Chapter 77

The ten scouts and Darrien sat around the table in Patterson's war room once again. Luna and Artemas sat on top of it.

"So..you all had some questions for us?" Luna asked.

"Uh yeah..Luna, never mind the fact that the four guys have not been the most effective fighting force," Raye began.

"Hey! We're still learning!" Rick, Mike, and Steve said.

"Never mind the criticism Raye...what we really want to know Luna is why we were never told about the Guardian Scouts," Lita said.

"And two Saturns?" Amy asked.

"Yeah..what's the deal?" Mina said.

"I don't know girls..you obviously don't remember them..unlike the memories that came back about each of you when other scouts appeared," Luna said.

"The truth is we don't remember anything either. It's as if the information has been intentionally blocked," Artemas said.

"But by who?" Serena said.

"Yeah..who?" Everyone asked.

"Perhaps I can be of service," said a voice. Appearing in the air in front of them was a projection of a dark haired woman in a black and white sailor scout uniform.

"What...the...she looks like a sailor scout," Mike said.

"That's because she is," Mina said.

"Haven't you met Sailor Pluto?" Patterson muttered.

"Sailor Pluto?" the four other guys said.

"Hmm..so it is true what they say about you.." Sailor Pluto said. "Your reconnaissance abilities are quite skillful Mr. Patterson."

"Only because he spied on us!" Mina, Lita, Raye, and Serena shouted.

"Ehh..girls....let's just hear what Pluto has to say," Luna said.

"Thank you Luna," Pluto said. "You are obviously wondering about the past. The truth is that Queen Serenity had your memories erased as to the presence of the male scouts. You were not supposed to remember them. She hoped they would never have to be called upon to fight again."

"But why?" Mina asked.

"Yeah, why should they get a free ride?" Serena asked.

"Calm down..and I'll explain Moon Princess," Sailor Pluto said. "Queen Serenity entrusted me with this information and I guess it is time to bring it out. You may find some of this surprising."

Suddenly the room seemed to melt from around the scouts and was replaced by the Moon Palace.

"What's going on?" Rick asked suspiciously.

"It's just a vision," Sailor Pluto said.

"Oh..okay," Rick said not really sure of anything anymore.

"It is now the silver millennium," Sailor Pluto said.

They could all see a room in the moon palace.

It appeared to be the throne room. An immaculate chamber with designs along its wall and supported by several columns. On a relatively modest golden throne sat Queen Serenity. Beside her at a smaller throne sat Princess Serena. All around them stood various well dressed noblemen and women. The large wooden doors at the opposite end of the room swung open and the court speaker entered.

"Your highness, the Princes of Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus!" he shouted.

The crowd of nobles let out a moan.

"Heh heh..cool," Mike said.

"Yeah...we haven't lost our touch," Steve said.

"In a thousand years I would hope for some improvement," Rick muttered.

Through the doors marched Prince Michael, Prince Steven, and Prince Richard of Neptune, Pluto, and Uranus respectively. They all wore princely outfits, with thin swords at their sides in scabbards. Small capes trailed behind them, each bearing their respective color. They all had grins on their faces, seemingly feeding off their less than favorable reception. They approached the queen and bowed.

"Your highness, you sent for us," the Prince of Uranus said.

"I did, Prince Richard, but..one of you is missing," Serenity said.

"The Prince of Saturn!" the speaker bellowed. The crowd let out another moan. The armored figure of the Prince of Saturn with a broadsword hanging at his side walked in the door. The face was unmistakably that of D.V.

"Looks like he's not become any more popular as time has passed," Raye muttered.

"Hey..why aren't I there?" Greg asked.

"Patience," Sailor Pluto said.

The Prince of Saturn approached the throne. Saluted and then bowed.

"Your highness," he said.

"Good now, the four of you are here," Queen Serenity said. She rose from the throne and stood up. "I have decided it is time to give these four the honor that has been bestowed on each Prince since the beginning of this kingdom. The right to become a Guardian Scout."

Many people in the crowd began to make protesting moans.

"Queen Serenity may I speak," one of the men said.

"Baron Goralis," Queen Serenity said.

"I believe I am speaking for the majority of your court assembled her when I protest this. These princes have not earned the honor. In fact they have been a cause of continual embarrassment. Prince Neptune has shown no respect for protocol. Prince Uranus has been trying to date the Princess of Mars despite the fact that he is already arranged to marry someone else....." Goralis said.

Raye and Rick both blushed.

Prince Richard grinned.

"The Prince of Pluto punched me just last week..." Goralis said.

"Wonder why," The Prince of Saturn muttered.

"And...that leads me to you Prince of Saturn!" Goralis said pointing a finger. "You have been wasting your time on your puny war training, have not attended any state functions in a year, and before that you showed no interest in all in the proceedings. You insist on dirtying your hands practicing with the common soldiers...hardly the way a proper Prince should behave...furthermore..what is this about you making a secret trip to Earth!"

The crowd rumbled.

"For your information Baron Goralis," the Prince of Saturn said. "Someone has to defend this kingdom from attack. I intend to be one of those people fighting rather than some Barons I know who will most likely be scurrying for the nearest hiding place!"

The other three princes began to laugh.

"Furthermore Baron, it is quite true I care little for pomp and circumstance, especially in matters that do not deserve that sort of activity. I give respect to those who deserve it, no one else!"

"Yeah!" the other three princes said.

"Why you impudent immature....!" the Baron began.

"Baron Goralis," Queen Serenity cut him off.

"My apologies, however, I still have to ask what purpose had sent Prince Saturn to Earth," Goralis said.

"I heard the humans had invented fire and wanted to see it for myself," Prince Saturn said snidely. The other three princes burst out laughing again.

"This is what I mean Queen Serenity. You're going to let these four become Guardian Scouts?" Baron Goralis said.

"Yes, Baron, I am," Queen Serenity said.

"Heh....you know Baron..they do sort of have a point. I mean you are quite a jerk," Princess Serena said.

"Your highness?" Goralis said in surprise.

"Enough," Queen Serenity said. "I will speak to the four princes alone."

She turned and walked to the door leading to her private chamber. The four princes followed, taking the time to turn and each stick their tongue out at the assembled guests. Princess Serena laughed.

"Hmm...tough room," Prince Michael said once the door between Queen Serenity's chamber and the throne room had been closed.

"They have become complacent and foolish," Prince Saturn said.

"I'm afraid so," Queen Serenity said. "However..that is why I am activating the Guardian Scouts at this time."

"Activating?" Prince Richard asked.

"Yes, you see this is not just a symbolic gesture," Queen Serenity said. "I have learned that their are threats, at this very moment starting to gather their forces."

"A real enemy," Prince Stephen said in surprise.

"Yes," said a voice.

"And a dangerous one at that," came another. Two figures came out of the shadows.

"Sailor Pluto," Amy said recognizing the first.

"Darrien!" Serena said recognizing the second.

"I'm sure you all know the Princess of Pluto," Queen Serenity said.

"Hi ya, cousin," Prince Stephen said.

"Hello," Pluto said.

"Who's the other guy?" Prince Michael asked.

"Allow to me to present to you Prince Darrien of Earth," Prince Saturn said.

"Earth?" the other three princes asked in surprise.

"Yes, the real reason the Prince of Saturn traveled to Earth was to bring Prince Darrien back here,"Queen Serenity said.

"The evil force that threatens to destroy us is somewhere on Earth," Prince Darrien said.

"We were told not to trust Earth men," Prince Stephen said.

"It was a matter of necessity," Queen Serenity. "But that is not the issue. Prince Darrien speaks the truth. This is why the activation of the Guardian Scouts is necessary. You need to go to Earth and deal with the threat before it becomes too powerful to handle," Queen Serenity said.

"But we're not warriors..or at least not really.." Prince Michael said.

"I am," Prince Saturn said.

"Sailor Pluto will see to it that all four of you are ready to fight as soon as possible. She will be in charge of your training," Queen Serenity said.

"I'm looking forward to it," Sailor Pluto said. "But you four better keep in line."

"Yes ma'am," each prince, but Saturn said.

"And what of you Saturn?" Pluto asked.

"I follow orders," Prince Saturn said.

"Good," Sailor Pluto said.

"Prince Darrien will be staying here for a time to advise me, for all of you to know he is merely a member of the court of Pluto. The King of Pluto already knows of this arrangement. You're training will also be conducted there."

"Pluto? Dumpy place," Prince Michael muttered.

"Hey," Prince Stephen said.

"Well it is," Prince Michael said.

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Says you!" Steve said and lunged at Michael. The two were soon grappling.

"Hey, if you two are fighting, don't leave me out," Rick said and jumped into the fray.

"And these three are supposed to help save the kingdom?" Pluto muttered.

"There good guys...really," Prince Saturn muttered.

"Boys will boys," Serenity said.

"But can we count on them?" Prince Darrien said.

"They'll do the job," Prince Saturn said.

A few days later was the presentation ceremony. In the royal amphitheater in a different section of the moon. Thousands of people were packed in. Queen Serenity sat in her throne in the royal box. Princess Serena sat next to her, smiling like she usually did.

"Hey..where are we during all of this?" Raye asked.

"Right there Princess of Mars," Sailor Pluto said.

Sure enough, sitting next to the royal box was the four girls, the four princesses of the planets.

"Wow....what cool dresses," Mina said.

"Yeah," Lita said.

"Your highness! The Princes of the outer planets!" the speaker shouted from a balcony. The nobles all moaned in their ritualized way. The rest of the crowd broke into raucous cheers.

"Guess the little people really liked us," Mike said.

"Don't think of them that way," Patterson muttered.

Prince Michael, Richard, and Stephen walked in and all started waving. Prince Neptune even dashed over to one of the crowd groups and jumped over the wall shaking hands with several of the crowd members.

"He's such a weirdo," Princess Raye said.

"Ehh..he's kinda of cute," Princess Mina said.

Mina and Mike both blushed.

"I wonder where the Prince of Saturn is," Princess Amy said.

"Hmm..you know him...always likes to make a dramatic entrance," Princess Lita said.

"Oh..no..look," Princess Pluto said sitting beside Queen Serenity on the opposite side from Princess Serena. Directly across from them standing in the upper row of seats was Saturn. The crowd, noticing him for the first time let out a roar. He dashed down the stone steps until he reached the wall between the arena and stands. He jumped off of it, did a front flip, landed perfectly and then walked forward.

"That pompous jerk!" Baron Goralis shouted.

"Way to make an entrance," Prince Michael said.

"Yeah..well...if I don't annoy Goralis at least once a day I don't feel my life is justified," Prince Saturn replied. The four princes than walked up to the wall near the royal box. Serenity stood holding aloft four transformational items.

"I hearby give you these items so that you may attain the honor of being a guardian scout," she said. "Guardian Saturn," she said and gave the transformation pen with the symbol of Saturn on it to the Prince of Saturn. She then repeated the process for the other three. The crowd roared again.

From the shadows, Darrien watched.

"So..it has begun," he said.

That night was a celebratory dance. The princes, with the exception of Saturn were all there, as were the princesses. On a balcony outside the dance chamber, Princess Serena stood staring out at the patch of flowers that surrounded the palace, with the various fountains embedded between them.

"Awfully beautiful night to spend alone," came a voice behind her. She whirled around to see Prince Darrien standing there.

"Oh..Darrien..isn't it...from Pluto?"

"Yes...Princess..why aren't you inside dancing?" Darrien asked.

"No one ever dances with me. They're afraid of me I guess....I don't know."

"I will dance with you," Darrien said.

"You would?" Serena asked, her eyes widening and a smile forming.

"Sure," Darrien said.

And the two walked inside into the dance hall, and the relationship formed by destiny began.

"I just hope I'm not making a mistake only getting the Guardian Scouts ready," Queen Serenity said. "But, I'd rather not bring the girls into this if I don't have to."

"I understand. Hopefully we can contain the problem before it gets out of hand," Prince Saturn said.

"Yes...well...I won't keep you any longer, you should get to the dance," Queen Serenity said.

"No thanks...I have other things to do."

"You really should try to have some culture. You know expand your horizons," Queen Serenity said.

"I'll be fine," Saturn said and walked out.

Another door opened and Sailor Pluto walked in.

"Well..how are things going out there Pluto?" Serenity asked.

"Prince Richard is dancing with Princess Raye, much to everyone's annoyance," Pluto began and the two laughed. "But now Prince Stephen is dancing with Princess Lita, and Prince Michael is dancing with Princess Mina. Baron Goralis is throwing a fit."

"Hmm..I'd better head over there soon," Serenity said. "Pluto...be careful with Saturn...and tell me if he experiences any side effects to his powers all right."

"Of course Queen Serenity, but..why..are you so worried."

"Perhaps I should tell you Pluto. You see...he's not from Saturn."

"What?" Pluto asked.

"It's true. You see...when the Queen of Saturn was pregnant, she became quite ill. We feared that she would die herself. But she recovered, unfortunately the baby didn't survived the birth It was a boy, they were going to name him Gregory," Serenity said.

"Woah..I died..before I was born," Greg said in shock.

"Now the Queen needed a heir," Serenity said and with her condition, we wondered if it would ever be possible for her to have a child. So, keeping her hidden from the public for days. Only a few people knew of this. Meanwhile..we looked to the only source of a heir we could find, the Planet Mercury."

"Mercury," the whole group said watching.

"Mercury?" Pluto asked.

"Yes.....you see..the Queen was pregnant with two different children, not identical twins, but very close fraternal ones. We waited until they were born and then took the boy and brought him to Saturn. He was then raised as the Prince."

"Woah....hold it," Raye said in surprise. The vision stopped.

"Do you expect us to believe that Amy and Patterson were both from Mercury and born from the same mother?" Raye asked.

"That is what happened, a thousand years ago. But that has no bearing on the present," Sailor Pluto replied.

"That is why Patterson's power as Saturn was unstable then, right?" Lita asked.

"Yes, he doesn't really possess the power of Saturn. Greg does," Sailor Pluto said.

"But how did Greg get here?" Steve asked.

"Queen Serenity sent his essence to Earth to be reborn," Sailor Pluto said.

"Wow...how about that....so..in the silver millennium Patterson and Amy were brother and sister," Mike said. Amy blushed. Patterson turned away from the group and sighed.

"They didn't even know it too," Sailor Pluto said. "But let's move ahead."

"Hey..let's see more of Darrien dancing with me," Serena said.

"Um..Princess I think we'd better move along," Sailor Pluto said.

"No, I want to see it," Serena said.

"But..Princess...." Pluto said.

"Oh..come on..." Serena said.

"You might as well humor her," Luna muttered.

"Very well," Sailor Pluto said. In front of them was a view of the dance floor. Raye, Richard, Michael, Mina, Stephen, and Lita were all dancing in various places. Goralis was throwing a fit. In the center of it all Princess Serena was dancing with Darrien. Their motions were fluid, quite unlike the klutzy girl that existed in the present. Many people stopped and took notice.

"Wow..I was so good at dancing back then," Serena said.

"Can we move on?" Raye muttered.

Meanwhile on the cupola of the royal palace, Prince Saturn stood looking out over the immediate area of the palace. He stopped and starred at the Earth in the sky and then began examining the various grounds. He heard footsteps on the stairs leading back down the palace proper. He tensed for a brief time and then turned, just in case, the footsteps belonged to an assailant. Instead came the Princess of Mercury, holding a book in her right hand. She noticed Saturn and smiled.

"Prince Saturn, what brings you up here....the view?" Princess Amy asked.

"No, I am studying the layout of the grounds for tactical strengths and weaknesses," Prince Saturn replied.

"Why?"

"I have my reasons."

"I'll bet you do. So what we're you doing on Earth anyway?"

"I wasn't on Earth."

"Come now, the entire kingdom knows you went there. Most thought it was to bring back some Chinese food," she said with another smile.

"The Chinese are an interesting people," Saturn admitted.

"So you were there?"

"I didn't say that. I read the same books you do about foreign peoples...at least basically."

"True, I come up here to read, especially when there are things like dances going on. It's too loud in the palace."

"I'm surprised."

"About what?"

"Nothing. Excuse me," Saturn said and moved towards the stairs.

"Saturn," Princess Amy called after him.

"What?" Saturn said and stopped.

"Answer me this. I have a theory that the Guardian Scouts are not just going to be symbolic. Am I right?"

"You're a smart girl," Saturn said and walked down the stairs.

"So I am," Amy said. "But if I'm right..what does it mean?"

"What was that all about?" Raye asked.

"Yeah..Patterson didn't stammer once," Mike said.

"Sailor Pluto. Did that really happen?" Rick asked still in disbelief.

"Of course it did. The Prince of Saturn and the Princess of Mercury frequently had conversations during the silver millennium," Pluto said.

"We did?" Patterson and Amy said in unison and then glanced at each other nervously and blushed.

"Yes, it probably was because you were both siblings, or something else. I don't know," Sailor Pluto said.

"Enough about them. I'm sick of seeing Amy and Patterson talking about stuff. Show me dancing with Darrien!" Serena screeched.

"Serena, grow up," Raye said.

"I don't want to," Serena muttered.

The whole group sighed.

CHAPTER 66 CHAPTER 67 CHAPTER 68 CHAPTER 69 CHAPTER 70  CHAPTER 71 

CHAPTER 72 CHAPTER 73 CHAPTER 74 CHAPTER 75  CHAPTER 76 CHAPTER 77

 CHAPTER 78 CHAPTER 79 CHAPTER 80  CHAPTER 81  CHAPTER 82 CHAPTER 83

CHAPTER 84 CHAPTER 85  CHAPTER 86 CHAPTER 87 CHAPTER 88 CHAPTER 89

 CHAPTER 90 CHAPTER 91 CHAPTER 92 CHAPTER 93 CHAPTER 94 CHAPTER 95

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