Chapter 7: Thunder and Lightning

Endymion was feeling so conflicted he didn't want to make this decision alone; however, how could he ask her when she couldn't wake up. It was in the middle of this circular logic that he felt her but, it wasn't completely her. He felt the determination, the fear for their child… the embryos? no, Chibi-Usa.

Getting up Endymion raced to the bedroom to see Sailor Moon standing over the prone form of Usagi. Sailor Moon looked at him with sadness in her eyes as she whispered, "I am sorry," before disappearing.

"Mercury! Saturn!" Endymion screamed in anguish.

The two young women raced to find Endymion collapsed on his knees staring at the bed. "Endymion, what happened?"

All Endymion could do was point. Taking the hint Ami transformed and began scanning Usagi with her visor and minicomputer. While Hotaru tried to calm Endymion enough to get more information from him on the situation as their communicators started beeping. The two looked at each other and nodded knowing the others could handle it and they would be of most use here.

At the bakery …

Jupiter, Mars, Pheobe, Sol and Tepeu were facing off against an onslaught of droids that were formerly bakery employees; While Emerald continued to reach for the unconscious `rabbit' that was being held tight by her uncle. "Someone needs to get Chibi-Usa out of here!"

"I agree Jupiter but, how we are surrounded … Lunar Rhapsody!"

"Mars Celestial Fire Surround!"

"There seems to be no end," Sol said as he swung his sword cutting several droids in half. "Sol Sword Slash!"

It was then that the Senshi froze as they all looked at each other and back at the vision of Sailor Moon. Emerald took the opportunity using her evil hands to grab Chibi-Usa from her uncle's grasp. The young child screamed summoning her defensive power and a moonbeam came down burning the evil hands and causing Emerald to retract her evil hands. Pheobe who was closest dove to catch the falling child as the apparition of Sailor Moon pulled out her Moon sceptre, "Moon Healing Escalation!" the moonlight taking out the remaining droids and sending Emerald fleeing.

Before anyone recovered their voices Sailor Moon was gone as fast as she had appeared. The senshi looked around as the sweet shop reverted to the empty shop that Emerald had originally come across as her glamor left with her. The young Chibi-Usa rolled into Pheobe's chest for comfort in her sleep as it was no longer from sugar or energy drain but pure exhaustion from using the moonbeam. The senshi quickly made their exit as other bakery patrons began waking up.

At the Royal's home …

Hotaru had gotten some words but nothing close to a sentence and even trying to read his mind gave her even less. Mercury was still scanning and typing like mad when Hotaru spoke, "Umm, Ami…" she said pointing as Sailor Moon appeared next to Usagi and faded back into the princess' body.

Mercury began typing even faster as she had no answer as to how Sailor Moon could be outside of Usagi's body as they were one and the same. Both Mercury and Hotaru now understood why Endymion was in the state he was in. "Endy…" Usagi whispered.

Endymion all but leapt to her side taking her hand and as if Serenity and the silver crystal called him, Endymion began glowing gold with his crystal as he shared his power and energy with he sleeping princess.

Mercury and Hotaru slowly backed out the doorway, "I have no explanation," Mercury admitted.

Hotaru shrugged, "Guess we should check in with the others and maybe get an update on what happened with their call." The two left the couple alone as they went to wait for the others to arrive as they knew they would.

About thirty minutes later as Ami paid the delivery driver the living room filled with the inner senshi and generals. After putting some aside for the Royal Couple Ami brought the rest to share as they shared their stories. Hotaru soon returned from putting Chibi-Usa to bed and ensuring no harm had come to her physically, nothing could stop the mental trauma of being chased by evil beings.

"So, any ideas on how Sailor Moon could separate herself from Usagi?" Pheobe asked the big question.

"Her true desire to protect Chibi-Usa manifested?" Rei asked as she put her food down and leaned back into Masaki's arms.

Makoto turned white as if she had seen a ghost, the others turned to see Serenity and Endymion exit the room to join them. The rooms occupants got up to make room while Hotaru and Yuro went to get the couple their plates. Endymion held on to Serenity for dear life as if he let go she would disappear and or break. "Endy, seriously, I am fine. Actually, being in this form I feel the best I have since the day at the carnival."

Endymion smiled, "Yes, and I would like you and our children to stay that way," He said rubbing her now very prominent baby belly.

Serenity giggled as the group only now noticed that she was sitting that her baby bump had grown. "To resolve our initial problem, Endymion, Pluto, Saturn and I put the three of the quads into a type of stasis, which unfortunately caused an unforeseen problem." Serenity paused as Endymion scooped some chow mein into her mouth.

"Both problems have now been resolved with one slight side-effect," Endymion finished as Serenity lovingly rubbed the bump that had doubled in size. There was no hiding the baby bump now.

The couple sat there half listening, eating, and making out while the others continued to discuss how they could be so underpowered by Emerald's droids that they almost lost Chibi-Usa. They avoided talking about the appearance of Sailor Moon to keep Serenity's stress level down as she was now looking second trimester for a human pregnancy, and she should not even be at the end of her first quadrimester. Both Ami and Hotaru had checked with their respective abilities and technology and the twins seemed to be healthy and at as best guess normal development.

Outside a storm was physically building as the sky above Tokyo clouded over and rain began falling. Above the city in a spaceship Emerald called forth a droid to latterly bang the drums of thunder and chase the lightening across the skies until the Rabbit made another appearance. "It is well known that the Royal family has a fear of thunder and if there is enough of it she will want to go home to mommy and that is when we will catch the rabbit," Emerald laughed.

The storm raged and became so loud most of Tokyo was woken by it not just the targeted family. As Serenity slept contently and safely in her Prince's embrace neither noticed the child as she woke from her room and crept past those sleeping spread throughout the house to the royal bedroom. Seeing the couple sleeping so contently when she was so terrified, she spotted Sailor Moon's broach and reached out for it, "If mommy has this then she can wake up and save us all."

With broach in hand she raced to the park that she had arrived in despite the fact that she jumped every time there was a clap of thunder. Once at her destination she took her necklace out that held her mother's silver crystal and the key to the doors of Chronos. "Guardian of Chronos, open the doors to the heavens and take me home!" As white clouds began to form above the child she began to float toward them. Just as quickly the thunder droid raced toward her target.

Serenity's eyes shot open and not from the sound of the rain but from her maternal bond telling her that one of her children was in danger. She reached for her broach, "Endymion!"

Opening his eyes and sensing her concern he reached out with his powers to check on their charge only to find she was not in the house, and it didn't take a genius to put two and two together. "Senshi! Generals! Henshin yo!" The prince commanded as he rose from bed helping his wife. "Find Chibi-Usa, NOW!" At the command the house was quickly emptied as the troops paired off in search.

Serenity looked to her husband, and he nodded. They couldn't leave something so important to the court. She was their child. They had to go to her. Endymion took Serenity outside and knelt in the yard touching the earth itself strengthening his bond to the planet and searching for his daughter. Finding her he reached for Serenity who used him as a compass and teleported them to the location.

They arrived to Chibi-Usa screaming and squirming in the droids grasp as Emerald appeared. "Well, done. Zaprina, looks like you brought me the whole family," She paused noticing how Serenity's gown hung and laughed her ear-splitting laugh. "And more." Emerald reached her evil hands toward the royal couple.

Endymion pushed his pregnant bride behind him and drew his sword, "Terran Slash! You will not lay a finger on my family. Gaia Hurricane Trap!" Endymion attacked Emerald's evil hands with his sword and used the other attack to cause the droid to drop the child.

Serenity reached out her hands, "Lunar Protection Orbs!" Even though she wasn't Sailor Moon the moonlight obeyed their Queen and encased the child in light and bringing her to the safety of her mother's arms.

Seeing his daughter safe in her mother's arms, Endymion turned his full wrath on the enemies, "Gaia Volcano Judgement!" he said swinging his arm upwards as a mountain formed from within the fountain and swallowed the droid and Emerald in terrified screams. "The throne of Earth will always triumph over evil!" He commanded bringing his arm down slamming his palm into the earth and as he commanded the Volcano disappeared back where it came from taking the attackers with it.

The terrified child curled into her mother's growing bosom as she wept, "mama? Papa?"

Endymion went to his family and wrapped his cape protectively around them as he hugged them close and with a look the sky almost as if obeying the prince cleared to reveal a star filled view as the senshi and generals arrived. Serenity looked down to the child sleeping in her arms with concern.

As the sunrose on the group who kept a protective watch over the young family as the sleeping child began to stir. Climbing down from her guardian's small lap and faced the small battalion as they looked at her with a variety of concerned, loving , and inquisitive looks.

"I need help to save my mother, Neo Queen Serenity." They young girl said straightening her outfit. "I am Princess Serenity Small Lady Usagi, daughter of Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion. I am not commanding but asking for you to help me save my family."

As she finished time appeared to stop as a stone door appeared and opened to reveal a slightly older looking Endymion, Sailor Mars and Tepeu. "That was very lady like, Small Lady. Your mother and I are very proud of you."