Uh oh, Rini knew that she would have to explain what she meant. "What is
your last challenge?" It came slowly, and Rini turned away from him.
"Well you see I." She drifted off, and turned, sitting down on the bench
near them. "You what?" Elios asked kindly, moving closer to her. "I have
to um. I'll paraphrase what my mother said, I have to find my prince." The
last part came out in a whisper. "See, the problem is, no guy would ever
get near me, they never have, and if I don't do this, I will be
disinherited." That was only part of the problem though, the other part
was that the only guy for her was sitting right next to her, and he didn't
know it. "I see, do you have anyone in mind though?"
"Well, there is one person, but he probably doesn't feel the same way."
"Oh." Elios winced a little, and Rini began to wonder if he did, in fact,
feel the same way she felt about him. "So what's been happening with you?"
She asked softly, breaking the silence, even though she realized that she
had two hours to find her special someone. "Nothing really, I have just
been praying, it has always been the same here, never anything different,
until now that is." Rini looked up from the floor. "You're the only
person I can talk to anymore; the kids my own age ignore me, and Hotaru and
the rest are too busy for me. I guess you're my best friend Elios." She
realized the mistake she might have made by saying that when she looked
into his eyes. "Nothing more Rini?" She had a half-hour to get back.
"Why do you ask? Wait, you've never called me Rini before!" Rini
questioned, and Elios scooted closer to her and tilted her chin upward.
"I, dear one, just might be the prince you're looking for." He said, and
as he closed the distance between them, her eyes fluttered closed. "Yes, I
think you're right Elios; I love you, I always have, but what about you?"
Hoping with all her heart that he'd say he loved her too, she went down on
both her knees and held both his hands in her own. "I have always loved
you Rini, I thought you knew that when I kissed you six years ago." She
chuckled softly and looked down at her watch. "We have two minutes to get
back to the palace!"
They both jumped up and ran to the portal, which had remained open for the
entire duration of her stay. With one minute left, they arrived in the
empty ballroom, and Rini heard her mother outside. "If the princess does
not show up in forty-five seconds, your new heir will be my niece, Koroku
Tsukino." Rini glanced at Elios, and transformed into Princess Serenity IV
using her pink crystal. She then took his hand as he turned into a half
Pegasus, and they flew quickly as they began to hear a countdown. "Ten.
Nine. Eight. Seven." She sped out the door, and turned the corner to see
the stage. ".Three.Two.One." Then, she let go of Elios' hand and went even
faster, reaching the stage just before they finished. "Serenity!" Her
mother said, overjoyed, and hugged her. "Mother, I did it." She showed
her mother her brooch just as Elios landed at her side and kissed her
cheek, causing some people to gasp. "Then accept this as a sign of your
heritage and birthright." Her mother pulled a scepter out of some null-
space around her and handed it to her daughter. Lights burst out of the
tip and surrounded the entire palace. "In two years, you shall marry Elios
of Elysian, and become the Queen of the Galaxy."
She turned, and Elios was smiling lightly at her. She put her arms around
his neck and kissed him, just to show everyone that someone loved the
princess. Cheers were heard, and some clapping as well when the people
realized that the true heir was indeed here.
