"Hi everyone!" Diana raised her arm gleefully toward the four sisters joining us for lunch. Diana was dressed in a light purple dress with a sweat heart neckline. She had on golden chocker with golden bracelets and earrings to match. She asked to borrow my short black pumps to the outfit.
VesVes, CereCere, JunJun and PallaPalla, replied in unison, "Hey!"
I was dressed in white blouse and skirt. My hair was back to its typical bun style and I decided to wear red flats, and lipstick to complement the outfit.
It seems like Diana planned we'd all meet at Majikku Park in downtown Crystal Tokyo. It had lavish cherry blossom trees as well as a large fountain in the center of the park. The sisters had brought a picnic basket, as well as a blanket to sit on. After we decided which tree to sit under, our snacks of pastry buns and other appetizers were served.
"Lady Chibiusa! Diana! We've missed you!" Cerecere said.
I smiled in response to the comment, the girls looked the same as always. Dressed in sleeveless sweetheart spring dresses that ended at the knee, VesVes, CereCere and PallaPalla were wearing clothing respective to their hair color. Jun Jun wore a dark green belly top with black jeans.
As we continued lunch we were catching up and discussing all sorts of topics, CereCere was discussing her paintings and her recent developments on that. JunJun touched on her band and musical concerts coming up in the city. VesVes couldn't stop talking about this new boy she met, and PallaPalla kept her interests really in playing, and magical tricks- she really was like the baby of the group although she's the second oldest of the sisters.
"Lady Chibiusa…" CereCere reached over to touch my hand, "Is everything ok? How have you been?" Her question caught me off guard, but I knew I had to tell them about this new development in my life. The girls all suddenly drew to a silence, and were patiently waiting on a reply.
Taking a breath, I went for it.
"My parents have decided they wanted to find someone for me to marry."
I looked up to examine the expression on the girls faces. I couldn't help but smirk slightly, not out of happiness- but awkwardness.
"EHHHHHHH?"
And almost instantly they all jumped in and were talking over one another.
"Lady Chibiusa, is this what you want?"
"What does he look like!? Is he cute, where is he from?"
"I can't wait to go dress shopping!"
"I wonder how tall he is?"
"Wedding bells"
"Clothing!"
"Food!"
"Babies!"
Everything they were saying was just adding to the confusion and was beginning to make me feel overwhelmed until JunJun stepped in.
"HEY!" The sisters became silent, then looked at me.
"Oh no! Chibiusa we didn't mean to make you cry!" PallaPalla said then instantly put her arms around me.
Cry?
Little did I realize that indeed tears were making its way down my cheeks. I felt heat rising to my cheeks and my breathing was becoming shallow. It seemed almost impossible to get my words out to communicate.
"I'm sorry…. Everyone…just-give me a second…"
At this point I heard Diana jumped in to inform the girls about who Prince Daiki was and where he was from as well as what my parents were expecting from me.
"Nothing is confirmed…. But Chibiusa isn't-"
After a moment I gathered myself then looked up at them. "I don't want to marry him." The girls sat while I began to speak. "I know I've only met him once… And sure… He seems like a nice guy… But…"
And in all her innocence PallaPalla said, "There's someone else."
There was silence among us.
I nodded slightly.
Diana broke the silence with a soft tone. "Chibiusa…. Who… Who are you talking about?"
I couldn't bring myself to say his name. I felt too much pressure. Not from my trusted friends, but from myself. I guess in realizing how much of a reality this is for me.
And in a stern tone, JunJun said, "Horse-man."
Everyone looked at JunJun in response to what she said. I couldn't speak. Still had my head down.
"Horse-man? Chibiusa-" Diana stopped mid-sentence in realization of who JunJun was referring too. She put both of her hands in mine and looked me square in the face.
"…Helios-Kun?"
The girls slightly sighed in agreement. The silence was awkward in comparison to the beautiful weather and color detail under this blossom tree.
VesVes continued the conversation, "Lady Chibiusa. We – You, haven't seen him…Since…Seems like forever now…"
"VesVes!" Cerecere said in response to her comment. "Lady Chibiusa- VesVes didn't mean it that way-"
At this point I interrupted. "But its true." The girls sat in silence. I put my head up to face them all. "I haven't seen him since… I was a young girl. I've been waiting… Forever… From him to come back..." I had to fight the tears back and finish my sentence. "I don't want to marry another man until I reach him!"
"I can help with that!"
All of us turned to look our blue haired baby of the group, PallaPalla. "Lady Chibiusa… I can show you where he is."
I couldn't believe what she was saying. Neither could the rest of us for that matter.
"I can do it! I can do it! Hmmmm."
In a moment she stood up and pointed toward the fountain in the middle of the park. "Let's head over there!"
I responded in hesitation, "PallaPalla-"
"Lady Chibiusa! Come on!"
PallaPalla ran over to the the fountain gleefully and stood over it. We followed suit behind her to see exactly what she was doing. Doubtful, we remained calm to see what she actually intended on doing.
"Lady Chibiusa, I don't like seeing you cry." She turned to face me for a moment.
"Believe in me! I'll show you my magic trick!"
She looked over the fountain and put her hands over it.
"Power of Mercury! Loan me your magic!" Her hands began to glow a light blue over the fountain. "Sailor … Pallas! … Show me Helios of Elysion!"
We all looked over the fountain to see… nothing.
JunJun said in frustration- "Palla-"
"Look, look!" PallaPalla said in excitement.
We all looked over the fountain to see a slight image come to the surface. Full, luscious trees, beautifully crafted marble buildings- it was Elysion. Suddenly, the back of a white haired figure appeared. Almost instantly, my hands motioned on its own as I reached toward the image in the water.
"If only… I could…reach…"
Then a bright light blinded me momentarily. Once the light faded, I lost my energy, and could feel my legs collapsing. Everything was swirling, and an unexpected drowsiness made my body incredibly weak - I blacked out.
