Chapter 4: A Request from Home

After about a week of the 'normal' school life the scouts were no closer to finding the negative force. For the scouts this seemed pretty normal, they were used to long periods of waiting. Their boyfriends, on the other hand, were wondering if anything would happen. They failed to realize that they had only ever seen the end of a dilemma, and that they had been spared the whole waiting portion.

It was Saturday and everyone decided to go on a picnic. It was a chance to see everyone, outside of the school environment.

"So, have you been able to locate the enemy yet?" Trista asked Amy.

"No, not yet," Amy replied.

"I wish we had some information on where to find them," Zoisite added.

"We have just as much info as we ever have," Lita commented.

"So how do you ever figure out how to defeat your enemies?" Nephrite wondered.

"That's a good question, I guess we just figure it out somehow," Raye said.

"Yeah, and Luna is generally the one who does the figuring," Bunny added.

"That's not completely true," Luna insisted.

"Remember, last year it was your dreams that lead us to Pearl and Metallia," Artemis reminded them.

"And you are the one who solved those dreams," Diana finished.

"So have you had any new dreams?" Rini inquired.

"No, but I wish I would," Bunny sighed.

"Don't worry, you'll figure it out," Helios assured her.

"Well, what are we going to do for now?" Kunzite asked.

"We wait, that's all we can do," Mina said for the zillionth time.

"I have a question," Rini started.

Everyone looked at her, startled. "What is it sweety?" Bunny asked.

"If it wouldn't be inconvenient, I'd like to go visit my parents," Rini questioned.

"Are you homesick Rini?" Hotaru wanted to know.

Rini nodded, "Yes, and it's been ever so long sense I've seen them, and I did promise to visit more often."

"Of course you can, but don't stay to long. If the enemy does decide to attack we want to be at our strongest," Bunny agreed.

"Thank you," Rini smiled. "I wanted to ask you all first, because my parents sent me a letter this morning, saying that they missed me."

"Did they say anything about our new enemy?" Michelle questioned.

"No, but I'll ask them when I get there," Rini said. "Puu can I have a key please?"

Trista handed Rini a key to the fourth dimension. She was just about to leave when Helios took her hand. "Rini can I come with you?"

"I'm sorry Helios, but you already exist in Crystal Tokyo," Rini replied. "You can't come."

"Then, please, come back soon," pleaded Helios.

"I will," Rini promised before travailing to the fourth dimension.

Rini entered the Crystal Palace and walked to the parlor. She reminded herself that she was now the crowed princess, that meant no running. As she entered the parlor she had to repeat this to herself again, for her mother was waiting for her.

Rini approached her parents, and dropped a curtsy, "Hello Mother and Father. I've come for a visit, just as you requested."

Before she had finished speaking her mother was hugging her close. "Welcome home Small Lady. We've missed you."

"I've missed you too. I'm sorry I haven't visited, I know I promised I would, but..." Rini didn't really have an excuse for not returning home.

"It's okay Small Lady. We know you like being in the past. It's probably a lot more fun for you, not having to act like a princess," King Endymion said while hugging his daughter.

"Besides, all your loved ones are there," another voice said.

Rini looked around for the owner of that voice, "Helios!" Rini ran to the arms of her love.

"Maiden, it's been so long," Helios conveyed.

"I was just telling you that you couldn't come with me," Rini commented. "So how is everyone? Where's Hotaru?"

"They're all fine. I believe Hotaru is in the gardens with Jet. We didn't tell her that we asked you to come, just in case you couldn't make it," Neo-Queen Serenity informed her daughter.

"Why don't you two go find her?" Endymion suggested. Rini and Helios bowed and went to find Hotaru. Rini was so caught up with being home she had totally forgotten about the new threat facing the scouts.

Rini and Helios talked as the went to find Hotaru. When they did hear her and Jet talking Rini pulled Helios aside. "I've got an idea. I want to surprise Hotaru, so why don't you go pull Jet away for a second so that I can."

"Okay Little Maiden. But I want some time alone with you too," Helios jokingly agreed.

When Rini saw Helios and Jet walk away she walked up behind Hotaru. "Wonderful weather we're having?"

"Yes it is..." Hotaru started as she turned around. "Rini! When did you get back?"

"Just now. I wanted to surprise you. That's why I had Helios pull Jet away from you. You two are still glued at the hip," Rini joked as she embraced her friend.

"Hello Princess. It's nice to see you again," it was Hotaru's cat, Apallo talking.

"Apallo! It's nice to see you, and you know you can call me Rini."

"Hello brother. How are you?" Diana inquired.

They went to find Helios and Jet again and had a wonderful long chat. "So not much has been happening here huh?"

"Nope. At this rate the Asteroid Scouts will never be able to get any real training," Hotaru thought aloud.

"They should come back with me. They should have plenty of opportunities to train soon, if… Oh my god! I forgot all about that!" Rini exclaimed.

"Forgot all about what?" asked a dismayed Helios.

"I promised them I'd ask Mother about it. Come on, I need to go talk to her," Rini hurried back to the palace. Helios, Hotaru and Jet followed behind her, having no idea what was going on.

When they got back to the parlor the other scouts were already there. Neo-Queen Serenity was just telling them that Rini had returned.

"Mother, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I promised them that I'd ask you about something," Rini gushed as she approached her mother.

"What are you talking about Small Lady," Serenity asked looking from her daughter to Helios, Hotaru and Jet, who had just entered.

"I'll explain. You see, the scouts are facing another enemy back hom… I mean in the past," Rini didn't want to call the past her home, she didn't want anyone to think that she liked it better then Crystal Tokyo. "And they only have a few leads on it and they were wondering if you knew anything about it?"

"Well, I don't think so. Why don't you tell us exactly what's going on," Serenity suggested. Rini explained all about Bunny's latest dream, and the doom tree returning and everything.

"So when I told them that I was coming here for a visit they just wanted to know," Rini finished her tale.

"Wow, Ann and Alan have returned. How are they doing?" Lita inquired. She had had a little crush on Alan the first time he visited Earth.

"They're all doing fine. They are happy that Fiori and Fiona have joined them," Rini shared.

"Fiori. It's been a long time sense I've seen him," Endymion sighed.

"I'm sorry I can't be more help to you, but apparently this new enemy isn't effecting the time line. At lest not yet. However, I do now some people who would be happy to help you," Serenity declared. She left the room for a moment and returned with the Asteroid scout.

"Ceres, Pallas, Juna, Vesta! It's been so long," Rini giggled as she jumped up to embrace her scouts.

"Princess Rini, welcome home," Juna greeted her.

"Oh, you know you can just call me Rini."

Ceres looked questionably at Neo-Queen Serenity, who nodded, "So how is everything going in the past Rini?"

"Pretty good. No one has lost their powers or anything like that."

"However, there is a situation there that might present an opportunity for you four to train more," Serenity informed them.

"Really?" Vesta asked excitedly.

"Oh, we get to go the past again? Goody it's so much fun there!" Pallas laughed. They all sat down while Rini explained the situation again.

"So you don't know anything about the enemy?" Juna inquired.

"Only that it's the same negative force that corrupted the doom tree's children last time. And that it has entered Tokyo," Rini stated.

"Well, if there is an enemy, then I suppose that you should return to the past Small Lady," Serenity started.

"Oh please don't send me back yet. At lest let me stay the night. Besides, they probably haven't even found the enemy yet," Rini pleaded.

They all smiled. They were happy to see that Rini wanted to stay so much. For a while they had been thinking that she liked the past better then Crystal Tokyo. They were glad to see they were wrong. "Of course you can stay, if you want to," Serenity agreed. "I don't get to see you nearly enough."

"None of us do," Helios whispered, putting his arm around Rini.

"So you get a day of fun. What do you want to do?" Raye asked.

"Ummm... Well, there is something, but all you girls have to promise to do it with me, no matter what," Rini had a mischefish gleam in her eye.

"Okay, we promise," Amy assured her.

"So what is it?" Mina wondered.

Rini got Luna-P and made 15 jump ropes, "It's a jump rope competition." They all laughed. They had forgotten that Bunny had introduced Rini to one of her favorite past times.

"All right, we did promise her," Amara said as she took one of the ropes.

"I don't know about the rest of you but I think I want to change before I try jumping rope again," Serenity smiled as she looked down at her dress.

"I've got an idea," Endymion started. "Why don't we all get changed and have a picnic out in the gardens the way we used to?"

Everyone readily agreed to that. As they all went off to change Rini picked up Diana. "They all seem happy to have you back," Diana stated.

"Yes, and I'm happy to be back. I just wish that we could sneak into Mother's room again like we used to," Rini murmured. "I wish Mother trusted me enough to allow me in it."

What Rini didn't realize is that her mother was just coming to get her. "Small Lady is old enough now for me to allow her to enter. Besides, I know she used to sneak in all the time, and what she saw helped the scouts out," Serenity thought allowed to herself. She was just in time to here Rini's wish. "Of course I trust you Rini."

"Mother!" Rini was startled. "I know you do, but..."

"But what's in my room is very special, and I think it's time I showed it to you." Rini jumped up and followed. "Come on Diana, Luna and Artemis are already in there."

While Serenity changed into a blue pleated skirt (not unlike her old school uniform's) and a white peasant top, Rini and Diana looked all around her room. They saw the case that held Neo-Queen Serenity's Silver Imperium Crystal and the picture of the Purity Chalice. They also saw the Queen's scepter that she got after defeating Nehalania. On the dresser where many jewels and trinkets, and everything in the room Rini loved. When Serenity was ready for the picnic they left.

"Thank you for allowing me in your room Mother," Rini sighed.

"Your welcome. I have to remind myself that you aren't a little girl anymore. It's time I start educating you to be queen," admitted Serenity.

"But for now we are just going to have fun, like in the olden days," Endymion interrupted.

Everyone was ready for a fun picnic. When Rini looked at them all in common clothing it was hard for her to remember that she was in Crystal Tokyo, they looked so much like their past selves. After a jump rope competition, that, not surprisingly, Rini won, they played a game of leap frog and then settled down for their picnic.

"It's funny, we were just going to have a picnic when I left," Rini commented. "There are only two things missing from this one."

"And what would that be?" Michelle wondered.

"One would be Bunny, Hotaru and you, Michelle, performing for us, most likely on the violin," Rini stated.

"Why would we always play the violin at a picnic?" Hotaru asked.

"That brings us to number two, Miss Caya's ice-cream," Rini laughed. "You would play the violin in return for the ice-cream."

"Well, I don't think we should leave either of those things out, do you Serenity?" Raye asked.

"Most certainly not!" and she pulled her violin out from behind the picnic basket. "You see, I remembered that you told me Bunny had been playing."

"And now for the ice-cream," a familiar voice said behind Rini.

"Miss Caya! Missouri Backmen! How are you?" Rini exploded when she turned around.

"We're fine. Just fine. I still have a little ice-cream shop over there," Miss Caya pointed to a small building Rini hadn't noticed.

"And I still give music lessons to inspiring young musicians," Missouri Backmen added. Rini loved that picnic. It was perfect, she was with everyone she loved, well except for Pluto. But she was home, and it showed her that being a princess didn't mean giving up all her fun.

After the picnic Rini and Helios spent some time alone. "Little Maiden, I really have missed you. Even if I'm not in Elysion I don't get to be with you all the time."

"I'm sorry Helios. I never really thought about the fact that you would always have to miss me when I traveled through time. I just took for granted that you where always there for me," whispered Rini.

"But you are here now, and that's what counts." Helios embraced his beloved tenderly. It seemed that no matter what he did somehow he would always be missing Rini. Even while he got to be with her now, he knew that his past self must be missing her terribly.

The next day, after breakfast, Rini and the asteroid scouts prepared to leave. The asteroid scouts were very exited to be returning to the past. Rini was happy as well, but like every time she had to travel through time, part of her wanted to stay where she was.

"Good-bye Rini, have fun," Lita said.

"Don't forget to do your homework," Amy reminded the asteroid scouts. "You'll have to go to school now."

"Bye everyone!" Ceres called.

"I'll miss you Rini. But I'll be practicing my jump rope, you wont bet me next time," Hotaru giggled.

"Return soon, Little Maiden," Helios whispered giving her a kiss good-bye.

"Good-bye Mother. I'll see you soon," and Rini and the asteroid scouts entered the fourth dimension.