C2: TRIALS 1-2-3-4

Reiju was growing up beautifully, and far too quickly in Judge's opinion. It was only 3 years ago that she was born, and now she was practically doing the things an almost 8 year-old can do. The stage of development was fast and efficient, just as Sora had predicted. While she treasured the moments where she would change Reiju and breastfeed her, she was definitely glad those days were closer to over. Now, Reiju could stand and talk in sentences. She was a prodigy, the other nobles in other countries would say, but Judge and Sora knew the truth of her quick growth and talent.

Sora had introduced to Judge the trials, tests and training plans she had made for Reiju, and while he didn't like it that his little angel would be trained to become a warrior, he understood where Sora was coming from.

Just the other day, a king from another Kingdom, from the Grand Line no less, had presented his second son to be a fiance for Princess Reiju. Which would have been cute, however, the second son was 20-something years older than Reiju and was obviously a man dependent on illegal medication.

Judge was furious, and so he annihilated the shabby kingdom until all that was left was an island so small it was barely an island. It was only a rock shaped like a mushroom outcropping the ocean.

He left the king on top of the island he once called his, and watched him plummet to the bottom of the sea, only to land on a spike hidden by the waves, impelling him and letting the blood be washed away until his existence was nothing. His second son, he also left on the island. He never jumped to the sea to comply with his fate, but with no supplies and no medication, he was sure to die and cease to exist, as his father ceased to exist, and their kingdom, their power and history.

Now however, Reiju was beside her mother who was lying on the bed, gently touching the bump on her belly. Sora had been on bed rest for the last two months. It seems carrying 4 boys in her body was harder than she thought. And despite her being a strong woman, her body says otherwise with four growing boys inside her.

"Mommy, why are the babies here?" She asks, curious. Sora was glad she was an inquisitive one. An important trait of a scientist. Reiju would learn everything she knows one day, and the legacy of Germa would continue to her children and maybe even to their grandchildren. She smiles at the thought.

"Because they need to be in mommy's belly to grow until they're big enough to come out," Sora explains. "Reiju, when they come out, you're going to be a big sister. Would you like that?"

Reiju pouts. "I don't want to." She pouts as she looks at her dress. Sora coos, she's just so adorable. "But you'll try at least, won't you Reiju? To become a good big sister?" Reiju nods but still doesn't look away from her dress.

The peace wasn't interrupted by the entrance of Judge and the scientists. Judge practically stormed into the room with anger and sadness in his eyes, a conflicting mix of both that won't settle on the stiffness of his lip. Sora knew something must be wrong. "Reiju, you should go and play outside, or study your periodic table. I'll quiz you later with the flashcards if you want."

Reiju huffs but obeys. She gets out of bed, grabs her sitter's hand and was led out of the door.

The moment the door closes, she looks to Judge with a serious expression. "What's wrong?"

It wasn't Judge who spoke, it was one of the scientists. "Your Highness, there's an abnormality in your pregnancy." Sora's blood runs cold. She stiffens. "Wha- what's wrong?"

"There must have been an overdose of one of the enhancement drugs. Your children now may grow-up to be heartless monsters, devoid of a few emotions and feelings. We… we suspect that, if they do make it, they will have congenital insensitivity to pain, heart problems and/or a few psychological problems with increased aggression and low impulse control." The scientist takes a break to breathe before he continues. "They would be too powerful to keep in your body for a full term." Sora gulps. Based from trial 0, she was able to carry her full term, exactly the day she was expecting. If she were to give birth to trials 1-4 premature, the minimum that she could do would be 7 months and 6 days into pregnancy. Unless there was another solution.

"What are the corrective actions?"

"For the abnormalities and increased aggression, the first solution we can propose is a counter drug. If this works, your children may be stabilized or the enhancements could be reverted. You will end-up giving birth to normal children, much less durable than Princess Reiju, but healthy and stable enough to live a happy life. The only draw back, is…" The scientist pauses, looks to King Judge first, before he tries to find a sign that he was doing alright from his colleagues.

"What? What's the side effect?" Sora asks.

"This may affect your health, drastically… You may die at labor should you carry them full term." Judge grits his teeth when he hears Sora draw her breath. She was speechless, trembling. Judge can't bare to watch any longer and decided to hold her into his arms.

Their audience may call him weak, but he was but a man in love. He may be a King, born to rule with an iron fist, he may be a Warrior, raised to coat his hands in the blood of his enemies, but he was also a father, a husband and a lover. He had a heart, despite all that they say, despite all they think he should be.

"O- other proposals?" Sora trembles still, but she must know. The scientist in her wants ideas, answers. He respects and loves her for this.

"If not the drug, the other solution we never want to do is abortion…"

"No!" Sora protests sternly. "I will not abort my boys. I will take the drug, but only once we see the data. Th- there must be a-a best time to take it, that- that it won't kill any of us." She swallows her fears and keeps her trembles at bay, hand protectively holding her stomach, her sons. "Another test. This week and the last few weeks. I want to see them. Then show me the ingredients of the drug and their dosages. If we can lower the dosages and potency and put it into treatments, we can still keep their enhancements and keep my health as long as I am given time to heal. If we can- minimally-invasive procedures is another option."

"Yes! Yes your highness!" The scientists quickly got to work. Going out of the room to get the data they will present to her. the two royals were left alone to talk to themselves, but it was more of keeping silent and giving comfort, the same way they talk deafeningly with their stares and touches and take comfort as time stood still.

They were both scientists, both with good heads on their shoulders, but one more knowledgeable in their field than the other. They were both warriors, one stronger and more vicious than the other, yet to family… To family, all that but fades away. Their brains would stop, their hearts would waver, and only when they realize they can't but they must; only then will everything work back into the rhythm they knew.

After careful deliberation and further study on the drug, the scientists had agreed for her to take it in 3 dosages every week when she hits the 5 month mark. After the 6th month, they will monitor if their enhancements would still be in effect, if not then she will have to take one last enhancement drug a week before they are to be taken out of her in 7 months and 6 days. That is not counting the various vitamins and supplement she would have to continue on when she first felt the strain of carrying four boys.

It was found that their developments were going as they had expected, and the right procedures were done. When it was time for the day of the surgery for a cesarian, Judge sat in vigil at the other side of the door. Judge wasn't a man of prayer, but he pressed his hands together and prayed to every god and every deity he knew for their safety. It took barely an hour, compared to the 7 months he had first heard their conception, and the 3 months spent worrying after the doctors and scientists foresaw the abnormality. Then he heard 1, then 2, then 3 and 4 wails, he couldn't stop the tears in his eyes. His lips already mouthing the thanks he was giving to all the deities that gave him the miracles he was asking for.

After Sora was stiched-up and the doors were opened for the King to meet his four sons, he was literally taken aback by all four of them in their incubators. All of them were pale, wrinkly but breathing. They weren't like Reiju at all, who was born with a full tuff of hair and was unfairly beautiful for a newly born baby.

The four boys were so so tiny and so wrinkly and so vulnerable. His heart aches for them in worry, but leaps for joy in the fact that they were alive. They were all asleep, the little precious things he'd want to touch, but he's suddenly so afraid that his hands would break them. So for now, he lets his eyes glide over their skins, to their heads still without a single tuff of hair, till he counts the even numbers of their fingers and toes.

He then looks to Sora who was resting beside the incubators, she was still asleep, breathing, alive -his mind drifts, but his mind tells him that her chest is rising and falling in rhythm, that her heart still beats a with the rise and fall of her every breath, that the flush in her cheeks were returning- and she is just asleep.

He should be happy, and he is. He should be happier, like his usual self when he is happy and triumphant in war, but for now, he only wants to sit down, take a long breath and a long nap.

After 7 months, he finally let relief wash over him.


Author's Notes:

Ahhh! They are finally born! Baby princes! Loving Germa parents with lovely children!

They are royalty, and everyone loves royal babies! :D

Before you comment "It was an operation. The quints were enhanced by surgery" and all that stuff, yes I know.

It's just that since Reiju was also Sora's, isn't it obvious they did something "more" to the quints in the anime to drain their emotions, but Reiju is still an enhanced human.

In this fic, they are all enhanced, only until Canon Reiju's level, except for Sanji who will show developments like his Canon biological brothers.