Silent Dawn: A New Take on Sailor Moon Classic

[Comartemis]

Saturn could enchant the blade to give it a little extra bite; have it slice through barriers and make Jadeite go "WTF?!" I'm reminded of a line I read a long time ago in regards to the Silence Glaive, "...and death was on its' edge." Or, when the time comes to invade Beryl's stronghold, no need to go through the DD Girls, just get to D-Point and let Saturn kick the door in.

[bissek]

Both of those are valid examples of how a dimension-piercing glaive could work, but using that feature too often would either present the image that you're going out the way to make Saturn all-powerful, or you're making the villains uber-stupid by trying the same defense over and over when it's been proven that it doesn't work. To prevent that, you'd need the villains to either find new ways to protect themselves, or create layered defenses, of which dimensional barriers are only a part.

In regards to your comments about combining the Glaive with powers from Bleach. Can you imagine what would happen if Hotaru could Bankai the Glaive? Power to destroy the planet, increased by a factor of 5 to 10. It might be interesting to watch - from Alpha Centauri.

[Heaven's Deamon]

*imagines Hotaru poking the Glaive into the portal or whatever it was to P90 and saying "Bankai" followed by the area P90 was supposed to have come from exploding in a way that was visible from earth despite the distance*

[Comartemis]

In regards to your comments about combining the Glaive with powers from Bleach. Can you imagine what would happen if Hotaru could Bankai the Glaive? Power to destroy the planet, increased by a factor of 5 to 10. It might be interesting to watch - from Alpha Centauri.

Unless it was an enhancement-type bankai like T. Zangetsu. Then she'd be all set for a Dragonball Z crossover.
*Pictures Saturn kicking Kid Buu's ass*

*EDIT*
Oh dear god, just thought of something even better.

"Onegai, Ginzuishou! ... Bankai!"
*Watch as the universe implodes on itself from all that power being concentrated in one spot*

[Nekomata-sensei]

Perhaps Hotaru's only 'spells' that aren't too dangerous to use in an urban area are the silence wall and her healing ability, but she can still fight in melee with the Silence Glaive and the boosts from her senshi transformation, and possibly some special powers granted by still having Mistress 9 in her. (Someone said something about 9 overhearing Germatoid saying something she didn't like) There is also that crystal from her mother, perhaps rather than the Glaive that could be an intelligent device and her mother could really have been a TSAB agent but the Death Busters don't know about TSAB, just that they found an advanced magical device and that is what they base a lot of their magic-technology ideas off of, even though they don't have the technology to replicate the device yet, it is an inspiration, although since they use magic guns, perhaps it's a Velka type device and the mother isn't part of TSAB, but actually a TSAB criminal who escaped to the Sailor Moon world because it's outside of normal dimensional space in an area where time-travel is possible that TSAB avoids, because they don't want to piss off some of the powers there and get squished.

Learning to use the device might allow Hotaru to become a magical girl without becoming Saturn, although her incantation would probably be something like "Silence". She could possibly even seal up 9 right away and trap 9 within her device and later in a constructed magical prison she creates once she gets a hang of Velka magic. Magical Silence Girl Hotaru could be believed to be totally separate from the senshi, but still rather powerful, up until something causes her to awaken as Saturn, such as 9 being freed or her device being damaged and being in danger. She could use sealing techniques to release transformed people and then destroy the infecting objects once they are removed with her spell-gun. Her main problem would be her lack of stamina, forcing her to rely almost entirely on magical power to move and being bad in meelee, focing her to fly around not moving much and avoiding letting foes get close or letting battles last too long. The senshi could be a bit worried about someone being so powerful who isn't a senshi at first, even if she is saving people, because some of them can be paranoid like that, and the same ones would be terrified when she turns out to be Saturn.

[Comartemis]

Learning to use the device might allow Hotaru to become a magical girl without becoming Saturn, although her incantation would probably be something like "Silence". She could possibly even seal up 9 right away and trap 9 within her device and later in a constructed magical prison she creates once she gets a hang of Velka magic. Magical Silence Girl Hotaru could be believed to be totally separate from the senshi, but still rather powerful, up until something causes her to awaken as Saturn, such as 9 being freed or her device being damaged and being in danger. She could use sealing techniques to release transformed people and then destroy the infecting objects once they are removed with her spell-gun. Her main problem would be her lack of stamina, forcing her to rely almost entirely on magical power to move and being bad in meelee, focing her to fly around not moving much and avoiding letting foes get close or letting battles last too long. The senshi could be a bit worried about someone being so powerful who isn't a senshi at first, even if she is saving people, because some of them can be paranoid like that, and the same ones would be terrified when she turns out to be Saturn.

I love it. I won't be using the name Silence Girl Hotaru, though; I'm borrowing too much from 'Vengeance and a Half' as it is without copying Hotaru's magical girl name as well.

Here's a thought; Tomoe Kimiko = AU version of Precia Testarosa, so maybe the Tioron Crystal is Bardiche?

Anyone have suggestions on what the Tioron's forms should look like? I'm inclined to just give Hotaru Levantine (giving V the chance to comment on her skills with a whip) or Mach Caliber and the Anchor Gun from StrikerS.

*Pictures Hotaru with magical roller blades and a great big magical gun*
Move over, Sakura Kinomoto!

*EDIT*
Just thought of something else; if Nine is expelled into the Tioron crystal (boy, would *that* be an interesting AI for Hotaru's device!) wouldn't Hotaru regain a lot of her strength and cease to be so frail?

[bissek]

Hotaru's mother's name is Keiko, not Kimiko.

Nine was supposed to be a major part of Hotaru's health problems, since her body was affectively trying to support two life forms with the resources for one. I think another part might be that her prosthetics repaired her body to the functional level, but not to the point where she was as good as new. So removing Nine would help, but not solve everything.

[Pale Wolf]

(Someone said something about 9 overhearing Germatoid saying something she didn't like)

Not gonna happen.

Germatoid is totally loyal to her. Remember that he didn't disobey when she ordered him to serve as cannon fodder?

perhaps it's a Velka type device

Allow me to gibber at the thoughts of Hotaru plus CVK-72.

... Freaking hell, I used up all my gibbering before I could get to Hotaru + CVK-72 + Silence Glaive Bankai.

Whatever else you can say, it'd be quite a show. One better watched from at least one universe over.

the mother isn't part of TSAB, but actually a TSAB criminal

Not necessarily. The TSAB is trying to revive the Velkan system - in fact Velkan users like Hayate and Carim get a pay bonus due to having rare skills.

(For that matter, there's a girl in StrikerS who uses a gun device, but she's pure Midchildan system)

who escaped to the Sailor Moon world because it's outside of normal dimensional space in an area where time-travel is possible that TSAB avoids, because they don't want to piss off some of the powers there and get squished.

I'm leaning towards the squishing being the other way around

Her main problem would be her lack of stamina, forcing her to rely almost entirely on magical power to move and being bad in meelee, focing her to fly around not moving much and avoiding letting foes get close or letting battles last too long.

I contend that magical power (enhancement) and skill can compensate for that.

Chances are a 14-year-old Hotaru is tougher and faster than a 9-year-old Fate. And we all know how exactly how bad Fate is in melee.



I shouldn't need to say, but I rather like this idea.

(Actually, I'd also come up with the same base concept as you Com, 'Hotaru awakens first', but never developed it)

Just thought of something else; if Nine is expelled into the Tioron crystal (boy, would *that* be an interesting AI for Hotaru's device!) wouldn't Hotaru regain a lot of her strength and cease to be so frail?

Hm... She'd lose her unnatural frailty, but while she was frail like that she got way less exercise than she should've, so she'll still have a lot of weakness to make up for. But without the unnaturally low endurance, it's doable.

Here's a thought; Tomoe Kimiko = AU version of Precia Testarosa, so maybe the Tioron Crystal is Bardiche?

Heh. Well, I'll note that Precia was Midchildan and not doable for the Velkan device idea.

(boy, would *that* be an interesting AI for Hotaru's device!)

Oh dear.

Let me make it worse.

Make the TC another Unison Device.

[Ahye]

Personally I think it might be better if you avoid the ideas for insane power ups. After all, Saturn is strong enough as is. Giving her extra stuff makes her less Saturn, and more someone else. The problem is that she's too strong already and can't safely use her attacks in an urban setting. However, what if you go with exactly that situation, and it's consequences. After being awakened Hotaru remembers exactly what her powers can do, and has to fight the enemies as she is. Does she restrain herself, and maybe let them get away, or does she decide to deal with them and take out a block also. Possibly have her destroy a city block as part of her awakening, and then have to deal with the results. It would certainly make for a much darker and angsty fic, but it would make for good writing as the rest of the senshi awaken and how they dealt with Saturn. Would Hotaru be able to gain their support so she wouldn't have to destroy things as often, or would they see her as a threat and you'd have a three way fight between Saturn, the other senshi, and Beryl/P90.

In reguards to Mistress 9, someone suggested that she might overhear Germatoid saying something she didn't like. However, even if he is in fact totally loyal to her and would throw his own life away, it's possible that she could have mis-heard something incorrectly. And evil beings are known for their ambition and backstabbing, so she might believe he's betraying her, even if he actually isn't.

Being a big Ranma fan, I can envision Ranma finding Hotaru while she's trying to live on the streets and taking her in and giving her tips on how to use her glaive in melee. However, I think I remember reading that type of story at least once or twice already, and it sounds like you're trying to do a non-crossover.

[Comartemis]

or would they see her as a threat and you'd have a three way fight between Saturn, the other senshi, and Beryl/P90.

No. Absolutely not. Tension between Saturn and the others is fine if the plot demands it, but under no circumstances are the Inner Senshi going to be trying to eliminate Saturn. The Outers are much more likely *if* they show up.

Chances are a 14-year-old Hotaru is tougher and faster than a 9-year-old Fate. And we all know how exactly how bad Fate is in melee.

I thought Fate was much better in melee than any of the Senshi (at least as depicted in the anime)? But yeah, Hotaru without Nine handicapping her would probably have an edge over Fate.

Make the TC another Unison Device.

Oh god. By 'Unison Device' do you mean another Book of Darkness/Reinforce?

Hotaru's mother's name is Keiko, not Kimiko.

Got Keiko mixed up with Miss Tendo's fandom name.

The problem is that she's too strong already and can't safely use her attacks in an urban setting.

Can we please abandon this idea that all of Hotaru's attacks are lethal on a wide-area scale? I've already mentioned several times that I intend to give Saturn small-scale anti-youma attacks, something like White Noise; all the Outer Senshi have a 'mana ball' attack; World Shaking, Deep Submerge, Dead Scream, now Saturn gets White Noise or something similar like the aforementioned "Saturn Tiara Magic" (Maybe have the tiara - when energized - look more like a buzzsaw and less like a frisbee).

*EDIT*

Heh. Well, I'll note that Precia was Midchildan and not doable for the Velkan device idea.

I'm thinking the Velka system is a mixed blessing, or at least the cartridges are. If Hotaru doesn't know how to make cartridges she'll lose access to her most powerful attacks as soon as she runs out of cartridges.

[Pale Wolf]

I thought Fate was much better in melee than any of the Senshi (at least as depicted in the anime)?

That was kind of the point

Aka, there's no reason Hotaru has to be bad in melee.

Oh god. By 'Unison Device' do you mean another Book of Darkness/Reinforce?

Well, that's what the book does as well, though it also has other functions.

But what a Unison Device does is... The device has a body and free will (See Reinforce Zwei), and has the power to unite with the user, which allows extensive control and management over their power.



I still want to see CVK-72 Hotaru. Even if zanpakuto-Silence Glaive is too crackish and overpowered, CVK-72 would be fun.

Edit to keep up with your ninja-edits:

I'm thinking the Velka system is a mixed blessing, or at least the cartridges are. If Hotaru doesn't know how to make cartridges she'll lose access to her most powerful attacks as soon as she runs out of cartridges.

Definitely a point. She'd probably only have the one clip that's in the Device, unless she finds notes or inheritance from Mommy.

That 'one clip' limit will work pretty well, giving her basically six (or however many) shots of 'pretty damn impressive, even compared to Hotaru' - ie, boss-fight shots.

And if you have her come across notes later, you can later circumvent this limit by having her make her own cartridges. (Sudden image of, instead of her being taken in by a canon character: taken in by a gunsmith or something) (Although probably, those cartridges being made by Hotaru 'That planet offends me' Saturn will hold way more power)

[P.H. Wise]

Can we please abandon this idea that all of Hotaru's attacks are lethal on a wide-area scale? I've already mentioned several times that I intend to give Saturn small-scale anti-youma attacks, something like White Noise; all the Outer Senshi have a 'mana ball' attack; World Shaking, Deep Submerge, Dead Scream, now Saturn gets White Noise or something similar like the aforementioned "Saturn Tiara Magic" (Maybe have the tiara - when energized - look more like a buzzsaw and less like a frisbee).

I think the reason people are resisting this is that it's basically totally contrary to the very concept of Sailor Saturn. You know, the big, potentially world ending threat that the Outer Senshi were so worried about that they were willing to kill her in order to prevent her awakening? The Senshi who can end the world by bringing down the Silence Glaive (note that Death Reborn Revolution, contrary to fanon, is NOT her world ending attack)? The one who, in the manga, DID destroy the world? (Though Sailor Moon did immediately resurrect it.)

Sure, you can write your story however you want, but at some point she stops being Sailor Saturn at all. If this is what you have in mind, maybe you'd be better off just having Hotaru as Sailor Moon to begin with.

[Heaven's Deamon]

This is also why I suggested the whole thing with her not awakening imediatly and using her powers in civilian form. It gives a reason for the abilities to be less than city destroying, but you can still make them powerful and let her kick ass. Going around the Tioron Crystal idea you could have her use it as a focus to bring out her powers without transforming.

[Comartemis]

I still want to see CVK-72 Hotaru.

What's a CVK-72? Is that from StrikerS, 'cause my knowledge of that is limited to what's in the Wikipedia entry for Nanoha terminology.

I think the reason people are resisting this is that it's basically totally contrary to the very concept of Sailor Saturn. You know, the big, potentially world ending threat that the Outer Senshi were so worried about that they were willing to kill her in order to prevent her awakening? The Senshi who can end the world by bringing down the Silence Glaive (note that Death Reborn Revolution, contrary to fanon, is NOT her world ending attack)? The one who, in the manga, DID destroy the world? (Though Sailor Moon did immediately resurrect it.)

Just in case you've forgotten, Wise, having Hotaru regain the use of her full power at some point is one of the core plot points I've had since the beginning. Here's an example of what I mean to try:

Princess Sailor Moon
Unique to the live-action series, Princess Sailor Moon is a powerful combination of Sailor Moon and Princess Serenity, introduced when Usagi is "possessed" by the spirit of her former self. She originally appears after Queen Beryl takes the Shitennou hostage in exchange for Mamoru. Silently furious, Sailor Moon transforms into Princess Sailor Moon and halts Queen Beryl using her sword.

It is obvious that Princess Sailor Moon is not the same as Usagi when she shows no remorse for the fate of the Shitennou (at least Nephrite's fate), and when she refers to Mamoru as "Endymion" rather than using his civilian name. She is also constantly angry, and tends to leave flaming carnage in her wake. In one Act, Usagi's friend Naru accidentally gets too close and winds up in the hospital for a while. Though smiling in most promotional material for the series, Princess Sailor Moon does not smile in the series itself.

Princess Sailor Moon states to Usagi during inner dialogue that she has no qualms about destroying the Earth if Endymion is ever taken from her, and later on even summons her own special demons to fight her friends, all bearing moon-shaped signs similar to hers. Usagi struggles to suppress her power in fear that she would eventually destroy the world, something that comes to light in an Ideon-like fashion for the series finale. Her internal conflict is the major conflict for the rest of the series.
Taken from the Wikipedia article on Tsukino Usagi.

Hotaru could very easily be forced to struggle to use her full power without destroying the Earth if in the final battle she is pitted against Metallia and P90. Or better yet, if Hotaru's device is possessed by M9 and the final battle is against a powered-up Nine using her own powers and the powers of 'Silence Girl' against Sailor Saturn. Rest assured, Saturn remains a superweapon to some extent, but "Sailor Nuke-chan" is not the extent of her capabilities, though this may or may not demand the use of the Tioron Device idea, something I'm liking more the more I think about it.

[Pale Wolf]

What's a CVK-72? Is that from StrikerS, 'cause my knowledge of that is limited to what's in the Wikipedia entry for Nanoha terminology.

Ah, CVK-72 is the TSAB's technical designation for the Cartridge System.



And, I'll second that thought about Hotaru. I'd like to see a story where there are actual consequences and irreversibility going around. No 'wavey-wavery the magic rock and resurrect the whole friscking planet'.

(Though I'll note: M9 can't possess the Device, at least not in such a way. The Device channels its wielder's power. Hayate's Unison Device holds most of the power on its own, but between Hotaru and M9, Hotaru's way stronger - M9 possessing the Device at most would be short-burn pwnage by using Hotaru's amped-up cartridges, which could be powerful right there)