Cosmic Crisis 3 - A New Enemy

Chapter 18 - Preparation

Trunks, Sirius, Goten, and Reena all followed Ceres. They walked out of the palace without stirring up any commotion, and headed into the city. Trunks and Goten were so busy looking around that they almost ran into a group of people.

"Watch where you're going, Saiya-jin!" one person called. Trunks turned to Goten.

"How do they know we're Saiya-jins?" he asked.

"Trunks don't you remember?" Reena said. "We already explained to you about the ki signatures. Besides, Saiya-jins look generally different than we do. It's all subtle."

Goten sweat dropped and placed his hand behind his head.

"I'm getting hungry." He said. "Is there anywhere to eat around here?"

Trunks slapped himself.

"That's just like you Goten, always thinking with your stomach first." He said. "Hey Sirius any food nearby?"

Sirius turned around and looked at them.

"Sure there is." He said. "But we don't have any money."

"Aw man didn't you guys come prepared at all?" Goten complained.

"Well Saiya-jin let's see your money." Sirius said. Goten just stood, unable to speak. "That's what I thought."

They continued to walk down the sidewalk, admiring the cityscape and the bustling activity that surrounded them.

Inside the palace, Carina was in her room, pacing the floor. There was a young girl sitting on her bed, with long purple hair and blue eyes.

"Reena, who are you going with tonight?" she asked.

Reena just looked at the floor.

"I'm not really sure..." she said. "I guess I'll find someone. You're going with Orion, right?"

"As if there were any doubt." Carina said, sighing. Her face suddenly brightened up. "Hey guess what?"

Reena looked up at Carina questionably.

"I invited two Saiya-jins to come tonight. There were three others, Sidra-jins, and I didn't catch their names." She explained. "Maybe you can go with one of them."

"I doubt it." Reena said.

"Well there were three guys and two girls, so one of them is bound to be free." Carina said. "I mean it Reena I hate seeing you upset. But, I understand why."

"Hai..." Reena said, a tear slipping down her cheek. Carina sat down next to Reena and leaned against her.

"Hey Reena...I know you're sad. But you're not the type to wallow in sorrow. I know you can make it." She said, smiling. "He wouldn't want you to be upset like this."

Reena just sighed.

"I know, you're right, but it still hurts." She said.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Carina said. Reena wiped away her tears quickly.

"Am I interrupting anything?" Aries said as he walked in. Carina and Reena shook their heads simultaneously.

"No, we were just talking about...the party. Right Reena?" Carina said, elbowing Reena slightly.

"Right." Reena replied.

"I came to tell you that you probably want to start getting ready, we have about 2 hours until it starts, and you can't be late for your own party, right?" he said, smiling.

"It's your party, tousan, not mine." Carina said. "I'm only going because I have to."

"Why do you say that? I thought you liked these sorts of things." Aries said, shifting his weight and folding his arms.

"I do..." Carina said. "It's just that, I don't know...being who I am, I feel like I have to act proper, which means I can't enjoy myself."

"No, no, no." Aries said. "You act however you want to."

Carina sighed and folded her arms.

"Easy for you to say, tousan." She said, and looked at Reena. "Reena, how about you go get your things and bring them back here so we can get ready for tonight, ok?"

Reena nodded and got up, exiting the room quietly.

"What's wrong with her?" Aries asked.

"She's upset." Carina replied. "Because she doesn't have a date for tonight."

"Well that's not so bad, a lot of people-"

"That's not what I meant tousan." Carina said firmly, and then changed her tone to a whisper. "She misses you-know-who."

"Oh Belsevi." Aries said. Carina slapped her hands over her father's mouth.

"Tousan quiet. If she hears that name she'll get even more upset." She said harshly, and removed her hands.

"Gomen." Aries said, and walked towards the door. "Well I have to go set up with your mother. I'll be back later to get you, ok?"

"Hai." Carina replied as her father walked out the door.

Carina sighed and fell back onto her bed. A few minutes later, Reena appeared in her doorway, holding a dress. Carina got up and shot the door behind Reena.

"Wow that looks really pretty!" she exclaimed. "Those Saiya-jins won't be able to take their eyes off of you."

Reena blushed.

"Where's yours?" she asked.

"Oh, it's hanging up in there." Carina replied, pointing to her closet. "Well put yours on, I want to see what it looks like!"

"Ok." Reena said, and started changing. Carina walked over to her mirror and tossed her hair around.

"I still think you should go with a Saiya-jin." Carina said, giggling. "They were really cute, especially the one with lavender hair."

"Must be a hybrid." Reena said, still slipping into her dress.

"I think they both are. His name is Kakarotto, and the other...Goten I think."

"I'll think about it." Reena said. "You're lucky, you never have this problem."

Carina rolled her eyes.

"Reena, please. It would be nice to have a little variety now and then. I don't get that."

"I wonder when he's going to ask you." Reena said.

"What do you mean..." Carina said in a suspicious tone, raising her eyebrow.

"Come on. Like it's not already obvious?" Reena said. "You two were obviously meant for each other."

"You mean Orion?" Carina said. "Oh I don't know. I think people only think that because we're together all the time."

"Exactly." Reena said. "And it's only a matter of time before he asks you to be his bride."

Carina crossed her eyes.

"Give me a break."

"You know it's true."

"It is not!"

"Is so." Reena said, and then walked over to Carina. "I'm done."

Carina turned around and looked at her friend.

Reena's dress was black with royal purple trim. The neck was a choker-styled band, which extended down her collarbone and connected to the sleeveless top. The long black skirt covered her feet and fell daintily onto the floor.

"Wow Reena that looks so great!" she said.

"Thanks." Reena said meekly.

"Don't be so modest." Carina joked. "Those Saiya-jins are going to drool when you walk in."

"Not when they see you."

"Reena quit being so hard on yourself. Besides, I don't think they would want to get near me with Orion around." She giggled.

Reena laughed too.

"Yeah I guess you're right. So let's see your dress."

"Oh I almost forgot." Carina said, and laughed again. She walked over to her closet and pulled out a long, garnet-colored dress. Reena couldn't tell exactly what it looked like, since Carina folded it over her arms.

"That's a nice color." Reena said. "It goes well with your hair."

"We'll see." She said, and started to change out of the dress she already had on. As she did, there was another knock at the door.

"We're busy." Carina answered, fiddling with her strap.

"It's me." Came a voice from behind the door.

"Ceres?" Carina said.

"Yeah, it's me."

"Oh. Well come in, but I'm changing, so don't leave the door open."

The handle on the door turned and Ceres walked in. Right as she entered, Orion walked down the hall and passed the door, raising an eyebrow.

"CERES SHUT THE DOOR!" Carina cried. Ceres laughed and slammed the door shut. Orion just smirked and continued down the hall.

"Gomen Carina." Ceres said. Carina, whose face matched her dress, just nodded.

"I know, I know. It was a mistake." She said. "It's no big deal anyway."

"Yeah, he'd better get used to it, because he'll be seeing the same thing pretty soon." Reena added in, throwing a pillow at Carina.

"WHAT!" she cried. "Reena!!"

Ceres and Reena laughed, as Carina's face grew brighter.

"It's not funny bakas!" she said. After a few seconds of holding an angry face, she burst into laughter. "Okay...okay, so it is."

"Ceres who are you going with?" Reena asked as Carina calmed down.

"Cronus." She replied. Reena got a dreamy look in her eyes.

"He's cute, Ceres, what a catch." She said. Carina laughed.

"Oh, oh. Ceres have you seen the Saiya-jins?" she asked. Ceres shook her head.

"What Saiya-jins?" she asked.

"Oh, they're so cute. I'm trying to convince Reena to go with one of them." Carina explained. "I met them just in the front of the east wing, and they were with three Sidra-jins. I'm telling you they were so cute, and sweet too."

"Really? Are they coming to the party?"

Carina nodded.

"Yep! I invited them." She said, and then added. "But I don't think Orion liked it...too bad!"

The three of them laughed together.

"Um, Carina?"

"Yeah Reena?"

"Maybe you should finish changing."

"Oh...that would be a good idea."

"You were just waiting for Orion to walk by again, weren't you?"

"I was NOT!"

"Don't worry...all the important parts are covered up."

"Ceres...don't get involved."

"Hey Trunks what do you think about this one?" Goten asked, holding up a dark grey tux.

"Yeah, I think it matches my hair." Trunks replied, studying it.

"Not for you!" Goten cried.

"Goten I think you need to stick to solid black."

Reena came up behind them, holding up a white tuxedo.

"I think this looks better, Goten." She said, smiling. Goten blushed slightly and placed his hand behind his head.

"I'll go try it on Reena!" he said, and ran to one of the dressing rooms.

"Reena, look at this!" Ceres called from across the store. Reena turned her head and saw Ceres holding up a green, strappy dress. Reena walked over to where Ceres was standing and they began to discuss silently.

"Any luck?" Sirius asked, stepping over to where Trunks was.

"Not really." Trunks explained. "But the dark grey one Goten held up looked good. What about you?"

"I've got one." Sirius replied. "It's just plain black, nothing special."

"Black is classic, you can't go wrong with it." Trunks said, and paused. "Man I can't believe I said that...I sound just like my kaasan." Sirius snorted.

"Hey Trunks, how does it look?"

Trunks turned around and saw Goten in the white tux. He had a nervous look on his face.

"Yeah it looks fine, why?"

Goten's face brightened.

"Cool, where's Reena?" he asked, looking around for her. Trunks snickered. How typical.

After everyone had picked out their clothes, they approached the counter.

"Ready?" the cashier asked.

Ceres started to speak, but Sirius interrupted her.

"Yeah, we're ready." He said, and slapped something onto the counter, which Trunks guessed was the Sidra-jin currency.

Everyone looked at Sirius in surprise as the cashier rang up the total.

After they left, Ceres was the first to speak.

"Sirius where on Vela did you get that money?" she asked.

"A source." He replied shadily.

"How come you wouldn't let us buy food then!" Goten complained.

"Because I know the appetite of a Saiya-jin, and I didn't feel like wasting half of the money before we even got to buy our clothes." Sirius replied.

"Well can we get food now?"

"No, there will be plenty to eat tonight. I'm sure you won't die of starvation before then."

The group all headed back to the castle, where they hoped to get in as easily as before.

"Wait, I have an idea." Reena said. Everyone looked at her, awaiting her explanation.

"We should change into our clothes first, and then go to the castle. They'll just assume that we're anonymous council members going to attend the party." She explained.

"Hey good idea, Reena. I'm surprised you thought of it." Ceres joked.

"Ha ha, Ceres, very funny." Reena said, incensed and hardly amused.

"Come on you two let's go. We have less than an hour." Sirius said, and took lead once again.