Adventures of the ChibiScouts III Chapter 3 A Small Vacation, a sailor moon fanfic

Adventures of the Chibi-Scouts III
Crossroads to the Future
By "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl and Doug "Candle Light Author" Helm

This story and our other stories reside at our Shoujo Fiction . com domain. Comments are encouraged!

Chapter 3 "A Small Vacation"

Reenie Tsukino woke up to a cold, dark, and rainy Sunday morning. She lay there for a moment staring up at the blackness of her ceiling. 'Just a dream,' she decided, 'It had to be a dream... or a nightmare.' She shook her head slightly.

'There's no way I found the 'real' Sailor Scouts. Something went wrong and I knocked myself silly.' It was easier than believing that Molly Baker (Serena's seventeen year old babysitter) was herself a Sailor Scout. As it was, she'd been dreaming that instead of Molly being Sailor Jupiter, a mind-bending concept on its own, the perky redhead was actually Sailor Earth who kept giving horrible speeches about different rocks. 'What the heck is kunzite anyway?' the ten year old wondered groggily. Geology was not her best subject. She pushed it aside, sat up, and slid from her bed. 'I guess I should see if Serena's okay...' The youngster was feeling guilty about leaving her little cousin, or at least wanting to leave her little cousin without any explanation.

She softly opened her bedroom door and peeked out into the nearly pitch-black hallway and listened. The Tsukino home was silent except for the steady rain that was drumming against the windows and roof. 'Oh if this stuff freezes, we'll have skating rinks instead of roads.' Reenie grimaced at that thought. 'I hope Serena wants to stay home today.' Hauling the energetic little girl all over the place so she can play in this weather would not be her first choice.

She sighed a little, padded across the hallway, and eased her young mother's door open. She peeked inside but couldn't make anything out clearly in the murkiness. Moving quietly so she wouldn't wake the eight year old, Reenie entered the room and inched her way towards the bed. As she got closer, she could make out a bulky outline under the covers. 'Boy, Serena must've wrapped all the blankets 'round her.' Not the first time that had happened. 'Maybe some of Serena's bunnies decided to 'sleep with her' again.' She'd heard that explanation more than once. She suppressed a giggle.

'Was I ever like that? I guess I'd better straighten it out before Grandma wakes up.' She went to the side of the bed and began to pull back the covers. The sight that greeted her surprised her. At first, her brain wouldn't accept the facts but then a soft smile spread across her face. 'So it wasn't a dream... I really did make the hop.'

Her relief died as a new worry reasserted itself. 'Maybe she's still mad at me.' The previous night, the teenager had spent only a few sparse minutes digesting what Reenie had told her before firmly sending the ten year old back to her own bed. 'She sure can be scary, just like my Serena... cute as a button one second, and madder than a bear with a toothache the next.'

"Reenie?" The soft voice drew the pink-haired girl out from her reminiscence. She realized that Serena was looking sleepily at her. Before Reenie could say anything, her seventeen year old mother lifted the blankets invitingly and Reenie accepted without much thought. She snuggled against her mother's warmth and was almost instantly asleep. Serena for her part hugged the little girl and gave a soft sigh; things were starting to get very complicated again.

- - - - -

Ellen Tsukino relaxed in her kitchen sipping a cup of hot tea just before eight that morning when she received a surprise. That surprise came in the form of her seventeen year old daughter Serena. The pigtailed blonde walked into the dining area and smiled at her mother. She was, remarkably, fully dressed and appeared ready to take on the day. "Serena, you're up early."

"Reenie kicked me out of bed," the teen grumbled but the affection in her voice was palpable, "Or rather elbowed me out of bed."

The middle-aged mother raised an eyebrow at Serena. "She slept in your room?"

"She came in way early this morning, Mom. I lifted up the covers and she crawled in." 'Kinda nice...'

"She shouldn't really do that. She's ten now," Ellen commented with a small frown.

"Mom," the teen began, "I think the kid's lonely. She's definitely missing her mom." 'I would be if I were her.' Serena considered, "Actually, I think Reenie might be worried that I'll be mad at her 'cause she brought up Lita last night. I didn't wanna talk about it so sent her back to her room."

Her mother's face smoothed into sympathy. "I can talk to her about Lita if you want." She knew Lita's sudden disappearance was still a painful subject even though nearly two years had passed.

"No, I just... I mean I wasn't in a good frame of mind to do it calmly last night." The petite blonde gave her mother a weak smile. "Really, Mom, please let me handle it."

The mother of two nodded and then questioned, "Wasn't Reenie with her mom before she came here, Serena?" 'I really need to have a serious talk with that woman... I know she's in a bad situation but...'

"She was like at another aunt's house," Serena hedged. 'Mom would think I was nuts if I tried to explain dimensional travel.' Her mother looked as if she wanted to make some type of scathing comment but thought better of it.

It was just as well as she did for at that moment, Reenie strolled into the room still dressed in her pajamas and looking very bleary-eyed. "Morning Reenie," Ellen greeted her niece.

"Morning, Aunt Ellen," Reenie replied and then coming over gave Serena a hug, "Hi Big Sis..." Without letting go of her hug, Reenie hooked a leg over Serena's and then shifted herself up so she was straddling her leg.

"Why didn't you stay in bed?" Serena asked her daughter who was blissfully laying her head against her chest with her eyes closed.

"My warm spot was gone," was the youngster's reply. Ellen snickered. Serena only rolled her eyes. "What's for breakfast?" the kid asked, looking over her shoulder at her aunt.

"I thought I'd make us all some pancakes," Serena volunteered.

"Huh? You're too little to use the stove."

"Hey!" Serena squawked, making the pink-haired girl start in surprise, "I might be only five-one but I'm not eight!" Reenie's cheeks turned pink as she blushed.

"Oops, sorry... I forgot..." She giggled at the look her practically adult mother was giving her. "So what type of mix are we using?"

"Mix?" Serena huffed. "I don't need no stinkin' mix. I do mine from scratch." Reenie blinked. "And before you ask, yes we're having blueberry pancakes."

"Can I help, Big Sis?" Reenie immediately asked. It was strange because normally Serena always asked to help her.

"Yes, but only if you get dressed." The youngster vanished in an instant.

- - - - -

"I'm so F-U-L-L..." Reenie moaned once she was done eating breakfast.

"I should hope so," Serena exclaimed. "You, little missy, ate FIVE pancakes." 'Kami, where'd she put it all?'

"But they were REALLY good!" the pink-haired youngster declared while patting her tummy. 'Lots better than that mix.' "Thanks, Big Sister!"

"You're more than welcome, Little Sister," the blonde reciprocated. She stood up from her own place, gathered up Reenie's syrup-spattered plate and her own, then headed into the kitchen. Reenie wanted to go and help her mother wash the dishes but she was too full. So she simply sat in her chair contentedly rubbing her tummy. When Serena came out, she asked, "Oh, Mom, I'm gonna run over to Raye's a little later, that okay?"

"That's fine, Serena."

"Can I come too?"

Before the petite teen could respond, Mrs. Tsukino jumped in, "You are coming with me, Reenie." When the youngster gave her a curious look, she continued, "We need to get you some uniforms for school."

Serena watched her future daughter with apprehension. She wasn't quite sure how this Reenie would handle being told that she had to attend school. Therefore, she was a little startled when the child simply replied, "'Kay, Aunt Ellen..." Then she seemed to remember something. "Oh, Mommy told me to give you something."

The pink-haired girl hopped up from her seat and ran from the room. Both women heard the little girl's feet dashing upstairs. Shortly, she returned holding a sealed envelope addressed to her grandmother, which she handed to her. "Mommy says it's to help with expenses and stuff." Then the youngster turned and gave her mother an annoyed look. "Mommy said you should count it too." The annoyed look grew as the teen gave the girl a knowing look.

- - - - -

Raye Hino lazily flipped a page of her comic book before reaching for a slice of orange on the nightstand. She was lying on her stomach on her bed enjoying what was otherwise turning out to be a very wet and woolly day. As she was reaching for another slice, she paused as someone tapped on her bedroom door. "Come in," she called out. The raven-haired girl was surprised to see her friend Serena enter the room alone. "Hey, Serena. Where's your shadow?"

"Hi Raye! Reenie? Oh, Mom took her shopping to sort out some school stuff."

"I bet that went over well," the raven-haired girl drawled.

Serena snickered. "Actually, she went and got some money that her mom sent my mom." Raye raised an eyebrow but her friend only shook her head.

"So, what brings you all the way over here in this weather?" A peel of thunder rolled overhead to punctuate the priestess' question.

The golden-haired teen walked over and settled herself at Raye's low table. "Well, Raye, I got some news and I don't really know how to break it to Amy." Raye sat up from her relaxed position and gave her friend her full attention. "See, Reenie... Well... She isn't... I mean... She's the Reenie from the OTHER universe."

"The Chibi-Scout one?" the fiery priestess prodded. When Serena nodded, she muttered, "Oh crap!"

"That was sorta my first reaction too. It didn't help that before she brought up where she was from, she had started ragging on our Reenie." The teen made a face. "I thought it was OUR Reenie ragging on her."

"I can see why," Raye observed mildly. "So, how'd you handle it?"

"I was like about to drop some serious parental wrath down on her head when she decided to make things a little more complicated by bringing up Lita." The raven-haired girl whistled softly. "Yeah... I was so miffed I wasn't sure what to do but thankfully, we got it sorted out."

Raye grinned. "Wow, that must've been some sorting!" Her friend gave her a sour look. "So, Serena, what brought the little trooper over here?"

"Besides pancakes?"

Raye blinked. "You made pancakes?" Her friend nodded. "And you didn't invite me?!" There were only a few things that the meatball-headed blonde could actually cook. However, what she did cook, she did well.

"R-a-y-e... If I had invited you, I would've had to invite Mol, and Mina too. Molly I don't see being too upset at being called so early on a Sunday but Mina... Maybe for a hunky guy but for pancakes? Nah... Oh and speaking of guys..." Serena got an evil grin. "Artemis was at my place early this morning."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, he..." The teenager paused and lowered her voice to a stage whisper, "Yeah, it seems he and Luna were out all night 'hunting'." Serena grinned and then nearly burst into laughter at the expression on Raye's face as her mind realized the implication.

"Hmmm... I wonder if Grandpa would conduct a wedding for cats?" the Shinto priestess mused. This was too much for Serena and she broke into laughter. Her longtime friend joined her and for a couple of minutes, the pair shared a chuckle at the image of two cats dressed for a formal wedding.

"You're the best, Raye," the blonde declared as she regained her composure enough to speak. The raven-haired teen only shook her head.

"Thank you..." She bowed her head. "So, what's the full scoop on Reenie?"

"All I can get from her is that Luna Ball ain't getting through to her parents at all... or Sailor Pluto..."

"I can see why that'd be disconcerting, Serena, but maybe it has to do with their Negaverse."

"That's possible," Serena agreed. "But I get the idea she ain't seen Galaxia. Like the end of the Dead Moon Circus was different too."

"She hasn't seen Galaxia?" Raye sounded anxious. "Is Darien there?"

"No, apparently he's in the States (just like ours) and little Serena's talked to him once or twice on the phone, so has Reenie, so..."

"I don't like it, Serena," the brunette offered after a long pause. "I knew there are some differences but that really doesn't sound good. I mean what if the Negaverse shows up without Sailor Chibi-Moon there and even with her there..." 'Da-Chad could be in danger.' "I mean the other us might not be able to handle Galaxia." The pigtailed teen nodded in agreement. "Good. So I suppose Reenie wants to head back right away then?"

"Not really."

"What?!"

"I think Reenie's perfectly fine staying here for a bit," the blonde speculated. "And I'd majorly love for her to stay but... Raye, I have this weird feeling that she shouldn't stay long." Raye nodded her concurrence after a moment. "So we need Amy's brain and Molly's thunder. I s'ppose we can do it without Ames actually being here. I'm just majorly not sure how to get her to do the math stuff without making her freak out."

"You think she would, Serena?" the brunette guessed.

"I think she's under a lot of pressure... and having 'Chibi-Reenie' here will remind her of Lita." 'I miss Lita a lot but Amy...'

"I just think when Reenie goes back, we should too... or at least me."

"Why?" Serena asked. "I wouldn't mind going, Raye, but..." 'It'll be fun for a couple of days.' She was dubious whether Amy or Mina would want to go, especially Amy. 'I'm pretty dang sure Amy won't go.'

"I just have a feeling..." the priestess let lay.

- - - - -

Amy Anderson sat at a desk quietly staring out of her modest hotel room's window. Her mind didn't see the German city sprawling before her or the snow-capped mountains beyond, nor study materials piled up for her next exam. No, it was thousands of miles away. 'Sis... ' the blue-haired teen mused sadly. A stab of guilt went through her like a knife as it had many times in the past two years.

She sighed and closed her eyes while leaning back in her chair pondering the information that Serena told her earlier that day via her Scout communicator. 'Why did the Chibi-Scout's Reenie have to come here? We were happy!' She shook her head without opening her eyes. 'Don't lie. Serena wasn't happy to leave Lita in that other universe and you most certainly weren't!'

The Scout of Mercury recalled the chaotic days following their return from the other universe and Molly Baker becoming the new Sailor Jupiter. The questions not only the Tokyo Police Department had raised but also her mother had levied. There were no leads; no body was found. Those outside the Sailor Scouts believed that Lita Kino had simply gone missing, likely the victim of foul play. Speculation ranged from murder to Lita being sold as a sex slave in some foreign country to the teen just running away to another city to begin anew. Her missing person case, as far as the police were concerned, was still open but inactive.

Amy had been sorely tempted to cast aspersions on Amara Ten'ou. Sailor Uranus had often rubbed the Inner Scouts the wrong way and the masculine Sailor Scout didn't seem to care that Lita was gone, only that there was another Sailor Jupiter to replace her. Arrogant, unapologetic, Amy had wanted to lash out at someone but she'd reined that impulse in.

Now, after so long, the "real" cause of Lita's disappearance had dared to come to this universe. The teen couldn't bring herself actually to hate that Reenie. Reenie was doing her duty as the leader of the Chibi-Scouts. With her teen intellect and emotions back in place, Amy understood the motivations of everyone involved. However, the urge was there.

She shook herself and stood. 'I told Serena that I'd do the calculations. I can perform them from here. I have all the pertinent data,' Amy decided as she got out her minicomputer. What had not been said but was implicitly understood by Serena was that the genius girl wasn't going this time, because if Amy Anderson went, she wouldn't come back to this universe ever again.

- - - - -

The rain had not relented all day and so its voice added to the atmosphere of the story that Serena read to her young daughter. Both mother and child cuddled together on Serena's bed while Luna, who was pretending not to listen, nevertheless was hooked on every word the teenager spoke.

"And so," Serena's voice intoned, "The Princess turned away from the cliff but as she did so, there came a mighty roar from behind her."

When her mother didn't continue after a moment or two, Reenie's eyes popped open and she found that her mother had closed the book. "Hey!" she squawked, "Don't stop!"

"That's enough for tonight, Reenie," Serena declared with an understanding grin.

"It just got to the good part!" the pink-haired girl protested.

"It's also five minutes to your bedtime."

"Read another chapter, Big Sis. Just one more, please?!" Reenie begged. Her Serena had never read her a story.

"No," Serena repeated. "You, young lady," she patted the youngster's thigh, "Have school tomorrow and so do I."

"Okay," the pink-haired girl agreed and sat up. 'What time is it anyway? I don't feel tired... but I don't want to be late for school.' As Serena moved off the bed to put the book away, Reenie was able to see the clock. "Hey! I got a whole hour until bedtime." 'Is Big Sis trying to trick me?'

Serena turned, glanced at the clock, and then grinned, "Nice try, pumpkin, but your bedtime's eight o'clock."

'Eight?! That's Serena's bedtime.' Reenie got up deciding that she wasn't going to win this battle. 'Not that I want to fight...' She came over and hugged her mother. Serena hugged the little girl back. "'Night, Big Sister." She giggled.

"Goodnight, Little Sister," Serena replied and gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek. The blonde watched with bemused affection as Reenie left the room.

"That," Luna observed from her position, "Was unexpected." Serena shrugged. "Serena, how did Amy take the news?"

She sighed. "Unless Lita turns up suddenly, she ain't coming home until she absolutely has too." Serena grinned then. "So, Luna, what color tuxedo is Artemis wearing to your wedding?" The Princess of the Moon laughed as her guardian cat blushed.

- - - - -

The sky was a brilliant blue that Monday morning. The air was clear crisp, cloudless, and very cold. On the downside, all the rain from the previous day had frozen solid; both sidewalks and roads were riddled with sheets of ice. Consequently, Ellen Tsukino carefully escorted her visiting niece to Southside Elementary School.

"What's the matter, Reenie?" the woman asked as they paused at a stoplight that had just turned red. The girl wearing her brand new blue and white uniform had been silent since they left the house, an unusual event. "You didn't expect to wear your old uniform. It would be a little small on you."

'This is a nice uniform. It's different looking than my regular uniform but it ain't that bad.' Reenie thought with a slight smile, 'I wish I had my old one. I know Serena and Mina would like this style but still...' She shook her head. "No, it's not that, Aunt Ellen. It's... Well, I just wish Serena could've walked me to school." 'We always walk together.'

"Maybe she can tomorrow."

"I know, Aunt Ellen, but I miss her..." The pink-haired preteen wasn't sure if she was talking about her future mother or about her little cousin. "She could've come with us."

"She went to school with Molly," her aunt informed her and they began walking again as the light turned. After a few seconds, she continued, "I'm glad to see you and Serena getting along so well."

"Why wouldn't we?" Reenie asked, giving her aunt a puzzled yet completely innocent look.

The mother of two, and future grandmother of at least one, struggled with her conscience for a moment and then decided that she really did need to explain certain things to Reenie, if only to make sure any fighting would be kept to a minimum. "Reenie," the woman began with a gentle but still serious tone, "I just don't want you and Serena fighting for most of your visit."

"Fighting?" Reenie questioned startled enough to stop walking. 'Sometimes Serena's a bit stubborn...' After a moment, she took a few quick steps to catch up with her aunt. "But..." She frowned.

"You and Serena got along well MOST of the time but you always seemed to think that you should enjoy the same privileges as her; that you're just as old as she is."

'I'm older,' Reenie corrected silently but she wasn't silly enough to mention that to her aunt, 'And it don't matter here anyways.' "I know I'm younger, Aunt Ellen..." Reenie admitted slowly and then because it seemed like a good point, she asked something that she'd been wondering since she arrived. "You don't mind me being here, do you Aunt Ellen?"

Her grandmother's expression softened as she slowed to a stop. Crouching down, Ellen gave Reenie a soft smile. "Your Uncle Ken and I are very glad to have you, Reenie. I know it can be really hard being away from your parents." The girl nodded a lump forming in her throat. "I love you just as much as I love Serena or Sammy. You don't ever have to worry about that."

"I just wondered," Reenie mumbled out and felt better when she was hugged.

- - - - -

"Hello..." The principal glanced down quickly at the folder on his desk. "Reenie... How are you?"

"I'm fine, Mr. Furness," Reenie replied to the middle-aged man a moment later. She suppressed the giggle that always wanted to escape when she heard his name. He blinked and the ten year old mentally kicked herself. 'Way to go, Reenie! You're not supposed to know him yet.'

The balding man smiled while looking over her record. "Reenie Tsukino... Grade Five... Ah, I see you attended second and third grade here before. I'm glad to see you back with us..." He looked down again at the folder and frowned for a moment before continuing, "Hmm... Still in the Track Club?"

Reenie glanced at her aunt, who was sitting quietly beside her in the principal's office, before turning back to the man. "Err... No, sir..." she began hesitantly, "I was the grade rep in my school though."

"Really?" The principal seemed mildly surprised but continued, "Well, we have our class and student government reps for the term but if you're with us long enough, Miss Tsukino, I'm sure that you'll be able to run for the position." Reenie nodded although she highly doubted that she'd be here THAT long. "Anyway, I'm assigning you to Class 5-2. Your homeroom teacher will be Mrs. Mason."

"Really?" Reenie brightened. 'That's good. I won't have to figure out a new teacher!'

"I let you get to it," Ellen announced and got ready to leave. She was a little surprised when Reenie hugged her but she managed to keep the surprise off her face. "Thank you, Mr. Furness, please take care of my niece." She bowed to him. "Be good, Reenie."

"Aren't I always?" Reenie asked innocently.

- - - - -

As she accompanied Mr. Furness down the corridor and up a set of stairs, she spotted the President of the Student Council heading to class. "Hi Rachel!" she called out. The girl, normally a good friend of hers, seemed to hesitate but otherwise ignored her greeting.

"Perhaps she didn't hear you, Reenie," Mr. Furness commented.

"I guess so," Reenie replied. 'Man, this is going to take some getting used too!' It got worse when they reached the classroom. In Room 5-2, the vast majority of her fellow students didn't know the new arrival. True, there were a couple kids who seemed to recognize her once she was introduced, but even then only as a girl they had known before. There was another reaction. Several of the boys cooed about how cute she was before they were quieted down. It was disconcerting to say the least.

Possibly the only consolation was that her best friend Melissa Mamohara was also her classmate. This Melissa looked genuinely pleased to see her and even waved to her. Still, Reenie could tell that it wasn't the same sort of reaction that she received last week from the Melissa who was her "best friend for life" since second grade. She waved back shyly drawing some strange looks. Shortly after, Mrs. Mason asked her to take a seat. There wasn't a desk close to Melissa but the pink-haired girl viewed that as fortunate. Then the class was called to order.

Mrs. Mason wasn't the sort of educator who tolerated spurious conversations within her classroom especially while a lesson was going on. She deterred conversation by the expedient method of having the perpetrators come up and discuss the subject they should have been concentrating on; there were very few repeat offenders.

The ten year old hadn't realized how much being the class (let alone grade) rep, meant to her. She'd been quite proud of that little coup at the beginning of the term. She owed a lot to her friends (like Rachel). Little Serena tried to follow suit and got voted Room 3-3's class representative. Reenie was so proud. She knew that it would be impossible since neither this universe's Reenie nor Serena were in school here last semester. She pushed those thoughts aside as Mrs. Mason announced a pop quiz.

- - - - -

"You're back!" Melissa shouted once the class was let out for lunch. She pulled Reenie from a group of boys surrounding her. "Don't mind those horn-dogs. They're harmless." Reenie had wanted to see her friend at recess but Missy had vanished with a group of girls as soon as the bell had rung. That hadn't been so bad since the Class Representative had wanted to talk with her.

"When did you get back?" Even before the pink-haired girl could answer the lavender-haired one's first question, she asked another, "And just why didn't you write, Reenie? I really missed you."

Reenie might have said that Melissa hadn't written either but instead she offered, "Oh, I was in a different universe." Her friend snorted, shook her head, and then giggled. "I would've but..."

"I know, Reenie. Serena said you'd be moving around a lot."

Before she could respond to this comment, one of Melissa's friends called out from the doorway, "Hey Missy! We'll catch up with you later, 'kay?" When Melissa nodded, she called out, "Bye princess!" before vanishing out the door.

"Princess?"

Melissa squirmed for a moment and then explained, "I was the Princess in our class play last year and I went a little overboard." She gave her friend a lop-sided grin. "I just pretended to be you, Reenie."

"Me?!" Reenie squeaked.

"Joking! I was joking!" Melissa exclaimed with a laugh. The duo headed out of the classroom and down the corridor. "So what brings you back?"

"Stuff..." Reenie hedged. "I wish I could've stayed, Missy."

Melissa smiled. "Yeah, it's been kinda dull without you around here, girlfriend." Her fellow ten year old's face split into a huge grin. "I know of at least one boy who still misses you!"

"Excuse me?" the preteen asked, her eyes going wide. She might have paused on the stairs but the press of bodies behind her kept her moving.

"A boy."

"You're pulling my leg, Missy," Reenie countered.

"Nope," Melissa assured her. "He hasn't been able to fly since you left."

"What are you talking about?" Reenie demanded. She stopped dead and stared at her friend.

"You should know," the lavender-haired girl pointed out, "You're the one who helped him drive that two-seat bike wannabe hang glider off a ledge."

'What?!' Reenie wondered and gaped at her young friend and then rallied. "Well, I survived, and I guess if you need two people and nobody else helped him..." She trialed off and wondered, 'Although why Serena didn't kill me is a good question.' It had seemed a good idea at the time. The youngster mentally shuddered at the thought of little Serena doing such a thing.

"I wouldn't call it the smartest thing in the world," Melissa agreed as they started walking again, "Y'know, Reenie, you've done a lot braver stuff."

'You have no clue, Missy,' Reenie thought and smiled. 'If you only knew...' Although she sometimes wondered if her friend suspected her secret identity.

"'Course, he keeps asking about you."

"He does?" Reenie asked. She was annoyed by the way that Melissa was grinning. "Why?"

"REE-NIE!" Her lavender-haired friend sighed while shaking her head. "Sometimes, you are just so clueless!"

"Meaning?" Reenie demanded.

"You'll find out, Reenie," Missy indicated with a smile, "Here he comes now... I'll catch ya later!" And before Reenie could even protest, the girl vanished into the flow of children as an unfamiliar boy appeared on her left.

'I'm gonna kill her,' Reenie thought darkly.

- - - - -

The black lunar cat sat on Serena's low table with her tail slowly swishing back and forth as she contemplated the information that she had regarding the situation in both her and the Chibi-Scout's universes. To say the guardian advisor to the Princess was not pleased would be an understatement.

Luna's crescent moon sigil seemed to glow momentarily as the feline tried to sense anything that she was missing. However, after a few moments, she sighed, opened her eyes, and then curled up. She'd just gotten settled when Serena's bedroom door opened. She sat up and was a little surprised to see Reenie coming in.

"How was school?" the black cat asked.

"Fine, Luna," Reenie answered. "Kinda weird not being Fifth Grade Rep. But I got the same teacher and Missy's in my class so that's good."

"You like your teacher?"

"Sure." Reenie put Serena's schoolbag down, which she'd been carrying, and then unslung her backpack. "And I got perfect score on the pop quiz today. Mrs. Mason said I didn't need to worry but..." The girl shrugged and settled herself and pulled her homework assignment out.

"And where is Serena?"

"She said she was gonna get us some snacks," the ten year old remarked then promptly blushed as her stomach rumbled. "Excuse me."

"I'm glad to see you at least starting your homework, Reenie." The girl stared. "Maybe you aren't as bad as Serena."

"I've improved!" the person in question retorted as she entered the room carrying a tray, "And thanks for taking my bookbag, pumpkin." Then she turned her gaze to Luna. "And you... I did my homework Saturday, didn't I?"

"Yes," the black cat admitted, "And yes, you HAVE improved, Serena." She just shook her head and added, "Of course, I only wish that the improvements came sooner." Her charge came over, put the tray on the table, and then placed her hands on her hips.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that you nearly didn't get into high school."

"Don't be mean!" Reenie warned.

"She's not," Serena hissed with a faint blush coloring her cheeks. Sitting down, the meatball-headed blonde fished out her own homework. "Thanks to the girls, I squeaked in. Not dead last... but Mom 'n' Dad were NOT happy campers."

"Well, being Leader of the Sailor Scouts takes up a lot of your time, right Serena?" her young daughter speculated.

The teen gave the younger girl a one-arm hug. "Thanks Reenie. I knew my big sister would say something nice."

"It's true though, Big Sis, and you had a different enemy and different Sailor Scouts." Reenie frowned. "Not to mention the other me..." Serena sighed and rubbed her temples while closing her her eyes. "Sorry, Serena," the little girl apologized. "It's just... Well, I mean she's so different from me that I'm having a hard time..." The ten year old looked like she was going to expand on that and then shook her head. Instead, she bent over to start her homework but her mind wasn't on the assignment. She absently chewed her lower lip for a moment. "Can I ask you somethin', Serena?" The teenager nodded. "At my old school, I was the class AND grade rep."

"Really? That's really great!" Serena exclaimed with delight. 'I'm sure the other me thought so too.'

"Yeah well... I told Missy that and she thought I'd been possessed or something. And Aunt Ellen thinks we'll fight all the time." She sighed and then asked in a respectful tone, "Serena, why are we so different?"

Serena smiled gently. "You two had very different experiences, Reenie." The girl looked unsatisfied by that answer. "How did you meet me the first time?"

Reenie straightened from her slouched position and blinked. She considered for a moment and then shrugged. "One minute, I took Puu's key. The next, I was falling out of the sky and went headfirst into the lake in the park. Darien pulled me out but you were clearly in charge." The pink-haired girl grinned. 'Serena was so cute in her kindergarten uniform ordering Daddy to get me a doctor "pronto".' "You were so worried about me that I had to use Luna Ball to distract you. Later, when I came to your house, you remembered and hugged me and..."

Serena, despite herself sighed in relief. "Thank the Kami, you didn't crush me then." She rubbed the top of her head with remembered pain. "I take it you and me got off to a good start?" Reenie nodded. "Well, that's certainly different."

"How?"

"Let's just say, I broke your fall with my head... literally." Reenie winced. "And instead of being responsible, I freaked out because you were, er... hugging Darien."

"And then?"

"You took off," Serena said dismissively.

"At least I apologized, right Big Sis?"

"Not quite," Luna drawled. Serena shot her a hard look but the cat ignored it. "If I remember correctly, you, or rather OUR you, showed up a little later and demanded that Serena hand over the Imperium Silver Crystal at gunpoint."

"What?!"

"Thanks Luna... I was trying to keep that little detail out of the story," the teen growled.

"It's what happened," the black cat commented with a sniff.

"Tattletale."

Reenie, despite her shock, giggled. "That's what Mina calls Artemis." The pink-haired girl giggled again. "He keeps ratting her out to me. She hates it!"

Serena chuckled. "Well, not everybody can have a majorly wonderful big sister like you. Sometimes, they have annoying little brothers." Just then, Sammy walked by her bedroom door and stuck his tongue out.

"You know, Serena," the youngster offered quietly, "We shouldn't talk about Sailor Scout stuff with the door open." Her mother shrugged. "What if they hear us?" She had had this conversation before.

"Don'tcha worry. Mom and Dad usually ignore it, or think I'm talking about a new video game or something." Serena looked thoughtful. "Sammy knows I know at least one of the Scouts." The teen shook her head. "Anyway, we really should get to our homework if you want me to finish that book tonight."

"Yes please!" Reenie agreed with feeling and then asked, "Um, just so I know, Serena, any other juicy tidbits you're leaving out of when the other me arrived?"

"Yes," her mother indicated, "But that's between the two of us." The little girl frowned but then allowed it to drop. Her mother clearly wasn't going to tell her. She became worried though when Serena frowned a little. "Reenie, how much hot water are you gonna be in when we get you back?" 'Little Serena can't be happy her big sis is gone.'

Reenie shrugged. "Any trouble to be with you is worth it, Big Sis."

The teen snorted, "I think you just want pancakes again, Little Sis."

"And why not?" the pink-haired girl demanded, "Those were extra-special delicious!"

"Just like your cookies."

"What cookies?"

Serena sighed, glanced at her homework, and closed her book. "I can see tonight is gonna be a LONG night..." She sipped her tea and then began, "It all started when the Three O'clock Fairies showed..."

Coming next in Chapter 4 "Beneath the Red Ribbon"