
"What, really? Damn it! We must find the fucker and stop them...now!" Said the first. He was looking around frantically for any sign of anybody with a camera. Anybody who may have just taken a picture of them.
It was at that moment that Aryanna, or rather Sailor Moon, for that was who she currently was, decided to introduce herself.
She stepped out from behind the dumpster and showed herself clearly to the trio of thugs. "Looking for me?" she asked.
The trio's eyes widened in shock and confusion as they saw her.
"Who the fuck are you?" asked the second thug.
'This was it, the moment I have been waiting for,' Aryanna thought excitedly. Cloaked in the mantle of her new identity, she took a stance radiating determination and power. She was no longer just Aryanna, an ordinary school girl; she was now Sailor Moon.
The shadows from the towering buildings of the alleyway seemed to deepen as Aryanna's - now Sailor Moon's - voice cut through the silence. "How dare you prey upon an old man, whose only intention was to enjoy a walk with his dog?" Her tone, although firm, echoed with a sincerity that seemed to bounce off the alley's walls.
With a tilt of her head and a flicker in her eyes, she declared, "As for who I am... "I am Sailor Moon, the elegant Guardian of Love and Justice. I stand against darkness and malice, especially against those who torment the innocent. Leave that man and his dog alone. For if you don't, in the name of the moon, I'll punish you!"
The thugs, initially caught off-guard by her appearance, soon erupted into laughter. The first one, wiping a tear from his eye, smirked, "You're supposed to be a hero? What are you, Sailor Pluto's sidekick? More like Sailor Loony!"
The other two thugs joined him in laughing mockingly at her. Their laughter was sharp, like shards of glass, cutting through the tense atmosphere. They didn't take her seriously at all. To them, she was just someone playing dress-up.
Yet, beneath her composed exterior, Sailor Moon felt a surge of anger at their insults. "Mock me all you want" she declared, her emerald eyes ablaze, "but I won't stand by while you threaten the innocent."
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 skepticism 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 center 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 channeled 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.