When the Scouts Are Out, the Demons Come To Play
Outside the window, Diamond was watching intently. "Well, well so there's going to be a baby huh? Well we'll see about that." Then he was gone.
Days had gone by without any attacks on the Scouts. Luna was stuck in bed for a few days because of the pregnancy. And Artemis was left to guide the Scouts through whatever attacks may come. He also told them about their past and what their future held.
With the little excitement with the Dark Moon, Artemis suggested that Mamoru and Usagi take a romantic vacation to America. Everyone had agreed that it would be a great idea. As the Scouts would take breaks of their own. The only thing that they had made a requirement if everyone took a vacation was that they would all come back immediately if Luna was having her baby, and if there happened to be an attack.
A few weeks after everyone had arranged plans for their vacations, Mamoru and Usagi boarded the airplane to America. All the scouts watched as they boarded. Everyone was there, except Artemis and Luna. As the plane took off the Scouts disburst and went back to the temple to see Luna and Artemis before they went home to finish preparing for their departures the next day.
As soon as the sun rose, the next day Makoto left to see a friend on the other side of town and Minako went to stay with her grandmother. Ami went on a trip with her mother to another city while Rei stayed at the temple to care for Luna and to watch over Artemis.
"Diamond what are our plans?" Sapphire had long awaited the orders on how they would attack the Sailor Scouts. He hoped that this attempt would go better than the last ones had.
"Be patient brother, we attack in a few days. The plan will be revealed soon."
"Artemis?" Luna had been venturing around the temple the past few days, but was not able to do much more.
"What is it Luna? Are you alright?" Artemis was helping Rei in the kitchen until he heard Luna calling.
"I think it's time..." Luna looked weak and could not stand much longer. Before Luna could hit the floor when she fainted, Artemis was behind her to catch her.
"Rei! Hurry Luna's going into labor!" When Rei entered the room, she held a first aid kit in one hand and half dozen towels in the other.
"Alright Luna, lay on these and relax. Artemis called the scouts and let them know Luna's about to have her baby." As Artemis hurried off Rei laid towels down on the floor for Luna to lie on and a few around her.
Artemis ran to Rei's bag as fast as his little legs would let him as to call the scouts. "Hello Ami?" Ami was the first he would call knowing that she was reliable enough to get back to the temple as fast as possible.
"Yes Artemis, what's wrong? Is Luna having her baby? Has the Dark Moon attacked?" Ami was so worried by the way Artemis sounded she rambled out things that could possibly be wrong.
"Calm down Ami, Luna is in deed going into labor. Hurry back and call the other scouts let them know. Remember you ALL are supposed to be here for this. Good-bye."
As Artemis hung up the phone, he found himself starting to feel weak. "Alright, come on steady your self Luna needs you. This is no time to faint or become weak." When Artemis felt that he had given himself, a fairly good pep talk he rushed back into the bedroom to stay at Luna's side.
"Usagi, Makoto, Minako! Luna's going into labor we need to get back as soon as possible!" Ami did not have time to call them separately and chat this was argent and time was of the ascents.
"Alright Ami we'll be there as quickly as we can." Minako was so eager to get back she did not bother to even say good-bye before she hung up.
"What about you Makoto and Usagi?" Ami was just about done packing and was rushing to get out the door and back to the temple.
"I'll be there Ami, after all I did promise. See you soon good-bye Usagi and Ami." The only one who hadn't confirmed was Usagi.
"Ami, I'm in America I don't know how soon I can get there. But... I'll try. I'd hate to disappoint Luna. Please if I don't make it tell her, I tried and I will be there as soon as possible. Thanks. Bye." Ami was stunned. Of all people, she was sure that Usagi would have tried a little harder to make it. Well what was she to expect from that odango atama. When Ami had finished packing, she headed out the door and descended the stairs to the parking garage.
The Sailor Scouts where about to be reunited. Maybe.
"Mamoru! We need to hurry Luna's going into labor." Usagi couldn't let Luna down not at a time like this. She was to bless the kitten by using the Moon Crystal. If she wasn't there to do so, anything could kill the kitten, and if the kitten wasn't blessed with in so many hours of birth, it would be doomed to be a normal kitten for its entire life.
"Alright Usagi, everything's packed and I've called the airport, our plan leaves in half an hour."
Back at the temple Rei was nursing Luna through her labor pains. "Luna it's alright. Everything's going to be fine. Just breathe." Rei had never actually helped anyone, animal or human; give birth before, but something about how she was helping Luna felt right.
Ami and Makoto burst through the door at the moment Luna was having contractions. "Ami, Makoto! Your here." Rei rushed over to hug them both and told them about Luna's progress and about how long she'd been in labor.
"Awe Luna how are you?" Ami gently stroked Luna's side. She'd never seen Luna look so defenseless. Matter of fact Ami didn't think anyone had even seen her look this way before. She'd never thought labor could cause so much pain.
"Rei is she going to be ok? Makoto didn't feel comfortable watching Luna lay there. Things seemed bad. And little did any of them know, but things where about to get worse, a lot worse.
"She should be..."
"Where's Usagi?" While Rei had been explaining things to Makoto Luna had slightly sat herself up to see her visitors.
"She's uhh... She'll be here soon Luna. Just lay back down." Artemis wasn't sure if Usagi would be there at all. But he couldn't tell Luna that. He hated her being upset, and with the pain, she was already in, that kind of news was unnecessary.
"Alright, I'll just lay here. Tell me when she arrives." Luna gently lay back down.
Makoto, Ami, and Rei left the room leaving Artemis to watch over Luna as they went to discuss what would happen next. "Did anyone talk to Usagi and Minato?"
"Yes Rei. I called them before I left. Minako said she'd be here and Usagi... She said she'd try her hardest to get here." Ami could she Rei's face tighten in anger. "Rei, please remember that Usagi is in America, that's about half was around the world. It takes about ten hours to get here by airplane. Now Luna could be in labor for 14 hours maybe more."
"Ok Ami, we'll wait but I want someone to call both of them..." Before Rei could finish her sentence Minako rushed into the room."
"Hey you guys. She looks bad. Is she going to make it?" Minako looked flushed, but at least she had made it as she promised.
"She'll be fine, someone please go call Usagi." Rei was getting angrier by the second, and when no one moved she screamed "NOW!" Seeing Rei's anger, everyone hurried to go call her at once. When Ami reached her communication device, first Makoto and Minako went to look in on Luna and Artemis. "I swear if Usagi doesn't get here in time...She's going to get it."