The launch platforms thrummed like the heartbeat of a world preparing to exhale its brightest future.
Rows upon rows of Saiyan pods—sleek, spherical vessels with glowing circular thrusters—lined the metallic runway. Their engines pulsed with golden light, illuminating the night sky with starlit reflections. Massive mechanical arms retracted like slumbering titans awakening, preparing to cast a new generation of warriors into the cosmos.
Above, the sky of Planet Homeworld shimmered with constellations no Earthling had ever named.
Tonight was the night Marina had waited for.
Arella stood tall in her crimson warrior coat, the dim blue lights of the control tower reflecting in her sharp eyes. Her hair fluttered in the night wind as she watched her daughter approach—small in stature, but burning with a spirit far larger than her frame.
Marina tightened her gloves, tail flicking anxiously behind her. Her training with Kiru had been intense—drills at sunrise, sparring under the twin moons, discipline forged through fire and tenderness. And now, at last, she would step beyond the boundaries of Homeworld.
"Remember," Arella said, placing a steady hand on Marina's shoulder, "strength isn't measured by how loudly you roar… but by what you protect."
Marina nodded, eyes bright.
"I won't let you down, Mom."
"You never have."
Other Starlight and Saiyan children gathered near their pods—some confident, some wide-eyed, some trembling with excitement. Among them stood Khorona, Marina's best friend, waving eagerly.
"Marina! Over here!" Khorona called out, tail swaying like a puppy's. "I saved us spots right next to each other!"
Marina beamed and hurried over—until she noticed Kiru linger behind her, watching with the bittersweet pride of a mother letting go.
The entire deck vibrated as the launch sequence activated.
FWOOOM— The enMarinas ignited beneath each pod, sending pillars of white flame downward. The runway glowed with energy as technicians cleared the area.
Over the loudspeakers, a voice called out:
"Starlight and Saiyan Youth Launch Sequence: Commencing in 60 seconds."
Marina's heart raced.
She stepped into her assigned pod—small, perfectly fitted to her size, lined with smooth silver padding and luminous interface runes. The glass visor slid down with a hiss.
Across the deck, Khorona gave her a thumbs up.
Marina returned it with a determined smile.
Inside the control tower, Kiru stood at the console, her hand hovering over the command glyphs. She exhaled slowly—steeling herself. Every parent in the tower shared the same expression: pride, fear, and hope intertwined. 30 seconds…
The pods lifted from their docks, hovering slightly.
20 seconds…
Stars reflected on the domes of each vessel.
10 seconds…
Arella whispered under her breath:
"Fly safely, Marina…"
5.
4.
3.
Marina closed her eyes.
She imagined every lesson Kiru ever taught her.
Every spar they had fought.
Every sunrise they trained beneath.
2.
1.
FWOOSH!!!
The fleet of Saiyan pods shot upward in blinding unity, trailing enormous streams of white fire. The night sky turned brilliant as dozens of streaks pierced into orbit like newborn meteors.
In her pod, Marina felt her body pressed into the padding as the stars elongated into glowing lines. Khorona's pod drifted beside hers for a moment, the two girls' faces visible through the glass.
Khorona mouthed: See you out there!
Marina grinned fiercely.
The pods separated, each choosing its assigned trajectory through the void.
One by one, the young warriors vanished beyond the shimmering horizon. A hologram flickered to life before Princess Marina—her mission assignment.
"Destination: Planet 4032-Earth."
"Classification: Mid-Level Civilization."
"Threat Level: Moderate."
"Objective: Training, Reconnaissance, Protection."
Marina blinked.
"Earth…? Never heard of it."
But something about the swirling blue-and-green hologram captivated her.
Mysterious. Unmapped. Waiting.
She pressed her hand against the glass, staring at the endless galaxy ahead. "This is it," she whispered. "My first real adventure…"
Little did she know— Earth would change everything.
Not just for her journey… but for the fate of the cosmos itself. The pod sliced through the atmosphere like a falling star, trailing fire across the afternoon sky. Birds scattered from the treetops, and small animals darted into the bushes as the forest filled with the roar of entry. WHOOOOOOOSH— Then— BOOM!
A burst of air shook the clearing as the pod crashed into soft earth, scattering leaves and kicking up a halo of dust and petals. The forest, momentarily disturbed, slowly settled back into quiet.
Inside, Marina blinked rapidly, her vision adjusting as the smoke cleared.
The hatch hissed open. Warm sunlight poured in. Cool wind brushed her face.
The scent of moss, wildflowers, and fresh river water filled her nose.
She stepped out of the pod—boots sinking slightly into the soft forest soil—and looked around in awe. The clearing was peaceful and bright. Tall trees arched overhead like natural emerald towers, their leaves rustling gently in the afternoon breeze. A river nearby glimmered in the sunlight. Strange birds chorused in unfamiliar melodies.
Marina stepped forward, tail swaying curiously behind her.
Though only ten years old, her senses were razor sharp—keen, trained, instinctive. Like all Starlight Scouts, Gems, and Saiyans, she possessed naturalist intelligence from birth: the ability to read the environment, understand wildlife behavior, track disturbances, and instantly sense danger.
She knelt and pressed her hand to the soil.
Soft… freshly disturbed. Moist beneath. High mineral content. Healthy ecosystem.
Her eyes flicked around.
No predators nearby. Prey animals recently scattered—probably from my pod impact.
Her tail twitched, satisfied by her own deduction.
She stood again, brushing her gloves off.
"Huh… Earth's kinda pretty."
She started walking.
Each step was light and quiet—Starlight Scout footwork learned through instinct and discipline. She traced the riverbank, studying the water's clarity, noting the fish darting beneath the surface.
Clean water. Good for drinking.
Trees here are similar to Homeworld's forest rings… but thicker, older.
Wildlife seems peaceful. Not hostile.
As she continued deeper into the woods, she paused before a massive tree with long roots twisting across the ground. She placed her palm against its trunk. The bark was cool, ancient, humming faintly with life.
"You're a strong one," she whispered to it, as though greeting an old friend.
A squirrel stared at her from a branch overhead.
She stared back.
It tilted its head.
She tilted hers too.
The squirrel chittered sharply. "I'm not food," Marina replied flatly. The squirrel screeched at her. Marina puffed her cheeks. "I'm not food!"
The squirrel threw her a pinecone.
Marina blinked and picked it up. Then burst out laughing.
Earth was weird.
But in a nice way. She closed her eyes for a second and let her instincts expand outward—feeling the subtle vibrations through the ground, listening to the breathing of the forest, noting the distant rustle of movement.
Multiple animal signatures.
Nothing dangerous.
Energy levels… lower than Saiyans, but stable. Her eyes opened again, calm and focused.
She whispered to herself, "So this is Earth…" A path of flowers caught her eye—bright blues, pinks, and reds glowing beneath the sun. Flowers she had never seen before. She crouched to study them, touching the petals carefully. "They've got a real pretty planet here," she said to no one in particular. A gentle breeze swept through, brushing her hair back, carrying the scent of fruit from somewhere deeper in the forest.
Her stomach rumbled.
She instantly turned toward the smell.
"…Food."
Her eyes lit up with a bright, Starlight Precure excitement. She marched into the trees, ready to investigate. But something else also tugged at her senses—something faint, distant, but unmistakably powerful.
A presence.
Someone—or something—with energy unlike anything she had felt on Earth so far.
She froze.
Her tail slowly lifted, alert.
"…Who's that?"
Her adventure on Earth had only just begun.
Marina had barely finished analyzing the strange flowers when her ears twitched.
Footsteps.
Soft, light… graceful.
Not an animal.
A person.
She instantly ducked behind a thick bush, crouching low with her tail wrapped around her waist to hide its movement. Her heart thump-thump-thumped with a mix of curiosity and instinctual caution. The footsteps grew closer.
Then she heard a gentle voice humming—a melody as calm as wind brushing across a river.
Marina peeked through the leaves.
And froze.
Walking along the forest path was a young woman—no older than her twenties, with soft Japanese features and pointed elf-like ears that emerged elegantly through her black, shoulder-length hair. A simple white headband kept her bangs parted neatly.
Her outfit blended seamlessly with nature: a white and light blue chinese dress with light blue long sleeves, her legs were bare, ballet-flat shoes that made no sound on the forest floor
Small woodland creatures followed her as if drawn to her presence—two rabbits, a fox, and a small glowing spirit wisp dancing over her shoulder like a curious firefly.
Marina whispered to herself, eyes wide:
"…An elf…?"
The woman stopped suddenly.
Her golden-brown eyes landed on the Starlight pod embedded in the ground.
Her calm expression shifted.
"What… is this?" She murmured, stepping closer. She traced a finger along the smooth metallic surface. It was warm—still cooling from reentry. "This isn't any technology from the nearby towns…"
The fox sniffed it, then backed away nervously.
She gently placed a hand on the fox's head. "Easy. It's okay."
But something made her pause.
A faint, deliberate rustling behind her.
Not wind.
Not animal.
Someone hiding.
Without hesitation, her calm aura shifted—her stance lowering like a trained martial artist, fingers poised, weight centered. A thin shimmer of spiritual energy flickered around her.
"Who's there?" she called out softly, though her tone held warning.
Marina stiffened.
Her little body froze behind the bush.
The woman's eyes narrowed slightly—not hostile, but alert.
She took one careful step toward the bushes.
Another.
Then she gently parted the leaves— Two eyes stared back at her. Wide, blue, frightened… yet fierce.
A little girl, no older than ten, crouched in the moss with her tail instinctively puffed like a scared animal. Her teal wavy hair framed her face, and her small hands pressed into the dirt as if unsure whether to run or fight.
The woman's sharp stance softened instantly.
"Oh… you're just a child," she breathed, surprise melting into concern. She slowly lowered her arms, palms open to show she carried no weapon. "It's alright. I won't hurt you."
Marina didn't move. Her instincts screamed to prepare for battle, but something about the woman felt… warm. Peaceful. Like a forest breeze after rain.
The woman knelt down to make herself smaller, her voice gentle.
"It's okay, sweetheart. I promise."
Marina blinked.
Her heart pounded.
But she didn't sense any ill intent—no murderous ki, no hidden hostility.
Just kindness.
"…You're not gonna hit me?" Marina asked cautiously, voice trembling.
The elf woman's expression softened even more.
"Of course not."
The spirit wisp floated beside her, its glow calming and soft. Even the fox stepped forward, sniffing curiously at Marina.
She offered a small smile.
"My name is Julie Kamiya. I'm from the Kamiya Clan—protectors of the forest. And who might you be?"
Marina hesitated, glancing from Julie to the animals, then back again.
"…I'm Princess Marina of Brightwater."
Julie bowed her head slightly.
"It's very nice to meet you, Princess Marina."
The tension in the forest eased.
Marina took a small step out from the bush.
Not fully trusting yet…
…but no longer afraid.
The first bond between Earth and the young Starlight Scout had been made. Julie rose to her feet slowly, careful not to alarm the little girl before her. Marina stepped out fully from behind the bush, brushing leaves from her hair, her tail swaying nervously behind her.
Julie's eyes widened.
"…Your tail," she whispered.
Marina froze, clutched it protectively, and took a half-step back.
"It's—It's normal! I mean… for me."
Julie held up both hands in reassurance.
"It's alright. I'm not frightened. Just… surprised."
Marina relaxed only a little, but her tail still twitched like a wary animal.
Julie looked from the child to the pod once more. "This thing… came from the sky. Warm metal. Burned soil. That impact crater… Marina, did you come from inside of that?"
Marina swallowed, then nodded.
Julie exhaled slowly, absorbing that truth.
"…So you're not human."
Marina hesitated, then shook her head.
"Not human. I'm a Starlight Scout."
Julie repeated the word softly, tasting its unfamiliar sound.
"Starlight Scout…"
Marina tapped her chest proudly.
"Yup! I'm from Planet Homeworld. I came here to explore, and learn, and… um… do many things!"
Julie blinked, still trying to keep up.
"Planet… Homeworld? As in—another planet?"
Marina nodded brightly. "Uh-huh!"
A fox on Julie's shoulder tilted its head in confusion.
Julie placed a hand over her heart, steadying herself.
"You're an alien… from another world."
Marina nodded again, this time with a little grin. "My mom said I'd meet new people!"
Julie stared at her in awe. Marina took a breath, shifting her weight as though preparing for a long explanation.
"So… um… my mom is Queen Arella. She's part of the Starlight Scout royalty. We're royal warriors, and our kingdoms are real old and important and stuff." She drew a circle in the dirt with her boot to mimic a crest. "I'm a noble child. That's why I trained a lot."
Julie softened. "You're very brave to say so."
Marina puffed her tiny chest. "And strong!" But then her voice dipped shyly. "…I'm still learning though."
Julie chuckled softly.
Marina continued, counting on her fingers.
"On Homeworld, there are two races. Mine—Starlight Scouts—we're all girls! Well… because that's how our race works." She scratched her cheek. "All female. Every one of us. Like my mom, and her mom, and her mom before her."
Julie blinked again.
"All female? Your entire species?"
"Uh-huh! And the Saiyans too!" Marina said proudly.
"All girls. Everyone. We're kinda special."
Julie needed a second. "…So your mother is royalty… your race is entirely female… and you come from a planet of warrior women?"
Marina nodded with the innocence of a child explaining what she had eaten for breakfast.
Julie felt her entire worldview gently tilt sideways.
The wind shifted. Leaves swirled gently around Marina's small frame.
Julie felt it before she could see it—something pulsing beneath the girl's skin.
A warmth. A pressure. A presence.
Like a spark of a star wrapped inside a child's body.
Marina blinked. "Huh? Miss Julie?"
Julie didn't answer at first. She stepped closer, kneeling to be eye level with Marina. "There's power inside you," she whispered. "Like… a river flowing beneath the earth. Strong but sleeping. Gentle… but enormous."
Marina tilted her head, confused. "You can sense it?"
Julie nodded. Her pointed ears twitched subtly, catching the spiritual hum in the air.
"My clan… the Kamiya Clan… we're connected to the forest and the spiritual flow of life. I can feel people's presence. Their emotions. Their natural energy."
She placed a hand gently over Marina's small chest—over her heart.
And gasped.
"It's… incredible. You're like a tiny sun."
Marina blushed, unsure if that was a compliment.
"I—I'm trying to get stronger," she admitted. "But I'm not super strong yet."
Julie smiled gently.
"Not yet… but you will be."
The forest grew quiet around them.
Birds perched on branches nearby, staring curiously.
The fox sat at Julie's side.
Even the spirit wisp hovered low, glowing faintly toward Marina like greeting a new friend.
Julie placed a hand on Marina's shoulder. "You're far from home… aren't you?"
Marina nodded faintly. "Yeah… but it's okay. My mom told me I'd meet nice people."
Julie's eyes softened.
"I'm honored to be one of the first."
Something warm filled Marina's tiny chest—acceptance, comfort, and a feeling she didn't have words for.
Her first true friend on Earth.