"I'm uncomfortable with this. What if all this stuff does is kill them?" Alexis whimpered as Holly passed her a medicine cup filled with a dark liquid to give to Gracie to see if it would change her back.
"We don't have any other alternative right now but to try. We won't feed them more than five meds each." Star reasoned. As Gracie swallowed the medicine, her body was engulfed in gold sparkles. Suddenly everyone saw the smiling, human girl they all loved materialize again!
"Gracie!" everyone yelled in happiness.
Gracie opened her mouth to squeal joyfully. Then she unexpectedly collapsed to the floor, immediately reverting to her swan form! Minako rushed to put her back in her water basin if the swan girl was hurting from the fall. Still, the animals took the experimental meds each day without objection. Seeing as this phenomenon would not stop soon, Neo-Queen Serenity resolved to inform the rest of the palace of the bizarre occurrence.
The rest of the girls looked as white as sheets when they realized what would transpire to them. Each girl clung to their parents for support, with Ivy and Dawn hugging each other. The king couldn't hide his displeasure with his wife, "Why didn't you inform me about this earlier?" King Endymion questioned his wife.
"I hoped it wasn't this serious, Endymion. I didn't desire to alarm you needlessly." Neo-Queen Serenity hung her head remorseful. However, she had done what she deemed best at the time. Even though she was the Queen of the Earth, she remained utterly human. Hence she made mistakes like anyone else.
"I find this difficult to believe, your highness," Haruka stood unconvinced by her leader's words.
"What grounds would Neo-Queen Serenity have to lie to us?" Hotaru countered defensievly.
"We're accustomed to peculiar occurrences, Haruka. But, regardless, we must keep a closer eye on our daughters," Setsuna urged her fellow Outer Senshi.
"I wonder what beast you'll turn into?" Beryl played with Jewel's hair as it reminded them of when Jewel was little.
"Shut up, Mom!" Jewel replied bluntly.
Over the next few days, Alexis and Emily suffered from more extreme changes. Alexis morphed into a blue Bottlenose dolphin. Emily metamorphosed into a lavender-cream Tortishell kitten! Hotaru delicately held her daughter, sobbing. Neptune kept Alexis wet as Haruka and Holly carried her to one of the silver lakes nearest the palace! Alexis was making distressed noises, not from pain but from sadness and fear.
"It's OK, Alexis. You're going to be alright. We'll be here every morning before you get up and spend the day with you." Michiru tried to soothe her distraught dolphin daughter as she was placed in the water.
This seemed to ease Alexis's mind as she stared solemnly at her parents and sister and clicked wearily. Despite the fact, they couldn't speak dolphin? Instead, they did their best to console her by reminiscing about the fun times they had experienced. They all smiled as Alexis made "victory squeals," which signified her happiness.
Being the people she is closest to, Michiru fed Alexis, and Holly would play with her. Haruka entertained Alexis with stories about her time as a Sailor Senshi, which Alexis always loved, and she was politely quiet and attentive until her mom was finished.
On the other hand, Hotaru could not find any satisfaction in her daughter as an animal. Emily did not seem to mind being a kitty. Hotaru treated her the same way, providing her with whatever a cat required. Emily could sense Hotaru's sorrow and took it upon herself to cuddle and calm her mom.
"Hotaru?" a young, small, sweet girl's voice sounded from the doorway. Hotaru whirled around to see Diana.
"Hi, Diana. Is something wrong?" Hotaru asked concerningly.
The tiny gray kitten shook her head. "No, Hotaru. My siblings and I talked with our parents. They sent me to inform you that they wouldn't mind helping care for Emily too." Diana offered.
"Thank you. That is so kind of you." Hotaru sniffled.
"Please, don't be unhappy anymore, Hotaru." Diana jumped up as the two kittens tried to comfort Hotaru.
"I'll try. Emily, you behave for Luna and Artemis. You are still a Princess and Senshi. Please, remember that." While it was good of Luna and Artemis to give themselves to those in need, Hotaru couldn't help but wonder how many kittens they could take on.
Besides their three biological children, they had adopted Elizabeth. Now unexpectedly, they had Emily. Worst of all, Neo-Queen Serenity suggested to the parents that it would be their children's health if they lived outside yet inside the palace boundaries!
Of course, though this did not go over well, the parents knew Gracie, Crystal, Christen, and Ariel would be much more comfortable outside where they could move around. Yet, this meant they would be in the semi-wild without protection. Plus, as this was the Queen's demand, they had no power to object.