Chapter Ten

It took no time to get the Ivona plants turned to liquid to administer the cure for Rick and Krotan found himself on his way on a ship with Castra in tow.

"Now we need to get this to Rick." Krotan stated.

"I think someone should come with you." Castra suggested. "That would be me. I'm not sure if the Sailor Guardians or the Defenders of the Earth would be welcoming to you."

"That is smart thinking, Castra." Krotan replied. "Those heroes shouldn't have to go through this horrible crisis on Christmas you know."

"We should be heading to Central City, Earth really soon." the pilot announced.

"That's good to hear." Krotan gave a small smile of relief.

-Defenders-Christmas-Carol-

Jedda was startled when she heard a knock on the door, which pulled her out of her dreamless sleep.

"Who could that be?" Jedda asked groggily.

"I'll go get it." Makoto answered.

She looked to see Flash and Sheila on the other side of Rick's bed with Flash feeling despair and Sheila with concern and worry.

"Krotan?!" Jedda heard Makoto and Minako exclaim in surprise.

This caused her to look up in surprise as she noticed everyone else had looked at the doorway as well. It was indeed Krotan at the doorway. He wasn't alone though: his sister Castra was with him.

"What is going on here?" Usagi demanded.

"Hold on, Usa." Mamoru held her lover by the shoulders.

"Krotan means no harm this time." Castra assured everyone. "Trust me on this."

Jedda raised an eyebrow in confusion as she asked, "What exactly is going on here?"

Krotan got a large container that had some strange liquid in it. "This is what comes from the Ivona plants on Mongo. They can help cure deadly diseases such as what Rick Gordon has: pneumonia."

"Put some of the liquid into Rick's ventilator." Castra told the doctor that was in the room. "It should start affecting Rick almost immediately."

The doctor placed some of the liquid of the Ivona plants into the oxygen machine.

"There," Castra stated, "Rick should be getting better now."

Jedda watched in delight as Rick's vitals started to improve.

"It's a miracle!" the doctor exclaimed with delight.

"Keep the rest of the cure in case someone else with pneumonia needs it." Krotan told the doctor.

"God bless you."

"Indeed Castra." Flash added. "You saved my son's life."

"Um," Castra spoke up, "actually, it was Krotan's idea to bring this cure here."

Everyone looked at both Krotan and Castra in silent surprise, as they were unsure of what to say about that and this revelation surely surprised them.

"I think someone should call the Outer Guardians to let them know Rick is improving." Usagi suggested, breaking the silence.

"The Phantom, Mandrake and my dad as well." LJ added. He looked at the clock which read 8:07 am. "They should all be up and awake by now. I'll call my dad."

"And I'll call Setsuna and the others." Mamoru added.

The group looked at Krotan and Castra as Mamoru and LJ left to make their respective phone calls.

"It seems you knew the deadly effects of Hydronic dust, didn't you?" Sheila asked Krotan.

"All of Mongo should know what the effects are, sister dear." Krotan retorted. "Besides, no one should have to deal with such tragic event on Christmas time."

"Looks like you got your wish, Flash." Sheila tapped Flash on the shoulder. "It appears that some Christmas ghosts did visit him last night."

Jedda stood up from where she was sitting as she was wondering what was going on with Krotan. It just wasn't like him to be this considerate of others, especially for what happened the last time that the heroes had last saw him.

"I need to talk privately with Krotan please." Jedda told the others. "Let me know when Rick wakes up."

"We'll do that, Jedda." Flash replied.

"And hurry back," Castra added, "Krotan and I need to return to Mongo as soon as possible."

"Okay." Jedda nodded as she led Krotan out of the room.

-Defenders-Christmas-Carol-

Krotan looked at Jedda in confusion, not sure what they were doing outside the hospital room at the moment.

"So, what did you need to talk to me about?" Krotan asked.

"I am wondering: what exactly made you have this change of heart?" Jedda answered with a question of her own.

"Well," Krotan took a deep breath before giving out his explanation, "to make a long story short Jedda, I did indeed encounter Christmas spirits in the form of those Sailor Guardians. I saw a future that was quite unpleasant, for both myself and you guys."

"So you had gone through what Ebonezer Scrooge went through in that Christmas story called A Christmas Carol, didn't you?" Jedda asked.

"Essentially." Krotan answered. "Although, I don't quite understand what that is."

"A Christmas Carol is a Christmas story that is well known on Earth." Jedda explained. "A man known as Scrooge was visited by three Christmas spirits to show him the error of his ways. It even helped saved the life of a little boy by the name of Tiny Tim."

"Well," Krotan replied in surprise, "I guess your...your boyfriend...Rick Gordon happens to be the Tiny Tim and I was the Scrooge in this entire situation."

"Very much so."

There was a pause of awkward silence before Jedda finally spoke up again, "Krotan, I know you wanted to be with me and for some time, I thought I had feelings for you. I really did. However, things have changed. Not only am I in a relationship with Rick, but I am pregnant with his child. Possibly twins."

Krotan sighed with disappointment. He sort of knew that he had lost her, especially because of his recent actions: nearly killing Rick, holding him along with Jedda, LJ and a handful of the Sailor Guardians prisoner on Mongo and trying to conquer Earth after beating Dynak X in a game of computer chess with Octon's help of course. Fortunately for his own good, the Earth conquest was foiled by Mandrake's illusions as he later learned and he was able to save Rick from his fate.

He was startled when Jedda leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, "However, I hope that you keep on going the path of righteousness. If you do, we might end up being friends. That's something that you can think about because I still care about you as a friend. Merry Christmas, Prince Krotan."

Krotan smiled in satisfaction. It was bittersweet. Even though he isn't Jedda's lover, he knew that she had just given him something to think about. She was also right about them being friends and that was something else to think about.

-Defenders-Christmas-Carol-

Jedda watched as Krotan left the hospital with Castra. She sighed with satisfaction as well, knowing she had let Krotan know what she had felt about him as of lately.

Jedda noticed as Setsuna arrived with Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru and Chibiusa.

"Was that Krotan that had just passed us?" Michiru asked in confusion.

"Yes it was," Jedda answered, "but he meant no harm this time."

"They sure didn't stay long." Mandrake stated as he, Kshin and Lothar arrived at the area.

"What about Rick?" Hotaru asked. "He is getting better, right?"

The door opened, revealing Ami at the door, "Guys! Rick had just woke up."

Jedda didn't waste anytime as she hurried to the room. The others at the hall entered the room as well.

"Are you all right, son?" Flash asked his son. "We were so worried."

Rick nodded as he was still on the ventilator. He tried to speak but his voice was muffled.

"Take it easy." Flash gave him an assuring touch. "You were in a coma last night. It's going to be all right now."

Seconds later, Rick started coughing.

"He's starting to breathe independently." the doctor informed the group. "We can take him off the ventilator now."

Jedda watched in delight as her boyfriend was being taken off the ventilator, being able to breathe on his own. Rick coughed roughly, which prompted Jedda to pour a glass of water so she can give it to him.

"There you go." Jedda handed Rick the glass of water.

He took the glass of water and took a sip in it.

"What...happened?" Rick asked, with his voice still rough.

"It's nothing to worry about now, ole chap." Mandrake assured his team mate.

"We'll still need to keep him here for a week at least for observation." the doctor told the group.

"Can't we still open gifts in the hospital?" Hotaru asked.

"Yeah." Chibiusa added. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Besides, I think Rick would like to know what everyone got him."

"Yeah." Kshin pleaded. "Please Mandrake. Please."

"We'll have to see what the doctor has to say." Mandrake replied.

"I don't see why not." Dr. Harrison answered.

After a half an hour, Setsuna and Mandrake brought everyone's gifts to the hospital. Mandrake played a lovely Christmas related song on a CD player that LJ got from his girlfriend Kate. The song playing was "Song for Ten" by Neil Hannon from the Doctor Who series one and two soundtrack as everyone was opening their Christmas gifts. Flash helped Rick open up his gifts.

Jedda sighed happily. Everything was going to be okay. This Christmas turned out better than she had previously feared. She had Krotan to thank.

-Defenders-Christmas-Carol-

Krotan looked on at the window, lost in thought. He figured that Sheila had caught on what he had done to Rick but he was glad that he was able to undo what he had done back on Mongo over his selfish ways.

He might've lost Jedda as a lover but he was grateful for the fact that she was willing to still be his friend. Most importantly, he was thankful for the experience that he had had the night before when he encountered the Guardians Pluto, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn to show him the error of his ways. Had it not been for them, things might have ended up much differently.

Krotan also knew this for certain: he knew that this would be a Christmas holiday that he would never forget.

Author's Note: This story as you can see is shown to contribute to Prince Krotan's redemption arc that will start in Volume Two in Sailor Moon Defenders. I apologize for any omniscient POV I might have put in this story. I was excited to have written this but I hope you guys have enjoyed this! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!