It was an evening like any other. Antiope took in a deep breath as she surveyed the park, her training grounds and sanctuary. Nothing seemed out of place. All was serene, all was tranquil.

It was an evening that would not be like any other.

It was an evening of practice with form. She strictly went through the motions slowly to train her muscles into only moving in those particular patterns when in a legitimate spar. It was a discipline to continually practice the same repetitive exercises, but it was the Mantis Senshi's dream, and one never half-assed on a dream! She was so focused on her work out that she failed to notice as another approached.

Or rather, two others approached.

"Um... what th'hell are ya doin'?"

Not expecting a sudden audience, the small girl whipped into a defensive stance, facing the potential threat. Standing before her was a tall yellow-suited senshi with spiky blonde hair with a small chubby Starcat upon her shoulder. The Starcat actually looked familiar.

The far shorter senshi kept her stance as she replied "I'm training... isn't it obvious?"

The blonde's gold eyes narrowed at her in a skeptical manner. "Um... why are ya doin' that when there's a youma nearby... can't ya sense it?" Arms folded tightly against her chest as the taller senshi now glared at the shorter one.

"Youma?" She had heard that term before. It took her a moment or two of thought before she remembered what that term meant. "Oh, the monster things? I don't really care about those! Let someone else take care of it!"

The unidentified senshi shifted, reaching to pick the Starcat up by the scruff of the neck before seemingly tossing her to the side.

"Iris, don't start anything unnecessarily!" the Starcat called out after landing heavily upon her four paws.

Antiope immediately perked up at the implication that there was going to be a fight. "Iris, eh? Are you strong? Tell me you are strong! I definitely wanna fight!"

Rolling her head from side to side, cracking her glove covered knuckles as she prepared, the newly introduced Iris commented "See... I ain't even startin' it, *********!" Another crack and roll of the shoulders later, the tall blonde seemed to settle into a loose fighting stance. Her only warning to the Mantis senshi was "...yer not gonna win.."

As oblivious as ever, the little senshi grinned, thinking it was ego more than anything. "You're wrong!"

Of course, the timing was terrible, for in a flash of yellow and white, the blonde had already rushed her, punching her in the gut with a ridiculous amount of force. All of the air rushed out of her lungs, leaving the girl trembling as she buckled down to her knees.

This can't be... just one punch? Is she really that strong?! I can't lose like this with just one punch!

Though her body was still trembling from the shock of the sudden punch, Antiope rose slowly back up to her feet, once more taking a far sloppier stance as she willed herself to stay up. Her breathing was already labored as she attempted to make up for the air that had been forced out of her.

Straightening herself up to her full 6 foot height, the blonde senshi stated "Ya have guts, kid! It ain't gonna win ya anythin'... but I like guts!"

Even though Antiope anticipated that her opponent was fast, she still was not prepared for the next blow that came across the cheek in a sharp stinging sensation. It wasn't even a punch, which had more grit to the impact (Antiope was experienced with getting punched).

This Sailor Iris had legitimately slapped her across the face.

Worse off, Antiope's little body went flying back a few feet and landing against the grass. The Mantis senshi's fuku had grass blood all over it now, and as she once more attempted to get up, her long sleeves gripped to stray blades of grass, adding to the green blood staining her uniform.

"...How... h-how can you be this strong?"

One hit and one slap, and the little senshi was practically out for the count.

It seemed as if Iris had something on her mind, but before she could snarl out what it was, someone else interrupted.

"I will take it from here, if you do not mind, Iris!" The chubby Starcat that had been identified as ********* a bit earlier had snuck in on the action and now was seated right at the Mantis senshi's side.

Shaking her head, Iris crossed her arms before declaring "Fine, I'll go take care of that youma then! Blow some steam off!"

"Fine, I will catch up with you in a bit!" Waiting for Iris to make her exit, the manx then finally addressed the Mantis Senshi.

"...Antiope... I think that is what you are called, right?"

Even though the girl was flat on the ground, wishing to get upright but clearly not managing such a feat, her mind had been trying to figure something out. Perhaps now that this fat Starcat was in front of her that she could finally put the pieces in place. "...you... were at the Masquerade Ball on New Year's... weren't you?"

The Starcat's mouth popped open in a small O shape. "I was, but I guess I didn't see you then! Anyways... it is pretty clear you are still quite new at this senshi thing..."

"...I've been at this for a year..."

"Really?!" The Starcat's expression looked absolutely puzzled. "Did nobody tell you what you are supposed to do? How Senshi actually work?"

Now, Antiope could not be accused of listening too often. Heck, when she had first received her henshin pen and learned she was a senshi, she didn't even stick around afterwards to talk to the black Starcat. However, now that she was on the ground, face basically smeared in the grass, she couldn't help but listen.

And repeat "...how senshi actually work?"

Padding herself in a circle and showing how she had no tail yet again, she settled down into a round blob. "You, right now, are what we consider a beginner senshi. As you gain more experience, your strength will increase. You grow through rank with the assistance of a guardian cat, Super being the next rank, and then Eternal being the final rank. Those with the large feathery bows on their uniform, like wings, are Eternal Senshi. That is why Iris was able to defeat you so easily. She is one of the strongest ranks out there!"

The information was interesting to say the least. It caused the poor Mantis senshi to start frantically thinking over the subject matter. Wings on the uniform? Does that mean Minny is an Eternal as well? Is Minny as strong as Iris?

With all the strength she could muster, Antiope finally propped her body up.

"Make me into an Eternal Senshi..."

The cat frowned a bit. "That's not how it works... you would need to become a super senshi first."

"Then make me one of those!" she demanded.

A sigh escaped the Starcat (though Antiope was used to folks sighing at her in general). "It still doesn't work like that. Usually we can tell when someone is ready for the change. Trying to force it doesn't really work. You seem disciplined, and I will suspect you are also strong in your own right. However, sometimes physical strength is not the way to prove you are ready for the responsibilities of becoming a Super Senshi."

Her strength was faltering, and soon enough the poor Mantis senshi's head flopped back against the ground. "...I don't get it... How do you get stronger without getting stronger?"

Standing back up to her paws, the manx apologized. "I'm sorry, but unfortunately I don't have a solid answer for you on that. It varies from each individual." With a pause, the tailless animal offered "...However, I will try to keep an eye out for you... you seem to have potential!" With that, the animal scampered off, bell accenting her scurried movement as she rushed to meet back up with Sailor Iris.

"...Potenial..."

That was the last thing she'd say as she passed out. It was all she ever wanted, and now she just had to figure out how to become stronger!