Chapter 3: An interesting turn of events

Akari was waiting for Hotaru at school the next day. She waved as she saw Hotaru approach. "Hi!" she said with enthusiasm.

Hotaru returned the smile and greeting. "Hello."

"Guess what?" Akari said mischievously.

Hotaru looked at her curiously. "What?"

"The gym teacher called in sick. He has mono so he's going to be out for a whole month-maybe more!" Akari said excitedly. "And that means we have study time instead of physical education for a whole month!"

"No PE?" Hotaru asked.

"No." Hotaru grinned with relief.

"That's fantastic."

"So," Akari continued, "Can you come to the park today?"

Against her better judgement, Hotaru replied, "Yes I can."

"Great! We'll have a great time. I love the park. And we'll get some color into those cheeks too. Oh my gosh! Look at the time! Come one or we'll be late!" Akari walked quickly into school with Hotaru hard on her heals. They barely made it to class on time. Hotaru was panting as she sat down in her seat. Akari heard several kids snicker and silenced them with a glare. She whispered to Hotaru, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'll be fine. Just give me a minute." Hotaru grew very pale for a moment. Akari was about to say something again but Hotaru held up her hand and returned to her normal color after a few minutes.

Class continued like normal and at the end of the day, Hotaru and Akari headed to the park. They had a lot of fun in the park just playing and talking and laughing at silly things. As the sun began to set, Hotaru said, "I'd better be getting home."

"Oh wow. I didn't even realize the time." Akari said. "Yeah, I'd better go too. I'll see you later." She waved goodbye as she and Hotaru went their separate directions.

Hotaru arrived home just as the sun disappeared from the sky. She opened the door and walked into the house. Haruka was waiting for her. "Where have you been?" She asked.

"I was in the park with Akari-chan."

Haruka's jaw dropped. "What?"

"I went to the park with Akari-chan after school and we had a good time. Nothing happened. I didn't faint or feel weak. In fact, I feel very good. Haruka-papa, I know you're worried but I am being careful. Believe me, I would know if Akari is not who she appears to be. You know that."

Haruka sighed. "I know. It would just kill me and Michiru-chan and Setsuna-chan to see something happen to you."

Hotaru hugged Haruka. "I know. But I'll be careful." With that she went to her room.

Michiru emerged from the shadows. "Our little Hotaru-chan is growing up. She is very wise for her age." She squeezed Haruka's hand. "We must give her a little lee-way now."

Haruka sighed again. "I know, I know."

---

Later that night, Setsuna's sleep was interrupted by the sound of a strange noise outside. She looked out the window. She didn't see anything but heard it again, only louder. It sounded like it was coming from downtown. She quickly got dressed and woke the Haruka and Michiru. "Something is going on downtown. I'm going to see what it is. Someone needs to stay here and watch Hotaru-chan, just in case."

"I'll go with you," Michiru volunteered. She got up and dressed quickly.

"But Michiru-chan," Haruka objected.

Michiru put her hand on Haruka's shoulder. "Watch her." With that, she left with Setsuna.

Haruka made herself some coffee and sat down at the table, watching, listening.

---

As Michiru and Setsuna drove into town they saw a bear-like creature that was twice the size of a normal bear with metal claws and bright red fur. It foamed from the mouth and the foam, when it dripped to the ground, turned into acid. There were police and helicopters all around but they were only making it worse. "Give me the Soldier of Silence!" The bear kept roaring.

Setsuna and Michiru parked their car in a deserted alley and transformed. To Setsuna's surprise, she found her Time Staff with the garnet orb. "She must have given it back to me." Setsuna said in wonder.

Michiru grabbed her arm. "No time to think about that now. Come on!" They ran back out to the bear only to see the police deserting the job. "There's nothing we can do. One man was almost killed." They heard someone say.

"Perfect. Now we don't have to worry about civilians." Setsuna said.

"Hey bear!" Sailor Pluto yelled. The bear stopped what it was doing and turned to Pluto. "Are you the Soldier of Silence?"

"No, and I'm not going to let you find her!" Sailor Pluto cried. "Dead -" but before Pluto could get her attack out the bear's massive claws smacked her to the ground. Sailor Neptune ran over to her. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah," Pluto groaned. "You've got to find its weakness."

Sailor Neptune turned around and was about to use her mirror when she heard a sound she had only heard once before. "The only thing you're good for, bear, is a rug. I am Sailor Orion, the Guardian Senshi and Celestial Sailor. On behalf of the heavens and all the other senshi, I will destroy you!" Sailor Neptune looked up and saw Sailor Orion standing on the top of a small building. Sailor Orion jumped down from the building and faced the monster. "You will never have the Soldier of Silence as long as I am around!"

The bear laughed. "Then you won't be around!" It tried to take a swipe at Orion. Orion just jumped out of the way and yelled "Orion Guardian Staff!"

Orion's staff appeared and she quickly finished off the youma with her Orion Crystal Blast. Suddenly Azul appeared with two of his companions, Verde and Rojo. They floated above Orion's head. "I will attain the Soldier of Silence, Sailor Orion. The future proclaims it to be so. And you will not stand in my way." Azul said.

"Want to bet?" Orion gripped her staff tightly. "Bring it on. I would enjoy it. You would be easy to defeat."

Azul's face turned red with fury. "We'll see next time, Sailor Orion." Then he and his minions disappeared.

Orion walked over to Sailor Pluto and Sailor Neptune. "Stay out of the way from now on. I don't need you to botch things up, got it?" Orion leveled her staff at Pluto. Then she slowly faded away.

Neptune looked at Sailor Pluto. "Well, that was interesting." She helped Pluto into the alley where they powered down and drove home.

---

Luna stretched as she wandered into the kitchen the next morning. It was Saturday and Serena wouldn't be up for quite some time. She saw Serena's mother making breakfast and listening to the radio. The reporter on the radio was saying, "And in other news, the city was saved last night from a terrible youma by a new Sailor Scout, Sailor Orion with the help of two other Sailor Scouts, Sailor Pluto and Sailor Neptune."

Luna's eyes opened wide. "What?" she meowed.

---

Verde cleared his throat. His reporter's voice was gone now. "Do you think that this news report will drag her out of hiding?"

"It has to if she knows her friends were in trouble. She'll want to come out and face the next youma so her friends won't have to." Azul smiled. Amethyst would be pleased.