Lita's
New Year's Cookie Scramble
By
Douglas Helm and "Tuxedo"
Will Wolfshohl
Those characters that are original and the story "Lita's New Year's Cookie Scramble" are copyrighted ©2006-2007 ShoujoFiction .com domain by Douglas Helm and Will Wolfshohl.
This story and our other Sailor Moon stories reside at our Shoujo Fiction .com domain. Comments are welcomed and encouraged.
Chapter 9 - Morning Madness
Serena Tsukino rolled to her back, sighed, and then slowly opened her eyes as she woke up. 'Jeez, I'm still like majorly tired.' Initially, the forty-something blonde was disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings but after a moment, she remembered where she was -- Raye's bedroom. Stretching produced some cracking noises from joints. It didn't really hurt even though it sounded like it should have.
Serena's next awareness was a vague feeling that she couldn't quite place her finger on. Then she realized what it was -- she was alone. There was no one left in Raye's bed save herself. This was mildly surprising given the number of occupants that the room contained a few hours earlier.
Slowly sitting up, she glanced at the clock on the nightstand, blinked, and then let out a silent groan. 'It's majorly too early!' It had to be just after dawn. Serena glanced about taking stock of who was in the room. Aside from herself, the only other two people still in the room were Raye, who was lying on her back fast asleep, and Mina who was also asleep. She had a tight grip on Raye's left arm and seemed to be intent on hugging it to death.
Serena grinned. 'Cute! I wish I had a camera.' But that arm was likely going to be sore when her fiery friend woke up. That brought a new thought. 'Where are the others?' Given Reenie was the eldest physically of the three, likely not far.
She remembered the night. Originally, she and Lita snuggled together on Raye's bed but sometime later, Amy and Reenie had joined them. Serena had been too sleepy to protest what was going on so she wound up compressed between two seven year old girls while her stomach was used as a pillow by the three year old.
Quietly getting up, the middle-aged woman went to the window and looked out. She was startled to see a blanket of snow on the ground glistening in the cold dawn light. Shivering at the thought of the frigid air outside the window, she left Raye's room and headed for the bathroom. Surprisingly, it was empty. Not passing up what likely might be her only opportunity for some time to come, she visited the facilities and then went in search of the missing three children.
She didn't find the trio in the most likely spot -- the kitchen -- although signs of breakfast preparation were in evidence. Serena also found a note saying that when she (Serena) got up, it'd be great if she'd prepare them all some pancakes for breakfast. All three of them signed the note although somehow, Serena sensed that Reenie had been reluctant to sign it, possibly because her recent behavior didn't rate such a treat.
Frowning, Serena again wondered where the three little girls could have gotten to. 'They wouldn't have gone outside yet.' After a moment, she amended, 'I hope...' Serena headed for the living room of the Cherry Hill Temple's private quarters. It was there that she finally found her quarry.
Lita was sitting on the couch munching on some cereal, not taking her eyes off of the television set. Next to her, Reenie sat on the couch clutching Luna Ball in her lap and looking vaguely worried. The television was playing softly and there was only the sign of a small cereal bowl on the coffee table to indicate the Amy had been there.
"Anything good on?" Serena asked, entering the living room and looking around, "And where's Amy?"
"Amy's not here," came a small voice from behind the couch. Serena blinked and then grinned as Reenie rolled her eyes. Before Serena could ask, the small voice continued, "But Amy says Happy New Year! And floppy Easter too!" It giggled. The pink-haired seven year old on the coach covered her face and groaned as if completely mortified.
"Happy New Year, girls," the blonde reciprocated.
Before either Lita or Reenie could say anything, Amy came out, gave her dearest friend a smile. She then squatted down and turned her attention to the television.
Lita, on the other hand, scooted off of the couch with a butt-sliding maneuver, placed her bowl on the coffee table, and ran over to hug her pigtailed friend. "Happy New Year, Mommy!" she squeaked, "Can we have some pancakes now?"
"Jeez, you just ate cereal," Serena pointed out, bending down to hug the little ponytailed brunette. The youngster giggled and gave the adult a slightly sloppy kiss.
"I'm a growin' girl! Ain't that right, Amy?"
"Corwect!" the toddler exclaimed, bounced to her feet, and stretched so much she went up onto her tiptoes. "Lita's gonna be SO big, she'll be taller than ever!" Amy then crawled under the coffee table while watching the television.
"You know," Serena began, "What if Grandpa Hino or Chad spots you guys?"
"They have already," Lita chirped brightly. She went back to her unfinished bowl and hopped up on the couch next to Reenie again.
"They have?" Serena asked, feeling her stomach tighten slightly, "When?"
"We were gettin' cereal and he came in with Chad," Lita replied casually.
"Didn't he... you know like majorly wonder what two extra kids were doing here?!" the middle-aged princess questioned.
"At first, but we corwected the situation," Amy commented and flicked her eyes up towards Reenie who promptly blushed.
"Reenie!" Serena exclaimed which made the pink-haired girl blush even more.
"I didn't wanna... but they made me do it," Reenie mumbled. 'I had to. I'm their big sister.'
"It's true, Mommy, and it wasn't that bad."
"Exactly what did you have her do, DAUGHTER?" Serena demanded of Lita as she crossed her arms.
"Amy had me make it so they think that Raye was babysitting her and Lita today," the pink-haired youngster explained, "He just shrugged his shoulders and said not to get into too much trouble while Raye was asleep."
"So where are they now?"
"Grandpa's in the Great Fire room; Chad's outside shoveling and stuff. They ate really quick and said they gotta get ready for the crowds today." 'They even helped us get the cereal.'
Serena came over and sat on the couch beside the two second-graders. "Cartoons?"
"Amy wanted to," Reenie remarked. "And I gotta stick to her like glue, right?" Serena nodded. "When she first got up, she wanted to go outside and play." Was her wish for the teens to act like children actually working? 'Did I overdo it?'
"Yeah, it snowed," Amy interjected, "We can partake in some boisterous jocularity outside." The blue-haired youngster squirmed out from under the table, scrambled to her feet, and skipping over tapped Serena on the leg. "YOU'RE IT!" She then backed away eyeing Serena warily while giggling.
'Right... What did these two feed her?' "Ames," Serena began, "Did... did Lita and Reenie tell you what we talked about before going to bed?"
"Of course, they did"
"And?"
"And what?"
"Amy, Serena wants to know what you found out," Reenie pointed out to the little genius. 'Jeez, she's acting like a complete baby! Although Lita ain't much better...'
"Reenie was corwect. She limited the time duwation. I scanned Lita and there is a minute reversal showing."
"That's great," the former junior high school teen commented, "So like how long until things are back to normal?" Being grownup was not as much fun as she had imagined.
"To hazard a guess..." the blue-haired toddler considered tentatively, "I would say late this afternoon. Logically, Lita should be the first to revert but I haven't scanned Waye or Mina yet to confirm it."
"I see... So you decided to watch cartoons while they slept?" Serena asked.
"You betcha, Mommy," Lita commented, "I'm gonna squeeze every second out of this kid thing." 'I'm really glad you're being a good sport about all this.' There was a pause and then she added, "'Sides, there's those stupid parades on later so we might as well watch something fun."
Serena sighed for a moment. "Well, it not lasting is good news I guess..." She rumpled Reenie's hair. "Bu the way, good job with Grandpa Hino." Reenie smiled, pushed Luna Ball away, and wiggled around.
"Happy New Year, Serena," the pink-haired girl finally declared. She snuggling close to her adult cousin and hugged her around the neck. After a few moments, Reenie released the hug and settled back. "I think my New Year's res... resolution?" She looked over to Amy who nodded. "My resolution is not to put my butt into so much hot water ever again."
"Oh come on," the little brunette beside Serena protested, "Now that we know it's likely not gonna last... Mommy can just forgive you and we can forget all about it."
"That would not be appropriate," Amy argued while turning to frown at her "cousin". Amy got up and wandered over to a window.
"No, it wouldn't," Serena agreed, "Still, I like Reenie's resolution." The blonde patted her cousin on said butt. "'Though hers is still in hot water at the moment." She decided to change the subject then because Lita was looking stubborn while Reenie was looking anxious again. "So, which one of you cute little bunnies decided to come join me and Lita last night?"
"I wanted to," the pink-haired seven year old admitted after a few moments, "But I knew you were really ticked. Amy thought it'd be good 'cause the floor is really hard." The blue-haired toddler nodded. "And when you didn't kick us out..." Reenie smiled.
"Me? I'd never kick a bunny out of my bed. They're all too brave and cuddly." She hugged both second-graders and then laughed as Amy hopped up and squirmed onto her lap so she could be hugged too. After a little while of silence, when she felt herself wanting to fall back asleep, Serena transferred Amy to Reenie's lap and prepared for the day. "Well, I guess I should get..." She trailed off as someone, probably Raye, let out a shriek of dismay. Getting up, Serena dashed from the living room and headed to the source of the shouting -- Raye's bedroom. The three younger girls followed quickly after their middle-aged princess.
- - - - -
When they got to the room, the woman and trio of girls discovered that both Raye and Mina were up, each standing rigid and intently glaring at each other.
At first, Reenie couldn't deduce what was causing them to look so upset but then a foul odor reached her nose causing her eyes to go wide. She felt her heart go out to poor Mina as she saw a rather large dark patch on the child's nightclothes. A quick glance downward confirmed her fears that Mina had wet the bed. That explained, in part, why Raye was yelling. Serena yelled at her for wetting the bed, an event that fortunately happened infrequently now compared to her first arrival.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" Serena interjected, raising her voice to cut across the tirade that the preteen priestess was giving.
"Serena! That little snot wet the bed!" the raven-haired girl shouted. She bent down and yanked up the sleeping bag. "Look at my floor! I have a piss stain on MY carpet!"
"It was an accident!" Mina shouted. Painful memories of similar scenes until she was ten years old played out in her head. She had never told her Scout friends (or comforted Reenie when she had the chance). Her eyes were misting over and her cheeks red in both embarrassment and anger. "Jeez, Raye. You don't have to go all-spastic. I..."
"An accident?" Lita questioned. "Come on, Mina, Amy I'd buy but you're way older than her."
"Well, so is Reenie... at the moment, and she still does it," the little blonde retorted, eyes blazing. 'Sorry Reenie.'
Lita looked at the large stain on the floor. "Man, did you leave anything in Tokyo Bay?" Mina bristled. "I guess we should start calling you Sailor P instead of Sailor V, girlfriend."
"This isn't funny!" Raye shouted, "If she hadn't been so..."
"It ain't Mina's fault!" The room fell silent, all eyes turning to stare at Reenie. The pink-haired girl moved to stand in front of Mina protectively. She glared up at Raye, hands on her hips. "Nobody likes being yelled at for an accident. I know I don't when Serena scolds me. But really if you want to be mean, Raye, you should yell at me."
There was a long pause. "Why?" the priestess asked, puzzled and sounding annoyed at the same time.
"'Cause I made Mina be little, right?" The raven-haired girl reluctantly nodded. "So she couldn't help it. I bet Mina don't wet the bed when she's fourteen." The pink-haired girl glanced over her shoulder and slightly upwards to regard the disheveled blonde who looked mildly surprised. "Ain't that right, Mina?"
"Well, yeah," Mina agreed mildly after a moment of confusion, and then more confidently, "I mean that's right!" She nodded in agreement with herself. "So don't yell at me, Raye." 'Thanks Reenie. I owe you.'
"Recent studies indicate that eighty percent of children cease bed wetting by age five," Amy began. Reenie and Mina flushed. "Much of the remainder have such deep sleep patterns that they miss the signals their bodies send them during the night. Fortunately, the vast majority of incidents end by adolescence." She regarded her embarrassed friend. "I would assume that you were such a person when you were younger, corwect?" 'I better not mention some of the other causes.' She then wondered off towards Raye's bed without anyone really paying any attention.
"Well yeah," the eight year old agreed.
"Raye?" Serena questioned.
"What am I gonna do about my rug?" Raye groused.
Serena rolled her eyes, knelt, and with a small frown held her hand out above it. The others blinked as they felt a magic surge for a moment and then fade away. With its fading away, so did the putrid stain. "There," Serena said sounding a little tired.
"You used the Imperium Silver Crystal to remove a stain," Lita squeaked eyes wide.
"Yes, not bad... 'though I won't wanna try that when I'm a fourteen again..." She never had felt so "in-tune" with the magical gem. "I think my control will be down."
"If we ever are," Mina mumbled looking unhappy.
"Oh, we will be, Mina," Amy assured them. The others looked and found that Amy was apparently trying to do a handstand on Raye's bed. The toddler looked between her legs and added, "Sometime after lunch." She rolled to the side, plunking onto the bed and then sat up to regard Serena with an obviously antsy look. "Can we go play in the snow, Auntie?"
"Whoa!" Raye demanded, "After lunch?"
"But we haven't had breakfast yet," the blue-haired girl interjected mournfully.
'Man, she's really losing it...' Reenie thought. "Amy, Raye means that you guys will be back to normal after lunch, right?" She gave the blue-haired girl a hopeful look.
"Wight!" Amy chirped. "I'll need to run a scan on you and Mina to confirm but given what I've ascertained while scanning Lita earlier, we should be back to normal."
"I think," Serena decided before either Mina or Raye could demand further explanations, "That we should all get cleaned up and dressed." She thought of Raye's nice warm furo. "First, let's go climb into the furo." She noticed that Amy looked suddenly apprehensive.
"What's up?" Reenie asked.
"I don't wanna get splashed," the toddler said seriously. 'Or drowned.'
"Nobody will, will they?" Serena asked, eyeing Mina, Lita, and Reenie in turn. All three youngsters nodded in agreement which caused Raye to snicker. "After, Reenie can get Luna Ball to whip up some more clothes for us." She winked at the little girl. "So while we soak, I think you three..." Here Serena glanced at Lita, Amy, and Reenie. "Need to tell Raye what you cooked up when Grandpa Hino found you." The preteen paled a little. "Don't panic, Raye. It was quite a neat trick."
- - - - -
Sometime later, one woman and five girls were lounging in the furo's warm waters. Their hair was wrapped securely in towels. Mina appeared fairly upbeat as she asked, "You're positive?"
Amy looked like she wanted to answer angrily but after blowing out a huge breath in exasperation, she answered, "The data I colwected as we were preparing for the furo indicates that the process begun last night has reversed." She paused, shifted to get more comfortable and continued, "It is not the normal aging process everybody goes through, it's sped up, and by late afternoon the effect will be neurtwalized." With that, the toddler started drawing patterns in the water losing interest in what the others were doing.
"That majorly sucks," the little brunette sitting on Serena's lap muttered. She shifted backwards and wrapped Serena's arms about her like a blanket.
"You can't be serious?" Mina demanded.
"I am so," Lita snarked back. "I'm perfectly happy to be seven." 'At least, for a while longer.' Her forehead wrinkled in a frown. Mina just gaped in disbelief.
Raye decided to intercede before an argument ensued, which was a little ironic to the priestess because she normally was the one arguing with Serena. "I hope you aren't lessening Reenie's punishment just because it won't last."
"I don't know if she really should be punished," the brunette seven year old ventured. Everyone stared at her that time. "I was talking with Reenie last night and I do remember saying I kinda wished I could be a kid like her and hang out. She just wanted all of us to have fun together."
The preteen priestess frowned and asked dubiously, "Aren't you just a little miffed at your cookies being sabotaged?"
"Well yeah... I was thinking she could make me a batch and pay for the ingredients out of her allowance to make up for it." Lita glanced at Reenie who was pointedly looking out of the bathroom window. The girl was consciously keeping out of any discussion about her behavior unless Serena asked her directly. Her attention was drawn from the window to little Amy who had begun dog paddling about the furo.
"Okay, we're all affected so let's hear you out. Raye, what would you suggest?" Serena chimed in while shifting Lita off of her lap. She ignored the pout the seven year old gave her.
As the pigtailed woman shifted down into the water further, Raye answered in a firm voice, "I told you last night, Serena. Reenie needs a sound spanking." The priestess pulled her legs out of the way so that Amy could paddle by without really thinking about it. "Look, yeah it's temporary but what if we had been allergic to whatever it was she put in? What if we've all turned into infants permanently? What if we had decided to sell those cookies?" The pink-haired girl squirmed. "Whether Reenie had good intentions or not doesn't excuse the fact that she could have really hurt someone."
"Amy?"
"Wha?" the toddler asked, coming up to kneel and face Serena.
"What do you think Reenie's punishment should be?"
"I will abstain," the toddler replied, "You are acting in loco parentis..." The others blinked. "Serena is weplacing her parents in some way with your mother's consent. I trust her decisions." With that, she started swimming again, this time on her back.
"Mina?"
The younger blonde regarded Reenie for a moment, turned to Serena, and shook her head. "I'm with Amy... Loco parents and all." Raye snickered. "What?"
"Nothing," the shrine maiden commented, "So Serena?"
Serena looked at her cousin. "You have anything you want to say?" Reenie glanced towards the water and started pushing her index fingers together nervously. The Sailor Scouts glanced at each other and grinned for a moment. "Well?"
"I know I really messed up," the pink-haired seven year old admitted, speaking to the water, "I'm sorry and I really hope we don't have to tell Auntie Ellen or she's gonna go ballistic." She lifted her head and observed Serena's attentive face. "I didn't mean to hurt nobody." More softly, she went on, "I think it actually worked a little too well." She glanced to Amy and then flicked her eyes to Lita and Mina.
The middle-aged blonde tried hard not to grin at the implications. After a long pause in which Reenie went back to watching Amy paddle about the furo making while making motorboat noises, Serena sat up, stretched a little, and then nodded as if making a decision. "Okay, let's get this out of the way." There was complete silence in the room, even Amy had turned and was looking at her maternal friend. "First off, Reenie, you're going to make Lita a batch of cookies like she suggested using YOUR allowance to pay for it." Reenie nodded acceptance. "Since Amy and Mina have left it up to me, you'll be grounded to your room the rest of this week."
"Yes Ma'am," the youngster stated softly.
Serena paused a moment and then continued, "And while I'd let Raye personally spank you for causing her so much extra stress..." Reenie winced. "I think Mom's gonna take a chunk out of your hide when she finds out."
"You're gonna tell her?" Reenie squeaked.
"No other way I can explain you being grounded."
"Oh man!" the seven year old moaned, "Aunt Ellen's gonna make my butt visible from Crystal Tokyo!" Reenie suddenly sobered. "Wait a sec..."
"This isn't up for discussion, Reenie Serenity," Serena pointed out while frowning.
"Not that." Reenie was now looking rather worried. "What about you?" The other girls blinked.
"What about me?" the middle-aged woman wondered.
"Well... you changed too," Reenie pointed out while gesturing at Serena, "Or are you REALLY ticked at me?"
It took Serena few seconds to puzzle that out. Mina and Lita looked baffled. Amy quickly lost interest and went back to being a boat. Raye was the only one who seemed to understand but wasn't saying anything. After several seconds, Serena's expression smoothed and she replied, "I am very sore with you, young lady." The pink-haired girl lowered her head. "And since this was supposed to be a special treat, I think it's only fair that you lose another treat." All of the girls, save Amy, looked baffled by this. "So... After we're done here, you, Miss Reenie Serenity Tsukino, are going to phone Darien and tell him that you're not allowed over to his place for a month and why you can't go over." Lita, Mina, and even Raye winced as Reenie slumped forward, looking miserable.
There was silence for about a minute and then Amy sat up and demanded of Raye, "Sing a song!"
Raye blinked, "A song?"
"Yeah a song... a nice one."
"Like what?" Raye asked. She glanced at the wall clock. "I really should get started helping Grandpa soon... visitors will be showing up and he'll need help."
"Pwease?!" Amy asked while giving Raye a sad puppy-dog look.
"Well, what song?" the priestess asked, trying hard not to be too terse.
"The Bumblebee Song!" the toddler declared.
"The what?" Mina and Lita asked at the same time that Serena firmly said, "Not before breakfast." Amy pouted.
"The what song?" Reenie asked glancing between Amy and Serena.
"The Bumblebee Song," Amy grumbled. "I think Waye could sing it very well. I admire her vocal resonances!"
"Thanks, Amy, but I don't know that one."
"Even if you did, we won't be hearing it before breakfast," the middle-aged blonde reiterated firmly.
"Why?" Reenie asked, puzzled. Serena only shook her head.
There was a long pause and then Mina declared, "Now that that's settled, everyone. What's for breakfast?"
"Pancakes!" Lita and Amy exclaimed.
"Um..." the raven-haired preteen looked mildly troubled, "What are we gonna tell Grandpa and Chad about Serena? Kids are one thing but she's a complete stranger to them."
"I could use the Disguise Pen," Serena suggested.
"What's the Disguise Pen?" the pink-haired youngster asked.
By way of answer, Serena stood up and carefully climbed out of the furo. Dripping wet, she donned her bathrobe from the pile that Luna Ball had produced for them and made a flicking motion. A moment later, the magical pen appeared in her hands. She held it out for Reenie to examine it. "Oh," was Reenie's only comment before she asked, "What's it do?"
"It uses magic to help change your appearance," Serena explained as she stood outside the furo. "Watch." The blonde lifted the pen above her head. "Disguise Pen... make me a fourteen year old schoolgirl!"
When the swirl of light faded, Mina began to laugh. Raye quickly covered her mouth to smother the shocked expression she was giving Serena. It took the Princess of the Moon a few moments to figure out what the problem was.
While she hadn't changed size nor grown a day younger, something definitely had happened. Gone were the bathrobe and hair towel. Instead, a middle-school sailor-style uniform now provocatively hugged her adult form. A large powder blue ribbon cutely adorned each streaming golden pigtail, which had lost their meatballs. Reenie watched in puzzlement as her strangely dressed cousin blushed. "So that's what got Darien attracted to you," Raye drawled. This caused Serena blush to deepen.
Amy swam over and peered over the edge. "You're not supposed to wear shoes in here!" she admonished her grownup friend. Serena lifted a foot to examine the black Mary Jane shoes and white knee-length socks she now wore.
"Jeez, I didn't know you were into role-playing!" the little Goddess of Love exclaimed and then immediately looked repentant when the much older blonde gave her a severe look.
"What do you mean role-playing? Like acting?" Reenie innocently questioned. This set the raven-haired preteen into a fit of giggles. 'Everybody's losing their minds!' Reenie decided and looked with worry up at Serena. "I think whatever Luna Ball put inta the cookies is starting to do things..." She glanced towards the giggling Raye and the snickering Mina.
"Don'tcha worry, kiddo," Lita consoled the pink-haired girl, "I don't get it either." 'Although I doubt Miss Haruna would let her into class dressed in that gettup.'
Serena patted her uniform then felt her hair. "Well, at least I'm dry." Lita snickered. "Lita..." The brunette only grinned.
"Sorwy Mommy."
Amy suddenly asked, "What do you get when you pour hot water down a rabbit hole?"
"What?" Reenie asked, puzzled. Mina looked nonplussed.
"Hot cross bunnies!" the toddler declared and started giggling.
Serena groaned and deactivated the Disguise Pen's magic. 'I'll never hear the end of this.' She stood back in her bathrobe and with her meatballs intact. "At least, I'm dry still... So like why didn't that work?" She then nudged their resident genius inside the furo. "Well?"
Amy sighed. "I conjecture that since you are under effects of another magical process, the Disguise Pen would likely not have the ability to override it."
"Oh..."
"Well... there's just no way to explain you really," Raye mused. "At least that I can think of."
"Well," the pigtailed began cheerfully, "I don't think that's a real problem. We'll just have Reenie use Luna Ball on him and let it worry about it."
"And if it can't?" Lita asked. "Mommy, this is serious. Nobody can make pancakes like you."
"Come on, Lita. She ain't your mom," Mina retorted.
"Nuh huh... Until I'm big, she is," Lita countered and stuck her tongue out. The Orange Scout rolled her eyes. "Just watch your step, SAILOR P."
"Lita," Serena growled as Mina's face took on a red flush.
"Okay, okay... truce," the seven year old offered while holding up her hands. "Sorry." Mina stuck her tongue out for a moment but then smiled. Then the little blonde giggled as her stomach rumbled.
"I think," Serena announced, "That is the call for breakfast." She hefted a large bath towel. "Come on, girls. Time to get out of there. Ames, you first and we'll get you dried off."
End of Chapter 9
Coming next in Chapter 10 - Snow, Play, and Interventions
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