Chapter 7: Trouble in Paradise?

The ten lovers met each other at the entrance of the restaurant. There was a lot of squealing from the girls and guys tried to pretend they didn't know the chatterboxes beside them. They were asked to wait for a few minutes while the table was set up so Neflite and Zoisite started arguing with each other about something that wasn't worth fighting about while Lita and Ami were discussing their clothes and make up. Malachite was busy chatting up a pretty waitress but he backed away from the waitress when an angry Mina popped her head in and gave him an earful. That taught Malachite to look at anyone other than her. Darien and Jed, being best friends, were talking quietly in the corner. Well they weren't really talking, actually, Darien was giving Jed the, if you hurt my sister, speech for the hundredth time since he found out the Rei and Jed were an item. Rei and Serena were greedily checking out the menu and deciding what they were going to eat. Finally the waitress came and led the group to their table. At the head of one side of the table sat Serena and on her left was Darien. Beside Darien was Lita then Neflite who was in an interesting conversation with Rei who was the head at the other end of the table about psychic powers because Neflite was really interested about them being one of the two members of the guardians who were gifted with the power. He didn't know much about it because they didn't have a teacher on Earth. On Rei's right on the other side of the table was her beloved Jedite and beside him a still happily lecturing Mina and beside her a cowering Malachite. When the waitress asked what everyone was having Rei and Serena exchanged looks before Serena began to order.

"I'd like some bread to begin with followed by a big bowl of chicken soup, don't forget the bread bits, for the main course I think I'll go with the roast chicken and gravy with heaps of potatoes and for dessert I'll have a piece of chocolate cake with ice cream," Serena said sitting back in her chair smiling widely then she sat up forgetting something, "I'd also like a chocolate milkshake please."

The whole group except Rei stared at Serena with their mouths open wide. The waitress actually had to use her hand and close her mouth before Rei motioned the waitress to where she was sitting.

"I'd like the same but instead of chicken soup I'll have pumpkin soup and for the main course I'd prefer salmon in lemon juice and instead of a chocolate milkshake I'd like strawberry thank you," Rei said looking straight at Serena and when Rei was done both started laughing at the others who were again wide eyed this time staring at Rei. Jed and Darien swallowed hard thinking they'd be broke by the end of this lunch. The others ordered their food and the waitress walked away with the orders stopping to stare at Serena and Rei before disappearing into the kitchen.

"Let's dance," Mina declared when the band began playing a waltz and all the couples agreed furtively.

Lita and Neflite spun out onto the floor gracefully and Lita rested her head on his shoulder. Lita was by far the best dancer of the girls and Neflite the best of the boys so they attracted quite a lot of attention while dancing although they chose to ignore it. Ami and Zoisite were close to being as good a dancer as Lita and Neflite but they weren't that easily seen because Lita and Neflite were both tall and graceful so both Ami and Zoisite were relieved because they were very shy and liked to avoid attention. Mina and Malachite were having a bit of trouble as Mina wasn't exactly the greatest dancer and neither was Serena or Rei who were dancing very awkwardly with their partners. The three didn't feel comfortable in the restaurant under so many watchful eyes and so they began to get very clumsy. At the ball it was different, everyone was dancing but in the restaurant people watched the dancers on the dance floor.

All of a sudden at the same time a loud crunch rang throughout the restaurant followed by Malachite, Darien and Jed's cries of pain.

"Ouch!!!" they all yelled together at exactly the same time getting the attention of every diner in the room and the girls blushed.

"Sorry, we don't dance that well under pressure," the girls said in unison and the boys smiled through their pain and whispered forgiveness's but each begged to be able to sit down to avoid the torture.

Just at the moment when they sat down lunch began to be served so Lita, Neflite, Ami and Zoisite returned to their seats very satisfied while the other three boys threw each other looks of despair before shaking their heads and looking dotingly at the reasons for their despair. Serena and Rei ate as though it were competition and soon both were feeling very ill much to the amusement of their fellow diners.

"I think I am going to be very sick," Rei moaned from Jed's shoulder as he led her to the teleporting room inside the restaurant.

"Me too," Serena whimpered from Darien's arms behind her. The others had left earlier and Jed and Darien were only just able to get the very full Rei and Serena out of their seat. Without warning Rei suddenly broke away from Jed and ran to the toilets followed by a green faced Serena. A few minutes later two pale-faced girls appeared looking very regretful.

"Never again," Rei declared and Serena seconded her motion before both fell exhausted into their loves arms.

Jed and Darien looked at the two and knew they weren't fit for a trip through limbo so they took each out into the gardens outside the restaurant. They sat the two girls down beside each other on a stone bench then both took out cigarettes, lit them and puffed on them watching the girls. Unexpectedly Rei jumped up and ripped the cigarettes from both their mouths.

"That is a disgusting habit," Rei chided both of them her regular fire returning as she continued, "they are bad for you and the planets."

"Sorry," both the boys muttered embarrassed at being told off by a sixteen year old when they were eighteen.

Rei eyed them both before her strength disappeared and she once again collapsed beside Serena who was daydreaming. Rei closed her eyes then her body shook with fear as another vision went through her. She saw the whole Moon Palace collapse into dust and the same lady she always saw in her visions laughing, always laughing. Her fiery red hair flew about crazily and in her hands she held a large pole with a crystal ball on top. Out of the crystal ball came a powerful blast of energy and it headed straight towards Princess Serena and Prince Darien. Rei tried to protect them from the blast but she couldn't move, something or someone was holding her down and Rei had to watch helplessly as Serena and Darien died.

"Stop it," Rei screamed lashing out around her and she heard cries of alarm come from someone beside her then she felt someone pulling her into a standing position and began to calm down as someone whispered words into her ear holding her tightly to a broad chest. That was the worst vision Rei had ever had, could it be? Would the Silver Millennium fall?

"Rei, what's wrong?" a soft voice said and slowly Rei opened her eyes seeing Darien's worried blue ones.

"I…mother said… I couldn't…" Rei tried to explain but the three people before her looked at her in confusion.

"Mother said what?" Darien asked and Rei took one look into their worried eyes before sitting on the bench.

"What I am about to tell you, you must never tell another soul," Rei said seriously and Darien, Jed and Serena took a step closer to Rei who took a deep breath before beginning.

"Just before Serena's birthday party my mother had a horrible vision, that vision was that something was attacking and consequently destroying the Silver Millennium, the Moon Palace," Rei said softly and Serena gasped in horror but Rei went on relentlessly and quickly as though she had to get it off her chest.

"Ever since then I have been having visions of the destruction of the Moon Palace and I am sorry to say, I fear the time is near because my visions have been getting worse," Rei said before tears began coming out of her eyes as the three people listening stared at her uncomprehendingly.

"Don't you see? This will be gone, our lives, us, will all be gone," Rei said gesturing wildly at everything letting out a sob. Jed moved to comfort her and she reached for him and he held her tightly. Darien did the same to Serena whose heart was breaking inside. All four of them knew that if Queen Reiya had a vision it would definitely come true and what made it worse was that Rei was seeing them too and it was ravaging her soul.

"Let's go home," Jed said when the girls had stopped crying and Darien agreed helping a sobbing Serena to her feet while Jed helped Rei. Rei took one look at Serena and regretted telling her so Rei hugged Serena who hugged her back.

"I am sorry I told you, I did not want you to be sad," Rei said and Serena smiled through her tears at her best friend who was feeling very guilty.

"Rei, I am sad you didn't tell me earlier so I could have spent all my time with my friends," Serena said and Rei smiled back and with their arms around each other's waist they walked to the teleporting room followed by two worried young men.

"We must tell the Queen," Jed said but Darien shook his head.

"If it were important my mother would have already told Serenity," Darien replied and Jed shrugged his shoulders before they both hurried after their girlfriends.

Five months earlier…

"Serenity I am telling you, something very bad is going to happen to Silver Millennium very soon," Reiya told Serenity who gave her a sceptical look.

"Reiya, if there is any danger coming our guards would know about it, the Ministers of Defence would have told me about it," Serenity laughed lightly and Reiya clenched her teeth in anger. Why won't Serenity listen? Reiya thought her fists clenching into a ball.

"Your so-called Defence Ministers are nothing but pompous old men who wish for nothing but self glorification, they are so worried about out doing the other they do not care about defending the moon, Serenity, this enemy appears out of no where, if you do not prepare for it now the Moon Kingdom will fall," Reiya replied desperately and Serenity eyes widened in anger as Reiya had offended her.

"Do not ever say anything like that to me again," Serenity threatened and Reiya bowed apologetically although she didn't feel like apologising.

"Sere," Reiya began in a softer tone using Serenity's childhood name, "I have had a vision of destruction."

Serenity stiffened before shaking her head. Surely if any enemy was going to appear it wouldn't dare attack the Moon. Reiya must be wrong she must be.

"I fear you may be loosing your touch Reiya my dear," Serenity said lightly still not wanting to believe Reiya and Reiya fumed again before straightening her spine and walking to the door.

"Be stubborn then and do not believe me but when your Kingdom is sent into oblivion do not come crying to me for I will not help you," Reiya stated before walking out of the room, slamming the door vowing never to help the Queen again.

Queen Serenity sat down on her chair and furrowed her brows. No one would ever dare to attack the Moon would they?

Two months after the fight…

"Your majesty there is a letter from Queen Reiya of Mars," a servant cried and Serenity hurried to get it. The two hadn't talked since that horrible fight two months ago and Serenity missed the talks on the phone they used to have.

Dearest Serenity,

I would like to apologise for the way I acted towards you two months ago. I was not being the Queen I was meant to be. I have missed talking to you, laughing with you and most of all sharing secrets with you. I hope you will forgive me and things could go back to the way they were. I miss you Sere, you're my best friend.

Your faithful Queen and more importantly trusting friend,

Reiya

Serenity breathed a sigh of relief as she reread the letter then her heart tightened. Reiya had said she apologised for her actions but did she regret her words that she had spoken? The words Reiya had spoken before she walked out still frightened Serenity and Serenity wanted to be reassured by Reiya that Reiya didn't mean them. Oh well, being friends again was better than nothing, Serenity thought before excitedly ringing Reiya's number.