Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon and other characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
Hello all! I'm so sorry for the long wait, but thank you for being patient and sticking with me for the next chapter! I struggled a little with the direction, but I finally found something that I like! Gonna go straight to plaid with addressing discrepancies from the manga and anime that I disliked (extra kudos if you understand the reference.)
I want to spare a moment for everyone who wrote reviews for the last chapter! Thank you! Your constant support reminded me that I do have readers for this story and it helped inspire me to write this chapter.
Without further ado, enjoy!
Now that Usagi had a clear conscience and a calm mind about what she was going to do about school, it was time to meet with Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter. It was about time they had a scout meeting to talk over everything that was going on.
Usagi bid farewell to Naru and headed on her way to the Crown where she was supposed to meet up with Ami and Makoto. Looking down at her watch she grimaced and realized that she would have to hurry in order to make it on time. It was time for Usagi to crank up the speed. As she picked up her pace into a run she almost paused mid stride in front of some steps leading up to a Shinto Temple. She shook her head and continued to run, not wanting to be late for her meeting. The aura around the shrine gave her pause, but that was something she would need to keep in the back of her mind for now.
Reaching her destination, not feeling even a little winded, Usagi saw that Ami and Makoto were waiting for her in front of the arcade. They waved to her as she approached. She greeted them cheerfully with a big smile on her face as she started to lead them to her house.
They had decided the night before that the best place to hold their meeting for the time being was at Usagi's house as it afforded them privacy and a place where they could communicate freely with Luna. The girls planned for a sleepover as they were unsure how long the meeting would take place. It was a good way for the three of them to bond. Usagi also knew that her mom would want to be updated on their new comrade as well as to help mediate any confusions should they arise.
The girls chatted animatedly about school and life on the walk to Usagi's house. The growing friendship between them was recognizable and they all wanted to build a positive relationship seeing as they would be 'working' with each other.
Usagi showed them into her house where they were greeted by both Ikuko and Luna. Ikuko had snacks ready for them in the kitchen where their meeting would take place. The girls and Luna sat around the breakfast table while Ikuko puttered around the kitchen making dinner while keeping one ear in the meeting. Luna felt the pressure, as she knew that Ikuko would be looking to make sure that she acted like the guardian she said she would be.
Luna felt like she had come a long way from her first interaction with the Tsukino family, and she was grateful for how things turned out. She saw how hard Usagi pushed herself on a daily basis with the responsibilities that she had put on her shoulders and was grateful that the young teen was taking the role as a Sailor Scout seriously, but at the same time was living her life as a teenager. Having the open communication with Usagi and her family gave her better insight on how to communicate her perspective and ideas to the human family. Being present at the fights also encouraged the girls as well as gave Luna some understanding of how the fights progressed and their strategy. As their group got bigger, Luna thought it was time for them to start practicing and fighting as a team for more cohesion.
The chitchat and the welcomes and introductions were out of the way and Luna brought her attention back to the table. As the advisor of the Sailor Scouts, she took it upon herself to start the meeting.
"I want to thank all of you for being able to make it to this meeting today and for having done a wonderful job so far at fighting the Negaverse," Luna began. Her words were met with smiles and nods. "I want to formally welcome Sailor Jupiter into our group and say that it is a pleasure to add you as a Sailor Scout."
At her words, Makoto blushed and bowed her head. She had been nervous about the meeting. Growing up as an orphan with a less than calm temper made her bad at making and retaining friends. She was excited at the prospect of having new friends, but the magnitude of how serious the Negaverse problem was had just started to dawn on her.
Luna continued, "So this is our first formal Sailor Scout meeting; I know that you all have plenty of questions and before I answer them, I would like to give you a little background on myself and my function as the Sailor Scouts' advisor. It may answer some questions you have already." The girls nodded, curiosity in their eyes. Truth be told, they were all curious about the talking feline, though they were a little shy to ask such personal questions of the mature cat.
"I want to start by admitting that since I was woken, I have been unable to recall all of my memories," Luna said with a frustrated sigh. "What I do know, is that I, in another life, was the chosen representative from the Planet Mau to act as the royal advisor to the late Queen Selenity of the Moon Kingdom." Usagi nodded as she recalled the story that Luna had told her and her family when they had first met.
"My mission is to find the Sailor Scouts and activate the sleeping powers within them to fight against the Negaverse. About a thousand years ago a terrible power started a war against this Sol System leading to the end of the Silver Millennium and the destruction of all life on all the planets in this system besides Earth. Back then the leader of the Silver Millennium, Queen Selenity, used her powers to imprison the great evil," Luna said soberly. "Somehow this evil has managed to escape and is out to destroy Earth." Luna looked at each girl sitting around the table with her scarlet eyes. "It is up to you, the Sailor Scouts to prevent the destruction of this planet. That is our objective and I will do everything in my power to help you achieve that."
Luna reflected for a moment before continuing, "I know that this seems like an impossible mission for several teenagers to accomplish, but just know that the Sailor Scouts are elite fighters from the Silver Millennium. As the reincarnations of those scouts you inherently have the skills that they had. It is just a matter of unlocking the power within each of you." Luna smiled as she looked at Ami and Makoto, "It is possible that memories from your past life will start to resurface as well, to give you more insight on who you were in your past lives. But let me just add that you all were incredible women with strength, power and fortitude and though you may not be exactly the same as you were in the past, I'm sure you can be just as impressive as your past counterparts."
Luna turned to look at Usagi, whom she was still confused by. She had meditated on it for a very long time since she had met the bubbly teen. Through her meditations she was able to recall several things from her past life and Sailor Moon was not amongst her memories. She didn't know what to tell Usagi about this information. Usagi blinked her clear sky blue eyes at Luna. Those eyes. Luna felt like she had seen those eyes before; they held hope and a love for life that she felt like she had only seen in one person. But who? Whose eyes did they belong to? Luna shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. It would eventually come back to her; it was just a matter of time. Until then, Sailor Moon was an asset to the group and her power seemed as strong, if not stronger than the other scouts.
The girls let Luna's words sink in. She turned to them and asked, "Questions?"
Ami spoke up in her quiet voice, "I do have many questions, but there is also something I wanted to share with you all that might also give us some clarity on the situation." She at this point opened up her Mercurian visor and mini computer. With her visor on, she continued to address Luna, "I don't know if you knew this when you gave me my visor and computer, but the past Sailor Mercury had left a message on this very computer for her future counterpart."
Everyone in the room gasped. Luna had no idea. The Sailor Scout items that she had were in her subspace pocket, and she had never thought to go through any of the items, as they did not belong to her.
Usagi was the one that asked, "What did she say?"
Ami looked at Usagi thoughtfully before looking down to read the words out loud from her past self. "Princess Amelia, Sailor Mercury, elite warrior, guardian and friend of the Moon Princess. If you are reading this, then it means that we, as the Sailor Scouts are rising again. I know you- as you know me. You need proof of this reality. If you are indeed my reincarnation, all the proof you need is in your dreams. The rolling icy waves of our home planet beckon you, as they do me. Trust your instincts, Amelia, and trust your fellow scouts. Find the princess, she is the key. Protect her at all cost. Tell Luna or Artemis to use their mind meld. It will unlock the questions you need answered."
Luna, Makoto and Usagi sat stunned at Ami's words. Leave it to the former Sailor Mercury to brilliantly albeit disturbingly leave a message for her future self.
"What is the mind meld?" asked Makoto.
Luna sat straight and thought hard. She didn't know why it didn't occur to her to use her mind meld. It was as if her memories of that particular power were blocked, it was very curious and frustrating. The Luna mind meld was obviously the fastest and easiest way to unlocking the girls' memories. She turned to Makoto, "It is a special power I was granted when made the advisor to Queen Selenity. I have the power to help your mind unlock memories as well as alter them."
The three Sailor Scouts looked at each other, and Usagi spoke up, "Well, since we're all here, can you use it on all of us now to help us unlock our memories, Luna?"
"I don't see why not, though it might be best to do it in the living room," Luna replied.
In the living room the girls sat comfortably on the couch. Luna sat on the coffee table in front of the girls facing them. She told them to relax. As they relaxed in their seats the gold crescent mark on Luna's forehead started to glow. The girls were transfixed on the glowing mark. As Luna's mark began to glow brighter and brighter the girls' eyes began to droop. They simultaneously fell back onto the couch unconscious.
Ikuko had been watching from the doorway in concern, "Do you think it will work?" she asked Luna.
Luna turned to face Usagi's mother, "I believe it will. It will be interesting to see what they will remember." She added thoughtfully, "It is a shame that I cannot use it on myself and my own memories."
Ikuko nodded in agreement, "Let me know if there is anything I can do for them," she replied turning back to finish making dinner.
...
Makoto and Ami roused back into consciousness within moments of each other. Their feelings reeled as they tried to sort through the emotions and memories. It was just so much information to take all in at once, but the feeling of completion in their souls was worth it. Destiny had presented them with the answers they had been looking for, and they accepted the terms with open arms.
"How are you two feeling?" asked Luna who was rousing herself from her curled up ball on the coffee table.
They looked at Luna, "How long were we out?" asked Ami, seeing as the sky seemed much darker than before outside the window.
"Only for an hour or so," replied Luna. "How do you feel?" She was anxious to hear what they remembered, and also alarmed that Usagi showed no signs of stirring.
Makoto and Ami looked at each other and then at Luna. "I feel better than ever," Makoto replied honestly. "I've been adrift for so long. It's nice to know where I came from and to have a purpose in life."
Ami nodded and glanced over at Usagi who was still passed out. "Um, Luna, I did have a question for you," she asked quietly.
Luna nodded and turned her attention to Ami.
"Is Usagi the Moon Princess? The message that the former Sailor Mercury left in my computer had said that she was the key, and unless my memories that were unlocked were altered, there was no Sailor Moon in the Silver Millennium." Ami stated seriously.
Luna's mind blanked.
She came to with Makoto shaking her shoulder gently. "Luna? Luna? Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, I blanked out for some reason," Luna replied, her mind all of a sudden dizzy.
Ami looked thoughtfully at her feline guardian. "I think that some of your memories regarding the past have been suppressed for one reason or another, Luna."
"That might be very possible, Ami," Luna replied. "My mind is having difficulty even thinking past Queen Selenity and it blanked totally thinking about the Moon Princess, but you might be right. I don't recall a Sailor Moon, but what makes you think that she is Usagi?"
"Well, it makes the most sense Luna," Ami said. "I am Sailor Mercury and the former Princess Amelia of Mercury. Makoto is Sailor Jupiter and is the former Princess Mokusei of Jupiter." She looked up at Makoto who nodded along as she followed the train of thought. "It would stand to reason that Usagi, who is Sailor Moon is also the former Moon Princess, what was her name again? I can't quite recall it."
Makoto looked over at her new friend her own recent memories flooding back into her mind. She remembered. She knew without a doubt that the girl lying next to her was none other than her friend, her princess, "Serenity," she whispered. Luna and Ami turned to Makoto who was kneeling next to Usagi, pushing her hair out of her face, "Princess Serenity," Makoto said louder and clearer.
Princess Serenity. That name echoed through Luna's mind. Luna closed her eyes and in her memories, a young woman with bright blue eyes, as clear as a cloudless summer day opened and saw through her into her soul. Those eyes. They belonged to Princess Serenity. Ami was right. Usagi was Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom. How had she not recognized her? How did she not see it?! It was as if her own memories started to unlock one after the other.
And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed this chapter- I know it takes the story into a completely different direction, but honestly, I think it makes more sense this way. Please leave a review, and I hope to have another chapter posted soon!
xo