The Last Four:

Part Three: The Ball

" What am I going to do to my hair," Serenity cried staring into the mirror. The Senshi were gathered in Serenity's room getting ready for the ball.

" Why don't you wear it down," Hotaru suggested as she twirled around in her dressing robe in front of the mirror.

" But it's two long. I'll trip on it," Serenity whined.

" You'll trip anyway," Rei said looking into the mirror to curl part of her hair. Serenity stuck out her tongue at Rei and turned back to the mirror trying to pile all of her hair on top of her head.

" We could always cut it," Minako said smiling insanely and wielding a pair of scissors.

" Stay away from me Mina," Serenity screamed as Minako started chasing her around the room.

They suddenly stopped as Ami came out of the changing room. " Oh Ami is that what you're wearing," Serenity said. She was wearing a dark blue velvet dress with a very high collar, long sleeves, and a full skirt.

" Oh come on Ami. Don't you want Zoicite to notice you," Makoto asked coming over to stand next to Serenity and Minako.

Suddenly Mina's eyes lit up. " I have got the perfect dress for you! I had it made when I was on Venus. I was going to wear it to the last ball but I'll let you wear it. You'll look divine!" Minako squealed as she dragged Ami out the door.

" I'm scared for her," Michiru said calmly brushing out her hair.

" Okay, how do I look," Makoto said coming out of the changing room.

" Marvelous darling simply marvelous," Serenity said shaking the curling iron at her. Makoto was wearing in emerald green empire waisted dress that flowed down just past her ankles. It was sleeveless. Around the top a band of emeralds and there was another band of emeralds just under the bustline. She was wearing emerald earrings and her hair was in a French twist held up by an emerald clip.

" My turn," Rei said running into the changing room and shutting the door.

" Ami that is so much better," Hotaru said as Ami came back into the room Minako pushing her all the way.

" You can wear my tear drop sapphire necklace and earrings," Serenity said.

" I don't know you guys it shows a little much," Ami said looking down at her dress. It was ice blue satin and had spaghetti straps. The bodice of the dress was low cut and went down to the waist. The dress flared out into a full ballroom skirt with drape pleats all around the waistline. Ami self-consciously tugged at the low cut top.

" It's an awesome dress Ami," Makoto said.

" Okay you guys what do you think," Rei said coming out of the changing room.

" Wow Rei that's so cool. Where did you find it," Minako questioned as she prepared to enter the dressing room. Rei was wearing a red dress. A very red dress. It was sleeveless and the bodice fitted the tightly until it reached the waist where it flowed into a straight satin skirt with along lit up the side. She had curled her hair into a million spiral curls and pinned them up into a ponytail with a big ruby clip. She also had on a ruby necklace.

" I had it made for me when I was home on Mars," Rei said.

" What's your dress look like Mina," Serenity questioned.

" Just a second and I'll show you," Minako said going into the changing room.

Five minutes later Minako came out wearing a gold dress. The top of the dress was like Ami's but at the waist it flared out hundreds of layers of gold chiffon, which formed a full ballroom skirt. It was dotted with gold beads and hearts. Her hair was done in a bun. Around her forehead was solid gold chain with a heart hanging in the middle of her forehead. " That dress is awesome Mina," Serenity said walking into the dressing room. She was the last one to change the Outer Senshi had gone to their own rooms to change and were already back. Hotaru was wearing a silk, dark purple, and spaghetti strap dress that was simple but elegant. Her hair was up in a twist and studded with ameythysts. She also had a necklace of amethysts around her neck. Michiru looked like the princess she was. The dress was aqua colored and off the shoulder. It was empire waisted and ribbed pleated above the bustline. It had long sleeves and the top part of the sleeves was also ribbed pleated. There was a band of aquamarine stones lining the top and the empire waistline. The sleeves were long and draped almost to the floor. Her hair was straightened falling down her back to her waist. Some of her hair was braided into little braids and studded with aquamarine stones. Haruka was wearing a navy blue slip dress only it had long sleeves. It was the simplest thing she could find.

" I wonder if I could get away with pants," Haruka said half jokingly. The Senshi rolled their eyes hurrying around making last minute preparations.

" Hurry up Sere we're going to be late! We have to be there in five minutes!" Rei yelled through the changing room door.

" Okay guys what do you think," Serenity said stepping out the door.

" It's a gorgeous dress Sere," Makoto said. The dress was white silk with an empire waist and spaghetti straps. Coming from the empire waist was sheer layer of white fabric. The sheer fabric was split up the middle so you could see the silk underneath. The sheer fabric was also embroidered with diamonds and pearls. There was a band of diamonds and pearls just under the bustline. Her hair was in a silky pile on top of her head. Around her forehead she had a string of diamonds with a tear shaped pearl in the middle hanging just above the golden crescent moon on her head.

" You'll have the prince bowing at your feet and begging for you to dance with him," Minako said exaggerating as usual. Serenity blushed slightly.

" Come on let's go," Rei said heading for the door.

" She's just in a hurry to see that cute blonde general with the nice blue eyes," Makoto whispered to Minako.

Rei shot them a death glance and huffed out the door right into Setsuna.

" Setsuna what are you doing here," Rei said surprised.

" Setsuna," Serenity cried running up to the tall green haired woman. " I didn't know you were coming!"

" I had a few matters of state to settle," Setsuna said smiling.

" Are you going to the ball," Serenity questioned brightly.

" I was planning on it," Setsuna said looking down at her garnet colored dress.

" Boy, have I got the guy for you," Minako said running up to Setsuna and grabbing her arm.

" His names Maganite and you'll love him," she said dragging the older women out the door. The rest of the Senshi followed. They approached the double doors that lead into the ballroom and as if on cue the doors swung up and the trumpets blared.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

" Here we go Hotaru," breathed looking around the crowded room for Corundum.

" Announcing the royal princess's of the Silver Millenium," the announcer said.

" She looks like an angel," Corundum said staring at Hotaru.

" Doesn't she," Maganite said.

Just as Corundum was about to hurt his brother severely for even looking at the woman he had given his heart and soul to he realized that Maganite was staring at a woman he had never seen before. She had long dark green hair and unusual red eyes.

" Cor," Hotaru said smiling happily as she pushed through the crowds of people to get to him dragging Setsuna behind her. " Hey guys, This is Setsuna Princess of Pluto and guardian of the Time Gate. Setsuna this is Maganite and Corundum two of the prince's generals."

" Enchanted I'm sure," Maganite said bending down to kiss Setsuna's hand.

" What my brother means to say is that he think your gorgeous and wants to dance with you all night or until you fall in love with him," Corundum said.

Setsuna actually blushed for maybe the first time in her life. " Would you like to dance Princess Setsuna," Maganite asked.

" Please call me Setsuna and I would love to dance," she said taking his hand.

" Would you like to dance Princess Hotaru," Corundum said mockingly. He bowed down and kissed her hand.

" Call me Hotaru and I would love to dance General Corundum," she said giggling while doing an awkward curtsey. They were laughing as they twirled onto the dance floor.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jadeite was looking for Rei. He had seen her when she came in but had been on the other side of the room. By the time he got to where she was standing she was gone. There she was dancing with diplomat from Mercury. She looked extremely bored and every once and awhile the bored look was replaced by a pained one as the fat diplomat stepped on her toes. He decided to cut in.

" Excuse me sir would you do me the favor of letting me dance with your partner?" Rei looked up gratefully at her savior. It was him! The one that had been staring at her in the throne room. The diplomat moved off and let Jadeite take over. " Princess I'm glad you did yourself a favor and let me dance with you instead of that over developed diplomat from Mercury." Rei looked up at him fuming. She hadn't realized he was kidding yet.

" Well General Jadeite unlike you I don't judge people by their appearance only by their brain capacity and by saying what you just said it appears you have none," Rei retorted.

" Calm down, Princess I was kidding. I'm just glad you let me dance with you at all when you could have any man in this room groveling at your feet," Jadeite said.

Rei got a sinking feeling in her stomach when she looked up into his endless blue eyes.

" Did I mention that you look beautiful tonight," he said softly in her ear. Her heart exploded.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

" Do you see her," Endymion said to Kunzite.

" See who," Kunzite said looking around the room for Minako.

" The Princess dimwit," Endymion replied.

" There they are," Kunzite said

Endymion sucked in his breath as he saw her. She looked like an angel dressed in all white and glittering with diamonds. He slowly made his way toward her getting their right before Azurite. " Would you like to dance," he asked looking down at her.

Serenity heard someone ask her dance but she was to busy looking for Endymion. She turned around to turn whoever it was down and found herself staring into endless cobalt blue eyes. " It's you," she said softly.

" At your service forever princess," he replied offering her his hand. He whirled her onto the dance floor. Azurite watched this with cold hatred in his eyes. He stalked out of the ballroom.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kunzite would have seen the look in Azurites eyes and warned the prince but he was to busy trying to think of the words to tell the beautiful creature in his arms how truly beautiful she was. He whirled her around the dance floor staring into her blue eyes.

Minako thought she would faint when Kunzite asked her to dance with him. He was so cute! She felt like she already knew him even if she had just met him. She looked around to see all her friends happily dancing. Serenity and Endymion, Maganite and Setsuna, Hotaru and Corundum, Makoto and Nephrite hmmm they make a cute couple, Haruka and Rubellite, and Michiru and Cassorite. Where was Ami? Oh there she was over there trying to hide behind a plant. Minako started to worry but then she saw Zoicite walking toward her. Minako smiled and turned all her attention to Kunzite.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ami was content just watching. Content but not happy. She really didn't want to dance with anyone but that general that smiled at her today and she couldn't even find him.

" May I have this dance," A voice in front of her said. " I don't�," Ami said looking up. It was him! Him he was asking her to dance! This couldn't be happening he could dance with anyone he wanted to. Why would he pick her of all people? All these thoughts flew threw her head in about a millisecond before she took the hand he offered her. They twirled onto the dance floor. She smiled and blushed as he told her how beautiful she looked.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Endymion and Serenity stepped outside into the garden. The Earth hung low and bright in the night sky. All the stars shone with what seemed like happiness as they looked down on the young lovers. They walked through the many trails that led through the garden. Listening to the breeze blowing gently through the trees. They stopped in front of a rose bush. He picked a single red rose and tucked it into her hair carefully as to not hurt her with the thorns. " Serenity."

" Endymion," Their faces were just inches apart. He leaned in closer and she tilted her head up. They kissed expressing every bit of passion that they felt for each other. They pulled apart and she leaned her head against his broad chest. He inhaled the smell of her hair as he showered thousands of kisses on her head.

" Serenity I'll love you forever," Endymion said into her hair.

She pulled away from him and looked up smiling, " I love you Endy. I'll love you till the day I die," she said, " And after that too," she seemed to add as an afterthought. She stood up on her tiptoes to capture his lips again.