The story of Tomoe Hotaru is one of sorrow, weakness, and constant death. Many people recognize her as the "most powerful soldier" because of her dominion over silence and destruction. But, Hotaru lives most of her days fight and controlling her powers, ending up very lonely and outcasted from society. Her story begins in the S[uper] (Infinity) season.
Hotaru was born into a family of scientists. Her father, Tomoe Souichi, is a "ruthless, unprincipled, and intelligent" scientist. His project was the merge the living and the nonliving to create a "superhuman."[1] Not much is known of Hotaru's mother, Tomoe Keiko. She is - of course - beautiful and was possibly an assistant to her father. She perished in a fire accident (which also severely injured Hotaru). Souichi, now insane, saved his daughter by implanting mechanical parts in her. He also placed inside of her a daimon egg at the request of Pharaoh 90, ruler of the Death Busters.
Of course, Hotaru grows up with many problems. For one, she was never able to fully recover from the accident and constantly engages in fits, coughing and falling to the floor in great pain. Second, in the anime, she house some sort of evil energy inside of her. One time, she attacked a person, fainted, and awoke with no recollection of what had occured. On the plus side - with what little can be called a "plus" - Hotaru has the ability to heal 
herself and others, although this skill does drain her own strength. At her school (Mugen Gakuen, 6th grade), she is distanced and separated from her classmates and grows up very lonely.
During the final scenes of the S season (Infinty Arc), Hotaru turns into the dreadful Mistress 9, the reflection of pure evil. Her purpose is to open the pathway to Pharaoh 90 and bring his reign upon the earth. Mistress 9 devotes her entire existance to fulfilling her purpose, becoming ruthless and unbelievably cruel; she envelops Hotaru's body and takes Chibiusa's pure heart with no regrets. She is indeed very powerful, withstanding the attacks of both the Inners and Outers. Only Sailorsaturn is able to incapacitate her and finally destroy her. Even though she is physical weak, her will and 'inner' strength is powerful.
As a soldier, Sailorsaturn's powers deal with silence and destruction. She sleeps until beckoned by the three Talisman to destroy the world and usher in a new era. Her Silence Glaive brought about the end of the Silver Millenium and thus sealed its fate; many fans regard her as the most powerful senshi. At the end of the Super season, she follows Pharaoh 90 and is sealed by Sailorpluto's "Dark Dome Close." Hotaru reverts to a baby and is cared for by the other Outer soldiers.
In the end, Hotaru becomes a welcomed member of the Outer Senshi and the Sailor Team. She matures (quickly) under the care of Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna in a "normal" life with her three parents. She makes friends with Chibiusa and even attends her school. Eventually, she does regain her powers as Sailorsaturn but in the right way: wanting to protect those she loves with all her heart.
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1 Professor Tomoe. The Moon Garden.