She wondered how long an entire year was. She was learning on how to be on her own with some help. In a couple of years, Serena was going to be married. This was just a test of what she could do on her own. So far, Serena even surprised herself on how she was doing. She was still a klutz, but she was getting stronger. She could see it in the others. Lita was becoming a better cook and a great warrior. Mina was not going to be all that head over heels in love without thinking it over first. Rei was starting to use her heart and head in keeping her temper in check. Setsuna was growing into a motherly rule with the younger scouts. Hotura was finally crawling out her shy shell. Reenie was becoming more thoughtful as she tried to get along with Serena. Michuri was still cousin with her feelings, but was learning on how to be little more open with her options. Hakura was learning on how to control her tempter like Rei was. Chibi-chibi was stull just growing up. Rio was trying to make sure on how to trust people in general.
Even the three lights and Darien were changing their ideas about how a small town was.
"I just hoped that Charlie can and will understand what I would like to see at the marriage ceremony. I have been working on my own vows which is hard!" Rio said. She smiled a little trying to sound a little more grownup.
"Wow…that's so cool!" Reenie said.
"What if she has other ideas about you and Dusty getting hitched?" Serena asked.
Rio gave a mixed look of doubt and sourness, "I really don't know. We have been mates for so long, I have no idea how she's going to take the idea being third in line during the ceremonies."
"you don't look like you are all that into getting too involved! And why is Charlie being third in line…she's not getting married too?" Serena asked with a bugged look.
"My cousin Stephanie is my Maid of Honor. Charlie is the head of the bride's means. It was a real hard dissuasion trying to keep peace with these two. I have no idea on how to pick who the best without hurting the other one's feelings. I have no doubt on who's the best…but, I want to fair in all of this!" rio said. She sounded like her grandfathers had a hand in the picking. Charlie was not of royal blood, but she was still a close friend in Rio's formal years.
"And what about Stephanie…" Serena asked. They had stopped a corner near the apartment house. The back flat was Charlie and Stephanie's the windows to the flat were opened and a yelling contests of sorts was in full swing.
Rio felt like busting up the yelling match to see what was wrong with her two best friends in the world. She walked up to the steps leading up to a door. She knew the main door lead into a hallway which she had to take the left door after the she entered a hallway. She could hear the noise level rising as she entered the hallway.
"WHY DID SHE PICK YOU!" the first voice yelled. It sounded like Charlie. Charlie had no qualms in giving her all in this verbal boxing match.
"WHY SHE HAVE YOU BE IN THE WEDDING IN THE FIRST PLACE?" the second voice screamed out. it sounded like Stephanie.
Rio winced as she waited for Serena and Reenie to follow her up the stairs.
"It sounds like Stephanie and Charlie are having yelling match!" Reenie said as her felt her nerves being strained from the yelling.
"got some earplugs?" Serena asked.
"I rather go home and come back when there are cooler heads!" Rio gasped. she fetl like she was at blame for the two fighting over their station at the wedding.
"AND WHAT I TOLD...I'M FAMILY!" Stephanie SCREAMED.
"I wish I could go and get eloped!" Rio sighed, placing a hand up to her forehead. She was trying to find a way out of her predicament. She knew if she did not stop either Stephanie or Charlie from fighting, then life could a little messier than she barraged for.
"WHAT ABOUT STEVE AND TERRI?" Charlie shouted.
"Now it's getting ugly!" Rio said as she placed an opened palm on the door. She was going to let the two inside know she was outside, wanting to get it. She started to slam her opened palm against the door. She shouted, "COME ON AND OPEN THE DOOR!"
Both Serena and Reenie were surprised at Rio's outburst. Serena backed away a little as she told Reenie to do the same. She said to Rio," Why are you doing that for?"
Rio stopped pounding for a just a mere second before she heard footsteps coming towards the door. She heard Charlie and Stephanie calming down. She wondered if Jamie and Tinny were there at the next door flat. "If I don't get through with them…. then, I wouldn't be happy at my own wedding. I have this idea of the wedding of my dreams turning into a nightmare in just a matter of a few misplaced words!"
The other side of the door became quiet for just a minute. Then, the door was unlocked and it slowly opened. There stood both Charlie and Stephanie looked a little red in the face. They noticed Rio's expression of total disappointment. Before speaking, Rio said, "What are you doing?" she sounded very calm and cool.
"Nothing!" Charlie lied.
"Rio?" Stephanie asked a little opened mouthed.
"What are you yelling about?" Rio asked. she was waiting for a good answer.
"Nothing..." Charlie said before swallowing, she was a little bit nervous. she could see what was going on in Rio's expression. the fighting was not going to sit well for either Charlie or Stephanie.
"Is this a great deal..." Rio said with sour expression on her face. "What in the bloody crap are you up to...people can hear you two down the street!"
the two girls stared at Rio, trying to come up with an answer. then, Charlie said, "I was just a little upset about..."
"That's the loudest nothing I have heard about in years…and you are faking me out!" Rio said with a sharp and skeptical in look in her eyes.
"yea…you heard us?" Stephanie asked. She was turning a light shade of red to match her hair colour. She would get into fights if needed. She had to work on her temper.
"Yes…and half the street as well!" Rio said as she could sense Serena and Reenie were watching everything at a safe distance. She could tell when Stephanie and Charlie had enough of each other for a while. She told them to pull themselves together. The wedding was months in the future, but she wanted to sure she had picked out the right ones. Then, she dropped a bombshell. Looking at Stephanie right in the eye, rio said, "Come on…we are going to see our aunts!"
"What?" was Stephanie's quick answer. She was completely thrown for a loop. "Are you serious?"
Rio was not going to change her options about her choices for her wedding. "We need to talk…you are acting like a spoiled brat…about the whole idea!" she said in her coldest of voices. She knew there was going to be fireworks until she had to clear the air about her choices. "And I think we need to have also a talk with Uncle Anthony and Grandfather."
"Why?" Stephanie asked.
"Oh-uh!" Charlie gasped. She could tell what was on Rio's mind by jus looking at Rio's face. She knew there was going to be a rough couple of minutes. She glanced over Rio's shoulder to see Serena and Reenie appearing to be surprised at Rio's icy response. "We are in for now!"
"Yea…I believe you are.!" Rio said. She was hoping not to further the scene with any more fighting. "May I come in?"
"Do we have a choice?" Stephanie asked Charlie as she glanced at Charlie. She knew Rio was going in the flat one way or another just to get her point of being right.
"No we don't!" Charlie sighed. She felt the sweat drops forming on her forehead. She had some idea Rio was going to her way.
"You can come in…but, I would be not all that eager to go over to Aunt Marion's!" Stephanie said as she moved to one side to let Rio, Reenie and Serena in.
"I know…I'm still doing a few more days of dusting and running the sweeper until I'm done. I hope it's all summer. I want to go to the museum and to the fireworks for the Jubilee, " Rio said as she was entering the kitchen.
Charlie saw an opportunity to change the subject. She asked with a fake smile, "When's that?"
"Sometime in July!" Rio said as she walked over to a large horizontal window that had the drapes pulled back. "Look…let's cut the chase about the whole idea of me and Dusty getting married."
"Hey…Sarema…. Reenie!" Charlie said when she glanced at Serena and Reenie who were standing at the end of the kitchen,
"Hi…" Serena said very quietly, while Reenie did not speak.
"I have been working on this wedding for at least two years. I want everything to go smooth. You know, being eighteen and a princess from another world is not easy!" Rio said.
Serena felt little surprised at Rio's statement. On looking at Charlie for just a minute she asked, "You know?"
"Yea…for years. I've only been to Rio's home world a few times and that's when we were just ten!"
"So, Charlie can keep a secret!" Serena asked.
"Yes…I can. I also been there when Rio went missing. Everyone was distressed about the whole idea. At first there was talk about her being kidnapped by some evil troll king, but there were really weird things that happened before and after Rio's disappearance."
"That's a blast from my past. There was a bunch of missing papers from a group of government offices and months later the papers had been found…they were chalked up mismanagement of files. Yet, this is not getting me anywhere with you or Charlie!" Rio said.
"I know all about your efforts on having the prefect wedding...but, your idea of Charlie as head bridesmaid really went south!" Stephanie said.
"What?" Rio gasped. her mouth hung opened as she did a double take.
"I don't believe it..." Charlie snapped back. she was totally appalled at the idea of not being in the wedding at all.
"And why do you tell me this?" Rio asked. she was trying instantly to regain her composer.
"she's not family!" Stephanie asked.
"and what makes you say that? I have everything else planned but you two have a great deal of sticky wicked ideas to gum up with the works!" Rio said, she was about to turn around to leave. She had enough of the fighting. In fact, she was thinking about asking Dusty when they turned eighteen go for an elopement.
"I have no idea what you are talking about?" Stephanie sighed, rolling her eyes at Rio.
"Mo too!" Charlie added. She was going to hold a grudge on Rio's decision.
Rio had to think fast on her feet. She turned to face her cousin and her friend. She said, "Look…let's bash this one out from the outside. I'm going back home to talk to Rei and Mina…Stephy…you go and talk this over at Aunt Page's house. Try to get a hold of aunt page when she's not mooning over that new boyfriend of hers."
Stephanie just stared at Rio with a bug-eyed look. She was completely shocked to see her own cousin really taking charge in the final prep of the wedding plans.
"and for you, Charlie…I'm going to get a hold of Katelena. She has to hear about your fighting. I would place a running bet that she has something to say about all of this dumb fighting."
"Is that all?" Charlie managed to say while Stephanie remained mute.
"I want to take a break and just think things through. Serena, Reenie…I'm sorry that you have to see this!" Rio apologized. Then, she looked at Charlie, "Yes. That's what I'm going to say…I'm sticking to it!"
"We should be telling you lot that we're sorry!" Charlie said as she glanced at first Serena, then Reenie and then to Rio. She wanted to start all over again with Rio and then later with Stephanie.
"You have no idea of the years that took both my family and Dusty's family to get this wedding together. I have been too much in, my past, I just want the wedding to be great and Dusty to be happy. You just don't realize I mean so much to him!" Rio sighed. She looked like she was calming down fast.
"I know that…" Charlie said.
"No you don't. I have been a target for years. People start adding things up about my past and are coming up with a strange mix. I have been trying to get everything in some sort of order. The kidnapping, both the Beatles and Stones ending up here for reasons I still don't figured out yet. This is not the end time of my strange dealings. I have more to come…I can only image," rio huffed. She had to leave before she blew up and would cause a possible rift between herself and her family and friends."
"I have no idea what you had gone through, but you don't realize how much this means to us!" Charlie said.
"I'm going…I'm not coming back this week until you two get your heads on straight. I have been hoping for a better idea what to expect, this was not what I wanted. You two are acting like kids, learn to grow up for once!" Rio sighed. She turned once again to face the door. She asked Serena and Reenie if she were going to stay. Serena shook her head. Then, she asked, Reenie to come with her and Serena. There was much work to be straightened out, but now was not the time.
Stephanie remained quiet all this time. She had to speak up or risk hurting rio's feelings. Her left hand reached up mid-air as she said, "Wait!"
Rio was cold and needed to clear her mind. She glanced at her two best friends, "For what…I might just get hitched without you lot…i always wanted to see a justice of the peace wedding!"
Then, she started to walk towards the door. She turned and Serena if she and Reenie were coming. Serena gave both Charlie and Stephanie a glance of concern. She said in a quiet vioce, "I hope you can get it straighten out!"
Reenie felt Serena's hand gave slight tug. It was Serena's way of telling that it was time to go. She and Serena started to walk out of the same door after rio had opened. Rio was now standing in the hallway. She was upset.
"What is that I want most of out of my life…?" Rio said as she did not stop to even look at Serena and Reenie.
Serena was coming up with her answer, while was Reenie asked, "Is it for the wedding?"
Rio felt like she was kicked in the head. She did not know she was walking in the direction of her aunt's house. "Yea…in a way…I want peace of mind!'
"Yet…you are going to your aunt's house…are you that hard up for answer?" Serena asked. She knew Rio and her aunts were not on the best of terms.
"Yea, I know…it's like taking the last straw out of the box after you have used the rest. It sounds like I am letting everyone else do the job, but there was some fighting between Charlie and Steph for a couple of months. I hope to see some sort of an idea. Both of my aunts are not married yet, but they have seen enough to form some sort of plan!" Rio sighed.
"Why are they not married?" Reenie managed to ask after she remained so quiet.
"They are still young…. older than me by a few years…but, I'm still needing help and right now…I need some help from family first. When we get home, I'm going to have a long with Rei alone. I have a really bad feeling that I'm going to fail in this without no help!" Rio sighed. She was now walking down the street, past old houses. Serena was now walking right beside her and Reenie was bringing up the rear as she noticed some of her friends from school, playing in the school's playground.
"They are still looking for mister right?" Serena asked.
"In a way…Paige is being off and on with the bloke…I have known about him for years. He's nice and she likes him!" rio sighed.
They had reached the concern of Lincoln and Franklin. The house was just a stone throw from the corner.
"Marian is the one who is the real free spirit. She may look old fashion, but she's really a trip. She wants all the best for herself. I think that's why she's been dating on the dangerous side," Rio signed.
The girls heard a ghastly laugh coming from the houses as they came close. Rio braced herself as she said to Reenie and Serena in a loud whisper, 'You know…I really don't like clowns!"
Then, if on cue, a large rag doll fell out of the tree. It took the girls by complete surprised. Rio remained calm, while Serena and Reenie jumped nearly ten feet as Serena let out a shriek. Finally, Harley-Quinn bolted out of the house with a large water gun. She was about to soak the girls when she noticed Rio's cool, but questioning demeanor. She stopped within a few inches of the girls. She asked, "What's up with you little girls!"
"Nothing…I just want to see my aunt…. that's all!" rio sighed. She was about to back slowly away and just go home. Then, she could phone her aunt. She quickly changed her mind when she felt a creepy presence walking towards her and the other two. She said, "I have family matter and I can wait…"
"For how long…pretty little brat!" a cold sinister voice asked.
Rio was not going to take any chances of turning around to see who was behind her. She asked Serena who was facing the joker, who was coming to greet them.
Serena gasped, "It's the Joker!"
"Oh?" Rio asked. She was going to get out this situation with a little more grace than the last one. She said, "How do like Salem? Too quiet!"
"As the old saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained!" the joker sighed with a dramatic roll of the eyes.
"I don't mind it, but I'm really here for my own reasons!" rio said. She was not going to break her cool.
"that is?" The joker was trying to get Serena to smile just a little.
Serena was frightened just enough for her to bit her lip. she did not want to fold under the Joker's pressure. He was standing so near her, that his sickly grin was not all that nice. she held her ground as best as she could.
"I have to talk to my aunt," rio said with a sour look on her face. She knew there was a lot of raw nerves in which case she was digging up. She wanted to get to aunts as quick as time would allow her. She had a bad feeling bubbling inside her and she needed to find out where it was coming from.
"And what else?" the joker asked.
"Nothing…in fact, I have nothing else…when I'm finished, myself and my friends will be gone in a short time. There is something you have to tell me?"
The joker was not only a sinter person; he did not like to be on the spot. He asked, "What is it?"
"Can you watch my aunt for me…she will be a sticky situation with my grandfather. She has a tendency to be flying off the handle after she blows up!'
The Joker was a little surprised to be hearing the statement from Rio about her aunt. Aunt Paige was a calm and cool dispassion being a fiery red head. "What do you mean?"
"I think both aunts need a little looking after. They have fast tempters and needed to cool off in a hurry. I did take note that their house as a bed and breakfast is still running, but I have a feeling they are going to say something to either grandfather or Uncle Anthony that will sourer the relationship."
"You make you grandfather sound tough!" the Joker was starting to soften just little. He wondered if there was something more to Rio's story that just two sisters who were running a bed and breakfast.
Rio could hear a cooper hawk in the distance. She said, "I want to see my Aunt Marion…instead of Paige. This is an idea which I believe I need a cooler head than just Paige. I have to see her before too long and then I will leave you go!"
"If she doesn't want to see you?" the joker asked with a sickening grin winding.
"I can wait like I said, but grandfather and Uncle Ziegfeld wants some sort of result and quick. They don't let time stand still!" rio sighed. Her face was not that of a happy-teen. She wanted to be sure she was choosing her life mate carefully.
"What?" Harley –Quinn asked. She never knew that all of rio's family was that tight.
"My aunts need to hear this, but I can wait…" Rio said. She did not want to turn her back on the Joker or Harley-Quinn. She looked at the house to see if one of her aunts was looking out the bay-window.
"And if you don't?" the Joker asked.
If by a strange cue, a small green dragon flew past the group and let out a sheik. It startled Rio a little. Serena jumped back and grabbed Rennie by the hand. The two back away very quickly. Harley–Quinn and the joker instantly became frightened and ran to the house.
"Why does these things happen to me…. I'm not going to have any sort of results…I'm going home!" Rio sighed loudly. She was not upset, more like she was troubled about what was really going underneath the surface.
Harley-Quinn or the Joker never seen a dragon before. They had believed it was a large bird that the penguin had as a pet. Harley-Quinn took for the house while a second dragon buzzed around Rio. The Joker took one look at rio who was still standing at the same spot before the dragons entered the area. He asked, "Aren't you coming in?"
"No…" rio shook her head with a cool stare.
The dragons began to buzz around her at great neck speed.
"You are braver than me!"" the joker said as he bolted into the front door as Harley-quinn opened the it.
Serena watched as Rio closed her eyes for just a minute and held up one arm. The dragons knew something was up. Rio had a deep connection to the dragons. She opened her eyes and called out their names.
"What are you doing?" Serena asked.
Rio remained focused as she let the dragons land on her arm. "It's all right…you two…what's wrong? It's Paol or Jakten?" her voice was gentle and calm.
The dragons stopped circling around. They wound themselves as they perched themselves on rio''s arm.
"Were you two protecting me and Serena and Reenie?" Rio asked.
Even Reenie noticed in utter amazement that the dragons were easing up as they let out a squeaking purrs. She looked at the beasts. They seemed to be happy with rio. A dark blue became bold and decided to climb up to rio's shoulder. She could stare at its eyes and smiled. "You little solider boy…I'm betting that Poal will have a fit as you danced around the air like that. You need to be calm when you are around new people!"
Joker stopped in mid-step and turned. He watched as the dark blue dragon leaned forward to give rio a once over with his nose. Then, it decided to lick rio on the nose.
She giggled a little, "A lick on the nose is O.K. for once…or you think so…you little stinker."
The other dragon was red and light brown. The tail the red dragon was spilt and it appeared to be very shy around rio. It wrapped itself around rio elbow as a sort of cradle stock. She appeared to be carefully talking to the red, "It's all right…You go to Reenie…she likes red dragons…You go and make friends with Reenie!'
Reenie was a surprised see the dragon following rio's idea. She looked at the dragon as it turned to hop off of rio'S shoulder. It landed on the ground with a graceful plop. Them, it darted over to where Reenie and Serena were. Rio told Reenie that the red dragon was o.k. it wouldn't attack her.
The Joker asked as he deiced to turn and walk back down the stairs to where rio was. He asked, "What was that all about?"
"They were out looking for me…I guess. They need to go to somewhere else for a hunt. Not just in crowded…" rio said before she was cut fof. Then, she heard a helicopter flying overhead. She turned for just a second to glare at the blue dragon. "Are you chasing chopper again!"
The blue dragon squeaked its reply as a yes.
"Oh! Poal needs to fix that fence. . .you two are too fast for anyone to catch. You need to be a little more undercover. You are going to be a pain the neck for Poal. For once I have to go back and take you back to where Poal is!" Rio sighed.
The Joker was tempted to rush over to where Rio was and pull a prank. He glanced at the sharp eyed blue dragon who was watching him from its perch. Rio noticed the Joker's caution movement. She knew he was up to no good. She had to be cool whe she said, "Old Blue here doesn't like people who are fast in their movements. That's why he wants to be sure…you slow down!"
"Slow down!" the Joker asked after he had balked for a second when he glanced at the dragon.
"Yes…dragons are not like any other creature you have seen before! These two are born to defend the planet…these little guys are powerfully small, but they need training for at least a couple of years to use as transport and defense!"
The blue dragon's nose twitched quickly as he took in the many scents in the air. There was something to be had said in checking out the Joker.
"what is it doing?" he asked. He did not dare even stick out a finger.
"It's like a cat…. he is very acute of scents and can read people's vibe as they act around him. He is so wired…he's like a solid state TV from the past!" Rio said.
"I guess you don't want to make it mad!" Harley-Quinn said with a hint of caution.
"It's like owning a cat or a dog. They have feelings too!" Rio said.
"We best not to cross them…" the Joker said with a hint fear.
Rio was fast as she asked, "Where are my aunts…I need to see at least one of them!"
"Who is it…Mister Joker?' a voice called out from the screened-in porch.