The celebration had only begun. All the bewilderment and perplexity shared by both guardian and general were only preludes to what is still unknown. After the important introduction, the new allies in front of Queen Serenity bowed to each other. The party resumed briefly after that, since the younger Serenity was getting impatient.
     Enyalis Rei was first to step down the marble steps. After all, that was the only protocol required of her. The Princesses then gathered together to one side and immediately engaged in a healthy conversation. Serenity wished to join her friends, but had willingly succumbed to Endymion's invitation. The Princess of Venus was first to gush about their new friends from Earth.
     "Did you take a look at all of them?" she asked, without taking the hearts off her eyes.
     Makoto nodded happily and smiled. "They all seem nice."
     "Nice?" Minako shook her head in shock. "But, Mako-chan, they're handsome!"
     Makoto uttered a gentle sigh and smiled at her, a little dumbfounded. "What do you think, Ami-chan?"
     The Princess of Mercury coyly nodded her head.
     "You shouldn't make instant conclusions, Minako. You don't even know them." The three were shocked at the Princess of Mars's blunt statement.
     "Rei-chan..." Minako sighed.
 
     Immediately after the generals stepped down from the steps, Kunzite obliged himself to counsel the erring general.
     "That was the Princess of Mars, Jadeite." Kunzite admonished having yet to recover from the shock of the discovery. "You had attacked the Princess of Mars!"
     Jadeite reeled at his friend's grave allegation, even repeating things that he already knew. Did he not wish to straighten things?
    "I shall talk to her," he said seriously. Kunzite left with stark amazement and worry. But from the time Jadeite saw her walk through the halls, talking with her was already part of his plan. He looked at Enyalis Rei from across the room. What could she be thinking? He could not tell her true expression. He has to get a little closer to find out. Jadeite initiated a step--
     "Dance with her, Jadeite." Nephrite commanded.
     Huh? Jadeite was surprised, but Nephrite only succeeded in delaying his task.
     Nephrite looked beyond the halls where the statuesque princess with pink cheeks and whose cinnamon tendrils were bound in a high ponytail, casually left the group. His eyes followed where she slowly took her steps, mindful of the direction she chose.
     "Dance with her," Nephrite threatened as he started to walk towards the princesses. "Or I will." He smiled and left.
     Jadeite instantly concealed his anger when he learned that his own comrade would foil his own plan. Nephrite was already halfway towards her! That fueled him to walk briskly and immediately to overtake Nephrite, if only there was room to run! Nephrite glanced from his peripheral vision and smiled once again at his success. Jadeite stopped in surprise, however, when he realized that his friend took a sharp turn....

     Much to Enyalis Rei's dismay, her friends would not listen. The hand of destiny would ensue, but for that, she had no concern at all. After Makoto left, her last words being that she would only get a drink, she had no idea that the Princess of Jupiter would not return. And all the more when the earnest-looking general with long platinum blonde hair came by their side. Kunzite looked at Enyalis Rei closely with a mask of worry, understanding whether she was still Jadeite's antagonist. He then formally asked the Princess Minako to dance. If the Princess of Mars knew Minako, she would...well, very much oblige!
     "Ask me to dance?" Minako asked in the most cheerful, high-toned voice. She then shut her eyes and coughed. "I'd love to,"  shifting in a demure, formal tone.
     But as she was to give her hand to the handsome general, Enyalis Rei grabbed her arm and took her aside for a serious talk.       "Minako, how can you trust him?" she whispered angrily.
     "But Rei-chan...it's only a boy!" Minako answered naively and grinned.
     Enyalis Rei knew that Minako was, of course, referring to her...distrust of men. If only she could tell her friend of her previous encounter, then Minako would probably understand! But the fact that she had been kissed by someone like him...and twice...when she didn't know who he was... Well, that would certainly be more than news, even to Makoto who would usually understand such impromptu romanticism, though that was hardly the case. However, pulling Minako away was an inevitable failure and Enyalis Rei saw her dance away gracefully in the blonde general's arms. And just then, she saw Makoto whisk away elegantly at the arms of yet another handsome general, Nephrite, with the wavy auburn tresses. It was as if everyone was involved in some sort of conspiracy!

     "Enyalis Rei..." Jadeite humbly asked, finally mentioning her name.
     The Princess of Mars could not hide her surprise when he finally appeared in her presence and even had the audacity to ask her to dance. "Ami-chan..." she turned weakly to her friend.
     Ami, of course, didn't object and even persisted that she go. "I'll be fine," she assured...unfortunately.
    And even that Enyalis Rei's emotions struggled within her, she had no choice but to put her hand in his. Jadeite, although he saw that she needed more persuasion with that look of uncertainty, was contented that he now held the Princess of Mars and leading her to the dance floor. The band just started another tune, and he felt fortunate that he could monopolize her company for one whole song. 
    And as he put one hand on her waist, Enyalis became a little uneasy at the gesture. But she raised her head to him confidently, so that her kind partner wouldn't know that she isn't used to such intimacy. Even and especially that night when he came back to her patio. But her sight to project on his calm eyes only made her cheeks burn. Jadeite, however, continued to gently put her hand on his broad shoulder and she watched the same trespasser link his other hand in hers.
     From behind his shoulder, she saw the last general by the lone Princess of Mercury, and was actually relieved that Ami already had some company. She was thankful that he seemed pleasant. Maybe it was his charming face that made him look less serious than the others. She saw Ami blush as he took her hand. Everyone looks happy, actually, she admitted as she saw the beautiful couple stride on the dance floor. But if he does anything bad to her, he can be sure I'll be the first to strike...that sinister man....
     In the meantime, Jadeite was wondering what Enyalis Rei had been looking at behind his shoulder. Now that he had the golden opportunity to explain to her under the proper circumstances, he paused and thought earnestly before interrupting her thoughts. She seemed highly engrossed at something back there. Terribly preoccupied that she had unconsciously rested her chin on his shoulder.
     "Princess Enyalis Rei?" he asked softly, finally breaking her trance.
     She immediately distanced her body away from him and swayed at the music. "General...Jadeite?" she uttered nervously, saying his name for the first time.
     "I promised I'd tell you everything, didn't I?" he said. "This has been more than the right time."
     "It's too late," she mouthed angrily. "I just don't understand how you can seek friendship when you spy on your--"
     "--I'm sorry, Princess. We only want to know about your planet.
     "That is not the way."
     "Like you, we are not sure whether the Silver Millenium can be our true allies. I was only there to find out more about the planets. We stopped after we returned from Mars."
     The palace was filled with another lovely song, as only Ami and Zoisite left the floor. Jadeite was not finished explaining, though, and he held her waist tightly to continue on with another dance. He composed himself to tell her more, just as he promised, even if she displayed an indignant look.
     "Please understand, Princess. We do not wish to harm you. But now I know that best and only way is to meet the senshi guardians themselves."
     Enyalis raised her head and was disappointed to find that he wasn't at all angry like her. All he showed in his eyes were feelings of remorse. "You have met her," she said and bowed her head. She knew that if she continued to look, her guilt would increase.
     "It will not be repeated, Princess," he promised. "Trust me."
     "But I don't think you trust us," she accused with her steady, incensed gaze.
     That alone consumed Jadeite's soul in guilt. How could she not believe him? He felt her trying to escape from his grasp, but he held on tightly, much to her surprise.
     "The song has not yet ended, Your Highness." Jadeite told her formally looked back stubbornly at her and pushed her closer to him. Unable to struggle from his grasp, she continued to dance following his lead.
     Both princess and general were silent throughout the remainder of the song. His ego broken and she, intimidated by his furious gaze. The music will probably go on forever, enough for their cheeks to accidentally touch in uneasy sentiment. Enyalis Rei managed to find behind his shoulder, the benevolent Makoto, with her dreamy green eyes and rosy cheeks reserved for the fine-looking Nephrite, looking back at her with the same ardent admiration. Faultless chemistry on their first meeting. She watched them strut gracefully to the delicate tunes, until her moment with Jadeite ended. They would now part as enemies---the last thing that he wanted to happen.
     She gently pushed back away from him, with her eyes focused on the floor, and curtseyed. She left without polite pretenses even before Jadeite was able to finish his courteous bow. He saw her toss her ebony hair behind her shoulders and immediately got lost in the crowd.