Hi Minna. I am on to Part four of "Emiko." I hope you enjoy it. Sorry it took so long to update but I have been very busy. Review please.
For all you Chibi Mercury fans I know some of you have missed seeing Ariel's mischievous side. It will start coming back out in this story. Little Ariel is going to be very jealous of Emiko because she is taking her place as the baby of the group.
E-mail me at AngelRaye2@aol.com
Come and see the Chibi Senshi at http://www.craiger.dns2go.com/chibiscouts/index.html
The message board had to be moved to a new address. Come and check it out at www.ice-rose.net/chibiscouts.
I am having a fan art contest to celebrate the site's 10,000th hit since September of 2001. Please check out the site or the message board for details.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. With the exception of Rini I own the Chibi Senshi.
Emiko
Part Four
By
Angel Raye
Gloria sat on her bed smiling as Emiko cleaned her room. Maybe having this little shrimp around wouldn't be so bad after all. The little girl was only too eager to do things for Gloria.
"Gloria Kathryn Aino what do you think you are doing," Mina suddenly demanded from the doorway.
"Mommy," Emiko's large eyes grew larger as she saw her angry mother in the doorway.
"Mom she wanted to clean my room," Gloria proclaimed innocently.
"And you were only too happy to let her do it so that you wouldn't have too," Mina speculated. She knew her daughter all to well to know that Gloria would do whatever she could to get out of extra work. "Well forget it. You are doing your chores and you are not going to get Emiko to do them."
"Was I bad Mommy," Emiko asked.
"No Darling you weren't," assured Mina as she picked the little girl up. "But you mustn't do Gloria's chores. She has to do them herself."
"I wanna help Onee-san," whined Emiko.
"Not this way," Mina muttered knowing that Gloria would take advantage of Emiko if she could. She turned back to Gloria. "Breakfast is ready. After you get home from school you are to come straight here and do the extra chores I have written out for you."
"Why should I," Gloria snapped rudely. "All I did was play a little joke on Daisy."
"Watch your manners," commanded Mina. "Now let's go and have breakfast."
After breakfast with Emiko in her arms Mina walked Gloria down to the palace entrance to meet up with the other children so that they could walk to school together. Kadiri was going to be down there and she was going to take Emiko. On the way they ran into Amy carrying Ariel. "Good morning," Mina greeted them.
"Good morning Mina," Amy replied. She smiled at Emiko. Immediately Ariel's arms went tightly around Amy's neck. "Ariel darling don't squeeze to hard."
"Sorry Mommy," Ariel murmured as she loosened her grip. She glared at Emiko. Gloria quickly noticed it and the wheels in her head began turning.
"What's wrong Ariel," Mina asked gently. Although Ariel had been making great strides in her therapy, she was still not completely back to the way she was so the Senshi were very gentle with her.
"We've been very clingy," Amy replied. "More so then usual." The group arrived at the entrance where the other children were already there. Kadiri was there too. She walked over to Mina.
"Kadiri," Emiko squealed in delight.
"Hi Emiko," Kadiri took the little girl from Mina. "Have we been good?"
"Very good," Mina replied.
Daisy and Maggie walked over to Emiko and Kadiri. "She's so kawaii," cooed Daisy.
"She is," Maggie agreed. She looked up at Mina. "Can we help look after her when we get home from school?" Ariel's eyes burned with envy.
"Let's see how much homework you girls have first," Lita stated as she came over. She smiled at Emiko and patted her on the head.
Raye came over with Annika. "See Annika," she whispered. "She's just a kawaii little girl who is far away from her home. But she won't replace you in my heart."
"You're right Mama," Annika whispered. She looked closely at Emiko. "She is kawaii."
Ariel glowered again. Even Annika was saying how kawaii Emiko was. Amy had put her down but Ariel wrapped her arms tightly around her mother's waist so that Emiko couldn't get near her. It was bad enough that Emiko was charming everyone else but Ariel wasn't going to let her charm Amy.
"All right girls we need to get going," Rini called. The children all said goodbye to their mothers and then headed off to school. Gloria noticed Ariel sticking her tongue out at Emiko. No one else did.
"Kadiri is really nice," Madelyn told Ariel as the two walked together. "She and I are going to go to the movies this weekend."
"Good for you," Ariel muttered, still glowering at the fact that Emiko was taking her place as the baby.
"What's with you," Madelyn asked, noticing her friend's sulkiness.
"Nothing," grunted Ariel.
Gloria came running up with Annika. "Madelyn why don't you and Annika walk together for a minute," she suggested in a smooth voice. "I need to talk to Ariel."
"What are you up too," Annika asked her best friend suspiciously. She knew that smooth voice of Gloria's all too well.
"Nothing," replied Gloria innocently, which heightened Annika's suspicions even more. Knowing Gloria's knack at causing trouble and Ariel's knack at getting into mischief Annika and Madelyn decided to go on ahead. Whatever they were up too Annika and Madelyn didn't want to have anything to do with it.
Ariel turned to Gloria. "What do you want," she asked.
"I saw you sticking your tongue out at Emiko," Gloria said. "Don't you like her?"
"No," Ariel snapped. She turned angrily to Gloria. "I'm the baby, not her. I don't want her taking my place." She was quiet for a minute and then turned to Gloria. "Why are you asking me this?"
"Emiko is kawaii," admitted Gloria. "But now I have to share my parents with her and I don't like it. I also can't play my music after a certain time because Emiko is sleeping. She is a bother."
"So," Ariel asked. "What has that got to do with me?"
"With your brains and Luna P and my pranks we could have some fun with this kid," Gloria replied smoothly. She looked at the younger child. "Would you like to help me?"
Ariel thought hard for a moment. She knew it was usually trouble to join Gloria when she was up to something but she hated the idea that she was being replaced as the baby. Also she herself hadn't gotten into trouble because she had been so traumatized. Maybe it was time to get into fun stuff again. "Okay," she agreed. "I'll help you."
The next day after school all of the Chibi Senshi got together with their mentors. Gloria was glad that she didn't have to share Setsuna with Emiko. She found it very trying having the four-year-old around. Emiko went to bed at seven so Gloria was not allowed to play her music after that time. This annoyed the Chibi Senshi of Venus immensely. What also annoyed Gloria was that Emiko was constantly underfoot. Every time she turned around the little girl was there. Gloria had been scolded several times for snapping at Emiko and making her cry. Gloria was very fed up with the entire situation. So she was glad to be spending time with Setsuna. The two of them went to the palace dining room to decorate it for Christmas. Michiru and Ariel were also there. The four of them were having a great time.
"Ooh look in here," Kadiri said as she came in with Emiko. Ariel and Gloria scowled. "Doesn't it look pretty Emiko?"
"Yes," Emiko agreed.
"Hello you two," Michiru greeted them. "What brings you here?"
"We're walking around the palace look at all the pretty decorations being put up," replied Kadiri. "Serenity and Madelyn along with Raye, Rini, Mina and Faith are putting the tree up in the living room."
"What's Mommy doing," Ariel asked.
"She's with Annika, Lita and Maggie decorating the ballroom," Kadiri informed her. "And Haruka, Daisy, Hotaru and Hope are decorating the entrance hall."
"Looks like you've gotten into the some of the decorations Emiko," Setsuna exclaimed with a laugh. The little girl had tinsel and ribbons in her hair and on her dress.
"Mommy put the tinsel on me," Emiko chirped happily. She went up to Gloria. "Can I help Onee-san?"
"No," Gloria grumbled. She didn't want this squirt underfoot while she was spending time with her mentor. "Get away from me."
"Gloria," Setsuna scolded. "Be nice."
Michiru knelt down in front of the child. "You are just too kawaii," she cooed. "I remember when the twins were this size." This was too much for Ariel to hear. She went over to Michiru pushing Emiko out of the way. Emiko fell to the floor and began to cry. "Ariel," exclaimed Michiru in shock. "That wasn't very nice."
"So," snapped Ariel in a moody voice.
"You apologize to her right now," Michiru commanded in a stern voice as Kadiri helped Emiko to her feet and began to check her to make sure she wasn't hurt.
"I don't want to," Ariel replied folding her arms in defiance.
"Apologize Ariel," Michiru demanded again.
"I don't have too," said Ariel insolently. Suddenly Michiru gave her a swat. Ariel gave a gasp as tears formed in her dark blue eyes. It had been a while since she had received a spanking of any kind so this was a shock.
"Apologize now," Michiru commanded in a voice that told Ariel she shouldn't refuse. Ariel choked out an apology and then Michiru steered her over to the corner to sit for a few minutes. "Mommy will be hearing about this," she informed the little girl as she sat her in a chair. She then went back to the others. "Is Emiko okay?"
"She's fine," Kadiri assured her as she held the little girl in her arms.
"Ariel mean," Emiko choked.
"She's not usually," Michiru sighed. "She is usually very sweet. I don't know what the problem is today."
"Can we get back to decorating," Gloria asked in a bored voice. She didn't want to spend all of her precious time with Setsuna discussing Emiko.
"Onee-san," Emiko whimpered.
"Stop calling me that," Gloria shouted.
"I want Mommy," Emiko cried as she buried her head in Kadiri's shoulder.
"She's my mother, not yours," Gloria hissed. Setsuna gave her a sharp look.
"All right come on Emiko," Kadiri quickly carried the little girl over to the door. She turned to the others. "If you will excuse us." Setsuna and Michiru nodded and Kadiri left with the upset child.
"Gloria you were very mean to her," Setsuna scolded angrily.
"Who cares," Gloria snapped in a rude voice. "She's just a little kid."
"A little kid who has feelings," Setsuna pointed out. "This little girl clearly adores you and you are being very unkind to her."
"Well she has ruined this time of decorating," Gloria argued.
"If you ask me both you and Ariel did that," Michiru muttered casting an angry look at Ariel who was still sitting in the corner sulking. "There are going to be a couple of very upset mothers when we've finished talking with them."
Gloria just glowered and went back to decorating. What was so important about this little kid anyway?
"I wanna go home Kadiri," sobbed Emiko as they headed toward the living room. "Onee-san mean here. I wanna go home where she nice."
"I know Emiko honey," Kadiri sighed. "But you have to understand. Onee-san doesn't know who you are here. To her you are just a little kid who she has to share her mother with."
"What's going on," Mina exclaimed as Kadiri walked into the living room with Emiko in her arms.
"Onee-san mean," Emiko howled as she reached for her mother. Mina took Emiko into her arms and held her close. She looked at Kadiri, awaiting an explanation. Kadiri quickly told her what just happened.
Mina sighed. "Gloria is just so impossible right now," she stated. "She will be punished for this."
"Mommy, Onee-san don't like me anymore," Emiko sobbed. "When I home she nice to me all the time. Here she mean to me."
"Hush Darling," Mina soothed. "I'll have a talk with Gloria about this, I promise."
"Now," Serenity smiled at the little girl. "How would you like to help us decorate?"
"Can I Mommy," Emiko asked eagerly, her tears instantly disappearing.
"It's all right with me if it's all right with everyone else," laughed Mina. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Come on Kadiri," Madelyn took Kadiri's hand and pulled her over. "You help too."
"I would love too," Kadiri replied and she got to work at helping everyone decorate the palace living room.
That evening at dinner Ariel and Gloria were both in bad moods. Michiru and Setsuna had given Amy and Mina full details about what had happened with Emiko. Amy didn't spank Ariel since Michiru had already taken care of that but she let her daughter know that she didn't tolerate meanness of any kind. Ariel was in tears and her ears were burning by the time Amy had finished with her. Mina had scolded Gloria harshly and warned her that if she upset Emiko again she would be punished. So both girls just sat moodily and watched the other children play after dinner. Maggie and Daisy were just fawning all over Emiko. Maggie was teaching her a little hand game while Daisy was brushing the little girl's hair. Ariel angrily watched this. She was used to Maggie and Daisy fawning over her. But this brat was getting all of the attention instead. Not only that but Madelyn was having fun with Kadiri so she didn't pay much attention to Ariel either. Annika tried to get Gloria to join her and the twins but she was unsuccessful. She eventually left Gloria alone and played a fun game with the twins.
"You don't have to sit here you know," Mina told her daughter as she sat down next to Gloria. "You are choosing to be angry right now."
"Mom I want to know who Emiko is," Gloria demanded. "Why does she call you Mommy and me Onee-san? And why does she have to stay with us?"
"Gloria I've already explained the best I can to you," Mina patiently explained to her. "She's just a very little girl who needs someone to love her right now. You were nice to Tiffany when she was here. Why can't you be nice to Emiko?"
"Tiffany didn't annoy me," Gloria muttered. "And she was so sad all the time I had to be nice. Emiko is always happy."
"Gloria I have given you warnings," Mina stated. "I have been more then patient with you. Now I want you to start being nice or you will be punished."
"Fine," muttered Gloria. She started to get down from the couch. She stuck her feet back into her slippers and suddenly gave a yell of disgust.
"What's wrong darling," Mina asked in a puzzled voice. Gloria pulled her right foot out of her slipper. Syrup was all over it. Someone had filled her slipper with the stuff. "Now who did this?"
Daisy gave a yell of laughter as she dropped the hairbrush and rolled on the floor. "I got you Gloria," she shouted. "Now I've gotten you for the swimming pool."
"Daisy," Lita scolded angrily.
"You creep," Gloria shouted in rage. She picked up the sticky slipper and hurled it at Daisy. Unfortunately she missed Daisy and got Emiko in the head. Emiko began to cry.
"Gloria," Mina snapped as she dashed over to pick the little girl up.
"I didn't mean to get her," Gloria protested. "I was throwing it at Daisy."
"You shouldn't have been throwing slippers at all," Mina pointed out. "Now you come over here and apologize to Emiko." Grumbling Gloria trudged over and muttered an apology to Emiko.
"And you," Lita grabbed Daisy's ear. "I believe you were the one who started this."
"I was just getting even," Daisy cried.
"And look what happened," Lita replied as she dragged Daisy out of the living room.
"We're going too," Mina sighed. "I have to get this little one to bed and Gloria has a talking to in store." The Venus family bade everyone good night and left the room.
"Well another peaceful evening in the palace," Raye stated and everyone agreed.
"We might as well go too," Amy told Ariel as she got up. "All you're doing is pouting and I am not going to put up with it. With this attitude you can just go straight to bed."
"But Mommy," Ariel protested.
"No arguing," Amy commanded. She picked Ariel up. "I have not been happy with your behavior today so an early bedtime is part of the punishment." Amy and Greg bade everyone goodnight and left with a scowling Ariel.
"What's wrong with Ariel," Hope asked. "She has been so grumpy lately."
"I've noticed that too," Serenity admitted.
"She definitely has something on her mind," Michiru sighed but no one knew what was wrong.
Later that evening Gloria was in her room getting ready for bed. Emiko had gone to bed about an hour ago so Gloria could not play her music, much to her annoyance. But then again it had not been a good day. It was bad enough getting into trouble with her mother but Gloria hated getting into trouble with Setsuna. Since her mentor was the guardian of time Gloria treasured the moments she could spend with her and this afternoon had been spoiled. Then dinner had been ruined when Daisy put the syrup in her slipper. Gloria didn't mean to hit Emiko with the slipper but of course she got into trouble. "Who is this shrimp anyway," Gloria muttered.
"Nani," Artemis came into the room.
"I was wondering who Emiko really is," Gloria told him.
Artemis hesitated. He knew who Emiko really was but he also knew that Mina didn't want Gloria to know. "She's a really nice child," he told Gloria. "Don't you agree?"
"I guess so," Gloria admitted. She left her room and crept down the hall to the guest room. Emiko was curled up under the covers. Gloria quietly walked over to the bed. The light from the hall shone on Emiko's face. Gloria studied her closely. The child's blonde tresses were loose from her bows and were tumbling in her face. "She really does look a lot like Mom and me," Gloria thought. Her attention then focused on the stuffed animal in Emiko's arms. She hadn't noticed it yet. It was a green cat with a crescent moon on its head. "That looks a lot like the stuffed moon cats Annika made us," Gloria speculated. She looked at it even closer. "It's better then the cats Annika made us though. I guess an adult made this one." Gloria felt a little guilty for thinking that. Annika was very talented but since she was still a child the stuffed toys she made weren't as good as the ones Lita made. But as the other Senshi said if Annika kept it up she would be as good when she grew up. "But why would Emiko have a stuffed moon cat," Gloria asked herself.
"Onee-san," Emiko sleepily murmured as she stirred.
"Sorry," Gloria whispered. "I was looking at your cat."
"Moon Cat," Emiko replied with a yawn. "He misses his friends." With that she dropped back off to sleep. Gloria stared hard at the child for a minute and then walked back into her room. She gazed at the wide assortment of stuffed animals on her shelves. She then took down a teddy bear Lita had made for her last birthday and an owl Asai had won for her at a carnival a few years back. Gloria then tiptoed back to the guest room and gently placed the two stuffed animals on the bed next to the sleeping Emiko. Then she headed toward the living room to let her mother know she was ready for bed.
"I'll do some nice things for the squirt while she's here," Gloria thought. "But I am going to have some fun with her too."
To be continued....
For all you Chibi Mercury fans I know some of you have missed seeing Ariel's mischievous side. It will start coming back out in this story. Little Ariel is going to be very jealous of Emiko because she is taking her place as the baby of the group.
E-mail me at AngelRaye2@aol.com
Come and see the Chibi Senshi at http://www.craiger.dns2go.com/chibiscouts/index.html
The message board had to be moved to a new address. Come and check it out at www.ice-rose.net/chibiscouts.
I am having a fan art contest to celebrate the site's 10,000th hit since September of 2001. Please check out the site or the message board for details.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. With the exception of Rini I own the Chibi Senshi.
Emiko
Part Four
By
Angel Raye
Gloria sat on her bed smiling as Emiko cleaned her room. Maybe having this little shrimp around wouldn't be so bad after all. The little girl was only too eager to do things for Gloria.
"Gloria Kathryn Aino what do you think you are doing," Mina suddenly demanded from the doorway.
"Mommy," Emiko's large eyes grew larger as she saw her angry mother in the doorway.
"Mom she wanted to clean my room," Gloria proclaimed innocently.
"And you were only too happy to let her do it so that you wouldn't have too," Mina speculated. She knew her daughter all to well to know that Gloria would do whatever she could to get out of extra work. "Well forget it. You are doing your chores and you are not going to get Emiko to do them."
"Was I bad Mommy," Emiko asked.
"No Darling you weren't," assured Mina as she picked the little girl up. "But you mustn't do Gloria's chores. She has to do them herself."
"I wanna help Onee-san," whined Emiko.
"Not this way," Mina muttered knowing that Gloria would take advantage of Emiko if she could. She turned back to Gloria. "Breakfast is ready. After you get home from school you are to come straight here and do the extra chores I have written out for you."
"Why should I," Gloria snapped rudely. "All I did was play a little joke on Daisy."
"Watch your manners," commanded Mina. "Now let's go and have breakfast."
After breakfast with Emiko in her arms Mina walked Gloria down to the palace entrance to meet up with the other children so that they could walk to school together. Kadiri was going to be down there and she was going to take Emiko. On the way they ran into Amy carrying Ariel. "Good morning," Mina greeted them.
"Good morning Mina," Amy replied. She smiled at Emiko. Immediately Ariel's arms went tightly around Amy's neck. "Ariel darling don't squeeze to hard."
"Sorry Mommy," Ariel murmured as she loosened her grip. She glared at Emiko. Gloria quickly noticed it and the wheels in her head began turning.
"What's wrong Ariel," Mina asked gently. Although Ariel had been making great strides in her therapy, she was still not completely back to the way she was so the Senshi were very gentle with her.
"We've been very clingy," Amy replied. "More so then usual." The group arrived at the entrance where the other children were already there. Kadiri was there too. She walked over to Mina.
"Kadiri," Emiko squealed in delight.
"Hi Emiko," Kadiri took the little girl from Mina. "Have we been good?"
"Very good," Mina replied.
Daisy and Maggie walked over to Emiko and Kadiri. "She's so kawaii," cooed Daisy.
"She is," Maggie agreed. She looked up at Mina. "Can we help look after her when we get home from school?" Ariel's eyes burned with envy.
"Let's see how much homework you girls have first," Lita stated as she came over. She smiled at Emiko and patted her on the head.
Raye came over with Annika. "See Annika," she whispered. "She's just a kawaii little girl who is far away from her home. But she won't replace you in my heart."
"You're right Mama," Annika whispered. She looked closely at Emiko. "She is kawaii."
Ariel glowered again. Even Annika was saying how kawaii Emiko was. Amy had put her down but Ariel wrapped her arms tightly around her mother's waist so that Emiko couldn't get near her. It was bad enough that Emiko was charming everyone else but Ariel wasn't going to let her charm Amy.
"All right girls we need to get going," Rini called. The children all said goodbye to their mothers and then headed off to school. Gloria noticed Ariel sticking her tongue out at Emiko. No one else did.
"Kadiri is really nice," Madelyn told Ariel as the two walked together. "She and I are going to go to the movies this weekend."
"Good for you," Ariel muttered, still glowering at the fact that Emiko was taking her place as the baby.
"What's with you," Madelyn asked, noticing her friend's sulkiness.
"Nothing," grunted Ariel.
Gloria came running up with Annika. "Madelyn why don't you and Annika walk together for a minute," she suggested in a smooth voice. "I need to talk to Ariel."
"What are you up too," Annika asked her best friend suspiciously. She knew that smooth voice of Gloria's all too well.
"Nothing," replied Gloria innocently, which heightened Annika's suspicions even more. Knowing Gloria's knack at causing trouble and Ariel's knack at getting into mischief Annika and Madelyn decided to go on ahead. Whatever they were up too Annika and Madelyn didn't want to have anything to do with it.
Ariel turned to Gloria. "What do you want," she asked.
"I saw you sticking your tongue out at Emiko," Gloria said. "Don't you like her?"
"No," Ariel snapped. She turned angrily to Gloria. "I'm the baby, not her. I don't want her taking my place." She was quiet for a minute and then turned to Gloria. "Why are you asking me this?"
"Emiko is kawaii," admitted Gloria. "But now I have to share my parents with her and I don't like it. I also can't play my music after a certain time because Emiko is sleeping. She is a bother."
"So," Ariel asked. "What has that got to do with me?"
"With your brains and Luna P and my pranks we could have some fun with this kid," Gloria replied smoothly. She looked at the younger child. "Would you like to help me?"
Ariel thought hard for a moment. She knew it was usually trouble to join Gloria when she was up to something but she hated the idea that she was being replaced as the baby. Also she herself hadn't gotten into trouble because she had been so traumatized. Maybe it was time to get into fun stuff again. "Okay," she agreed. "I'll help you."
The next day after school all of the Chibi Senshi got together with their mentors. Gloria was glad that she didn't have to share Setsuna with Emiko. She found it very trying having the four-year-old around. Emiko went to bed at seven so Gloria was not allowed to play her music after that time. This annoyed the Chibi Senshi of Venus immensely. What also annoyed Gloria was that Emiko was constantly underfoot. Every time she turned around the little girl was there. Gloria had been scolded several times for snapping at Emiko and making her cry. Gloria was very fed up with the entire situation. So she was glad to be spending time with Setsuna. The two of them went to the palace dining room to decorate it for Christmas. Michiru and Ariel were also there. The four of them were having a great time.
"Ooh look in here," Kadiri said as she came in with Emiko. Ariel and Gloria scowled. "Doesn't it look pretty Emiko?"
"Yes," Emiko agreed.
"Hello you two," Michiru greeted them. "What brings you here?"
"We're walking around the palace look at all the pretty decorations being put up," replied Kadiri. "Serenity and Madelyn along with Raye, Rini, Mina and Faith are putting the tree up in the living room."
"What's Mommy doing," Ariel asked.
"She's with Annika, Lita and Maggie decorating the ballroom," Kadiri informed her. "And Haruka, Daisy, Hotaru and Hope are decorating the entrance hall."
"Looks like you've gotten into the some of the decorations Emiko," Setsuna exclaimed with a laugh. The little girl had tinsel and ribbons in her hair and on her dress.
"Mommy put the tinsel on me," Emiko chirped happily. She went up to Gloria. "Can I help Onee-san?"
"No," Gloria grumbled. She didn't want this squirt underfoot while she was spending time with her mentor. "Get away from me."
"Gloria," Setsuna scolded. "Be nice."
Michiru knelt down in front of the child. "You are just too kawaii," she cooed. "I remember when the twins were this size." This was too much for Ariel to hear. She went over to Michiru pushing Emiko out of the way. Emiko fell to the floor and began to cry. "Ariel," exclaimed Michiru in shock. "That wasn't very nice."
"So," snapped Ariel in a moody voice.
"You apologize to her right now," Michiru commanded in a stern voice as Kadiri helped Emiko to her feet and began to check her to make sure she wasn't hurt.
"I don't want to," Ariel replied folding her arms in defiance.
"Apologize Ariel," Michiru demanded again.
"I don't have too," said Ariel insolently. Suddenly Michiru gave her a swat. Ariel gave a gasp as tears formed in her dark blue eyes. It had been a while since she had received a spanking of any kind so this was a shock.
"Apologize now," Michiru commanded in a voice that told Ariel she shouldn't refuse. Ariel choked out an apology and then Michiru steered her over to the corner to sit for a few minutes. "Mommy will be hearing about this," she informed the little girl as she sat her in a chair. She then went back to the others. "Is Emiko okay?"
"She's fine," Kadiri assured her as she held the little girl in her arms.
"Ariel mean," Emiko choked.
"She's not usually," Michiru sighed. "She is usually very sweet. I don't know what the problem is today."
"Can we get back to decorating," Gloria asked in a bored voice. She didn't want to spend all of her precious time with Setsuna discussing Emiko.
"Onee-san," Emiko whimpered.
"Stop calling me that," Gloria shouted.
"I want Mommy," Emiko cried as she buried her head in Kadiri's shoulder.
"She's my mother, not yours," Gloria hissed. Setsuna gave her a sharp look.
"All right come on Emiko," Kadiri quickly carried the little girl over to the door. She turned to the others. "If you will excuse us." Setsuna and Michiru nodded and Kadiri left with the upset child.
"Gloria you were very mean to her," Setsuna scolded angrily.
"Who cares," Gloria snapped in a rude voice. "She's just a little kid."
"A little kid who has feelings," Setsuna pointed out. "This little girl clearly adores you and you are being very unkind to her."
"Well she has ruined this time of decorating," Gloria argued.
"If you ask me both you and Ariel did that," Michiru muttered casting an angry look at Ariel who was still sitting in the corner sulking. "There are going to be a couple of very upset mothers when we've finished talking with them."
Gloria just glowered and went back to decorating. What was so important about this little kid anyway?
"I wanna go home Kadiri," sobbed Emiko as they headed toward the living room. "Onee-san mean here. I wanna go home where she nice."
"I know Emiko honey," Kadiri sighed. "But you have to understand. Onee-san doesn't know who you are here. To her you are just a little kid who she has to share her mother with."
"What's going on," Mina exclaimed as Kadiri walked into the living room with Emiko in her arms.
"Onee-san mean," Emiko howled as she reached for her mother. Mina took Emiko into her arms and held her close. She looked at Kadiri, awaiting an explanation. Kadiri quickly told her what just happened.
Mina sighed. "Gloria is just so impossible right now," she stated. "She will be punished for this."
"Mommy, Onee-san don't like me anymore," Emiko sobbed. "When I home she nice to me all the time. Here she mean to me."
"Hush Darling," Mina soothed. "I'll have a talk with Gloria about this, I promise."
"Now," Serenity smiled at the little girl. "How would you like to help us decorate?"
"Can I Mommy," Emiko asked eagerly, her tears instantly disappearing.
"It's all right with me if it's all right with everyone else," laughed Mina. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Come on Kadiri," Madelyn took Kadiri's hand and pulled her over. "You help too."
"I would love too," Kadiri replied and she got to work at helping everyone decorate the palace living room.
That evening at dinner Ariel and Gloria were both in bad moods. Michiru and Setsuna had given Amy and Mina full details about what had happened with Emiko. Amy didn't spank Ariel since Michiru had already taken care of that but she let her daughter know that she didn't tolerate meanness of any kind. Ariel was in tears and her ears were burning by the time Amy had finished with her. Mina had scolded Gloria harshly and warned her that if she upset Emiko again she would be punished. So both girls just sat moodily and watched the other children play after dinner. Maggie and Daisy were just fawning all over Emiko. Maggie was teaching her a little hand game while Daisy was brushing the little girl's hair. Ariel angrily watched this. She was used to Maggie and Daisy fawning over her. But this brat was getting all of the attention instead. Not only that but Madelyn was having fun with Kadiri so she didn't pay much attention to Ariel either. Annika tried to get Gloria to join her and the twins but she was unsuccessful. She eventually left Gloria alone and played a fun game with the twins.
"You don't have to sit here you know," Mina told her daughter as she sat down next to Gloria. "You are choosing to be angry right now."
"Mom I want to know who Emiko is," Gloria demanded. "Why does she call you Mommy and me Onee-san? And why does she have to stay with us?"
"Gloria I've already explained the best I can to you," Mina patiently explained to her. "She's just a very little girl who needs someone to love her right now. You were nice to Tiffany when she was here. Why can't you be nice to Emiko?"
"Tiffany didn't annoy me," Gloria muttered. "And she was so sad all the time I had to be nice. Emiko is always happy."
"Gloria I have given you warnings," Mina stated. "I have been more then patient with you. Now I want you to start being nice or you will be punished."
"Fine," muttered Gloria. She started to get down from the couch. She stuck her feet back into her slippers and suddenly gave a yell of disgust.
"What's wrong darling," Mina asked in a puzzled voice. Gloria pulled her right foot out of her slipper. Syrup was all over it. Someone had filled her slipper with the stuff. "Now who did this?"
Daisy gave a yell of laughter as she dropped the hairbrush and rolled on the floor. "I got you Gloria," she shouted. "Now I've gotten you for the swimming pool."
"Daisy," Lita scolded angrily.
"You creep," Gloria shouted in rage. She picked up the sticky slipper and hurled it at Daisy. Unfortunately she missed Daisy and got Emiko in the head. Emiko began to cry.
"Gloria," Mina snapped as she dashed over to pick the little girl up.
"I didn't mean to get her," Gloria protested. "I was throwing it at Daisy."
"You shouldn't have been throwing slippers at all," Mina pointed out. "Now you come over here and apologize to Emiko." Grumbling Gloria trudged over and muttered an apology to Emiko.
"And you," Lita grabbed Daisy's ear. "I believe you were the one who started this."
"I was just getting even," Daisy cried.
"And look what happened," Lita replied as she dragged Daisy out of the living room.
"We're going too," Mina sighed. "I have to get this little one to bed and Gloria has a talking to in store." The Venus family bade everyone good night and left the room.
"Well another peaceful evening in the palace," Raye stated and everyone agreed.
"We might as well go too," Amy told Ariel as she got up. "All you're doing is pouting and I am not going to put up with it. With this attitude you can just go straight to bed."
"But Mommy," Ariel protested.
"No arguing," Amy commanded. She picked Ariel up. "I have not been happy with your behavior today so an early bedtime is part of the punishment." Amy and Greg bade everyone goodnight and left with a scowling Ariel.
"What's wrong with Ariel," Hope asked. "She has been so grumpy lately."
"I've noticed that too," Serenity admitted.
"She definitely has something on her mind," Michiru sighed but no one knew what was wrong.
Later that evening Gloria was in her room getting ready for bed. Emiko had gone to bed about an hour ago so Gloria could not play her music, much to her annoyance. But then again it had not been a good day. It was bad enough getting into trouble with her mother but Gloria hated getting into trouble with Setsuna. Since her mentor was the guardian of time Gloria treasured the moments she could spend with her and this afternoon had been spoiled. Then dinner had been ruined when Daisy put the syrup in her slipper. Gloria didn't mean to hit Emiko with the slipper but of course she got into trouble. "Who is this shrimp anyway," Gloria muttered.
"Nani," Artemis came into the room.
"I was wondering who Emiko really is," Gloria told him.
Artemis hesitated. He knew who Emiko really was but he also knew that Mina didn't want Gloria to know. "She's a really nice child," he told Gloria. "Don't you agree?"
"I guess so," Gloria admitted. She left her room and crept down the hall to the guest room. Emiko was curled up under the covers. Gloria quietly walked over to the bed. The light from the hall shone on Emiko's face. Gloria studied her closely. The child's blonde tresses were loose from her bows and were tumbling in her face. "She really does look a lot like Mom and me," Gloria thought. Her attention then focused on the stuffed animal in Emiko's arms. She hadn't noticed it yet. It was a green cat with a crescent moon on its head. "That looks a lot like the stuffed moon cats Annika made us," Gloria speculated. She looked at it even closer. "It's better then the cats Annika made us though. I guess an adult made this one." Gloria felt a little guilty for thinking that. Annika was very talented but since she was still a child the stuffed toys she made weren't as good as the ones Lita made. But as the other Senshi said if Annika kept it up she would be as good when she grew up. "But why would Emiko have a stuffed moon cat," Gloria asked herself.
"Onee-san," Emiko sleepily murmured as she stirred.
"Sorry," Gloria whispered. "I was looking at your cat."
"Moon Cat," Emiko replied with a yawn. "He misses his friends." With that she dropped back off to sleep. Gloria stared hard at the child for a minute and then walked back into her room. She gazed at the wide assortment of stuffed animals on her shelves. She then took down a teddy bear Lita had made for her last birthday and an owl Asai had won for her at a carnival a few years back. Gloria then tiptoed back to the guest room and gently placed the two stuffed animals on the bed next to the sleeping Emiko. Then she headed toward the living room to let her mother know she was ready for bed.
"I'll do some nice things for the squirt while she's here," Gloria thought. "But I am going to have some fun with her too."
To be continued....