Yuki The Snowman

Chibi-Usa and Hotaru: two inseparable best friends. After a fateful meeting at a park (or a lab run by a crazy ass mad scientist depending on which version of the story you prefer), these girls became close, great friends; mending each one’s loneliness.  Chibi-Usa was Hotaru’s first friend in her life; a life plagued by sickness, isolation, and pain. It was Chibi-Usa’s kindness and warmth which led Hotaru to awaken the powers of Sailor Saturn and save the world from destruction (at the cost of her life). Who would have thought that Chibi-usa losing her hat and finding Hotaru would have led to the world being saved?

But, what if Chibi-Usa never went to the park that day?  What if her hat never flew off her head? How would the events of the Sailor Moon Infinity arc had played out if they never met? Well, to answer these questions alrighty guys it is Yuki here and I will analyze this what if scenario!  I will explore how character interactions among the Sailor Scouts would have changed, how the series moving forward would progress, and if Hotaru and Chibi-Usa never becoming friends would have resulted in a positive, neutral, or negative outcome.

Given the original manga and it’s Crystal anime adaption differs from the 90s Toei anime adaption of the manga, the best way to think about this situation is to split it into two plotlines: Plotline A and Plotline B. Plotline A handles the Naoko Takeuchi’s original vision of the events of the Infinity Arc in which Chibi-Usa never met Hotaru at her father’s lab. This plotline also takes notice of a more depressed Hotaru than compared to her 90s anime counterpart.

Plotline B follows the Toei Animation’s vision of the Sailor Moon Inifity arc where Hotaru isn’t nearly as depressed and sick as she was in the manga;  As her father is more active in her life and covers how his sacrifice of his free will may  influenced Hotaru for the better.

I must also note that while this what if theory focus on using logic to provide an accurate prediction, I will use some creativity to ensure the path to the final battle between the Sailor Scouts and Death Busters happen almost per normal as in the anime and manga.

With that out of the way let’s get started.

PLOTLINE A

With Plotline A, we have to take account and remove the event in which triggered Chibi-Usa and Hotaru’s friendship in the original manga: Chibi-Usa’s hat flying off towards Tomoe’s Lab (where she first met Hotaru).  With this event removed, we can say that Chibi-Usa would have finished her day in the park with her family and return home.  Hotaru would have her coughing fit, recovered and return home as well.  Thus, they would have never met.  It’s logical to theorize that Hotaru’s life and depression would have grown increasingly worse.  Hotaru herself stated in the manga and Crystal anime that Chibi-Usa’s friendship made her life better.

Remember: Hotaru doesn’t have any friends (thanks to her creepy powers from Mistress 9).   Her body is covered in scars from the injuries that she suffered from as a child (from the explosion at her dad’s lab) which she is self-conscious about (as she covers her body with dark colored, long sleeve shirts and long pants).  She’s also frail and sick from the cybernetic implants and the Mistress 9 alien egg inside her body. She has little interaction with her father Souichi outside of him working on her implants. Judging from those factors, it’s safe to assume her mental state is poor and her outlook on life is shit.

Moving forward, logic dictates that the story should continue as normal. Kaolinte would start her search for the Three Talismans and the Silver Crystal (per Pharaoh 90’s request).  The Inner Scouts conduct their research on Professor Tomoe and the Infinity  School; as they believe he and the school are behind the strange creatures (the Daimons) attacking citizens around Tokyo.  Next, the Outer Scouts will still attend Infinity School to investigate the Death Busters and Professor Tomoe.  Finally, Mamoru and Rei will have their visions of the world’s destruction.

Logic also dictates that the Outer Scouts will theorize that Hotaru is Sailor Saturn – the goddess of destruction. They inform the Inner Scouts and Sailor Moon about Sailor Saturn and their plans to seal her away to prevent the world’s end.  However, they won’t reveal to the Inner Scouts that they believe Hotaru is Saturn until the time is right.  There is no change from the original story sans Chibi-Usa and Usagi visiting Hotaru, which never happen in this theory.

You may be thinking “But Yuki!  Chibi-Usa’s  Silver Crystal was key in Mistress 9 gaining full power! Mistress 9 saw Chibi-Usa Silver Crystal and went all giddily!  How will Mistress 9 get her hands on the Silver Crystal if that never happened!?”  Well, I thought about this problem.  We have to get a little creative here, but it should solve the problem.

We can take a wild guess that Kaolinite communicates with Pharaoh 90 who tells her that he believes one of the Sailor Scouts holds the Silver Crystal.  Not Sailor Moon, but maybe Chibi-Moon.  It’s possible that Mistress 9 could have sense the power of the Silver Crystal and the Holy Grail during the Sailor Scouts’ battle against Cyprine and Ptilol.  Mistress 9 and/or Kaolinite then can confirm that either Sailor Moon or Sailor Mini-Moon indeed have the Holy Grail and the Silver Crystal in their possession

Yea, it’s a bit of a stretch and borderline fan fiction, but we need that Silver Crystal to ensure  that Mistress 9 gains full power.

The story proceeds normally.  After the battle against Cyprine and Ptilol (and Sailor Moon gaining her Super Sailor Moon upgrade), the Outer Scouts give their warning about the awakening of Sailor Saturn – which will lead to the destruction of the world.  The Outer Scouts then reveal that Hotaru is not only the daughter of Souichi Tomoe, but also Sailor Saturn herself.

They plan to kill Hotaru before she can awaken as Saturn.

Now, while the Inner Scouts have no emotional connection with Hotaru in this what if story, they still think it’s disturbing that the Outers want to kill a child.  The Outer Scouts think nothing of it.  Pluto tells everyone that Hotaru wasn’t supposed to survive the lab explosion (which killed her mother and scared Hotaru physically and mentally), and that the only reason why she’s alive is because Professor Tomoe outfitted her with cybernetic implants. The cybernetics implants – although being advance technology – has shorten Hotaru’s lifespan. The implants are also destroying her body, thus making her frail.

The Outer Scouts believe that killing by Hotaru, they will put her out of her misery and prevent Saturn’s awakening.

Despite the Outer Scout’s “reasoning”, the Inner Scouts protest against their idea as in the manga. Chibi-Usa, despite not knowing Hotaru, doesn’t feel right about killing somebody who isn’t that much older than her.  Therefore, she sides with Usagi and the Inner Scouts.  The Outer Scouts are dead set in killing Hotaru (which logics still dictates) and go through with their plans. Chibi-Usa follows the Outer Scouts to Hotaru’s house in hopes to prevent the killing.

The events here happen similar to the manga.  Chibi-Usa spots The Outer Scouts hiding in a tree outside Hotaru’s room.  Chibi-Usa spots Hotaru lying on the ground and fears that Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto have already killed her.  Chibi-Usa runs up to the window …only to be taken surprise by Hotaru waking up.  “Hotaru” is alive!  But Chibi-Usa won’t be for long.

“Hotaru” summons a burst of energy so powerful that it destroys the windows of her room (the glass should shred Chibi-Usa to pieces but whatever).  The sheer force of “Hotaru”’s energy is felt throughout the area with Professor Tomoe taking notice. “Hotaru” doesn’t seem to appear like this frail, weak girl that the Scouts view her as.   She starts to transform: not as Sailor Saturn – but as Mistress 9.  Mistress 9 proceeds to attack Chibi-Usa, snatch her Silver Crystal, and Chibi-Usa dies.  Okay she doesn’t die (just yet) but still.

Mistress 9 runs off with Chibi-Usa’s Silver Crystal, but not before attacking the Sailor Scouts.  The story resumes as normal. The Sailor Scouts retreat and recover (as Mistress 9 is far too powerful for them right now). Mamoru and Usagi take their child to the hospital, and then to Mamoru’s place (to use his own life force to keep Chibi-Usa alive).  Finally, the Sailor Scouts prep for their battle against the final members of the Death Busters.

Meanwhile, Professor Tomoe and Mistress 9 are having their fun little chat. Tomoe praises his self for his superior work and brags about turning his daughter into a robot and planting Mistress 9’s alien egg inside her.  Hotaru is heartbroken and angry about this just like in the manga.

While they’re chatting, the Sailor Scouts storms Infinity School and engage in battle with all remaining enemies. Mistress 9 swallows the Silver Crystal and gains a massive power boast.  Professor Tomoe brags about creating superhumans while his daughter (now a spirit) looks at him with disappointment, betrayal, and disgust.  Later, Sailor Moon and the Outer Scouts confront Dr. Tomoe. Tomoe transforms into Germatoid and talk some good shit.  Sailor Moon blasts him away – killing him in one blow.

So much about him being a superior superhuman.

The Inner Scouts get ROLFstomped and steamrolled by Mistress 9 and die. Their spirits are in another realm. Hotaru notices this but doesn’t do anything. She has no connections with Chibi-Usa nor the Inner Scouts.  She’s still in shock that her dad put her through such turmoil throughout her short, young life.  At this point, she doesn’t care that she’s dead.  She just wants an end to her pain.

Mistress 9 engages in combat against the reminding Scouts and overpowers them – even a Super Sailor Moon.   Mistress 9, now in her true Daimon form, starts to wreak havoc on the planet.  The reminding Scouts use their powerful attacks against the monster, but she only absorbs their powers.  Master Pharaoh 90 appears and merges with Mistress 9.  Fused with his partner, Pharaoh 90 starts to cover the world in darkness.  Seeing no other way to defeat this oncoming threat, Sailor Moon summons the Holy Grail. Just like in the manga, she plans to suicide bomb herself inside Pharaoh 90 to save the world.

This would work if Sailor Moon was more power than Pharaoh 90.  But she isn’t.  The only way to defeat Pharaoh 90 and save the world is by summoning Sailor Saturn.  The Outer Scouts don’t want to do this, but they have to .  Maybe Saturn had a change of heart and won’t blow up Earth.

…Nah.

The Outer Scouts’s start to react. They raise their Talismans high towards the skies.   The Holy Grail appears as well: reacting to the power of The Talismans. The lights from these scared items ascend to the skies with force.  The world is veiled in darkness.  The earth shakes, the wind stops, and the sea is wild.  The earth begins to rot.  The Sailor Scouts wait.

Their only hope: Sailor Saturn.

Finally, Sailor Saturn has been summoned.  She does her epic speech on why she’s the best Sailor Scout, on how Hotaru was supposed to die years ago, her role as a bringer of destruction, and her thing about her being an uninvited guest (she loves to smoke everyone’s else weed and drink everyone liquor but she don’t match people on blunts and don’t bring her own bottles to parties so nobody invites her to shit).

She reveals that she will bring down her Glaive to the world and destroy it.  Everyone starts to freak out.  They beg her to stop and think about what she’s doing – but she refuses.  If Pharaoh 90 isn’t stop, then who knows what he will do once he destroys Earth.  A single planet with what, Billion people on it vs. an entire galaxy filled with countless lives.

I think you know where I’m going with this one.

Saturn, having no choice, lowers her Glaives.  Silently, she speaks three words:

“Death Reborn Revolution.”

The world is torn apart as auras surround everyone and everything.  Everyone says their final goodbyes and what not as the world ends.

Negative outcome.

You might be wondering “Why this is a negative outcome”.

Well, for a few reasons:

1. Hotaru pretty much had nobody who cared about her. Yes, her dad took “care” of her by making sure she was “healthy” or what not, but he was a piece of shit that used her pain for his advantage.  As noted earlier, she barely had any interactions with him (as he was busy with work).  It doesn’t help that Souichi turned Hotaru into a cyborg and implanted an alien egg inside her against her will.  Hell, the dude bragged about it.
2. Chibi-Usa befriending Hotaru influence her for the better. Chibi-Usa treated Hotaru like a human and show kindness towards her. Chibi-Usa was the only person who was nice to Hotaru and treated her like a human despite her health issues.  Even when Chibi-Usa freak out about Hotaru’s cyborg body, she regerted her actions and wanted to apologize to Hotaru.  No Chibi-Usa being friends with Hotaru means no Hotaru telling Chibi-Usa she loves her and  that she appreciated her love at the end of Infinity.
3. Hotaru pretty much was borderline suicidal throughout the Infinity arc as she questioned why she is even alive if she has to suffer. Her body was falling apart, she had an alien in her, and she was growing weaker each day.

Honestly, this is why Chibi-Usa befriending Hotaru is important for not only for the Sailor Scouts, but for Hotaru’s own mental health and the sake of the world. Chibi-Usa helped Hotaru get her mind off her own worries for a little bit through their interactions.  Hotaru had someone whom she can hang out with and depend on.  Chibi-Usa made Hotaru’s life felt it was worth of value.  Because Chibi-Usa helped Hotaru, Hotaru returned the favor by not only saving Chibi-Usa’s life (by saving her soul and protecting it), she saved the Sailor Scouts and the world.

Yeah, Chibi-Usa may be a bit of annoying brat and a pink little shit, but she did become utterly selfless upon meeting Hotaru.

Now, if I want to be positive and make this a somewhat good or neutral end, Hotaru could had recovered the souls of the Inner Scouts  as she heard a voice (Saturn) telling her she must fight back against Mistress 9 and protect the Innners from her. Maybe Hotaru would have had a change of heart and saw that life was worth living or something.

Other than that,I do not see any positive outcome that suggest the world would had been save if it wasn’t for Chibi-Usa becoming friends with Hotaru.

This concludes part 1.  Part 2 to come soon.  In the meanwhile, please watch this Dragon Ball “What-If” analysis which inspired this Sailor Moon what-if article.