Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
A/N: Hello, and thank you to Kitkino86, Bumblebee's Girl, snoopykid2991, Walks In Faith, Sailor Stella, Richforce, Alastor Xaphon, small876, ChibiUsa20, edward-lover-456, Usagi of Feudal Moon Era, Perla Nemesis, DavisJes, Mae-E, and Tia.
Snapshots of the Royals
Part 25: "To Quell Your Fears"
A brilliant eruption of lightning flared across the canopy of midnight, sending reflective beams off the structures of crystal strewn about the famed city. They danced around; bouncing and echoing their gleam long after the proceding rumble. These were the times when Serenity really, really regretted forming her New World out of such a glassy material. But of course, she wasn't about to tell her husband that. It was only through body language that the aforementioned Endymion could infere this fact at all.
"Usako, are you alright?" the pajama-laden King inquired soliticiously, sitting up against the pillows and watching as a second growl of thunder sent his wife into convulsions. Her whole back seemed to spasm; or at least every muscle embedded there. She had her head buried beneath a pillow- for sake of quiet, she'd muttered before plunging to safety- so he couldn't see her expression. The only indication of her fear lay in the muffled voice that issued out from under the cushion.
"F-fine," was the reply, followed by a throat clearing. Endymion knew she was only trying to pass off the stutter as mere phlegm. He sighed, gazing up at the arched ceiling and twiddling his thumbs. When should he let her know he wasn't deceived by this charade? After all, almost an hour had passed since face first dove down and her excuse of quiescence was last mentioned. Sleep, really.
Perhaps a few more minutes. It was a tad comical, actually. Endymion knew Serenity would admit her weakness in due time. He knew perfectly well that lurking behind her tranquil royal exterior, the Usagi of old was frightened to death of the little tempest. He vaguely wondered if the woman was trying to put on a tough facade for him, to prove her maturity or what not... but that notion was silly. He loved her just the way she was- a Queen scared of thunderstorms or not, she would always be Usako to him.
Lightning ricocheted across the heavens again, and before thunder had a chance to amplify it with sound, a familiar squeal roused the King from his stupor. "I'm going to go check on Small Lady. Want to come?"
A distant "Mm-hm" and "Ngh-ngh" emitted from the makeshift cocoon. Endymion creaked off the mattress and slipped into the hall. The walk to Small Lady's bedroom was short, but in that time frame, two more thrills of thunder rocketed the palace.
Hope Usako hasn't wet our bed yet... he chuckled inwardly.
The door handle was cold on the King's fingertips, and he pushed and released quickly. The door opened to reveal a ghastly sight.
No blood lined the walls, no bonds hung from the bedpost, but there might as well have been, the way Endymion's heart plummeted. The vision of Small Lady's bed, empty of its occupant and showcasing haphazard sheets, seared itself into the man's brain and forced it into numbness. A million scenarios- all ending with an unhappy conclusion encompassing the death of a Princess and mourning of her parents- tumbled around dizzily in his mind.
Small Lady- no- kidnapped... no!
Sensation returning to his frozen limbs, Endymion rushed into his daughter's chamber and roared "Small Lady!". His fearsome and frightened tone was drowned out by a matching boom of thunder, exploding at the same moment as his yell.
Heart pounding and temples throbbing, the ebony-head stumbled over to the bed and grasped blindly at the coverlet. He squeezed it in his hands, swaying.... trying hard not to faint- Small Lady needed her father to be fully cogent right now... she needed to be saved from- from what? Who stole his candle; his baby; his dancing spark of life? Oh hell, Lady was gone! Gone, gone, gone, gone! How could he have been so foolish; so blind? So-
"Papa?"
Endymion choked. "L-Lady? Wh-where are you?" He nearly toppled over in relief at hearing her twinkling child's tenor. So much for search parties and ransoms at ready, as were his next thoughts after disbelief and guilt.
The owner of the voice creeped out from beneath the bed, clutching her bunny rabbit inherited from Serenity. It looked disheveled, and the brunt of much terror-induced embracing. Endymion almost laughed. He should have known- just like her mother, that one! This time, the former superhero did sink to the floor. His flagging knees just could not support him any longer.
"Oh God, Small Lady... You had me so scared there; I thought you'd been kidnapped or something."
"I'm s-s-sorry, Papa, but I was so scared of the thunder an' lightnin'!" Her young Majesty proclaimed tearily, collapsing into the arms of Papa. Now everything would be alright...
"Don't hide under the bed anymore, Small Lady," Endymion chastised gently, because he was unable to summon up any choleric undertones right now. "People can't see you, and when the Neo-Princess is nowhere to be found, people often jump to conclusions, acting before they ask."
" 'kay," the girl sniffed, nuzzling into his warmth and only taking in half of what her father was saying. Already, sleep was stealing her eyes, coaxing them closed as the black of her mind beckoned the child in.
But then lightning lit up the back of her eyelids, and Small Lady shouted as thunder howled with her. She really hated, hated, hated storms!
"Shh, shh," Endymion soothed, running circles on her back with his palm. "It's only thunder."
"It scares me," Usagi Small Lady Serenity whined in contradiction, as if her answer made all the sense in the world. "Make it stop, Papa!"
"If only I could, love," he murmured. "I'd be doing two women a favor... and perhaps save myself a bit of trouble, too." He grinned at that.
"Papa?"
"Yes?"
Small Lady gazed up at him, pleadingly. Uh oh, puppy dog red eyes... she knew him too well...
"Stay with me tonight. Please? I don't wanna be alone..."
One.
Two.
Three.
Three seconds of the "Papa-I-love-you-I'm-your-only-child-and-I-need-you" look, and Endymion was ensnared.
"Oh... alright. Only tonight, though. I'll go let your mother know," he gave in. Setting Small Lady onto her large bed, Endymion strode over to the door and opened it, only to cry out in surprise.
"Usako!?"
"M-Mamo-chan!" a clearly startled Neo-Queen yowled, jumping back in surprise. She had a pillow pressed comically to her bosom, and a puffy-eyed appearance that closely resembled Small Lady's. One that silently alluded of tears and trepidation. Endymion melted, pulling the trembling monarch into his protective body.
"Sweetheart... I recall from the recesses of my mind that you wished to remain in your room?" He couldn't help a little playful jab. "Are you going to tell me know how afraid you are of the storm now?"
Serenity sniffled, just like Small Lady. "Maybe..."
"Well, that's good enough for me. I suppose you want to join Small Lady to... er, comfort her?"
"She'll comfort me, a whole lot more than I'd be able to comfort her," the woman joked, and Endymion smiled at how the traces of her panic attack were slowly fading at each sparring tease. Thunder struck and Small Lady yelled, but this time, Serenity faced it with laudable ease. She was in Mamo-chan's arms now, and nothing could ever touch her there. He always knew just how to quell one's fears with a simple hug.
A/N: Thank you, and Merry Christmas! Enjoy the holidays, and I give wishes for the best in the new year!
Review! Until next time, I am,
AngelMoon Girl