If Kellie was going to be friends with these girls again, she had to be level with them. Well, she couldn't really tell them everything, just what they'd be capable of understanding. "Well, the answer is very complicated," said Kellie, "The simplest form of the answer is that I'm from another timeline."
"You're from another dimension?" asked Mika.
"No, timeline. You know how your changes with the ring can alter reality to fit the changes?" asked Kellie.
"Kinda," said Kumiko.
"Well, I'm from a timeline where I was originally a part of this neighborhood. I actually knew all you guys before and we were really good friends. But then I used the ring for some really selfish and foolish things," said Kellie. She wasn't going to tell them how she had used the ring to essentially wish Katie and Lisa out of existence. That was one thing she'd NEVER tell.
"How bad were they?" asked Claudia.
"Bad enough. It turns out there are certain things you aren't allowed to do with the ring and the guy who made it caught me doing that. As punishment, I got removed from my own timeline," said Kellie. That was essentially true. This was the timeline that Kellie had removed from and she had returned. But things were so different it may as well be another timeline.
"So, in your timeline, we were all friends and never fought?" asked Claudia.
"Essentially, yes, but there are a lot of other differences," said Kellie.
"Like what?" asked Kumiko.
"Well, for instance, you weren't Mika's twin. You were her grandmother and a first-generation immigrant from Japan," said Kellie.
Kumiko grimaced and said, "Grandmother? Gross! I can't imagine being anyone's granny, especially with a body like this." She ran her hands down her adult body for emphasis.
"And the rest of your family weren't...very nice," said Kellie.
"How bad were they?" asked Mika.
"They didn't approve of you and Claudia and that's all you would want to know," said Kellie.
"And what about me?" asked Claudia.
"Your dad didn't get injured while on duty," said Kellie.
Claudia looked conflicted. For a moment, Kellie was worried that she would blame her for her father's crippling injuries. But then Claudia, "Does that mean you can turn back time and stop him from being injured?"
"I'm...not sure," said Kellie, "This ring's like Katie's. It could make your dad younger, but I'm not sure he can avoid that accident or not. And I'm not sure whether or not changing the past like that would result in a better present."
"You think...you can give Mary Elise her dad back?" asked Claudia.
"I don't think so," said Kellie, "I'm pretty sure one of the things the rings can't do is bring back the dead. I suppose I could use it give her another dad, but I'm not certain how that would work out."
"This is getting to be a bit much for me to take in," said Mika, rubbing her forehead, "Could you at least make Kumiko young again?"
"What's the rush?" asked Kumiko, "If anything, you should all be getting older. We could have a fun time in town, get over this gloom."
"Was Kumiko like this in your timeline?" asked Mika.
"I think she was a bit more reserved," said Kellie. But she had to admit a night on the town did sound fun.