Part Two

Hikaru found Lantis staring out a window, and she peeked around him to see what he was looking at. "What are you watching?" she asked.

"Eagle," Lantis replied. "He's out there with someone."

"Huh? Who's that?"

"I think her name is Solana. She sure seems taken with Eagle."

"Oh." Hikaru sounded sad. "Well, um, have you found Primera yet?"

Lantis shook his head. "No, but Guru Clef might know. Let's go find him."

They found Guru Clef directing Asuka and Sang Yung in hanging decorations for the ball. "A little to the left...no, too far, too far, back to the right just a little...and now up just about two inches..."

"Guru Clef, is the perfect positioning of this banner going to somehow enhance the experience of this ball at all?" Asuka demanded.

Clef blushed. "Well..."

"Guru Clef!" Lantis said. The magician jumped.

"Uh, what?" he said.

"We're looking for Primera," Hikaru said. "She's been missing for days, and we thought maybe you'd be able to help us find her."

Clef nodded. "I see." He stretched. "Well, let me see what I can do." He held his staff aloft. "Neyan!" he cried, and looked into the large jewel of his staff. Colors swirled inside of it.

"There are no pixies within range," he said. "I'm sorry."

"Where could she be?" Lantis said, his tone bordering on frantic. "I didn't think she would run away on me like this..."

"She'll turn up, Lantis, I'm sure," Hikaru said.

"Hey, since you're here, would you mind helping set up for the ball?" Clef asked.

"No problem," Hikaru replied, grinning.

Ascot is going to love this. Umi surveyed her finished piece of work with a proud smile. She had designed for him a new outfit for the ball, taking the best of Earth and Cephiran styles and combining them into something she was extremely proud of.

Maybe today he'll actually say what he's been hinting at all this time...she thought dreamily. It was an hour or two past midnight now, and everyone else had long since left the dressmaking room. I'm probably the only one still awake, she thought, as she blew out the lamps and opened the door to leave.

That was when she discovered she was wrong.

A figure shrouded in a cloak was creeping by, and it jumped when Umi shut the door. Umi blinked.

"Hello?" she said. "What are you doing up so late?"

"Shh!" the figure replied. "Do you want everyone to know?"

"Fuu?" Umi guessed. The cloaked figure sighed and nodded.

"It's me."

"Isn't that Ferio's cloak?" Umi asked, and then she gasped. "Oh, no, Fuu! You're just fifteen, you shouldn't have-"

"I knew that was what you'd think," Fuu sighed. "But we went out to dinner, and I taught him to play chess afterwards. We were just playing chess, and it got late, and we didn't realize it. Really."

"Of you, I believe it," Umi sighed. "Well, that doesn't change the fact that it's rather late. We should get back to our rooms."

"Yes," Fuu replied. "Why are you up so late?"

"I've designed a new outfit for Ascot to wear to the ball tomorrow-no, it's tonight now, isn't it?" Umi giggled happily. "I just can't wait."

"And if we don't get to sleep soon, we're going to be sleeping through the ball," Fuu replied.

"I'm not even very tired," Umi replied. "But I guess you're right."

"Is it true that Eagle is taking a girl called Solana to the ball and not going with Lantis and Hikaru?" Fuu asked suddenly. "I know it seems strange and awkward, but from what I understood, the three of them were happy together."

"Maybe this means that Hikaru can finally make up her mind," Umi replied. "If only Ascot would ask me..."

"Ask you...?"

"To marry him! What else?"

"He hasn't? I was under the impression that..."

Umi blushed. "Well, uh...I know he wants to, he's just shy."

"I suppose," Fuu replied.

"Well, we should really get some sleep now. G'night, Fuu."

"Good night, Umi."

As the next day dawned, Lantis was already up and about, taking a walk in the courtyard of the palace. He suddenly realized that he was not the only one who had decided to come out to see the sunrise.

Solana sat on a bench with her back to him, her green hair cascading down her back freely. He crept up on her silently.

Lantis! he scolded himself. You shouldn't think like that! She's Eagle's girlfriend now, and you're going with Hikaru...

She was so taken with the sunrise that she did not see him approach, nor sit down beside him. She continued to watch the sunrise, while Lantis was content just to look at her.

"It's Solana, right?"

Solana turned slowly to look at him. "Lantis..." she said softly.

"Lantis!" someone else called. Hikaru. "You still haven't picked an outfit for the ball!"

Solana slapped him.

"Hey!"

"You indelicate twerp! Haven't you done enough to ruin my life?" Solana ran off, leaving Lantis confused.

"What did I do?" he said softly.

"She slapped you?" Hikaru said, noticing the red handprint on Lantis's cheek.

"I don't know why she did that," Lantis replied. "I know I've seen her somewhere before, but..."

"Don't worry about it. There's only twelve hours until the ball starts, and you've got to be prepared!"

Umi sighed and turned her attention to the finishing touches of her own dress. After this, I'm done. No more dresses to make, no more suits to sew...

Eagle came into the sewing room. "Hi, Umi," he said. "I have to see this suit..."
"Oh, all right," Umi said, putting down her dress for a moment. "It's finished, I think you'll like it. No frills, but nice. Would you like to try it on? There's a screen back in that corner."

Eagle took the clothing she offered. "Thanks, I think I will." He walked over behind the screen and began undressing, while Umi returned to working on her dress.

"So, uh, what's up with you and Solana, if you don't mind me asking?" she asked.

"Solana's a nice girl. She's cute," Eagle replied from behind the screen.

"Cuter than Hikaru?"

Eagle froze, and sighed. "Of course not," he said, pausing to pull a shirt on over his head. "But Hikaru is going with Lantis. You of Earth don't usually date with more than one person."

"But I thought that Hikaru loved both of you."

"I thought so, too," Eagle laughed. "But I should have known all along that Lantis was a better match for her."

"You don't believe it," Umi said. "I can tell that you don't, so don't deny it."

"We'll see what happens tonight," Eagle said, emerging from behind the screen. "What do you think?"

"Marvelous," Umi replied. "Splendid. Hikaru will be jealous."

"That's the idea," Eagle murmured as he went back to change into his normal attire.

Oh, Lantis, I know I was just a pixie, but now I'm a person, just like you! And if something goes wrong tonight...I put all my magic into turning into a human for you, Lantis! You know how long it took me to recover after that? Primera knew that he couldn't hear her thoughts, but it was close enough to venting that she was somewhat relieved by it.

"Stupid Lantis! Why do I have to be in love with you?" she cried. Ferio heard someone yelling in the empty garden and stopped to listen, curious. "Stupid Hikaru, thinking she can steal my Lantis! Everyone loves her, why does she have to take him from me? He saved my life!"

All of a sudden, the mystery of Primera's disappearance was solved.

So Solana and the pixie are one in the same, Ferio thought. But she's going with Eagle, who is moping about because Hikaru is going with Lantis, but Lantis is moping about because Primera is missing, and Hikaru gives wistful looks at Eagle when she thinks no one is watching...

Fuu peeked into Hikaru's room. "You're not dressed yet?" she said softly. "The dance will begin soon. You should change into your new dress. It's so pretty. Red silk."

"I know," Hikaru sighed. "Lantis will be here soon."

"What's wrong?" Fuu asked, sitting down beside her. "You're not your usual self."

"I feel awful," Hikaru sighed. "I didn't realize how much I hurt Eagle's feelings."

"Eagle is going to the dance with Solana. His feelings do not seem to be so dangerously damaged. What are you really upset about?"

"I've been with Lantis all day, and all he does is look for Primera. I thought she was just a nuisance to him, always buzzing around, but now he misses her! He's certainly not going to be happy at the ball tonight, and it rubs off on me. And Eagle is..."

"Hikaru?"

"I don't know, I don't know! I don't understand. Let me get dressed. I'll talk to you tonight."

Fuu nodded and left the room. Ferio was waiting.

"Fuu, I know where Primera is."

Ascot held Umi's arm a little awkwardly as they walked into the ballroom together. He looked both proud and nervous in the outfit Umi had made for him. Umi looked around the ballroom in awe. "No wonder it took so long to decorate this room," she said. "It's beautiful."

"That's right, you've been cooped up in the sewing room all this time," Fuu laughed, walking up to them with Ferio. In one of her hands she held a goblet of green punch; her other arm was linked with Ferio's. "You should hear the sound system we've installed."

"Zazu, no!" Geo Metro said, running after the little mechanic. "You cannot spike the punch!"

The two Magic Knights and their dates laughed. "Have you seen Hikaru?" Umi wondered.

"No," Fuu replied. "She should be here any minute, though. The band is ready to start."

"Umi! Fuu! Ferio! Ascot!" Solana rushed up to the four of them, dragging Eagle. "Hey, nice place for a ball, huh?"

"She's so cute," Fuu laughed to Ferio.

"Yeah," Ferio replied. "Like a pixie," he added a little pointedly. Solana looked up at him nervously, then shrugged and laughed her bell-like laugh.

"So, when are they going to start the music?" she asked.

"Any second now," Fuu replied. Eagle was watching the doorway.

"So, which one's your ex-boyfriend?" Eagle asked Solana absently. The ballroom was swarming with people.

"Oh, he's not here yet," Solana replied. The band struck up a waltz, and the music was amplified from all corners of the ballroom by the speakers Fuu had insisted be installed.

"Umi, uh...would you, I mean...um, would you like to...ah..."

"I'd love to dance with you, Ascot!" Umi replied cheerfully, and they waltzed away.

"Fuu?" Ferio asked. She nodded, and they, too, began to dance.

"Shall we?" Eagle asked Solana.

"Sure, why not?" Solana replied. "Just let me warn you, though, I've never danced before."

"You haven't?"

"Not waltzing, anyway. In the p-where I'm from, we didn't have the same kind of dances."

"Well, it's not so difficult. Just listen to the rhythm and step-watch me, now-one, two, three, one two three..." he counted aloud while Solana watched. "And then I'll hold your hand here, and you put yours on my shoulder...okay?"

"Let's go," Solana said. "I think I've got it." She didn't, quite, but only stepped on Eagle's feet twice before she got the hang of it.

Finally, Lantis and Hikaru entered the ballroom.

"We appear to be somewhat late," Hikaru said. "Shall we dance?"

"I want to get something to drink," Lantis replied.

"Oh, come on, just one set?" Hikaru begged.

"All right," Lantis sighed, and they also began to dance. They found Asuka dancing with Guru Clef and Tatra dancing with Sang Yung, Lafarga with Caldina and Geo Metro with Tarta. Zazu was hanging around the punch bowl waiting until no one was looking when Presea approached him.

"Might I have this dance?" she asked him, giggling, then swung him away before he had a chance to react.

It wasn't until five songs later that Hikaru allowed Lantis to get a drink, and she saw Umi, Fuu, and Solana heading for her.

"Hikaru, we didn't see you!" Umi said. "Where have you been?"

"Oh, Lantis and I were dancing," she replied. "Where are your guys?"

"Congregating around the refreshment table with Lantis," Fuu said. "So, what do you think of the ballroom?"

"Oh, it's lovely," Hikaru sighed. The band struck up a different beat, and people on the dance floor began to organize into squares of four couples.

"Oh, look, they're square dancing!" Hikaru exclaimed, forgetting her depression. "How cool!"

Only it was a different sort of square-dancing than the girls were used to. The caller named it the "Chizetan Reel", and Fuu watched the dancers closely, trying to pick up the steps.

"Let's see..." she said softly. Fuu held her hands in front of her as if to hold those of her invisible partner. "Step, hop, step, hop, slide, hop, step, hop..."

"Oh, I get it!" Hikaru took her hands, and they tried it together. "Step, hop, step, hop, step, crap! hop, step..." Umi and Solana giggled as they tried to get back with the beat. They spun, and then Fuu grabbed Umi's hands, and Hikaru took Solana's. They danced, still somewhat clumsily, laughing at themselves, until the boys returned. Now the music was changing.

"Is the song over already?" Hikaru wondered, disappointed.

"It's the middle set," Ferio replied. "You girls weren't so bad-for beginners." He looked to Lantis. "Shall we show them how it's done. Lantis frowned and shook his head, blushing, so Ferio held his hands out to Eagle, who took them, and they leaped into the dance.

The girls giggled, watching Ferio move with such enthusiasm. Eagle moved a bit stiffly at first-it had been years since he'd danced the Chizetan Reel, and Ferio had to drag him a bit. The swordsman's enthusiasm was contagious, though, and Eagle soon perked up. The others clapped, watching Ferio spin Eagle with a wild grin on his face. He winked at Fuu and deposited Eagle in front of Hikaru, who smiled at him and took his hands. Ferio reached for Fuu, and Ascot took Umi's hands, leaving Lantis and Solana.

"What are you waiting for? We need a square!" Ferio said. Solana smiled and took Lantis's hands, and the two of them stared at each other, moving awkwardly in the dance. Eagle and Hikaru looked happier than they had all night, and even Ascot was starting to loosen up.

After they were finished playing the Chizetan Reel, the band took a break, and some DJ was playing a song from Earth on the sound system-A song off a CD that Umi had brought. Fuu recognized it as the Beatles song called "Something."

Ascot stared at Umi and took a deep breath. "Umi, there's something you told me about, that on Earth, means that you care about them very much."

"Yes?" Umi replied.

"Um...Well...what I'm trying to say is, well...Umi, will you marry me?"

"It's about time that you ask me!" Umi replied cheerfully, throwing her arms around him and kissing his cheek.

"Is that a yes?" Ascot wondered. Umi pulled away from him and nodded, grinning, and he pressed a ring into her hand.

"Lantis," Solana said. "Do you know who I am?"

"Primera," Lantis replied. "I didn't know it until this moment, but-now I do. It's strange."

"Oh, Lantis," Solana-no, Primera sobbed. "Why did you have to choose her over me?"

"I only saw you as a pixie," Lantis replied. "But now, here you are, and I can see...that I don't want to leave you."

"Eagle and Hikaru belong together," Primera said. "They'll figure it out eventually, but I've known it all along."

"I'll bet you have," Lantis laughed, and Primera threw herself into his arms.

"Eagle?" Hikaru said softly. "Aren't you going to go back to Solana?"

Eagle shook his head. "She's dancing with Lantis, now," he said. "And look at them, they can't keep their eyes off each other."

"She's Primera, isn't she," Hikaru sighed. "I should have seen that a long time ago."

"I'm sorry," Eagle said.

"No, don't be," Hikaru said. "I'm the one who should be sorry. For hurting you the way I did. Can you forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive you for," Eagle replied. "You simply love Lantis, it's not your fault."

"No, I don't love Lantis," Hikaru said firmly, shaking her head. "Not the way that I love you. So, please, forgive me."

"I love you too, Hikaru," Eagle replied, a little shocked but washed over with happiness. "I could forgive you of just about anything." Hikaru laughed and buried her head in his chest, crying tears of happiness.

Ferio looked at Primera and Lantis, then to Eagle and Hikaru, and back to Fuu. "Everyone looks happy," he said. "I told you everything would come out all right."

"Only because you forced Lantis and Primera to dance together? They would have come out together whether you did or not. Same with Eagle and Hikaru."

"I suppose," Ferio said. "You've never been wrong before." Fuu giggled. "I still don't think the future's going to be easy for them."

"What about us?"

"Hmm?"

Fuu sighed. "You're talking about them, but what's the future going to be like for us?"

Ferio thought for a moment. "Well, I guess I can't predict the future," he said. "But it can't be too bad, so long as I can be with the one that I love." Fuu laughed and kissed his lips.

The End