Ch.2 BALL ROOM~

"....and now, the person whom we honor tonight, Princess Serenity!" "Go!" whispered Zuleika. Rini stepped out and a roar of applause greeted her. She put on her best smile, seeing her mother and father clapping and smiling proudly. As soon as she was seated, she looked for her friends. She saw Ginny, Faye,Nita,Sanora,Elena,and Hotaru waving at her. She smiled back. She could not wait till after dinner.

~Garden~

"You look wonderful!" Hotaru gushed. Her long purple hair had been stylishly braided onto her head. "Thanks," Rini said, as her friends smiled, nodded, and praised her appearance. Out of nowhere, the queens suddenly appeared. Queen Mina stepped forward first. "Rini, you've grown so much! How beautiful you look!" Her long blonde hair was let down, a clip holding it in place. "Oh, i must agree. though you must know that beauty comes from the inside not from the-" Queen Ami started. "Uh, you look wonderful, dear. Your mother has been talking endlessly about you!" Queen Raye interrupted. "Yes! Now then, how did yesterday go?" Queen Lita inquired. "Mother!" Nita warned. "I was just asking," Lita replied innocently. "Where the planets is Thomas? How late he is! That son of mine is always late. Oh dear! Serena is calling us! We'll leave you all alone...for now," Mina said, leaving, with the other queens trailing behind her. "I must agree, where is--" Ginny started. "I'm here, sister," a voice suddenly said. They all turned to see their unexpected guest. "Thomas! Well, NOW you show up!" Ginny said. Thomas stepped forward and gave a shocked Rini a kiss on the hand. He did the same to the others. Hotaru nudged Rini from behind. "Oh! Uh, hello, Thomas...my have you grown.." Rini sputtered. *grown handsome* she wanted to add, but didn't dare. "So have you. What happened to the annoying little girl i used to play with?" Thomas teased. "She gone now, what about you?" Rini shot back. "Well, my old character has left me, though a bit of him is still left," Thomas replied. "Well, now?" Rini said. "Now, now, can't you two ever talk without starting a fight? Goodness you've been like that since you were toddlers!" Sanora(princess of Mercury) interrupted. "Not a fight, my friend, just an arguement," Thomas replied. Music started from the inside and they all stood there, quietly. After a long moment, Elena(princess of pluto) dared to speak. "Thomas, would you like to dance with me? I'm afraid i haven't seen you dance in years." She took his arm and led him into the ballroom with one hand. She shot the girls back a look which they all(except Rini) understood. Faye(princess of Mars) cleared her throat. "Rini, why not come and have dessert? Take a seat," she pushed Rini into the palace, forcing her to sit down on an isolated chair. "yes! here, try some angel cake!" Ginny shoved a plate into Rini's hands. "Oh, don't forget to try the strawberry cheesecake!" Sanora appeared carrying a plate with a large slice of cheesecake. Nita and Hotaru followed suit. Rini looked confused as can be.

"now, Thomas, tell me, how old are you now?" Elena asked as they danced through the waltz. "I'm nineteen and going," Thomas politely replied. "Ah.." Elena said. Thomas glanced at rini, who was eating a peice of cake. Elena quickly turned, making Rini disappear from sight. She kept him talking to distract his mind from Rini. She occasionally stole glances at her friends(and almost laughed out loud) who tried valiantly to stop other men who were trying to get to Rini to ask her to dance. Sanora,Hotaru,Faye,Ginny,and Nita were saying things like "I'm sorry but the princess is not available for a dance right now...As you can see, the princess is very busy, ask her later...Please don't bother the princess at the time, you can see she is doing something at the moment..." Nita practically scared two boys away, almost shouting "HEY, AS YOU CAN SEE THE PRINCESS IS EATING HER DESSERT,SO GET LOST,HUH?!" Elena recalled Nita had gotten her temper from her mother. The poor boys walked away terrified. The other men who wanted to dance with Rini were politely, but firmly, escorted back to their seats, being told that they would have their chance later. Elena grinned. Her plan was working well. "Oh, dear. Look Thomas, Rini is all alone with no one to dance with," she suddenly said. Thomas turned, and true enough, Rini sat there looking bored. "Thomas, be a lamb and go dance with her for me?" she asked. Thomas, suprised at elena's suggestion, nodded dumbly.

The girls sighed with relief at the sight of thomas approaching the princess. They were all exhausted from pushing boys away from Rini. "May i have this dance?" Thomas tapped Rini on her shoulder. Rini looked up suprised. "Oh! yes, sure," she replied. As they glided on the dance floor, Rini and Thomas chatted like old friends again. Rini was suprisingly charmed by this boy. The last time she had seen him, he was 10 years old.(and quite a brat)

As soon as the song was ending, Thomas led Rini out to the garden. They talked and sat on a bench,as rini's friends looked proudly on. "Why Thomas, you weren't that much fun since..." Rini thought. "...never," Thomas finished. They broke into laughter. "Charming,handsome,well-suited, you're a Thomas i don't know!" Rini exclaimed. "Yes, and the same to you...only beautiful, i mean," Thomas replied, staring into her eyes. they were just about to kiss when they heard a rumbling sound. "What was that?" Rini gasped. "I don't know...watch out!" Thomas pulled Rini to the ground,just as a purple lightning bolt smashed the bench they were on in two. "Oh..my..." Rini couldn't move. Screams erupted from the palace, and Rini turned to look. All the guest were running...the palace was on fire. "Your highness! Your highness!" Zuleika was screaming,when another bolt struck her down.