Ami decided to quarantine Gracie and Crystal in their room to keep them and the other Senshi safe. "I wonder if taking away their pendants caused all this..." Neo-Queen Serenity gazed at the jeweled necklaces in a magical Silver Crystal case.
"Even I've never heard of this occurring due to those kinds of circumstances, my queen," Artemis said as he walked into the room.
"How are Gracie and Crystal?" Neo-Queen Serenity asked glumly.
"From what Minako told me, their usual, joyful selves remain intact." Artemis smiled.
"That's wonderful. I don't want them losing hope." Neo-Queen Serenity replied in a down-hearted tone.
"If you think taking away the pendants did this, why don't you give them back?" Artemis suggested.
"If this doesn't clear up in a few days, I'll see what giving back the pendants does for Gracie and Crystal. But I need to stand firm on the punishment otherwise." Neo-Queen Serenity stated.
Artemis did not know how to comfort the queen. So he rubbed against her and purred as she stroked him thoughtfully. The following day, Luna scampered into the bedroom to rouse Neo-Queen Serenity. For some reason, the cat was acting highly stressed.
"Luna, what's wrong?!" Neo-Queen Serenity asked, alarmed by her friend's emotional state.
"I'm unsure, but Christen and Ariel need your help," Luna replied urgently.
"Shall I come with you?" King Endymion questioned his wife.
"No, I promise I won't be long..." gently, Neo-Queen Serenity kissed her husband.
While it was known for Christen and Ariel to get into disputes more often than the others, it was never so intense the queen needed to intervene. However, as she entered the girl's chambers, she was greeted with a startling sight, and on Christen's bed perched Rei, tending to a black wolf with dark eyes. The she-wolf had deep cuts all over her face! On Ariel's bed sat Makoto, mending the broken leg of a Golden Eagle! Yet, when the light hit the eagle's feathers at just the right angle, it looked like they had a green sheen!
"My queen!" Rei and Makoto got up and curtsied with their animals bowing.
"Christen and Ariel too?! How did they get wounded?" Neo-Queen Serenity demanded. The monarch was growing increasingly concerned as this epidemic spread. What in the name of the moon was going on?!
"As far as we can tell, Christen and Ariel panicked and attacked each other by mistake. Christen grabbed Ariel in her mouth by the leg, and Ariel scratched Christen with her talons," Makoto explained.
Neo-Queen Serenity examined the injuries herself, "Christen's cuts are not too severe. Just some cool water will do. It looks like Ariel wasn't trying to hurt her too badly. Ariel's leg will heal much quicker than a human's. Use a stiff stint, soft and flat enclosure with no perches in a dark, cool, and quiet place. Make sure its far away from Christen. Plus has easy access to food and water. After a few weeks, she should be fighting fit again."
"I didn't know you had a Master's in Veterinary Care, Usagi." Rei joked.
"I picked it up from Crystal." Neo-Queen Serenity laughed as it did feel good to be reminded she was still Usagi underneath her royal title.
"Same thing happened to Gracie and Crystal?" Makoto knew by now something quite odd had been happening within the Crystal Palace. But, being a Sailor Senshi, something abnormal happening was par for the course.
"Yes. I'm worried but don't know what could happen!" This time Neo-Queen Serenity was soothed by Luna.
Having a hunch she knew, Christen knocked over her and Ariel's candy bags from the shop with her snout, drawing everyone's attention.
"Christen!" Rei was going to scold her daughter, as was expected, but she was interrupted.
"Wait! There's something written here." Makoto picked up one of the bags to read the shop's name. "Hatai's Voodoo Candy?"
"Why would anyone mess with voodoo?" Rei asked in a grossed-out tone. As a former Shrine Maiden, who used her abilities to benefit those she loved and cared about, Rei disliked the idea that some used voodoo to harm others.
"Candy would be a clever way to hide a ritual." Neo-Queen Serenity wondered.
"All the young ladies ate some candy!" Luna cried.
"I didn't," a deep and calm voice spoke from the doorway.
Everyone turned to see Shadow in her uncharacteristically frilly, grey nightgown standing there with Star in navy blue nightclothes with teenie, tiny star patterns. "We don't really like candy." Star elaborated.
"Thank goodness!" Neo-Queen Serenity hugged the two girls.
"We need to stop anyone else from eating that candy!" Luna ordered.
"Well...Chibiusa, Jewel, Ivy, and Dawn already did...as far as we know. However, I could find a way to stall their magic." Shadow offered.
"Please do." Neo-Queen Serenity pleaded when she heard her daughter's name.
Shadow and Star looked through Christen's books and got to work on whatever might help. Luna got Holly and Trisha to help. Fortunately, both had not yet tasted their candy. Unfortunately, however, Alexis and Emily had. As for the other girls, only time would tell.