A/N: Anything italicized after the second appearance of SE is what she writes.
The cloaked figure was not impressed Fern's first soul to collect and flat out failure, "You failed; there is nothing to this job I been doing this long enough to know when someone or something hasn't died."
Fern was being on the defensive, "I thought I completed it-," but she was interrupted.
"No, he survived you are making it seem that the rules of death need not apply," then he thought of a suggestion, "Plants; we are going to test it on plants."
Fern of course knew where this was going, "Touch a plant and watch it wither up and die?"
"You got it, and this time I am going to watch you, once I can trust you, you can go on your own, and we will try again, firstly and foremost you will recieve assignments by me and you collect them," they had both went to the community garden by portal.
Fern was struggling to kill some plants; she had killed a tomato plant and a few marigold flowers. The flowers had withered up and died, the tomato plant started to dry up and the leaves blew away in the wind. She was a bit shocked and saddened after a few of the plants she had toughed died in her hands.
Across the street Arthur and his friends were mourning the loss of their classmate. Buster had seemed indifferent on the subject; Muffy was a bit upset that she was crying; Arthur and his were close to the community garden, "Life is totally unfair."
Buster finally chimed in with not as much talking, "I know she was report partner," Her crying had stopped, and everyone just looked at him, he seemed a bit nervous with what he said, "What?"
"That is pretty rude," Arthur grumbled sadly knowing he probably wouldn't see her again.
Fern was… or in other words continuing a pitiful attempt to kill some plants, she had heard her classmates talk about her, in particular Buster; he started to whine, which was sometimes common of him, "But she had the best stuff, I am just going to fail and be like Binky."
Fern grumbled under her breath, Buster of course wasn't respecting the dead, he didn't understand what happened and why it happened, "We will see how he likes it when I start haunting him."
The reaper was looking for Fern and found her listening to the conversation, "Must I keep an eye on you constantly? You are wandering again."
Fern wasn't too impressed as she saw Buster argue with his friends, "Leave me be I am going to give him a good haunting."
He had sighed again, and grumbled under his breath, "Worse grim reaper ever."
At the cemetery, Fern (her physical body) was being laid to rest, Mrs. Armstrong was a bit concerned, Fern's parents were crying over the loss, Sue Ellen was saddened by this, not crying just saddened.
"I can't believe she is gone," Mrs. Walters cried as Mr. Walters had hugged her.
As all had paid her last respects, and went Sue Ellen managed to find a piece of paper in the nearby church, she had written, 'mom can I just stay here for a while?'
"Sure," Mrs. Armstrong replied as she walked towards the car with Mr. Armstrong, Sue Ellen had walked back to the memorial, while Mrs. Armstrong was a bit concerned, "I think we need to send her to a doctor, she may have lost her voice."
Sue Ellen had prayed, as something supernatural was happening, she had slipped into unconsciousness.
When she had awaken it was all white around her, Fern was wearing her normal clothes, "Sue Ellen, thanks for visiting."
A tear flowed down her cheek, "I miss you."
"I know you do, I am working as a grim reaper right now, but I am going to try and find my way back to the living world." Fern had turned around and saw the older Grim Reaper waiting standing by a portal, she had whispered into the cat girl's ear, "I know you are sad, and traumatized and aren't talking, I will do what I can to get back."
Sue Ellen had soon awaken from the supernatural phenomenon, her thoughts exactly were, 'I communicated with her…' she had walked home, but on her way home, she had ran into Arthur and his friends.
"So, still upset?" Arthur asked curiously.
The Brain was taking strong notice with Sue Ellen not talking, "Aside from that; forgive me, but I think Sue Ellen had lost her vocal capacity, she hadn't talked in three days, and people can lose their voice for years even."
Buster gave a response with some interest, "Really?"
Francine turned around peeved at the tone of voice Buster used, "You are mean Buster Baxter."
Sue Ellen just walked pass them saying nothing of course. Prunella had looked on but put in her few cents, "I wouldn't be surprised if Fern had decided to haunt you."
"What would she do?" Buster asked.
As Buster had said that, a cold northerly wind swept through and Buster was shocked.
Prunella smiled at Buster as he felt a little bit insecure, "With that she may go after you, one thing is that you must respect the dead."
Buster was puzzled, "Why?"
Prunella just laughed and warned, "Don't come crying to me if Fern haunts you."
Buster was nervous now... Real nervous he figured with the rude remarks earlier anything could and will probably happen.
As Monday came, Sue Ellen decided to get dressed for school, she was going, despite what her mother was saying about taking her to the doctor, she wrote.
I am fine, let me go to school.
Mrs. Armstrong looked at her blankly, "I will call the doctor, today."
Sue Ellen smiled at her and she decided to walk to school, it was the first day back since Friday. When she settled into Mr. Ratburn's class she had handed him a note about her speaking situation that her mother had wrote, "Very good, I hope you feel better soon."
Sue Ellen had sat across from Buster and smiled at him.
"What?" Buster asked nervosuly.
She had said nothing.
Buster was now officially creped out, he raised his hand, "Mr. Ratburn, Sue Ellen is bothering me."
Mr. Ratburn just smiled and managed a chuckle, "How is she if she isn't talking to you?" He had also added, "Buster,I almost forgotyour report partner is now Sue Ellen."
Buster now was caught off guard as Sue Ellen continued to smile at him; she had decided to write something to Buster.
I hope I can help.
Buster read the note, "…Oh you can alright."
Sue Ellen took back the sheet of paper and continued writing.
Well, I hope it won't be a flop like your last report.
Buster was shocked, "My last report was good!" He had also added, "Don't play these mind games with me."
Sue Ellen got out another piece of paper she had a huge grin on her face.
Well, I got an A on mine and you got a C-, what does that tell you? As for the mind games thing, I think you are a very special boy.
Buster was both shocked and confused, he yelled, "Special?" then asked her in some shock, "I am special?"
Yes.
Mr. Ratburn walked up to Buster the expression on his face was far from amused, "Please keep your voice down; there are other students here who want to work on their reports but you are holding them back."
Buster's pitiful response to Mr. Ratburn's warning was, "But, Sue Ellen is bugging me…"
Mr. Ratburn looked at Sue Ellen as she smiled at him, "Is this true?"
No.
Buster sighed, he wasn't the best student, he still wanted to know what she meant by him being 'special'.
To Be Continued.