AN: Do not expect me to write HeliosxRini. She's just too young of a character.

Warning: I did grow up on the dub. And I am an American. This means there will be many references to Disney and American pop songs like Angel of the Morning and St Elmo's Fire and She's in love with the boy or X's and O's.

Chapter 4

Tiger's Eye returned to the tent feeling slightly better. He still found himself thinking about her but it felt like some of the unease had been alleviated.

"So," Hawk's Eye began as he came up to the bar, ordering a Sour Ball. "How'd it go?"

The other man knew he couldn't tell most but Hawk's Eye was already in on this. "Well, she didn't kill me, so that counts for something. And… she's as confused as I am. She couldn't stop thinking about me either. What do you think it means?"

He shrugged. "I have no idea but… what are you gonna do about it?"

Tiger's Eye took his drink and sipped. "We've decided to… try again, she called it. We're meeting tonight… but you cannot tell anyone. Even Fish. If Zirconia found out… or if her friends found out…"

Hawk nodded. "I won't tell. Your secret's safe with me. But dude, are you sure it's a good idea. I just thought if you talked to her, you'd be able to move on. I didn't mean for you to ask her out."

"It's probably not. It's probably the worst idea I've ever had but… I feel… good…. About it," he said softly. "How crazy is that? I feel good about it. I want to talk to her again. Get to know her." He drained his glass to the ice. "I mean, I've already checked her, she doesn't have Pegasus. We have to have a life outside of work."

"But she's literally the enemy. If Zirconia finds out, she will probably kill her," Hawkeye reminded him. "Look, if you need to do this, fine. I'm on your side but be careful. You're my brother. I don't want you to get hurt."

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That evening, after dinner, the sun was just starting to dip into the horizon. Rini ran up to her attic bedroom and went the trinket with its teal globe. "Pegasus, can I talk to you?" She asked.

The globe glowed and became a misty orb. Inside the orb was a miniature white horse with beautiful wings and a golden horn. "What troubles you?"

She sighed and told him about Lita. "She says she can't stop thinking about him but he's the bad guy. He tried to hurt her and us. What is wrong? Is she under some sort of spell?"

Pegasus chuckled lightly. The young maiden was still so naïve to the ways of life. "It's possible but doubtful. It sounds as though your friend might have been attracted to this man, despite the red flags."

"Red flags?" She asked.

He shook his head. "You'll understand when you're older but Rini, you'll find that the heart is a mystery. It wants what it wants. And sometimes this can be bad but love also has a way of changing people. Love, true love, is magic. The most powerful magic of all. It creates happiness."

The little girl smiled. "Have you ever been in love? Is there a Mrs. Pegasus?" She asked teasingly.

He laughed. "Oh no, I've never been in love myself. I've dreamed of it."

She smiled at him. "I hope you find it. When we save the world, you should stay and I can help you find a pretty mare."

He smiled back at her. "After the battle, sadly, I must return to my real job. But it sure is nice to dream." He chuckled. "Now, you should sleep, dear Rini. You have school in the morning and you need your rest."

She nodded, knowing he likely wouldn't agree but he was right. It was nice to dream that he might stay. She liked having a wise mentor to help her and advise her. With the current situation, she didn't have a lot of confidants. She couldn't talk to Serena or Darien the same way she could talk to her parents, even though they were the exact same people. Except they weren't. After a year or two of living there, she had finally realized that they weren't the same people. Her parents had a wealth of experience and memories that Serena and Darien didn't have yet. Serena was a teenager and still in middle school. Darien was still in high school, though he was about to graduate. Auntie Ellen and Uncle Ken weren't an option. She couldn't tell them the truth about who she was, although she wanted to. Some days she missed just having parents she could really talk to as her parents. Pegasus at least was someone wise she could talk to. She would miss him when he had to leave. But until then, she would treasure every precious second.

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Lita teased her hair with her curling iron and put it into a high-ponytail. She was getting excited and nervous. It was hard keeping it secret from her friends but he was right, it was too dangerous. She could never put them at risk. The safest thing was to see him in secret.

She'd fooled them into going shopping with her to help her pick out a new outfit for the night. After all, after being so traumatized, she needed a new outfit to help her feel pretty again. It wasn't hard, she loved them like sisters but they could be oblivious sometimes.

She put on the new rose pink knee-length skirt and the peasant blouse with the embroidered red cherries before putting a light layer of foundation on her face with a light dusting of pink powder on her cheeks and pink lipgloss. A pair of low-heels in the same shade of pink as the skirt went on her feet.

A look at the sky told her it was time to go. A quick check of her appearance and she ran out of the apartment, carrying her purse.

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Deep in the forest, Tiger's Eye was waiting. He was growing a little nervous but it was a good nervous. He wondered if this was what anticipation was.

Finally, he heard her running up. "I'm here, sorry. I wanted to make sure I looked my best." She explained.

He looked her over, whistling. "You succeeded, you look great." She blushed deeply and he held up his hand. With a pop, a small pink flower sat in his palm.

Lita giggled. "Wow, you really can do magic." She said as he put the flower in her hair. "Thank you. Pink peonies are my favorite."

He felt something strange in his chest, an odd flutter. "So, what shall we do?"

She thought about it. "What if we just took a walk through the woods under the moonlight?" She suggested. "It's a nice night."

He nodded and offered his arm to her. "Then, shall we?"

She laughed and accepted the arm. Her arm fit perfectly in his. "So, what did you do today?" She began as they started down the path.