Sailor Cosmos?

[sam]

So, this has always been (at least, as much as I've seen) a big debate in the Sailor Moon fandom.

So, what do you think?
Is Sailor Cosmos actually Usagi? Or someone else entirely?
Provide contextual evidence (and which version, whether original Japanese or English translation) if possible <3

I'd love to hear everyone's theories : )

I DON'T think it's Usagi, for several reasons. (I'm using the original Japanese...not to brag, but I have all the volumes and speak/read the language, so... XD;;;; )
1) the odango. Yeah, it seems a shallow reason. But through reincarnation, five forms of Sailor Moon, and ascension to royalty, Usagi's odango never change. Why would they for another form?
2) Sailor Cosmos, while explaining herself to the Asteroid Senshi, talks about being "Sailor Cosmos" as if it's a TITLE. Yes, she somewhat alludes to Sailor Moon as being "herself," but being that she has acknowledged that Sailor Moon deserves the title more than herself, I think it's more...figurative than literal. A sort of nod to a fellow Senshi of great strength and power.
3) the Ginzuishou. It's a family heirloom, that grows with the current owner, to grow stronger and stronger until the next generation properly inherits it, where it evolves shape. Though we never truly see Sailor Cosmos' version of such a power source, couldn't the odango be indicative of a distant descendant? She did say that she came from a farther future even than Chibiusa... She doesn't have to be Chibiusa's daughter, she could be a great-granddaughter. Her Ginzuishou could have evolved into a more foreign shape than what we're used to; it could be her staff or the entire brooch, unlike Sailor Moon's where the Ginzuishou is encased in a separate brooch. So, I think Cosmos is a distant descendant.
4) ...I had more, I swear XD;

Debate on! <3

[Latara]

I think it is Usagi, but I don't have my manga with me right now so I can't provide exact quotes. However, she talks as if she personally lost this war, and Usagi was the only one with the power to do that. And I really think she meant the war with Galaxia at hand, not some future war involving the cauldron. But of course it's not the Usagi we know, it's some alternate timeline where Crystal Tokyo never happened because Usagi lost the war. In the wasteland that followed the ginzuishou was corrupted. But then again, I overly enjoy playing with timelines.

[sam]

Oooh... A corrupted Ginzuishou and alternate timeline... I LIKE that I've never heard that one before!

[mochibuni]

Yeah, I'm certain she's a reincarnation of Usagi because Cosmos basically calls Usagi her past self and retains all her memories (Eternal Moon's) of confronting the Galaxy Cauldron. Only a reincarnation of Usagi would be able to have Usagi's memories, otherwise Chibi Usa would have Usagi's memories. It's entirely possible for Usagi to be reincarnated as a child or grandchild of Chibi Usa's, though.

And about the Silver Crystal, Chibi Usa has her own Silver Crystal, not one inherited from her mother. She developes one in the Black Moon arc.

[sam]

I have to read my manga again XD

Well, I think it's inherited for a few reasons... One, Queen Serenity died using the last of her strength, and then Usagi awoke as Princess Serenity and expelled the hidden Crystal from her body through her tear. Two, the Ginzuishou of the future sort of disappears after Usagi takes them both from Demando... It's my belief that the future Ginzuishou was somehow "recycled" through Chibiusa's body for purification, since she was handling it as Black Lady and "corrupting" it, therefore it purified itself through her awakening.
...Either that, or it's a big discrepancy in Naoko's writing and I'm totally wrong about everything XD;

I think that's the most beautiful symbolism in the whole series - a small tear is the most powerful substance in the universe. I dunno, call me sappy, but I love that XD

[mochibuni]

Well...the thing is...Chibi Usa and Neo Queen Serenity each have their own Silver Crystal. Chibi Usa uses hers to transform into Chibi Moon while Venus is holding onto Neo Queen Serenity's.

Princess Serenity is pretty much stated to be a carbon copy of Queen Serenity, which is why they were both able to have the same very Sailor Crystal. Chibi Usa, on the other hand, is "naturally" born. I think Chibi Usa would have inherited Usagi's Silver Crystal if she hadn't developed her own in the Black Moon arc.

[sam]

Ah, Venus had it?

WHOOPS. WELL, there goes THAT theory out the window! XD;;;;;;;;;;; *feels like a tool*

Thanks for clearing that up :-D

[mochibuni]

Lol, it's okay! A lot of people don't really pay attention to Venus during that particular part. XD

[sam]

Yeah, she gets shunted aside for Pluto's death XD

[jenbunny]

mochibuni said:

Princess Serenity is pretty much stated to be a carbon copy of Queen Serenity, which is why they were both able to have the same very Sailor Crystal.

Where does it state that? I've never actually noticed that ... I would like to read it ^^;; and figure out how I could possibly miss it considering I've read those things millions of times hehe

[mochibuni]

It's how I describe Princess Serenity because of the physical similarities to her mother and that they share the same Sailor Crystal. Also that Princess Serenity was a star that Queen Serenity took from the cauldron with her-- I guess it would be incorrect to call her a direct copy, I just think of Princess Serenity being molded after Queen Serenity.

[jenbunny]

I remember that ... thanks ^^

[persian85033]

That's something that's pondered my head for a LONG time. I think Sailor Cosmos is distanty descended, from Sailor Moon, she's from a far far future. Maybe Sailor Moon, and Neo Queen Serenity, being so powerful, their descendents, after Chibiusa, maybe became corrupted, either themselves, or by Chaos, ending in that war that Sailor Cosmos talks about.

That's interesting about the alternate time line, though.