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The Cardians
Part Three
By
Angel Raye

Annika quietly walked with her mother down to the entrance where the Chibi Senshi met to walk to school together. She was dreading going to school this morning. In the last couple of weeks Miyaki started picking on her again. Annika hated it. She had always been teased because she was a crybaby but Miyaki's teasing was malicious. She always ruined Annika's day.
Raye's psychic powers made her aware of Annika's dread. She had been waiting quietly for her child to speak up but so far she hadn't. Finally Raye stopped walking and knelt down in front of her daughter. "What's bothering you Sweetheart?"
"I don't want to go to school today," Annika replied.
"Why not," Raye asked as she ran her fingers through Annika's violet tresses.
"Miyaki will pick on me again," Annika murmured as her eyes filled with tears.
Raye sighed and pulled Annika into her arms. Annika normally liked school but Miyaki ruined it for her. As a result Annika hated getting up in the morning. Raye was seriously considering requesting that Annika not be in the same class as Miyaki next year. "You've just got to ignore her Baby," Raye told her. "I know it's easier said than done but you need to try."
"I know Mama," Annika choked. "And I do try. Aunt Amy always tells me to try too."
"You do have something I didn't have at your age," Raye told her. Annika looked up into her mother's eyes. "You have friends. I didn't have any until I was fourteen, when I met the queen. Gloria, the twins and all the other Chibi Senshi love you very much. Maybe that's one of the reasons Miyaki is so mean. She probably doesn't have any friends like that."
Annika contemplated what her mother said. It was true that Miyaki only really had Nozomi as a friend. But she didn't seem to care.
Raye smiled and kissed Annika on the head. "Come on," she stated. "You don't want to be late." Annika took her mother's hand and continued on toward the palace entrance.

"Come on Gloria," Daisy was saying. "We know you released the Cardians. So why don't you just admit it?"
"I didn't," Gloria snapped. "How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"We don't believe you," Madelyn replied. "It's something you would have done."
"Yes," Faith added. "No one else would do something that dumb."
"I didn't do it," Gloria shouted angrily.
"Yes you did," Maggie told her. "And you know it."
"Cool it everyone," Rini ordered as she came up. "Leave her alone. I believe her and you should too."
"Never," Hope muttered.
Ariel listened to the entire exchange with a strong feeling of guilt. She went over to her mother who was talking with some of the other Senshi. "Mommy," she said tugging at Amy's skirt.
"Yes Darling," Amy immediately turned to the little girl. She had been trying to find out what Ariel had on her mind.
Ariel opened her mouth but then lost her nerve again. "Never mind," she sighed. Amy shook her head with worry. Ariel's strange behavior had her very concerned. It wasn't like her child to be so bottled up. She could tell that Ariel had something on her mind.
"Here we are," Raye announced as she arrived with Annika. "Sorry we're late. We had some problems this morning."
"We all have those," Lita assured her. Everyone kissed their children good bye and watched as they headed off to school. Once they were gone Lita noticed Amy's concerned face. "Is something wrong Amy?"
"I'm concerned about Ariel," Amy replied. "She has something on her mind and she won't tell me what it is. At first I think she is going to tell me and then she changes her mind. It's not like her to keep something that is bothering her from me."
"I wouldn't be too concerned," Serenity stated. "I think if it were something really serious then Ariel would tell you."
"You're right," Amy sighed. But she could not shake off this feeling of concern.

"I can't believe this," Gloria groaned to Annika during lunch that day. The other girls had spent the entire way to school telling Gloria that she should just confess. No matter how many times Gloria denied releasing the Cardians the other girls were still convinced it was her who had done it. "I didn't release those Cardians. Why can't they believe me?"
"I believe you," Annika whispered softly
"Thank you Annika," Gloria sighed. "Do you really believe me or are you just saying that because you are my best friend?"
"I really believe you," Annika replied. "Besides if you were lying then my psychic powers would have let me know."
"That's right," Gloria exclaimed. "Do you know who did it?" Annika shook her head. "Oh well," Gloria sighed. They were going to have to find the culprit another way.

At the end of the day Annika had to use the bathroom before heading home. She told Gloria, Hope and Ariel that she would meet them outside and then dashed off to the bathroom. When she came out of her stall her heart dropped to her feet. Miyaki and Nozomi were waiting for her.
"A crybaby like you shouldn't be using the bathroom," Miyaki informed her. "You should be in nursery school getting your diapers checked."
"Leave me alone," Annika whispered as she moved toward the sink to wash her hands.
"Maybe we should check her diapers ourselves," Miyaki told Nozomi.
"Maybe we should," Nozomi giggled.
"Stay away from me," Annika cried.
"Grab her Nozomi," Miyaki ordered. "And I'll check her diapers."
Annika tried to get away but Nozomi was taller than she was. Annika felt as Nozomi grabbed her arms and held them back. Annika began screaming as she tried to get free. If she could turn into Chibi Mars then she would be able to free herself from Nozomi but as Annika she couldn't.
"Okay crybaby now I'll check your diapers," Miyaki laughed as she moved toward Annika.
"What is going on in here," a teacher came walking in. Maggie was behind her. The teacher took one look at the situation and quickly sized everything up. She pointed to Miyaki and Nozomi. "You two to the office now." She then turned to Annika. "Are you okay honey?" Annika didn't answer. She just threw herself into Maggie's arms crying.
"I'll take care of her," Maggie informed the teacher who nodded and left with the other two girls. Maggie led Annika to the exit.
"How did you know," Annika asked between gasps and sobs.
"I just came looking for you when I heard the screaming," Maggie replied. "That's when I got the teacher."
"I want Mama," Annika cried.
"Then let's go home," Maggie stated and the two girls joined the others who were waiting.

Raye took her sobbing daughter to their quarters. Between gasps and sobs Annika told her what had happened. Raye was seething. Why couldn't people teach their children to be nice? Right now Annika was snuggled down into her arms and crying hysterically. When Annika had told her what Miyaki and Nozomi tried to do Raye had to do everything she could to keep herself from finding both of those girls and giving them each a sound spanking. She knew kids could be cruel but that was beyond cruel.
Right now Raye knew her daughter needed comfort so she worked on giving it. With quiet hushes and a loving hug Raye managed to calm the child down. "It's okay Baby," she soothed. "It sounds like Miyaki got into trouble. Maybe she'll leave you alone now."
"But Mama I was so afraid that she was going to do what she was saying," Annika choked. "I never would have been able to come back to school if she did that."
Raye made a private note in her mind to talk to Miyaki's mother. This was going too far now. Something had to be done.

The next day Raye went over to where Miyaki's mother worked. She was going to talk with her about her daughter. Miyaki's mother, Hitomi Chino worked in a small shop that sold knick-knacks. Annika loved that store but always-made sure Miyaki's mother wasn't there before she went in. She feared that if Miyaki's mother was there then Miyaki would be there.
Raye saw Hitomi straightening up some things on the shelves. She went right over to her. "Chino-san," she said.
Hitomi looked up from her work, "Lady Mars. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I need to talk to you about our daughters," Raye replied. "I want you to get your child to leave mine alone."
"You need to get your child to fight her own battles," Hitomi pointed out.
"We're working with her on that," Raye told her as she fought to keep her temper down. She hated it when someone else criticized her daughter. "She's a very shy, sweet and sensitive little girl. Annika lacks confidence where standing up for herself is concerned. But Miyaki is making things miserable for her and I want it stopped."
"She's been punished at school," Hitomi stated. "What more do you want?"
"Involvement on your part," Raye said. "I want you to do something about Miyaki. She could care less if the school punishes her. I want your daughter to leave my Annika alone."
"Don't tell me how to raise my daughter," Hitomi snapped. "I am a single mother struggling to raise two children on my own. I'm not like you who have a husband and lives in a palace without any worries. I do not need you palace people coming and lecturing me on child raising."
"You think just because I live in the palace my life is easy," Raye snapped back. "I worry everyday. I worry about what would happen to my child if I get killed defending the world. I worry that my work is going to take me away from Annika for days. Everyday when Annika goes off to school I worry about whether she will be crying or not when she gets home. So don't tell me I don't know what it's like to worry because I do know what it's like."
"I am teaching my daughter to be independent," Hitomi told her. "I will not get involved in her battles."
"Very well," Raye snapped angrily. "Then you can at least warn your daughter. If she bothers my child again I will visit the school personally and do what I have to do to stop her myself. I am not going to stand by and let my child be harassed by another. Your child is a cruel child and she will end up alone without anyone if she doesn't get her act together."
"How dare you," Hitomi raged.
"I've said all I need to say," Raye stated. "Just don't say I didn't warn you." With that she left the shop.

"Did you see crybaby looking all worried at you today," Nozomi laughed as she and Miyaki got an ice cream together after school. "I bet she was afraid you were going to do something to her today."
"I noticed," laughed Miyaki. "Well as soon as our recess detention is over we can think of some other ways to get her to cry."
"Shouldn't be too hard," Nozomi pointed out and she and Miyaki laughed again.
Suddenly they heard a sound behind them. The two girls turned and saw a strange creature that looked a little like a mermaid. "Nani," Miyaki shrieked.
"A monster," Nozomi shouted. She dropped her ice cream and the two girls tried to run. The creature grabbed them with her hair. They both screamed. White dust like particles began to shower on them.
"I feel so weak," Miyaki moaned as her eyes began to droop.
Huddled around a corner Annika watched all of this. She was on her way home from school when she heard screams. She ran to investigate and saw Miyaki and Nozomi being attacked by a Cardian. Annika clutched her henshin wand in her hand and watched for a few more minutes. "I wish it wasn't Miyaki," Annika thought to herself. She really wanted to leave but she knew she had to do the right thing. She flipped open her communicator. "Minna," she called. "There's a Cardian over by the ice cream shop. I need help. Please come." A stream of replies came back to her. Annika held up her wand. "MARS POWER MAKE UP!" Flames burst out of her wand and surrounded her. Her school uniform melted into her Senshi uniform. Once transformation was complete Chibi Mars ran to the scene. "Hold it right there," she shouted. The Cardian turned to her. "Those two girls may be mean brats but it doesn't give you the right to take their energy. I am agent of love and justice a pretty soldier in a Sailor suit, Sailor Chibi Mars. On behalf of Mars I will chastise you."
The Cardian laughed and turned toward Chibi Mars. It whipped out its hair to hit Chibi Mars. Chibi Mars jumped out of the way and powered up. "MARS FIRESTORM!" Her ball of fire flew out and hit the Cardian. That only angered her. With her tail she hit Chibi Mars who was sent flying. The energy stealing particles began to rain on Chibi Mars. She felt her energy drain. "Hurry up Minna," she mumbled. "I'm losing my energy."
"MARS FLAME SNIPER!" The attack flew out and the particles stopped falling. Sailor Mars picked up her daughter. "I remember when you invaded my school festival back in the 20th century," she shouted. "Well you won't hurt my daughter or anyone else."
"And we won't let you either," another voice called. Sailor Cosmic Moon jumped forward. "I am Sailor Cosmic Moon and in the name of the moon I will punish you."
"And the rest of us are," called Chibi Venus. "Sailor Chibi Venus!"
"Sailor Chibi Mercury!"
"Sailor Chibi Jupiter!"
"Sailor Chibi Pluto!"
"Sailor Chibi Uranus!"
"Sailor Chibi Neptune!"
"Sailor Chibi Saturn!"
"Come on girls let's see some attacks," shouted Cosmic Moon.
"Right," called Chibi Neptune and she powered up along with Chibi Uranus and Chibi Jupiter.
"STREAM REFLECTION!"
"VIBRATING SWORD BLAST!"
"JUPITER DEADLY LIGHTENING BOLT!"
The three attacks flew out and hit the Cardian, badly weakening her. "Now Cosmic Moon," shouted Sailor Mars.
"Right," Cosmic Moon pulled out her scepter. "MOON PRINCESS HEALING KISS!" The attack flew out and engulfed the Cardian.
"Cleansing," it shouted as it turned back into a card. Chibi Venus picked it up.
"Give me that," snapped Chibi Uranus. "All this is your fault. Do you really think I am going to let you handle the Cardians?"
"It wasn't me," shouted Chibi Venus.
"Yes it was," Chibi Jupiter shouted.
"Girls," Sailor Mars boomed in a voice that told everyone to be quiet. "You ladies aren't accomplishing anything by blaming one another. Now there is no solid proof as to who did it so I suggest you stop blaming Chibi Venus."
There were a few grumbles but no one said anything else. The Chibi Senshi continued to glare at Chibi Venus while Chibi Mercury looked on with a strong feeling of guilt.

"I was proud of you today," Raye told her daughter that evening right before bedtime. Annika was snuggled onto her lap just enjoying being with her mother right now.
"You were," asked Annika.
"Yes," Raye told her. "I know how you feel about Miyaki. It was good to see that you can put personal feelings aside and do the right thing."
"Mama," Annika whispered. "I really wanted to let that Cardian drain Miyaki and Nozomi of their energy."
"I'm sure you did," Raye replied. "But you didn't and for that I am proud."
Annika smiled and continued snuggling with Raye. At least she did the right thing.

Amy was tucking Ariel into bed. The child had been quiet all evening. Amy had to find out what was wrong with her daughter. "Ariel," she stated. "You trust Mommy don't you?"
"Yes," Ariel replied wondering where this was leading.
"Then please tell me what is on your mind," Amy coaxed.
"What do you mean Mommy," asked Ariel.
"I know something is bothering you," Amy told her. "You've been trying to tell me something and then you stop. I'm worried about you."
"I'm fine Mommy," Ariel tried to assure her mother.
Amy wasn't convinced. "Ariel I want to know what is wrong with you," she told her.
"There's nothing wrong," Ariel flatly stated.
Amy sighed. She could see she wasn't getting anywhere. "All right Darling," she said. She tucked Ariel into bed. "But you will tell me when something is bothering you right?"
"Yes Mommy," Ariel replied.
Amy kissed Ariel, "Good night Sweetie. I love you."
"I love you too," Ariel murmured. Amy left the room. Ariel felt a tear fall down her face. "I can't tell you what an awful thing I did Mommy. I just can't."

To be continued...