Note: Jamie and Reaper are the property of Reine Seele, but this character is not them. They look like Reaper.
A couple of days pass before the girls almost completely forget about the events of the doll, posing as an alternate form of Chibiusa and trying to exploit her fear of her friends dying on her, which seemed foolish thinking to Chibiusa now. To get their minds off the occurrence, Gracie took them all shopping! Setting the girls loose at Mt. Sky Mall (an appropriate name considering it's built on a mountain that seemingly reaches the sky) was not an experience Neo-Queen Serenity was looking forward to
Since the girls either wasted money on candy or other limited enjoyments, or worse, begged her for more cash. But, of course, being a royal, Neo-Queen Serenity was wealthy. Yet, she wasn't made of money. So, from early afternoon to late evening, the girls dashed from one store to another, handing loaded shopping bags to their parents!
Eventually, Gracie notices an abandoned store, but its doors are open! Not interested but still curious, Gracie knew if she didn't take a peak at what this store was or was now, it would bother her until she did! Taking a peek inside, it looked like the store was setting up, not closing down. Gracie was about to turn around and leave. Suddenly, she thought she saw someone moving around behind a clothing display! Gracie crossed the threshold and opened her mouth to call out when the doors snapped shut and locked behind her!
"What?!" Gracie tugged on the door handles, but they would not budge. "No! Can anyone hear me? Help!" as she frantically began banging on the glass.
"They can't hear you. I made sure we won't be disturbed. No one's coming for you, Princess Venus," a raspy voice declared behind Gracie.
"Who are you?!" Gracie demanded angrily. Her bright red hair covered her face as she whipped around so quickly.
"Don't you recognize me?" The stranger's voice was undoubtedly a girl's. The female gradually emerged from the shadows, revealing a bony frame, white hair, sallow skin, and white eyes.
"Jamie...?" This girl resembled a character Gracie had developed for one of her stories.
"Not last time I checked," the sickly-looking lass chuckled cruelly, making the green-eyed Senshi cringe.
"Reaper!" Gracie gasped in shock. From how this girl acted, she was unquestionably Jamie's blood-lusting alter-ego!
"Your fortunate I'm not here to slaughter you." Reaper grinned briefly. The creepy grin evaporated quickly. The Reaper would have much rather just eradicated the redhead.
"How is being trapped with you, in any way, lucky?!" Gracie yelled as she trembled in fear.
"I'm not Reaper. I just thought you'd be more comfortable if I looked like her. Regardless, you can continue calling me by that name. I like it." Reaper's sinister smile immediately returned. This creepy lassie enjoyed antagonizing the solider of love and beauty's sanity.
"Whatever. What do you want if you're not here to butcher me?" But, of course, Gracie had no intention of helping this girl do anything her character Reaper would do.
"I'm here to discuss a matter of great significance concerning you," Reaper stated a serious look on her face again.
"What matter is that?" Gracie asked, on guard.
"How your mother has deluded you into believing you're some "Goddess of Love and Beauty" when you can be so much more powerful," Reaper spoke persuasively.
"My mother hasn't deluded me! How do you even know how powerful I even am?!" Gracie screamed, her emerald eyes flashing in outrage.
"That's...not essential. I have given you all the information I feel you need to know. Furthermore, I've been generous in appearing as your OC. Now, I want cooperation from you." Reaper commanded more than asked.
"If you will ask me to help you hurt someone, forget it!" Gracie snapped.
"So, it's OK if someone hurts you? If they get away with making a fool out of you? Abandons you for the newest fashion or pop idol? Shows no interest in your development as Neo-Sailor Venus? So ADHD and easily distracted as a silly child, your health could be in danger?!" Reaper continued to rant.
"What the hell are you talking about?! My mother hasn't done any of that!" Gracie roared furiously.
"Really? I suppose you require something to jog your memory. Let's start with the issue of ADHD. I don't think you can disagree your mother is hyperactive?"
"So, what if she is?" Gracie retorted. She didn't know who this being was, but she was already sick to death of her.
"Does that not make you feel uncomfortable? Embarrassed? Shameful? Foolish? Knowing you might have inherited it? That it's all her fault?"
"At first, it did. I'll admit to that. Nevertheless, how can you blame someone for being born with a condition?" Gracie despised how the Reaper blamed Minako for passing down a condition through DNA, which could not be helped.
"Medication could help with that," Reaper stated matter-of-factly.
"I don't know, is it a good idea to give someone medicine to "sedate" them when they have to combat evildoing?" Gracie argued, and she was good at debate. There are other treatments out there. But unfortunately, I still don't have time for the therapy portion. I've had more than enough of them after being shot twice!" Gracie countered.
"About that. Let's ignore the ADHD concept and focus on a problematic thought. Why did your mother never try and heal you? She must have known Neo-Queen Serenity's Silver Crystal could have accomplished it?" Reaper maintained.
"Whoa! Easy there. That's not something you utilize the Silver Crystal for! It's only for last-resort scenarios." Gracie explained calmly as possible. It was taken all she had not to blow her stack and thrash the creature before her.
"Both situations are conceivably excusable. However, let's not forget how her ridiculous child-like excitability caused her to abandon you for fashion and pop idol crushes?" Reaper pointed out.
"Is it a sin to have passion and crushes? Also, Mom never abandoned me. On the contrary, she always ensured someone was there for her if she wasn't going to be. Plus, her love for fashion is something I inherited too." Gracie beamed and felt proud of herself for defending her mom so well.
"You think we're done? Far from it! How do you explain her indifference in your role as Neo-Sailor Venus?"
"I can't, I'll admit. However, the most logical conclusion is she's exhausted. I mean, she works as an Undercover Local Spy! That's why she follows idols around still! To see if they are enemies or not. Some are, some aren't. It"s not like she's cheating on my dad or anything."
"Are you confident your dad is not cheating on her? Perhaps with an old flame? Particulatly one named Katrina?" Reaper attempted to persuade Gracie to consider this possibility. However, the redheaded teenager knew better.
"Katrina? You must be joking! Katrina mutually agreed to break up with Alan! Moreover, she encouraged him to marry my mother." Gracie laughed hysterically at the Reaper's accusation.
"What about your mom being an underachiever?" From the tone of the Reaper's voice, it was clear she was losing her patience.
"I don't see why that matters when it was the same case with Usagi." Gracie shrugged indifferently. After all, some people aren't good at schoolwork. But, despite that, they could ask for help if needed. Likewise, other things individuals were good at didn't involve textbooks.
"ARGH! You think you have an answer for everything, don't you?!" Reaper's eyes blazed as Gracie had described her character's doing in her stories.
"I'm willing to believe anything if there's evidence to back it up."
"Explain this away! Why did you create Reaper? Someone that evil and dark doesn't have any place within love and beauty."
"Same reason I created Jamie," Gracie replied calmly.
"What?" Reaper's eyes widened in bewilderment and rage.
"Jamie and Reaper are different versions of me...just like you. But I chose love, beauty, and justice over their values. So, are there any other questions you have for me because I frankly need to return to my family," Gracie questioned in a "smart-alec" tone.
Reaper pulled out a scythe-like sword! "I'm not letting you go any-"
Reaper was cut off as Gracie pulled out her Holy Stone Sword and quickly attacked! Reaper was skilled, but Gracie knew something Reaper did not. Gracie bent backward to dodge a stab from Reaper. Suddenly she returned to the side to plunge her sword into Reaper's face! Instead of the bone, Gracie was expecting to feel her sword hit. Instead, she heard a cracking sound. As the Reaper fell to the floor, another large doll with a now splintered face! Gracie listened to a click and saw the doors had unlocked! Racing out in relief, Gracie stood overjoyed to see the group had no one left without her! Even though the shopping mall was closing soon.
"Gracie, where were you?!" Minako grabbed her daughter's shoulders to chastise her.
"Relax, Mom! Its not like you've never run off before," Gracie smirked. That was enough to remind Minako of the exasperated look her teammates gave her when she'd return after chasing a new boy or pop idol.
Later, Gracie let her friends/teammates read her story about Jamie and Reaper and waited for their feedback. To her surprise, they all loved it and found her darker imagination intriguing. Graice had feared it might make them wary of her. But, overall, Gracie remained delighted she could trust her friends with her darker imagination now.
