Parallaxis
By Devon Masterson
Prologue
"I can't believe those poster girls for rejects beat me," Beryl ranted as she adjusted her parasol to shade herself from the harsh starlight of the desert planet. The little trip was supposed to be an attempt at relieving stress, but only failure was on the mind. "Those cretins are only fifteen years old. How could they possibly…"
"Mother, calm yourself," her daughter interrupted. "Losing your composure only leaves you vulnerable and unable to retaliate. As a lady, you should always be with grace."
"You're right, Xandrite," Beryl agreed. She took a deep breath for composure then shifted her tone. "Metallia is all talk. Those simpletons destroyed her rather easily. The only thing that braggart actually did do right was kill that bratty cone head, Rini."
"She was quite a pest, her and that thing she carried around," Xandrite laughed as she imagined Rini ripped to shreds before her eyes once more. She brushed her soft pink hair to the side slightly and tilted her parasol to shield her ruby eyes from the glare of the sun. "What was it… a stuffed animal head?"
"At least she was good for something… a laugh," Beryl added.
"I'm good for a laugh, eh?" a voice shook, moving the ground as well.
"It can't be," Beryl screamed out as the ground swallowed them up.
"Uh!" they both grunted after finally hitting the ground.
"Beryl, your cockiness is beyond belief. Those children never had a chance of destroying me," Metallia's voice boomed in the underground cave. "To think otherwise shows your stupidity."
"Why you…"
"Silence!" Metallia shrieked, "I have another use for you, Beryl, you and the girl." A green acidic mist started to surround the two vixens. Metallia laughed as the two screamed in pain from their flesh burning. "Pure comedy…"
XYZ
Not in Crystal Tokyo Anymore
Axis One
"We'll always love you, please remember that," a voice called in the distance as pink-haired traveler fell through the sky and to her new destiny.
On the Earth, a group of teenagers walked solemnly. It had been a rough week for them and everything seemed to be going wrong. "Mina, we'll get that witch back for this" Serena sighed as she put her arm around Mina. The two girls could almost pass for twins they looked so similar in features. The only way to tell them apart right away was their hairstyles. Serena always wore her trademarked double bun style with long ponytails flowing from them and Mina always wore a barrette of some kind.
"Thanks," she responded sadly.
"That bitch is going to be toast," Rei and Lita said at the same time.
"I agree. It's time for the troglodyte to go down," Ami affirmed as she shifted her books in her arm.
"I'm glad we're all in agreement, girls," Serena commented as she looked in Rei's direction. "Meeting tonight at your house at 6."
"Why my place?" Rei asked curiously.
"Because you have the most space and…"
"And you want to borrow my magazines right?" Rei asked.
Serena blushed. "If you really must insist, Rei. How can I turn down a good friend like you?"
Rei drew in a deep breath. "You are such a slacker you know that?"
"But isn't that why you love me?" Serena replied as she hugged her friend. The others started to laugh as they watched the exchange between the two girls, including Mina. "Well my job is done for the day. Everyone is smiling."
"You guys are the best," Mina smiled as they started walking once more.
"So are you…" Serena began when she hit the ground. It all happened so quickly. Something just knocked her down to the ground.
"Rini!" Mina cried out as she rushed toward Serena and picked the young girl up. In her excitement and shock she left Serena on the ground. "You're okay! I thought…We saw you…I'm just glad you're ok." All the girls surrounded the young girl greeting her and hugging.
"Damn! What hit me?" Serena asked as she sat up. Her head hurt like a truck. "Thanks for helping me…out…guys," her sarcasm trailed as she saw the girls holding Rini. "Rini!"
Rini turned her head towards Serena and jumped out of Mina's arms. "Mama!" she cried out as she ran to Serena. Everyone's eyes widened as the pre-teen hugged Serena so tightly and cried. "You're alive."
"Mama?" Serena asked. "I'm not your…Mi…"
"It's ok, Serena," Mina replied. She turned to Rini and touched her tenderly. "We're just glad just glad that you're alive."
"I narrowly escaped the nega…You're glad that I'm alive?" Rini let go of Serena and stepped back. "What did you think happened to me?"
"We saw you…" Lita began.
"Not now, Lita, Rini is exhausted and needs rest," Mina interrupted.
"I want to hear what she had to say," Rini pleaded. "Please continue."
Lita looked toward Mina who gave her approval reluctantly. "We saw you killed by Beryl's monster…"
"But we didn't expect for you to be re-born," Mina added. "We're glad you're back."
"So the Rini of this universe is dead and it's all my fault," Rini cried. "We can't exist in the same space so she had to die."
The girls looked at the young girl blankly. "What are you talking about?" Rei asked as she looked at Rini suspiciously. She stared into the crying girl's eyes as though she could see into her heart. "You're not our Rini! Who are you?"
"What are you talking about, girl? Of course she's Rini," Lita commented.
"No, she's not. She doesn't have the guidance of Venus with her. She's familiar but there's something wrong," Rei replied as she backed up. "She might be the enemy sent to trick us."
"I'll do a scan," Ami commented as she brought out her computer.
Rini started to back up in fear. She had never expected them to perceive her as the enemy and why would she have the guidance of Venus she was from the moon. "You're right I'm not your Rini. I'm from another universe. Mine was destroyed. I am from the moon kingdom…"
"There's no way," Serena yelled out as she blushed. "Take that back."
"It's true," Rini replied angrily.
"Prove it, you little spore," Serena challenged.
"She's the same everywhere." Rini smiled. "I'll prove it," she replied. She concentrated and then screamed out. Her crescent birthright showed on her forehead as her power showed forth.
"Okay, okay! We get it," Serena replied as she say peopled starting to gather around. "She's just throwing a temper tantrum." Serena covered Rini's forehead and motioned to the other girls to run off.
"You have a lot of explaining to do," Rei huffed as bent over to catch her breath. They were now in a private area were prying eyes would not see.
"So do you," Rini replied. She climbed out of Serena's arms. "Everything seems different here. I always thought…that…"
"Maybe we should tell you a little about us," Mina suggested brightly. "You know Serena our leader…"
"I want to know stuff that's different," Rini interrupted.
"Okay then, sleep over at my house. No parents. No funny questions," Serena declared as she started to walk away.
"I'll catch you later at seven," Ami called as she started off in another direction, "I'm tutoring the head of the football team."
Serena nodded. "We'll catch ya' later and save some your strength in case something happens."
"Always," Ami winked.
Rini watched curiously as Ami ran off. "I'm glad she's getting out more. Maybe she'll get a date."
"Get a date?" Lita asked. "That's the reason she 'tutors' as she calls it. Studying is the only thing she's on her feet for…"
"Lita!" Rei scolded.
"She's a great friend but we all know it's true," Lita remarked, "besides I'm trying to tell her about our differences, and our Ami not being a nerdy, virgin, book worm is a big difference."
Rei huffed. "Never mind."
"Yikes, Ami's a whore! Now that's something I never expected." Rini looked at the familiar faces escorting her to her new destiny. Mina wasn't wearing a bow in her hair and none of the guardians were in sight. Rei and Lita seemed more connected than in her universe almost like they grew up together. All the girls were wearing rather short skirts, but that was nothing out of the ordinary, however Serena was wearing black and that was rather odd.
"Don't listen to my big mouth sister, Rini," Lita remarked as she stuck her tongue out at Rei.
"Children don't need to hear about…"
"Which brings us to the high and mighty, stuck up brat that I love so much because she's my sister," Lita chuckled after seeing Rei's face. "She only dates men over twenty-five that have expensive cars and fat wallets."
"A girl has to have her standards," Rei replied casually. She ran her hands through her long dark raven hair. "I'd never get a date if I stayed in grandpa's creepy old temple all day like you, Lita."
"Funny," Lita said sarcastically. "I get plenty of dates. I just don't have to have call girl status."
"Oh yeah?" Rei asked angrily. She pulled out an ofudo.
"Yeah," Lita replied as she brought out an ofudo as well. "Bring the noise."
"My pleasure." Rei started a demon dispersion chant.
Serena moved between the two sisters before either could start to do damage. "Look, this is what is going to happen. You two kiss and make up. We're going to my apartment. I just bought groceries so Lita can make dinner and, Rei, you will assist her. We'll talk about everything when everybody gets there. Good plan?"
"Good plan," the girls sighed. They each withdrew and started walking once more.
"That's what I like, happy, happy!" Serena smiled. She grabbed Rini's hand. "Everything will be ok. It's not as crazy as you think," she whispered in assurance.
"I'm in the twilight zone!!" Rini mentally screamed. What had Setsuna been thinking when she sent her there. Everything was so crazy here. Ami was well rounded…well sort of. She at least got around. Lita and Ami where sisters and bickered a lot. Mina was still a puzzle and Serena actually acted like a leader. The only thing left that would shock her would be find out…
"Darien's gay!!!" Rini choked. She nearly spilled her milk finding out that information.
"He is not," Mina replied annoyed. She was getting tired of all the Darien bashing. "Serena, that was a year ago and…"
"I don't want to talk about," Serena interrupted.
Mina took note and shifted the subject. "What made you ask about him, dear?"
"In my world he's my father."
"Oh no! I'm married to that jerk!" Serena shrieked. "Not even if he were the last guy on earth and I had a turkey baster."
"That's sick," Rei said as she scrunched her nose.
"That was a tad graphic, Serena," Ami mentioned. "Though I have to admit clever."
"Thank you, Ami," Serena bowed.
"You guys are too weird," Rini cried and then ran out.
Serena sighed and went after her. It was her fault that Rini ran off so she should apologize. The new comer was not used to her brand of teasing. "Rini," Serena called softly as she put her hand on the young girl's shoulder. "I'm sorry for the 'Darien crack.' I know he's your father in your world…and this one."
Rini turned around. "He is?"
"The others don't know that I know Mina's been sneaking around with him. I make it my business to know where everybody is at all times. I have to know that they are safe," Serena remarked. "There was only one time that I didn't… when I went to the future. There I met the future Mina as queen of the Earth. She told something that I have never told the others. It was my trip to the future that kept me from saving the Rini of this universe. I came back just as it happened. We were able to destroy Metallia, but we couldn't save Rini."
"That must've been hard," Rini remarked as she hugged Serena.
"You're pretty mature for a little kid," Serena smiled.
Rini frowned. "I know I act like a kid sometimes and I look like one, but I'm nine hundred years old thank you." She blew a raspberry then smiled.
Serena's mouth gaped open in surprise. "How old am I in your universe?"
"You had me when you were two thousand years old, but when I lived with you as a teenager you were just a little over a thousand."
"Damn, I'm ancient!" Serena exclaimed.
Rini smacked Serena's hand. "You shouldn't curse. A lady limits her expression by using crude words. She should always be with grace, seasoned with salt that she may speak to anyone."
"Huh?"
Rini blushed slightly. "Momma said it to me whenever I got mad and slipped. She said it was one of the precepts of being a lady. Well actually she said rules. Ami said precepts ." Rini sighed toward the end, a little embarrassed. "She didn't do well in school at first, but she got better at the end. She got C's."
"We're definitely different there," Serena chuckled. "I make A's. It drives the teachers crazy. They say how can I possibly pass when I'm asleep most of the time. They even tried to suspend me for cheating. They're always putting me into detention."
"In my world you're there because you're always late."
"I can't stand being late! I set my clock ahead just so I can be on time," Serena smiled.
"Well at least your mom doesn't have to try and wake you up anymore."
Serena's expression darkened somewhat. "I never knew my parents. Not even my real ones. I live alone. They left some money so I'm able to take care of myself. All I know about my real mother, the queen, is that she's a beautiful red head named Angel."
"There's so much different…"Rini began, "I guess I'll have to get used to it." Her face brightened then she hugged Serena. "I'm glad to see you again."
"I'm glad to see you too," she smiled. She actually felt comforted and safe with the young girl's arms wrapped around her. Perhaps everything was going to work out after all.
Author's note:
I hope people enjoy this story. If you love it, tell me what you think. If you hate it, take the time to tell me how much. Just let me know!
© 2001 Devon Masterson
Another Bond Girl Production
I think we all know who's original and who's not so don't sue me. I own Alexandrite a.k.a. Xandrite. That's the only main character that I'm introducing so there! I use these stories as therapy so I won't start swinging from trees in medical school.