“I heard that, Randy Kino.” Rini descended down the stairs, smoothing her dress.

“Well? Do I look ok?” She smiled nervously at Randy.

“You look lovely, dear.” Rei winked at her. “Just like a princess should.” Princess Leanna, standing off to the side with Ryan nodded her agreement. Ben had left already, to meet his date, one of Princess Violet of Venus’s maids.

“Yes, you look beautiful.” Randy said sincerely.

“Why, thank you, Randy. Um, you look really handsome, too.” Rini said.

“Thanks. Now should we go now?” Randy looked up uncertainly at his mother.

“Yes. Now make sure as soon as you get there, you see Luna and Artemis. They’ll tell you what to do for your grand entrance.” Rei ushered then out of Mars Palace into a set of carriages waiting to whisk them away to the ball.

As soon as they got to the palace, they found little Diana waiting for them. “Oh, Prince, Princess, all of you, you all look so pretty! Come on!” She squeaked, running ahead of them. “Mom, Dad and I need to give you instructions for your entrance.”

“Have fun, darling!” Rei called after her son. She slipped her hand into Prince Chad’s and sighed. “Oh, they grow up so fast, don’t they?”

Meanwhile, Luna and Artemis were pacing the length of one of the wings to the side of the staircase to the ballroom.

“There you all are.” Luna said with a sigh. “I was beginning to think you had all run off and wouldn’t be attending the ball. Is everyone here?” Artemis took a quick head count.

“Yup. Would everyone please stand next to their date?” Artemis said, “Ladies on the right and gentleman on the left.”

“They mean escort for us.” Randy whispered to Rini who nodded with a smile.

“Now, Crown Princess Rini of the Moon, would you please come stand before Luna?” Artemis nodded to his left where Luna was sitting. “Crown Prince Randy of Mars, please come stand before me.”

“Crown Prince Ryan of Mercury please stand behind Prince Randy. Crown Princess Leanna of Jupiter, stand behind Princess Rini, please.” Luna added.

They lined everyone up. Prince Andrew of Uranus was escorting Princess Violet of Venus, behind them was Prince Rick of Saturn with Princess Caroline of Neptune. Last but not least was Prince Phillip of Pluto who was left escorting Ryan’s younger sister, Princess Amber of Mercury.

“This will be the order you enter in. Walk down the center of the stairway and then walk down the center of the ballroom. At the end, your parents will be seated at a table. Before that table will be another table, where you are to be seated in this order as well, with Princess Rini and Prince Randy sitting in the chairs in the center of the table.” Luna said, finally settling down. “Well, all right, I think you are all finally ready. Your parents will go before you and will already be seated. Make them proud, my dears. Now, remember to stand up tall, smile, don’t be nervous, watch where you’re stepping so you don’t trip, and-”

“Luna, they get the point.” Artemis nudged her to make her stop.

“Yes, I know. But one last thing, don’t forget to link arms with your partner.” Luna added. “All right, now I’m done.”

Rini fidgeted for a moment, but Randy calmly offered her his arm. Smiling, she linked her arm through his. They started toward the grand staircase that lead into the ballroom, with Luna calling instructions after them all the while.

At the head of the stairs, the royal announcer stopped them. “I will announce your names and then you will descend down the stairs. The couple behind them needs to wait until the couple before them has reached the seventh stair before they emerge and begin their descend. Understood?”

They all nodded. A trumpet was blown and the Royal Announcer stepped onto the first stair. “If I may present their royal highnesses…” He stepped aside, “Crown Princess Renia of the Moon with Crown Prince Randolph of Mars.”

Randy and Rini began their slow descend down the stairs. Randy, knowing the procedure for ceremonies like this, smiled royally and nodded respectfully when he saw certain people. Rini smiled sweetly and gave a little wave with her hand cupped as her mother had taught her.

Once Prince Rick and Princess Caroline had begun their descend and the attention was diverted from them, Randy and Rini quickened their pace. “I didn’t know your real name was Renia.” Randy said casually as they reached the table and he helped Rini into her chair.

“And I didn’t know your real name was Randolph.” Rini replied, smoothing her dress. Randy racked his mind for a clever retort but before he could speak, Neo Queen Serenity along with the King stood and gave a little speech about how they all gathered at this time of the year to celebrate the beautiful shooting stars that sparkled in the sky. “I have been informed by our dutiful weatherwatchers that the shooting stars shall bless the sky, along with a few meteors, in precisely an hour’s time. I will inform everyone when the time comes and invite you all onto the balcony so you can see the magnificent stars all the better. Now, it is time for the future generations, the Crown Princes and Princesses to begin the first dance. Will they please step forward?” Neo Queen Serenity waved her hand delicately and the crowd all parted so that a clear space was open before the table. Randy’s heart fluttered as he took Rini’s hand and led her into the center of the ballroom, with the others trailing behind him. Randy and Rini clasped hands. With a shaking hand, he then placed his other hand on her waist, while she rested her hand on his shoulder. The others followed suit.

Neo-Queen Serenity’s smile lit up her face. “Maestro? If you would please.”

A small orchestra in the back began to play a lovely song. Due to his extensive ballroom dancing lessons that all the Crown Princes and Princesses had to take, both Randy and Rini knew how to ballroom dance and did it quite well. For a few minutes, they swayed back and twirled around the ballroom. When they passed the grand table his mother was seated at, Randy thought he saw his mother wipe away a silent tear. He caught her eye and smiled. She blew him a kiss, which Randy thought was quite childish but he liked it all the same.

After a while, Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion also took to the dance floor. It wasn’t long before everyone began dancing and it was hard for Randy and Rini to find much room. He pulled Rini off to the side where there was more breathing room.

“You’re a very good dancer. You haven’t stepped on my toes once.” Rini said.

“I should think not. After all those dancing lessons.”

“I’m getting a little tired. And I need to talk to you about something. But if you want to keep dancing, it can wait.”

Randy slowed down. “I do want to keep dancing. Well, Luna did say something about switching dancing partners.”

“In that case, may I cut in?” Rachel appeared and curtsied formally. “If it’s all right with you, my lady, of course.”

“Rini?” Randy looked up hopefully.

Rini looked confused and a bit hurt but agreed and hurried away. Randy bowed to Rachel and they whisked off into the crowd.

“I’m Rachel, Princess Rini’s lady-in-waiting.” She said.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Rachel.” Randy said with a nod.

“I have a confession, Prince Randy.” Rachel said, looking away.

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. I sort of have a crush on you, you see. I’ve wanted to talk to you for some time now but didn’t know how to approach you, you being a prince and all. And finally, I just decided to confess and see how it goes.” Seeing the stricken look on his face she added quickly, “Listen, I know you’re probably uncomfortable, so let’s not talk about this anymore.”

They kept talking and dancing, but Randy suddenly didn’t feel comfortable anymore. He forced himself to continue dancing. Isn’t this what you’ve wanted and even dreamed a little bit about this entire time? He scolded himself. And now that it’s happened, you’re still not happy? What’s wrong with you? What’s changed?

All of a sudden, Randy realized what had changed, and it had changed drastically.

“I, uh, I need to get a drink. I’m kind of thirsty. Excuse me.” Randy muttered.

“Well, let me get it for you, then.” Rachel curtsied, but Randy wasn’t in the mood to play formal with her. He needed to find Rini. He raced off toward the refreshment table.

“No, thanks. I can do it myself.” Randy said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“May I join you for a drink then?” Rachel requested, obviously to continue their conversation. Randy’s eyes traveled up and down the left side of the ballroom, but still could not find Rini.

“Look, I need to find Princess Rini. Have you any idea where she is?” Randy continued to search for her.

“Why, the Princess is right there. See right behind Lady Adriana and her escort there? She’s speaking to Prince Phillip of Pluto’s cousin, Timothy.” Randy couldn’t see Rini at first since Lady Adriana was blocking his view. He started off to talk to her, but stopped short at Rachel’s next statement. “My, he is handsome. Just between us two,” Rachel lowered her voice so no one else could hear, “I think the Princess may have a crush on him. Not to mention the one time I overheard the Queen commenting that she wouldn’t mind the Princess marrying Sir Timothy.”

Randy’s heart flip flopped. “Oh really?” He said in a voice very much unlike his own. He wasn’t very far away, so he could hear Sir Timothy ask if Rini wanted to dance.

Rini glanced in Randy’s direction and caught his eye. Not wanting to look like he was spying, Randy turned and started talking to Rachel. When he turned around again, Rini was dancing with Sir Timothy. Randy was suddenly stricken with panic and something else. Something indescribable. He felt- he felt-

Suddenly, the music stopped and Neo Queen Serenity stood. “Ladies and gentleman, my people of the court, it is time for us to view the shooting stars. If you please, leave the ballroom by the doors on my right and King Endymion will lead you the rest of the way. I need for the Crown Princes and Princesses to stay behind for a moment.” Once most of the crowd had departed, the Queen continued, “Oh, my dears, you did so well this evening. I couldn’t be any more proud of you and I’m sure your parents feel the same way. I thought that since you’ve all been mingling with the crowd so well, you might want some time to yourselves. You may use one of the smaller, private balconies to view the shooting stars. I must attend to the other guests now. You know the way to the balcony.” The Queen started after the other guests. With a final wave, she called, “Enjoy the stars!”

They all jumped at a faint BOOM in the distance. “The meteors!” Prince Rick, the space buff out of them all, shouted. “Oh, come on, we can’t miss it!” He grabbed Princess Caroline’s hand and pulled her off.

“Race you!” Ryan took off after them, and everyone followed him, all running in a very unroyal manner. Once they reached the balcony, glad that no one had seen them, (“They’d be horrified if they had seen us,” Princess Violet had commented) they each chose a spot by the railing. By coincidence Randy and Rini ended up at one corner of the balcony, isolated form everyone.

. “Make a wish.” Rini said, smiling. “Huh?” Randy wrinkled his brow, confused. “Make a wish on a shooting star.” Rini gestured to the hundreds of shooting stars.

“Okay, I pick that one.” Randy pointed to a star that looked very close to them.

“Okay, and I pick that one.” Rini pointed to the very last star, the one at the very top of the sky, which was certainly the smallest.

They both closed their eyes and wished with all their might. Randy opened his eyes first and saw his star shoot downward very fast and a flash of fire and an outline of an image. Could it be- the legendary royal animal-a phoenix?

“Rini!” Randy cried, not taking his eyes off the spot where he last saw the phoenix. Rini’s eyes flew open and she gasped. “Oh, Randy! It’s gone!” “Huh?” Randy looked up. All the shooting stars were gone, but he was much too excited to be upset. Rini! I opened my eyes and my shooting star fell to the ground and I saw a phoenix! I swear I did! I saw it, I know I did!”

“Do you know what this means?” Rini asked in a hushed voice, full of excitement. “You do know the story, right? One of the first queens had a phoenix and then one day, there were meteorites and they were going to hit her child, so her phoenix flew up and stopped the meteorite, saving the child, but sadly, the phoenix died. So they say it’s very good luck to see a phoenix and if you see a phoenix after making a wish is a sign that it will come true!”

Rini stopped for a second. “You can tell me now, now that the wish is over.”

Randy hesitated. He had a sudden vision of a phoenix soaring through the sky. Maybe wishes do come true and my wish will only come true if I tell her. “I wished we could start all over again. So that we could be better friends than before. And I wished that you could truly forgive me for the awful things I said. I really am sorry.” Randy said sincerely.

“Oh, Randy. That’s so sweet. I forgive you with all my heart.” Rini smiled and threw her arms around Randy. Randy’s jaw dropped in surprise and he saw Prince Phillip wink and throw him a thumbs up sign. They broke apart a moment later.

Trying to stop shaking, Randy asked, “What did you wish for, Rini?”

Rini blushed and stammered, “Just something that’s always been kind of a dream for me. It involves somebody very special and....and....” Rini blushed even more.

Even though Randy pressured her, Rini wouldn’t budge about her answer. Finally Randy gave up and let the evening pass, as one of the most joyful and unforgettable of their lives.

“Randy! Get a move on! Honestly!” Ben appeared at his door and shook Randy out of his daydream. “It’s been twenty minutes, get a move on! Remember, your mom said she needs you to go pick up Princess Rini before the ball.”

“What are you, my mom?” Randy looked for his socks, mumbling about rude people waking him up.

“Just get up!” Ben threw a pair of socks at him, then fled before Randy could retaliate.

Randy smiled happily, thinking of that night. It was after that night that he and Rini had patched things up and gotten to be even better friends that before. They still had fights, but less, and when they teased each other, it was friendly. In fact, Randy had learned that Rini had a very pretty smile and Rini had learned Randy wasn’t so stupid after all. Even their parents noticed something about them was different.

“Randy, darling, it’s time for wakey-wakey!” Rei cooed at him.

“Mom, please, I’m not a baby!” Randy groaned and after laying out an outfit, Rei left.

Rolling his eyes, Randy again groaned at the outfit his mother had chosen for him, a cutesy little suit that was so lightly colored red, it was practically pink. He chose another black suit and quickly dressed.

I wonder what’ll happen at this year’s Starry Night ball Randy wondered, as he went downstairs to find his mother. Little did he know this ball would ultimately change his life forever. On to Chapter Five.