Chapter Five

Jedda looked down in sadness as she and the rest of the heroes entered Rick's room. She gasped as she saw the sight before her: her boyfriend was laying motionless in the hospital bed on a ventilator and hooked on monitors. She looked down towards her stomach. If Rick does die, he would not be able to see his child and the baby would not get to meet his or her father.

-Defenders-Christmas-Carol-

Flash walked to his son's bedside and looked sadly at his son's frail form. He knew the others were surrounding the bedside but he only had his eyes on his dying son.

"Rick, son," Flash spoke to his comatose son, "I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I need you to hold on. I promise you that everything is going to be okay. Don't leave us, Rick. We need you. I need you. Don't leave me. Please."

-Defenders-Christmas-Carol-

Krotan walked down the halls in annoyance. Everyone was talking about this holiday on Earth that was called Christmas and it was annoying him to no ends! He decided it was time to call it a night and retire to his quarters.

"Sire." one of the guards spoke from behind. "One of the Merry Givers request to see you."

Krotan groaned in annoyance. He knew about the Merry Givers. They were Mongo's form of charity just as the rest of the galaxy had their own form of charity and he did not have interest in seeing them.

"They insist on seeing you."

He sighed, "Fine. Bring them in. Let's get this over with."

Seconds later, the two Mongo Merry Givers arrived and knelt before the crowned prince.

"Greetings, sire." the first Merry Giver greeted Krotan, "I am Jovir."

"And I am Rylon." the other Merry Giver added.

"What is it that you want from me?" Krotan asked. "Money?"

"Many people across the galaxy," Jovir explained, "including Mongo are in need of common necessaries, sire as well as common comfort."

"Eh, what's in it for me?" Krotan retorted.

"It would make you feel good that you have given to those less fortunate than yourself." Rylon calmly replied.

"Surely you can afford to give something." Jovir added.

"I can," Krotan replied snootily, "but I won't. What about working for us as servants and guards? Couldn't they just do that to make ends meet?"

"Many don't want to serve you or your father." Jovir stated.

"They would rather die." Rylon added.

"Well they better do so and be quick about it!" Krotan exclaimed with anger in his tone, clearly fed up with this entire day. "Guards, send these Merry Givers on their way!"

"I feel sorry for you, sire." Jovir replied as the guard started to escort him and Rylon out of the castle.

Krotan huffed and stormed to his quarters.

-Defenders-Christmas-Carol-

"Krotan."

The sound of the voice pulled him out of his black dreamless sleep. "Hmmm?"

"Krotan." the voice called out again. That caused him to bolt out of his bed to look around where the sound was coming from, looking around his quarters.

"Who's there?" Krotan demanded.

He looked around the room to see no one in sight. He sighed roughly, annoyed by hearing something that he couldn't see.

"Krotan."

"Now what?!" Krotan exclaimed in annoyance.

He took a couple of steps back as a dark red glow started to fill the room.

"Who's there?!" Krotan demanded. "Who is this?!"

"Krotan."

"Answer me!" Krotan demanded once again.

A white orb appeared in the midst of the dark red glow. Seconds later, a figure emerged as the orb vanished. She resembled Sailor Pluto.

"You're one of the Sailor Guardians that I dealt with in the past!" Krotan exclaimed in surprise.

"You are correct to an extent." the figure calmly answered. "I am Guardian Pluto. I am Sailor Pluto's other self and her power guardian."

"Power Guardian?" Krotan stared at the being with some confusion on his face.

"Yes." Guardian Pluto explained. "We are spirit like beings as you are seeing me now and we look similar to our respective Sailor Guardians and normally, we dwell within the palaces of the Sailor Guardians."

"Why have you come to trouble me?" Krotan asked.

"We are aware that Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians have encountered you as well as your father Ming the Merciless previously." Guardian Pluto answered.

"That figures." Krotan muttered in annoyance.

"Hear this, Prince Krotan of Mongo," Guardian Pluto informed the prince, "you must change your selfish and arrogant ways or there will be a price to pay."

"What are you implying?!" Krotan demanded, starting to get mad. "Is that some kind of threat?! I will call the guards to..."

"This is not a threat, Krotan." Guardian Pluto stated before giving out this warning, "Three more of the guardians will come and visit you tonight to show you the error of your ways. Expect the first one at midnight. The second shall come at the strike of 2 and the third shall appear in her own good time."

"Can't they all visit me at once so we can get this over with?!" Krotan exclaimed, feeling the fear in his voice catching up with him.

"I shall be returning to the Charon castle now but heed their warning, Prince Krotan of Mongo." Guardian Pluto warned the crowned prince. "Otherwise, all will be lost for you."

Krotan yelped in fear and covered his head with his hands. Seconds later, he looked up to find that not only was Guardian Pluto gone but so was the dark red glow.

"Sailor Pluto always seemed like a kook." Krotan muttered. "What a bizarre dream this is."

Author's Note: I tried to make Krotan refusing to give to the Merry Givers while keeping him in character. I'm not even sure if they have any form of charity in space even though it exists here on Earth. That's fan fiction for you.

Author's Note 2: I was going to have the start of this chapter be the last scene for the previous chapter but I didn't come around to it until it was too little too late.

Author's Note 3: For those of you who don't know, in the manga of Sailor Moon, all of the Sailor Guardians are princesses and they each have their own guardian as well as their own castle. You'll be seeing more of them in the future after this story.