Act Three - Sweet Dreams
Knock, knock.
"Small Lady, it's your mother," Neo-Queen Serenity said, knocking on her door. "May I come in?"
"Sure, if you want."
A week had passed since that horrible day in Elysion, but Chibi-Usa still didn't feel any better. Ever since she had returned home, she had become a virtual prisoner in her room, only emerging to eat and to go to school. The last thing she felt like doing was getting all dressed up and going out in public, but tonight was the Crystal Ball. She had to go.
When the queen entered, she found her daughter sitting at the vanity, staring blankly at her reflection in the mirror. She was already dressed in a pale pink satin strapless gown, with a strand of white pearls surrounding each of her "meatballs."
"You look gorgeous, sweetheart," the queen said, placing her hands on bare shoulders. "Are you ready to go downstairs? Everybody's waiting for us."
"Just about," she replied, reaching into her jewelry box and pulling out the diamond bracelet that her parents gave her for her sweet sixteen.
"Where's your locket? Aren't you going to wear it tonight?" her mother asked.
Chibi-Usa touched her neck, suddenly feeling quite naked without the star locket. When she returned home from Elysion, she had noticed it missing and had yet to find it. She had probably lost it in the cave. "I-I can't find it," she stammered, hoping her mother wouldn't be too mad.
"Well, I'm sure it will turn up somewhere."
Just then, Luna, the queen's guardian cat and Diana's mother, walked through the open door. "Your Majesty, the procession is ready."
"Thank you, Luna," she said. "We'll be there in a minute."
As Luna left, Chibi-Usa sighed, plucking a dry petal from the rose Helios gave her. It was all she had left of him.
"Mother, must I go to the ball? I don't think I'm ready to face the world just yet."
The queen took a seat on Chibi-Usa's bed, surprised at her daughter's works. Ever since she was a little girl, Chibi-Usa had loved attending the Crystal Ball. The one year she was unable to go because of the chicken pox, she cried in her room the entire night.
"Come here, honey," she said, patting the bed. Chibi-Usa walked over and took a seat next to her mother, resting her head on her shoulder. "Nobody is going to force you to do something you don't want to do. If you don't want to go, your father and I won't force you, but I do wish you would reconsider. Your friends have been worried about you, Small Lady. Shizu-chan told me that you haven't said a single word to her or anyone else since you returned from Elysion."
"I guess I haven't really felt much like talking," she admitted. "I haven't felt like doing much of anything lately."
"I know you're upset about Helios, but perhaps if you talk about how you feel with your friends, instead of keeping it all bottled up inside, you'll feel better. I know that when Mamo-chan and I fought, I could always depend on the other Sailor Soldiers to cheer me up."
Just then, King Endymion popped his head into the room, looking quite dashing in his old Tuxedo Mask costume. "Serenity, it's time."
The queen gave Chibi-Usa a kiss on the forehead and put on her mask. "Are you coming, Small Lady?" she asked, taking her husband's arm.
Chibi-Usa reluctantly put on her pearl encrusted mask and followed her parents out of the room, thinking it actually might be good for her to go and take her mind off things. They met Rei on the way to the ballroom, and she handed Chibi-Usa a small black velvet pillow holding the Silver Crystal. It would be her job to present the crystal as she did every year.
"Rei-chan, may I speak to you for a moment, privately?" the king asked, pulling Rei aside.
When they were safely out of earshot of the queen and princess, the king asked Rei if the troops were ready. He had gotten word that one of the queen's enemies had escaped from a prison in the Andromeda Galaxy and wanted to make sure that the crystal was safe.
"All the entrances covered, and I've instructed my men that no one is to be admitted to the palace without an invitation stamped with the royal seal," she answered.
"Are you positive that we are taking all the necessary precautions? Queen Jade has stolen the crystal once before, and I have no doubt that she could do it again. I just don't think we are doing all that we can do to ensure it doesn't happen again."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The Silver Crystal will be heavily guarded at all times. It will be nearly impossible for anyone to get near that stone without us knowing it."
"It's that nearly part I worry about," he remarked, laughing at himself for being so worried. Of course everything was going to turn out just fine. Crystal Tokyo had the finest troops in the universe. There was nothing to worry about. "You haven't told the queen about the added security, have you? I don't want her to worry."
"She is completely in the dark," she assured him.
The two of them caught up with the rest of the court and got in line for the procession. Each of the ruling families walked into the ballroom first, according to the distance of their planet from the sun. Queen Ami, King Ryo, and Princess Tomoko were at the beginning of the line, and it ended with Princess Masago, walking by herself. Then Luna walked up to the microphone as everybody focused on the grand staircase.
"It is now my great pleasure to present our beloved rulers, Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion, and the crown princess of Silver Millennium, Princess Lady Serenity."
As the royal family descended the stairs down to the ballroom, Chibi-Usa could hear the deafening claps of the people below. She briefly looked down at the crowd, searching for the one person she knew was not there. He didn't come, she thought sadly to herself. Not that she had expected him to, but she wished he had.
She blocked Helios' face out of her mind, chiding herself for that moment of weakness. They had reached the bottom of the staircase and were now walking down a long red carpet toward the thrones. The room suddenly went silent as everyone began to bow. Please don't trip, Chibi-Usa said to herself, not wanting a repeat performance of last year's disaster.
It seemed like an eternity had passed, but finally they reached the end of the carpet. The king and queen took their place in front of their respective thrones as Chibi-Usa walked over to the pedestal where the crystal would be kept for all to see, but not touch.
She carefully raised the pillow above her head and repeated the speech she said every year."Citizens of Crystal Tokyo, I present to you the source of our life, the Silver Crystal."
As the crowd erupted into wild cheers, Chibi-Usa placed the pillow on the pedestal and took a seat on her throne beside the queen. The crystal was promptly surrounded by a group of nine men in military uniforms from each of the planets.
"See, that wasn't so bad," the queen whispered, placing a comforting hand over her daughter's.
"I think I'm going to go mingle," Chibi-Usa said, spotting her friends over in the corner with their dates. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Not at all," she replied, giving Chibi-Usa a small smile. "Go out there and have some fun. You deserve it."
Chibi-Usa stood up and began slowly walking toward the group. About halfway there, Chibi-Usa felt a small shiver go up her spine. It almost felt like somebody was following her, but when she turned around, no one was there. It must be my imagination, she thought, continuing on.
"Hey, guys!" she exclaimed, walking over to hello to her friends. "You all look absolutely wonderful."
"Chibi-Usa-chan!"
She had never been hugged so much in her entire life. You would have thought she had been gone for twenty years.
"We've been so worried about you, Chibi-Usa-chan," Shizu said, giving her another hug. "How are you holding up?"
"Not very well," Chibi-Usa admitted.
Sensing the onset of a girls only kind of conversation, the girls' dates politely excused themselves from the group and went over to the refreshment table, giving them some privacy to talk about what happened between Chibi-Usa and Helios.
"Diana told us that you and Helios had a huge fight," Amaya said. "What happened? I thought things were going so well between the two of you."
"I thought so, too," Chibi-Usa said softly. "The truth is I lied when I told you that Helios was going to be my date tonight. I hadn't even asked him yet, but I was jealous when I heard about the great dates you all had, even you, Tomo-chan." She gave her friend a small smile."I really though he would say yes to my invitation, but he refused to go with me. He didn't even give me an excuse, like he had work to do at the shrine or he was feeling sick. He just flat out told me that maybe it would be best if I asked someone my own age."
"That was kind of harsh," Katsuna remarked.
"I know there is a huge gap between our ages, but I was willing to overlook it," Chibi-Usa continued. "Helios wasn't. I tried to get him to change his mind, but nothing I said made a difference. I finally got fed up with him and left."
"Who would blame you?" Anzura said. "If Goku ever said anything like that, I would slap him right across that handsome face. But I wouldn't worry too much about it, Chibi-Usa-chan. You and Helios belong together, and someday he's going to realize that."
"Did I hear my name?" Goku asked, coming up behind Anzura and handing her a glass of champagne. "I hope you weren't saying anything bad about me."
"Of course not, baby."
Goku wrapped his arms around Anzura's tiny waist and began lightly kissing her neck. Must they always be so affectionate? Chibi-Usa thought bitterly. She excused herself and went out for some fresh air.
The night sky looked incredibly beautiful tonight. A full moon shone brightly, bathing Crystal Tokyo in a soft glow, and stars dotted the darkness like little candles. Chibi-Usa spotted a meteor flying across the sky and closed her eyes to make a wish. I wish Helios would someday reveal his true feelings to me.
"Hi, Chibi-Usa-chan," Masago said, coming out onto the balcony and interrupting her thoughts. "You ran out of there fairly quick. Is something wrong?"
"Not really. I just didn't feel like watching Goku-kun and Anzura-chan play kissy face the entire night."
"They are quite fond of each other, aren't they?" she giggled. "Don't let it get to you, Chibi-Usa-chan. They aren't doing it on purpose."
Chibi-Usa looked out at the city. "So, Kado-kun seems like a nice guy," she said, referring to the hunk Masago brought to the dance.
"He's absolutely wonderful," Masago said, smiling brightly. "We've actually been talking about moving in together after graduation. I have to move into Charon Castle to take over my mother's duty as the guardian of time, and Kado wants to come too, but it's not official yet. I still have to get your mother's permission since commoners aren't allowed to know about the Gate of Time."
"I'm sure you'll get her approval," Chibi-Usa assured her, not really paying attention. "I hope you two are very happy together."
"Oh, Chibi-Usa-chan, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have gone on about me and Kado when you're going through such a difficult time…"
"It's okay, Masago-sempai."
Chibi-Usa began fidgeting with the clasp on her diamond bracelet. It was an annoying habit of hers that she was trying to break.
"Masago-sempai, can I ask you something?" she asked. "When will I meet the man I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with?"
"You already have," she answered with a smile. As the daughter of the guardian of time, Masago had the ability to see into the future, although she rarely used her powers, preferring to be surprised by life's little ups and downs.
"Who is it? It better not be Toshihiro-kun. There is absolutely no way I'm ever going to get married to that dork, even if he was the last man in Crystal Tokyo."
"No, it's not Toshihiro-kun." Masago laughed and started to go back inside. "You wouldn't want to know, believe me. That's the best thing about love, the not knowing. Everyday should be an adventure. Life would be boring if you knew exactly what would happen all the time. Think about it."
With that thought, Masago disappeared into the crowd, leaving Chibi-Usa alone again. She sighed. Masago was so lucky with a fantastic boyfriend who loved her with all his heart. She thought about Masago's words. If she could see into the future, would she really want to know what was going to happen? It would be nice to know what questions were going to be on tests at school, but she did love to be surprised…
Another shiver went up her spine, just like the one she felt before. Chibi-Usa turned around and found herself staring into the most incredible emerald green eyes she had ever seen.
"Princess, may I have this dance?" a handsome man asked.
Struck by his good looks, she silently took the hand he offered, and he led her to the center of the dance floor, pulling her close.
Wow! This guy is a total hunk, she thought as they began dancing to the romantic music. And he's not a bad dancer, either. She looked over his shoulder and noticed that all the other couples had stopped dancing. All eyes were on them.
"Who is that man dancing with the princess?" Luna asked her husband Artemis. They were among the crowd watching the princess and the man dance. "He looks familiar. Do you know him?"
"No, I don't believe I do. Perhaps he's a friend of Goku-kun's," Artemis suggested.
"He looks too old to be a high school student."
When the song finally ended, the mystery man kissed Chibi-Usa's hand and promptly turned to leave. "Wait. You never told me your name. Who are you?" Chibi-Usa asked, surprised that he was leaving already.
"The name's Damian."
With those words, he vanished into the mob, leaving Chibi-Usa in the middle of the room, confused and intrigued. Where did he come from? Would she ever see him again?
It was time to put his plan in action. This would be as easy as taking candy from a baby. He pulled out a small pouch from his pocket, containing a potent sleeping formula and put on a doctor's mask. One sniff of this stuff, and a person would be knocked out cold.
He then opened the bag and poured the powder into the main air duct. Soon, all the guests and military men would be taking an unexpected nap. It was so simple, it was brilliant. With everyone sleeping, he would be free to steal the Silver Crystal. Now, there nothing left to do but wait.
"Do you smell something, Goku?" Anzura asked, suddenly feeling very tired. "It smells so sweet, like icing on a…"
"Wake me up when…"
Goku leaned against the wall and slid to the floor, his eyes closed. The man's plan had worked. The crystal was theirs.