Chapter two
The next morning seemed to arrive to quickly for Madelyn Tomoe as her mother gently knocked on her door and told her it was time to get up. Madelyn stirred around in bed until she landed on the floor with a thud. Hotaru quickly dashed into her bedroom to see if Madelyn was okay. Madelyn looked up at her mother from down on the floor and forced a smile on her face. Hotaru giggled at the whole situation and went over to help Madelyn up. Hotaru sat on her bed and took Madelyn right next to her.
"I'm very proud of you from last night. You did a wonderful job keeping an eye on the place." Hotaru praised her.
Madelyn giggled. "You did a good job too mom. At giving me a chance to prove myself."
"I talked to Ariel's mom this morning and she said it was alright that she came and spent the night tonight." Hotaru said.
"Really? On a school night?" Madelyn jumped up excitedly. "Mrs. Ami's gonna let her?"
Hotaru laughed and shook her head yes.
Emily came in with a mean look on her face. "I want Isabella to come over!"
"She is allowed to come over if it's alright with her mother, but I don't think she'd allow her to stay the night." Hotaru confronted.
"Why?" Emily argued.
"Because her mother is stricter than Ariel's mother. I'm sorry darling. She can stay the night next weekend." Hotaru insisted.
"Promise?" Emily asked.
"Yes." Hotaru promised.
"Okay." Emily said as she ran out of the room. Hotaru shook her head in amusement.
"She's weird." Madelyn commented.
Hotaru agreed with her. "Well, you might want to get dressed so you can call Ariel over."
Madelyn twirled in delight over toward her dresser. She pulled out a pair of shorts and a yellow t-shirt.
"You might want to dress a little bit warmer today than that. The winter months are coming and there is a chill in the air." Hotaru mentioned to her.
"Oh mama I'll be alright. I'll just put on a jacket." Madelyn said as she quickly undressed and redressed herself. Hotaru shut her door and let her do whatever else she felt like. Madelyn took her brush and a quickly ran it through her hair several times to where it looked as though it was combed out, but it wasn't. She put her yellow headband, which matched the shirt, into her hair. She quickly took her green sweater out of her closet and threw it on. She frantically put her socks on her little feet. Standing up made it very difficult to put them on as she stumbled around her room, finally when she had both socks on she ran out of her room slid through the kitchen and kissed her mother goodbye.
"I'm gonna go over to Ariel's house and get her." Madelyn explained as she put her shoes on.
"Alright." Hotaru answered as her daughter slammed the front door.
Madelyn dashed over to the Mercury head quarters quickly and rung the doorbell. A sleepy Ryo opened the door and looked around to see who it was. Finally he looked down to see Madelyn. He greeted her with a smile and a yawn. He patted the back of her head until she was all the way in. He then pointed toward the upstairs. Madelyn, felt guilty for waking him up, she slowly walked up the stairs. He made is way to the kitchen to go make coffee.
Things were a sometimes tight at the Mizuno household. Ami had to be at the Dr. Office at seven am. Mr. Mizuno had to work up at the control room at least two nights a week. But this week he had to work more, considering one of the Knights were sick.
Ariel looked up at her friend as she came into her bedroom. She was sitting at her desk drawing something. Taylor, Ariel's four-year-old sister came into her room, and Ariel quickly shoved her out. She couldn't stand her younger sister sometimes. Ariel had been the baby for the longest time and then Taylor came. Ever since then there had been a lot of jealousy in these quarters. When Taylor was just a newborn Ariel had flipped Taylor's crib over. Taylor didn't get hurt, thankfully, but Ariel had been punished for doing it.
On Taylor's second birthday she put Taylor's cake in her face when no one was watching. Taylor was four years old now and Ariel was nine the family had finally worked something out that was suitable for both children. They sit together as a family and watch a movie. Ariel can now get along with her sister at least four times out of the week. But she still becomes jealous when her friends come over. Gloria and Maggie had to always comment on how cute Taylor was which made Ariel angry.
"So am I coming over?" Ariel questioned.
Madelyn nodded.
Ariel smiled and put her drawing things away. She quickly grabbed her already packed bag and led the way toward the exit. She quickly went and gave her father a hug. He asked if she had said goodbye to Taylor. Ariel lied and told him yes, she had. He smiled and waved her on. Ariel and Madelyn went back to the Saturn quarters and put Ariel's things away.
"Mamma me and Ariel are going to go out. We will be back in time for dinner." Madelyn called out as they headed back toward the door.
"Okay, sweetie, have fun." Hotaru yelled back.
Madelyn dashed out the door again with her friend behind her. Finally as they entered outside Madelyn stopped. It was a little nippy outside and maybe she should have put on some pants but she wasn't going to waste her time going back inside.
"So where do you want to go?" Madelyn asked.
"I really would like to see the 'Midnight Garden' but if we go there the flowers will be dead." Ariel sighed.
"Yea cause they only bloom at Midnight and then die before the sun rises." Madelyn said as they walked on the sidewalk.
"And our mamma's won't let us go out in the middle of the night." Ariel complained. "I'm nine years old and I can take care of myself." Ariel proclaimed. Madelyn laughed.
"My mamma let me stay home all by myself last night." Declared Madelyn.
"Yea my mamma told me. They had thought about making Michiru keep an eye on you guys with her mirror." Ariel announced.
Madelyn stopped in her tracks. "They what?"
Ariel turned to her friend. "They didn't do it. Trust me."
Madelyn seemed to be thinking this through. She wanted her mother to give her full trust, of course she knew there was nothing to worry about when it was just her and Emily, but what made her mom stop and think about letting Michiru spy on them. That would have been creepy for Madelyn.
Madelyn started walking again trying to find out why her mother would feel so uncomfortable on leaving Madelyn and Emily alone. The others were not far away. She was sure if something bad was to happen that they would be able to hear or Madelyn could make it to the phone in time. She didn't like the fact that her mother wasn't sure with leaving the two alone. For Maggie and Lydia it was a different story on why they couldn't be left alone at times. Her father and mother would be out of the house for days. And that was unhealthy for them.
"Lets go to Makoto's. I'm starving." Ariel stated
Madelyn snapped out of her thoughts and just shook her head, not really knowing what Ariel had said. Ariel seemed to take on the lead as they had ended up at Makoto's restaurant. Madelyn didn't ask why they were there; she only figured this is what Ariel had asked her a few seconds ago. She held the door opened and allowed Ariel to go in first. She then followed right behind. Makoto wasn't busy at all; it never usually was at this time. She didn't get a flood till about ten am and twelve pm Makoto walked right up to them and greeted them with a hug. As she showed them to a booth she quietly asked them how everything was going. Both girls responded with good. Makoto went into the kitchen and within a few seconds she came out with her delicious breakfast crescents. She set them between the girls and went to prepare herself for the big rush.
After Madelyn and Ariel had eaten them all they had yet to leave the restaurant. Both girls had agreed it was much warmer inside then outside. They had watched many of the guards coming in and out of the eating-place. They would either order it to go or sit down and enjoy themselves. Madelyn and Ariel saw Maggie's dad come in. He didn't have Maggie or Lydia with him and he looked wrestles. Ariel and Madelyn tried to listen carefully to what was being said.
Gary was going out of town and Setsuna was still at the 'Time Gate' Madelyn was hopping that he would slip on where he was going. He had often gone out of town but Queen Serenity and Neo- Queen Serenity had never said why. To come to think of it Maggie or Lydia never spoke of their father's outings either. Makoto came out of from behind the counter and gave Gary a big hug for support. Madelyn and Ariel looked at each other in bewilderment. Things never added up at the Meioh house. That family had more secrets than anyone else did.
Setsuna would watch the 'Time Gate' making sure nothing ever happened. And when she saw the future and something terrible that would be brought upon Tokyo then there was simply nothing she could do. If one of the Chibi Scouts were to die Setsuna would not be able to prevent it, because she was not allowed to interfere with time. This is what had made the youngest Pluto shut her self up. She remained locked up inside and never spoke to any of her family. She spoke to her sister from time to time, but it was always quick and curt. She had a lot of hidden emotion insider her. Her best friend Julia Hino is the only one that Lydia will go to for support. Setsuna and Gary, along with the other Senshi's, feel terrible for her. They try all they can do to comfort her with her mother always being away, but Lydia would just say to them it was worthless and they couldn't fix anything. They could not fix they way she felt inside, it was impossible.
Gary finally went toward the door. As he opened it his eyes connected with Ariel's and Madelyn's. Ariel sunk down in her chair when he saw his eyes; they were full of sorrow and worry. Ariel couldn't stand eyes that looked like that. When he forced himself to leave Madelyn looked down at her friend and asked to know one in particular "I wonder what's wrong with him?"
Ariel shrugged and sat herself back up in the seat the correct way. The girls finally put aside the thoughts of what could be bothering Gary and began talked about school, their friends, and their daily lives.
When the twelve a clock crowd had came in Ariel and Madelyn made a dash for it. They headed toward the park. Faith, Jordan, Isabella, Daisy, Chloe, Maggie, and Lydia were all at the park. Jordan and Isabella were over in the clear area playing with the soccer ball. Isabella showed enthusiasm, but Jordan did not. Lydia was on the park bench her nose in a book. Madelyn figured she was made to come here with Maggie.
When Faith spotted Madelyn and Ariel she jumped off the monkey bars she was on and ran toward the two. Daisy, Chloe, and Maggie were running around the equipment laughing and giggling.
"Hey you two!" Faith greeted enthusiastically. "Want to join our game of chase?"
"Sure." Madelyn piped up. Ariel nodded.
"EVERYONE STOP!" Faith hollered at the top off her lungs. Chloe the youngest purposely fell to the ground. Maggie rolled her eyes and helped the seven-year-old up. Daisy was already over to where Faith was. Maggie let Chloe get on her back and sprinted across the playground. When they stopped Chloe slid down and stood right next to Maggie.
"Madelyn and Ariel would like to join our game." Faith announced.
Maggie looked at Madelyn worried. "Do you think that is a good idea for you?" Maggie was two years older than Madelyn.
"I know when I start to run low on energy. Don't worry I'll be okay." Madelyn replied.
"Okay good. Cause you are it!" Faith declared. "Count to ten! Everyone run!"
"Faith!" Maggie hollered as Faith and the others took off running. "That was mean!"
Madelyn giggled and counted to ten. The girls spent most of their day chasing around each other and screaming. Chloe was the loudest followed by Faith. When Chloe had been tagged, which happened quite frequently as being the youngest, Faith had allowed Chloe to tag her.
Jordan Tennoh had given up on playing soccer with Isabella. Even though soccer was her favorite sport she did not feel like playing with her twin sister. She would prefer to be spending her time with Taylor. She hadn't seen her friend for a couple of weeks now, because the two were in different grades. Taylor was actually only in preschool and Jordan and her sister had made the cut off date for starting kindergarten at five years old. They wanted to put Isabella in first grade, but Michiru had told the school she was too young. She knew how hard it had been for Ariel, whom had never been put in Kindergarten of First grade because of her IQ level, she was afraid to put her baby in a with older children. She had considered on letting her move up in third grade if they still wanted her, but for now she just wanted her and Jordan to be together.
Jordan went to sit over by Lydia because there wasn't much she could do. She was a slow runner compared to the other kids so she didn't feel like joining in. Isabella took the soccer ball and tried balancing it on her head. Madelyn stopped, short of breath. Daisy was coming around the jungle and ran smack dab into the back of Madelyn. Both of them fell down causing the game to come to an end.
Madelyn and Ariel said goodbye to the rest of the bunch and began walking home The sun was just beginning to go down. They would make it home just in time for dinner.