Progeny
By Jeffrey Vasquez
Disclaimer:
Based on the series Sailor Moon. All characters copyrighted by
the
beautiful Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, and Kodansha.
The characters of Ranma ½ are the express property of the most
revered
Rumiko Takahashi and Shogokukan. I am in no way claiming, or
even
pretending to own these characters.
The rest belong to me.
Author's notes:
The events in this chapter center around Luna's ability to shape-shift.
For
the purposes of this story, this is an ability that Luna and
Artemis have
had since birth.
*********
Chapter 6
*********
Elsewhere
Fusako Kaiko had absolutely no idea where she was. Her short,
dark
hair was damp and her deep brown eyes were blind. The darkness
of the
shadows had enveloped her, only to deposit her on a damp, hard,
floor
in pitch blackness. A drip echoed loudly throughout the
obscurity
surrounding her, giving a very subterranean feel to the
space. The whole
ordeal was giving her the willies.
The room, if you could call it that, was comfortably warm.
A
pleasant change from the crisp mountain air that she had been hiking
in.
Fusako decided to try and gather as much information about
her
environment as possible before bumbling about. She closed her eyes
in
order to organize her perceptions and concentrate better.
It didn't smell like the dampness of a cave, rather, it had a
tangy
pine scent. She could easily imagine herself surrounded by tall
fir trees.
She stretched out her fingers to gain a more tactile picture
of the floor.
She had expected to be greeted by a cool stone surface,
instead the texture
beneath her fingers reminded her more of wood than
anything else. It was
warm and hard to the touch, and felt very smooth,
but it lacked the
unforgiving, lifeless nature of stone. She couldn't
really explain the
difference, but she knew that it existed.
She strained her hearing to try and filter in the surrounding
sounds.
There was nothing for a long period of time, so she relaxed
herself fully,
focusing on her breathing and then moving outward. Her
efforts were
rewarded when she heard air flowing, wind-like somewhere
to her left. It
was very faint, but there. She focused on the wind,
moving with its
passage. She flowed over and through an invisible
landscape, dancing on
wings that she knew she did not possess. She
merged with the wind,
becoming the zephyr rather than apart from
it.
That's when she heard the voice.
It was feminine and beautiful, humming in time with the breeze.
No
that wasn't right; not in time with the breeze. It was the breeze.
The one
voice echoed, becoming two. The two grew to become a quartet,
and then
again to become an octet. Each voice was distinct, and had a
resounding
whale-like quality to it. The wind was gone and she found
herself beneath
the sea, swimming amidst the sounds of the voices.
Happiness pervaded her, followed by wariness and suspicion in
turn.
More emotions rose and fell in the blackness, and she rode them as
if
they were the swelling and ebbing tide of the sea. She added her
own
voice to theirs, joining the chorus that enveloped her.
Her soprano mixed with someone's bass, intertwining and
frolicking
in an elegant display. A rich baritone joined and the bass
muted
itself, melding into the background while the baritone caressed
her softly.
Her voice moved in perfect symmetry with the baritone,
filling the gaps
where one would falter. It was the most beautiful
experience that she had
ever had the privilege of experiencing.
She thought she heard voices in the music, they were concerned
and
filled with fear. But somewhere far away another baritone quietly
sang.
Separate, yet unified. This voice was a beacon for the rest,
giving
them hope and strength in amidst the darkness. Her voice rose to
that
hope, magnifying it. Other voices merged, until thousands sang out
the
crescendo in a majestic chorus. The bass thrummed in her heart,
the
baritones held her up and she bound them together.
The chorus softened and the bass quieted until the only voices
left
were the distant baritone and hers. The distant voice quieted,
allowing the
sounds of the sea to swallow it and comfort her. The love
that she felt was
as deep as the ocean and growing deeper. It succored
her and drew her in.
She didn't ever want to leave.
<Return to us, Fusako.> The voice was light. Not in terms
of
weight, but in terms of energy. It was bright, but not blinding. It
was
warm and inviting too, but not as comforting as the love she felt.
<Please
Fusako, we need you. Return to us.>
Perhaps it was the desperation in the voice that made her turn
away
from the love, perhaps it was her own fear. Whichever it was,
Fusako's
heart ached because of it. She moved with the voice, away from
the
unconditional love, back toward the other voices.
**Amazing ** Fusako was overwhelmed by the emotions in the
voices.
Wonder, disbelief, snide criticism, exasperation, pride, and a
spark of love
flowed around her.
<I can't believe that a human could ->
<You never were very imaginative in the first place!>
<Why you!>
<I knew she could do it all along.>
<Yeah right! And I'm Kotei Shiroi Hane!>
<Enough children.> The voices in general felt old. Very old. But
the last
voice could only be termed as ancient, and for some odd reason
it reminded
her of her grandmother. <She is among us.>
There was a moment of shocked discomfort as the entities
scrambled
for their dignity. Fusako could only giggle to her
self
girlishly.
The feelings of humiliation grew, and an underlying
sense of agitation
accompanied them.
<Welcome, Fusako Kaiko.> The ancient voice said formally.
**Thank you.** It seemed like the correct response to make.
<Very good. I see that you have gained control over your
thoughts.> The
voice appeared to grin with amusement in the confines
of her mind. <The
others were having a great deal of fun at your
expense I'm afraid.>
<Yeah! You made poor Yoshitsune blush!>
<Shut up, you!> Another voice roared. The sexy baritone voice
that had
originally greeted her filled her thoughts again, causing her
mind to wander
somewhat.
<Woo whee! There she goes again! Yoshitsune, I think she likes you!>
<Aaaarrrgh! I said SHUT UP! You loony old bird!> Fusako winced
and
clutched her head at the volume of Yoshitsune's mental cry.
"Whap!" The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in her ears, alerting
her
to the beings' presence near her. She quickly opened her eyes and
found her
body surrounded by light.
The light had no outside source, but it had enough power
to
illuminate her surroundings. She immediately found that her blind
guesses
were correct. The floor was wood, a large tree trunk to be
precise. It was
the size of a mature redwood in diameter and polished
smooth until it
resembled a rich, wooden, marble floor. She found
herself surrounded by
tall conifers that towered over her like some
sort of jury.
It made her a little nervous to be beneath their combined
gaze.
Beyond their canopy she could see the afternoon sky. The source
of the
dampness came from a flowing wall of water that surrounded the
great tree
stump.
"Hello?" She inquired. The sound of her voice echoed loudly back at her.
<Now look what you made me do stupid! She's talking
again!>
Yoshitsune said angrily from somewhere off to her right.
<Yoshitsune, Washi-chan!> The ancient voice scolded from up
above
Fusako. <Behave yourselves!>
<Yes, Mother.> Both voices cowed at the disappointment in
Mother's
voice.
<Now then, Fusako-chan.> Mother began affectionately. <If you
could
please refrain from speaking here, it really would be for the
best. The
trees
like to be able to hear the Worldsong without any
interruptions.> Mother's
mental voice dropped to a whisper. <They
can get awful cranky you
know.>
The trees above Fusako seemed to bristle and squirm indignantly.
"Um." She began, but quickly switched to thinking again. <Is this better?>
<Much. Thank you.> Fusako beamed at the pleasure in Mother's
tone.
<Now then, how do you feel?> It was a rhetorical question.
Mother knew
exactly how Fusako was feeling.
<A little disoriented.> she said honestly.
<Only a little?> The mirth and incredulity in Mother's voice made
Fusako
smile. She felt like a young girl again, being fussed over by
her mother
and
grandmother.
<Well, okay, more than a little.> she admitted.
<It is to be expected.> The ancient voice said.
A sharp pain lanced through Fusako's brain, causing her to fall
to
her knees. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, when
Yoshitsune's
voice cut through the haze.
<Mother!>
<I am fine Yoshitsune. Take Suzume-chan and Taka-kun with you
to
investigate, but do not interfere. Observe and report back to me
swiftly.
The Musk are fallen, but they are not lost to us.>
Yoshitsune seemed to
nod in Fusako's mind and then his presence along
with two others was
suddenly very far away.
<Wh . . . what was that Mother?> Fusako asked.
<Something very old and very dark Fusako-chan.> Mother
replied
enigmatically.
<I don't think that I understand Mother.> She had hoped for more clarity.
<Nor are you meant to at this time child. You will bare the burden
of
knowledge soon enough. Be content with the questions that cost you
very
little, Small One.> There was no reproach in the voice, only
mature advice.
Fusako found that the answer was sufficient for now.
There were more
important questions to be asked anyway.
<Mother? Where am I?> She inquired hopefully.
<That Fusako-chan is a good question, that will cost you
nothing.> The
watery walls sprang to life, filling with every known
color, forming
pictures of places that she had never before seen. <A
very long time ago, there
existed a majestic kingdom. And the capital
of this kingdom resided on
Terra's Moon.>
Fusako's eyes bulged in wonder as Mother unfolded the founding
of
the Moon Kingdom. Her heart swelled at the beauty and mystery
that
thrived during its peaceful reign. She wept bitter tears as she
watched its
fall. The telling of the story took quite some time, and by
the time Mother
finished, Fusako was thoroughly drained.
Above her the stars twinkled down at her through the canopy of
the
mighty trees. And as she drifted off into a deep slumber, she
realized that
Mother hadn't answered her question at all.
********
Juuban
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Ranma scuttled back among the debris, that littered the
restaurant's
tiled floor until his back thumped against a preparation
table, that up
ended a pile of empty pots over his head. The clanging
and banging caused luna
to wince sympathetically, but the fear in
Ranma's eyes kept her at bay.
Ranma hardly noticed the pans at all.
"Shoo! Ge. . .g. . .get a. . .w. . .wa. . .way!" He stammered,
futilely
trying
his best to make Luna leave. To no avail. Luna
looked very upset and
bored at his antics. She tried not to take
offense at the treatment, but her
tolerance level was quickly fading.
"D. . .don't want n. . .nothin' to do
with no damn c. . .c. .
.CAT!"
The words hit Luna like a fist. Anger rose along with the pain,
and
Luna did something that she hadn't done in ages. She changed her
shape.
Where a cat had sat before, now a woman knelt. A luscious,
black, mane
of hair tumbled down her back, framing her lithe, and very
naked body.
Ranma's mind froze. There was something vaguely familiar about
this,
the sense of deja vu was too acute to be coincidence. At first
he
thought that she was another curse victim of Jusenkyo, but as he
frantically
searched the room, he noticed that there was no hot water
around.
Luna stomped over to the cringing boy, raised her arm to its
fullest
length, and slapped him forcefully across the face. Hurt and
anger burned
like flames in her eyes, and as the tears freely flowed
down her face, Ranma
knew that he had done something terrible.
He examined her, from head to toe, trying to make a connection
with
the odd sensations that were reverberating in his heart. Her
nakedness
held no fascination for him. He'd seen enough of the female
body to leave
him indifferent when it came to that subject.
Everything about this woman seemed familiar, and yet so foreign
at
the same time. The odd crescent moon that was on her forehead drew
his
attention time and again, forcing him to focus on it. Luna in her
anger and
disgust turned her back to the young man. But, the movement
was lot to
Ranma as his mind began to process all that he had seen.
Images flashed in his mind: Places, people, things. Wars
without
end. A tall elegant woman that looked sad every time he saw
her. Ami in
an odd looking outfit that made his heart race and his nose
want to bleed.
Marut. Artemis. The Crescent Guard. Mama-Luna.
Ranma latched onto the last image, as the others raced passed
him
like quicksilver. He looked up at the woman, comparing and
contrasting
the fierce, tear filled face with the radiant, serene
beauty in his mind.
There was no mistaking that they were one in the
same. Ranma smiled at Luna
with recognition in his eyes, just as a cast
iron skillet plummeted from its
place on the wall to careen off of the
back of his head.
All who knew Ranma well would say that his head is the
hardest
substance known to man. Their belief would not be far from
wrong either.
But even a martial artist of Ranma's caliber had limits,
and the large
frying pan was the proverbial straw for the young
man.
His joyous reunion with one that was Mother to him in an age
long
dead, would have to be postponed until he had staved off the
darkness of
unconsciousness.
**********
Luna, for all her poise and etiquette, was prone to fits of
extreme
frustration when dealing with insolent, willful children. As
far as she was
concerned, Aramas deserved more punishment than that
skillet had
provided. She didn't know who had raised him in this life,
but they had
done an odious job of it! Why, by the age of five, she had
succeeded in
giving Aramas a mastery of etiquette and an understanding
of the social
graces.
To have him act in such a crude manner, let alone speaking in such
a
vulgar way, made her want to spank him until his bottom was black
and
blue! The nerve of him! Coming from anyone else, save Usagi,
Luna
would have shrugged it off. But Aramas was her little boy! And to
say
such things! To HER of all people!
It cut her soul deeply.
She looked into his handsome face again, and her heart melted.
It
had not been the reunion that Luna could have hope for, but it was
a
reunion. Something that she had never expected to happen, let alone
hope
for. She carefully knelt down next to Ranma's prone body and
examined
the welt on the back of his head. No bones seemed broken, and
aside from
a nasty bruise on one arm, the boy seemed in fine
health.
For that Luna was grateful. Her baby boy might have been raised
a
barbarian in this life, but he was still her baby boy. She cradled
his head
in her lap, and gently ran her fingers through his hair. The
others would
arrive at any time, and Luna wanted to be sure that she
had ample time to
sort through things before all Hell broke loose.
********
Mercury dug through the rubble, with a strength bore of
desperation.
She had heard a man's coughing, and rather than take the
time to scan
the pile of debris to verify that it was Ranma, she simply dug
in.
Magic enhanced muscles lifted several hundred pounds of stone
and
mortar like it was paper, tossing the offending wreckage aside
without a
second thought.
Much to her team mates' annoyance. Mars had vocalized
her
displeasure after the second seven-foot section of wall almost
buried her.
Unfortunately, Mercury was focused on one thing. Finding
Aramas.
He could be hurt and dying, and the thought of losing him
again
drove the Senshi of Mercury into a frenzy. More rubble flew. More
of her
team mates dodged wildly, and then she saw a shock of black
hair. She
could tell that the body was face down, and began to slow her
mad pace.
She worked around the head and body carefully, until she was
finally
able to see that it wasn't Ranma that she had found. Disappointment
and
worry coursed through her heart.
What had happened to him?
She delicately turned the man face up and grimaced. The man's
face
was broken, but the way his eyes blinked she knew him to be very
much
alive. Beneath him, clutched protectively in a death grip, lay a
little
girl of four or five. Her eyes were large with fear and a large gash on
her
head sent a small river of blood running down her cheeks.
Sailor Mercury tried her best to calm the girl, as she pried her
from
her savior's arms. She could see that the poor man had two
compound
fractures: a rib and his left femur protruded horrifically
through his
flesh.
Blood poured freely from the injuries, and
Mercury knew enough to see
that something needed to be done soon
otherwise the man would bleed to
death.
"Saturn! Over here!" She cried out steadily, despite the way her
stomach
tossed and turned. "Please hurry!" She held the girl close to
her, cradling
her against the sight of the man's wounds.
Soon Saturn and Neptune arrived. Saturn looked ashen from
healing so
many of the gravely injured, but the steel in the young woman's
eyes
told Mercury that the Senshi of Saturn wasn't about to give into
her
body's demand for rest. Tears began to leak from Neptune's eyes at
the
sight of the man's condition.
Mercury knew that the Senshi of Neptune didn't have the strength
to
help the man, so she hurriedly passed the little girl off to her
and
motioned for her to take the girl away. Neptune nodded and moved
away,
humming to the girl soothingly. Mercury looked at Saturn
grimly.
"We have to set the bones as best we can before you heal him."
Mercury
said flatly. "Are you up to it?" Saturn nodded her head
shallowly, refusing
to take her eyes off the bleeding contusions.
Mercury nodded once. "Good. Now pay attention." she said
grabbing
Saturn's hands. "You're going to have to brace him. Keep him as
still
as possible. Do you understand?" Saturn nodded once and complied
as
directed. Ami frowned grimly, and set to work gently pushing the
femur
back into its natural place. The man screamed, thrashing against
the pain
and Sailor Saturn's gentle strength, until at last he passed
out. Mercury
thanked who ever was watching over her that she hadn't
started out with
the rib.
Minutes passed and Sailor Mercury finally was able to work the
one
back where it belonged. It had caused more damage than she
had
anticipated, but Saturn could hopefully heal that. She glanced at
her
impromptu aid and smiled weakly. A gesture that was returned, just
as
weakly.
"One down. One to go." Her voice was tired, and anxious. She
wasn't
even sure if she should be doing this at all. But she knew that
if she didn't
do something, the man's life was forfeit. And in her
book, that wasn't an
option.
She settled herself along side of the protruding rib and nodded
to
Saturn, indicating her readiness. Saturn nodded as well, and the two
rolled
the man gently toward Mercury, with the man's back braced
against
Saturn's knees.
Mercury began her tender work, doing her best to minimize the
damage
of setting the rib. Long tenuous moments passed, until finally she
had
righted the rib. That's when she finally noticed that the
man's
breathing had become shallow, and that he had become a terrible
ash grey.
"No!" She cried out to the insensate man. "Don't you dare die on
me
now!" Tears of frustration began to tumble down her cheeks. She
looked
up at her team mate and motioned for her to hurry.
Saturn looked at the man once and then at Mercury. There was
a
sadness in her eyes. She shook her head wearily. "The healing will
kill
him Mercury. He's not strong enough to withstand it."
Sailor Mercury looked at her partner, and for the first time in
her
short life she felt true anger. "The man's dying anyway Saturn!
Do
something!"
The Senshi of Death knelt across from the Senshi of Ice and
shook
her head. "I can't. I couldn't live with myself if I had killed
him!"
Mercury's gaze bore into her partner's.
"So you're just going to let him die! Is that it!" Ami regretted the
words
even before they tumbled from her lips, but wouldn't have
retracted them
even if she could. Saturn was abandoning a life, and
Mercury wasn't about
to let her without a fight. Saturn began to cry as
she looked from the
quickly fading man, and her friend.
Mercury and Saturn faced off with tears streaming down their
cheeks
at the impasse. Death had seemingly won out, and neither of them
could
in good conscious, yield to the other. Thankfully, the decision
was
taken from them as a pair of elegant hands came to rest on both of
their
shoulders. Both looked up into the calm, loving face of their
princess, and
then ducked their heads in shame.
Sailor Moon looked down at the poor man and began to cry herself.
A
white glow emanated from the scepter clutched tightly in her fist,
and
starting from the tip of her head, slowly descended to the tips of
her toes.
Where Sailor Moon had stood but a moment before, Princess
Serenity now
stood, framed in the glory of the Ginzishou. The tears of
frustration and
pity that coursed down her face, added more to her
beauty than the sudden
change that had washed over her.
"Serenity-sama!" Hotaru gasped. Mercury felt as shocked as her
team
mate looked, and just as worried.
"Serenity, please don't!" Mercury couldn't hold back the plea. "You
know
the dangers associated with using the crystal!"
Princess Serenity looked at her attendants lovingly. "What of
this
man's life?" Mercury looked down at the man, and bit her lip.
"The sacrifice isn't worth it, Serenity-sama!" Saturn said, daring to
voice
Mercury's thoughts.
The princess smiled lovingly at the Senshi of Saturn, and
stroked
her dark hair as a mother would one of her beloved children.
"Every life is
priceless Saturn. They're all worth it."
The rebuke, though gentle, hurt. Saturn had never been able
to
understand Serenity, she didn't think that she ever could. But, she
loved
her more than anything. All because the Princess accepted her,
not for the
role she played in the larger scheme of things, but for who
Saturn was
inside.
She hung her head before her princess, and sighed deeply. There
was
no way that she could allow Serenity to use the Ginzishou. Every
use
was a gamble, bringing Serenity to the brink of death.
"I'll try. . . ." Saturn whispered. "I'll heal him."
Serenity smiled and nodded. "And I will help." There was no
denying
her. She was their monarch and there was a line, that even they, as
her
most trusted advisors could not cross. Beneath the combined weight
of
their worry, Serenity smiled. "Don't worry. I promise to act only as
a
funnel. No healing from me." She winked playfully, bringing a smile
to
both Senshi.
Saturn nodded and began to pass the healing energy into
Serenity,
who in turn passed it into the dying man at her feet. Wounds
healed, bones
knitted, blood was renewed, and the man's breathing
strengthened.
The whole process was taxing on both women, as Saturn fought
to
funnel as much of the ocean that was Saturn's magic, as she could
before
passing it through to Serenity. Beads of sweat appeared on the
Moon
Princess' brow, as she focused the rushing river that flooded from
Saturn
down to a trickle so that it wouldn't overwhelm the weak
man.
To say that Serenity was humbled by the power at Hotaru's
command
would have been an understatement. It was scary to think that a
young
woman Hotaru's age could harness that much power; and even
more
terrifying knowing that she had access to more.
When the deed was accomplished, Serenity swooned falling into a
pair
of very comfortingly familiar arms. She looked up into the
handsome
masked face of the man of her dreams and smiled weakly.
Mercury was
forced to do the same for Saturn, as the dark-haired young
woman
simply passed out.
Tuxedo Kamen surveyed his princess' face worriedly, allowing
the
gaze to sharpen disapprovingly. She sighed and nestled herself
into
the safety that his arms alone could provide.
"That was a senseless risk Usako." He whispered. His words
were
rebuked by a cold stare from his beloved's normally loving
gaze.
"There was no real danger Mamoru." She threw back icily. Her
whispered
voice was cold enough to send chills running up and down his
spine.
Mercury settled the unconscious Saturn gently to the ground
and
called out for Sailor Uranus to come and watch over the insensate
Senshi.
She still hadn't found Ranma, and had no desire to listen to a
lover's spat.
She wheeled around to continue her search when Ranma's
terrified
scream echoed up and down the street. She looked in the
direction of the
blasted restaurant across from the cutlery shop. The
rubble before her
didn't exist, and the other Senshi watched in
amazement at the display of
agility that Mercury executed in closing
the distance between her and the
object of her desire.
********
Artemis was happy. More so than he'd been since waking in this
time.
Minako was back from her trip, his ole' buddy Aramas was back
from the
dead, and Luna was going on a date with him! Things couldn't
get better
than this. That is until he "accidentally" fell into the
small
restaurant's fish display case. He didn't want to take advantage
of the
owner's already substantial losses, but who in their right mind
was going to
eat fish that had cat fur on it? He'd just eat the
portions that he had
landed
on. That was fair. Wasn't it?
With a tentative nibble, he munched on his first selection. And
then
his second, third and fourth. The herring was divine, and the
shrimp had
been slightly seasoned, giving them a robust tang that he
rather enjoyed.
The calamari was sweet, while the tuna was sour. By
Serenity's crown!
He had found Heaven! That's when he realized that he
had been stepping
on new, untouched portions in order to get at the
"contaminated" ones. It
had been that or stand on the unbearably cold
ice, and Artemis wasn't
about to subject his paws to that type of
punishment.
Aramas screamed causing the white cat's fur to stand on end.
Artemis
quickly scrambled out of the fish, but was hampered by all of
the
residual oil that his paws had accumulated.
Mercury blasted through the entrance like Divine Justice,
followed
soon after by the majority of the Senshi, Princess Serenity,
and Tuxedo
Kamen. They all looked around quickly, searching for the
source of the
cry.
"Mgehrowfmimindettichin. . . ." Artemis said around a mouthful of
shark,
pointing with his tail towards the kitchen. Mercury didn't even
bat an eye
at the cat, as she pushed through the swinging doors of the
kitchen.
Sailor Venus stared at her white furred advisor quizzically, and
then
recognition bloomed on her face. Her eyes narrowed in disapproval
as she
took in Artemis, and his less than honest actions. Artemis
smiled weakly
around the tasty piece of fish, and shrugged shamelessly
before gulping
down his snack voraciously.
********
Cold energy coursed up and down Mercury's arms as she
crashed
through the doors of the kitchen. Her eyes had a wild gleam to
them, that
reflected the hammering pace that her heart was beating
at.
She swept the room, seeking out enemies. The kitchen was empty,
save
for the comatose form of a prone Ranma, and the small black furred
form
of Luna nestled near his head purring contentedly.
"Luna! What happened?" Ami demanded as she crossed the room to
kneel
by Ranma's side. Luna looked up at Mercury with a smile of
contentment
that seemed to ease the Senshi's fears. "Is he alright?" She
asked as
she gently probed his body for injury. Luna's smile quickly grew
into a
mischievous grin, as she watched Mercury's hands caress Aramas'
face
lovingly. It was good to see that love still existed between
these
two.
If Ami had been truly aware of what her hands were doing, she
would
have been mortified. At that moment though, all that she could
think of
was Ranma's well being.
Luna padded over to Mercury, and gently nudged the girl to gain
her
attention. "He's fine." She said proudly, but even as the words
hit
Ami's ears, Luna's expression seemed to darken. "Although I should
wash
his mouth out with soap, and then blister his bottom soundly." She
huffed.
"The whelp had the nerve to insult me! 'Damn cat' indeed!"
Mercury smirked behind her hand. The others entered quietly,
ready
for anything. Luna and Mercury were oblivious to their presence.
Luna continued to rant about the disrespect this generation had
for
their elders, while Mercury lost herself in Ranma's handsome face.
He
looked so peaceful, laying there. A sleeping prince beneath an evil
spell.
She ran her hands through his bangs, toying with the wild hair.
A memory
surfaced, of her doing this very thing on a warm summer's
afternoon.
They had been picnicking. He had gone for a swim in the river,
and
she had soon followed him. They had played for hours, enjoying the
Sun
and the tranquility. And then they had fallen asleep in each others
arms.
She woke first to find him in very much the same state. It was
the last bit
of Heaven that she had known before the Moon Kingdom
fell.
Luna droned on beside her, lamenting wayward children and the
pain
that they give their mothers. "Why you'd think that I'd raised
him
better! He spent twelve years in the courts of Venus, among all of
the Ley
People! You'd think that he would have at least thought that he
could
have the decency to remember his manners!"
The tirade washed over Mercury numbly. But slowly, the
important
parts of the cat's speech came into focus. "What did you say?"
she
asked tentatively.
"I said, that he could have at least had the decency to remember
his
manners!" Luna gruffed.
Mercury shook her head. "No. I mean before that. . . ."
Luna retraced her rant in her mind. "What? That I had raised him?
Or
the fact that he'd spent twelve years on Venus?"
Mercury opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by
Sailor
Jupiter's flabbergasted voice. "You mean he's your son!" Both
Luna and
Mercury nearly jumped out of their skins.
Luna looked up at Makoto darkly. The promise of a lecture
on
etiquette lingered behind her eyes. Imagine, sneaking up on a person
like
that! Why, in her day, such was an offense that had started
wars!
"Yes, Jupiter." She said in exasperation. "That's what I'm
saying."
**Sort of.** She amended silently.
"Well, he sure is cute for a cat." Sailor Venus smiled hungrily as her
eyes
danced up and down Ranma's body. The display got her an elbow in
the
ribs from Mars. "What! It's true!" Venus then saw Serenity's
eyes
directed towards the kneeling Mercury. The short haired girl's
eyes were
locked onto Ranma's face.
It made sense. He had acted so much like a cat in the battle.
And
his natural grace and speed. . . . Gods, she had fallen in love
with a cat
in her previous life! Her troubled thoughts were interrupted
by Luna's
caustic voice.
"He's not a cat Venus! For the love of the Moon!" She rolled
her
eyes dramatically. "Don't any of you remember Aramas, youngest
human
to ever be inducted into the Crescent Guard?" Blank looks met her
at
almost every turn. All save Serenity and Mercury.
Mercury's joyous expression assured Luna that the girl hadn't
heard
anything beyond the fact that Aramas wasn't a cat. She shook her
head
in exasperation, knowing full well the effects love had on a
person's
hearing. She didn't think that Ami would be participating much
in the rest
of the conversation.
Serenity on the other hand, seemed on the verge of a break
through.
Luna prayed that she remembered the good things.
********
Mount Phoenix
Phau Set and two of her sisters made the clearing before the
beast,
and scrambled into one of the smaller alcoves that ran along the
base of
Mount Phoenix. They hated running from the abomination with the
lynx's
head, but they had a mission to fulfill before they gave their
lives to the
Goddess.
Their heavy breathing made it clear to any, within ten yards of
their
position, that they were here. But there was no use for it. They
could
only
hope to wait the creature out and pray that the
inhabitants of the mountain
kingdom found the beast, before it devoured
them. If not, then they prayed
that some of their sisters had made it
through.
********
Juuban, Restaurant
Serenity's brow furrowed in a manner that made Tuxedo Kamen
want to
kiss her. She always looked so cute when trying to work through
a
difficult problem. He winced internally as her brow quivered.
Not good.
She was remembering something, but it wasn't something good.
The
last time that he had seen her do that, he had forgotten their 1 year,
6
month anniversary. She hadn't spoken to him for the better part of
the
week because of it.
Her eyes took in the prone form of the young man at their feet.
And
memories of practical jokes, pet names, and a young man who had
just
reached tender age of sixteen ran through her mind.
He had terrorized her. Pulling her hair, making snide cracks
about
her weight! Aramas the Ego! She remembered him now!
She
remembered how she had idolized him, and how he had rewarded
her
admiration with cruelty. Gods! He had hurt her so terribly,
rejecting the
love that she had so freely given. He had shattered her
heart, and then had
the audacity to fall in love with one of her best
friends!
Hot, angry, tears welled in her eyes, but refused to fall. She
wasn't
a little girl any longer! Neither was her anger small and frail,
as she had
been so long ago! She would make him stand up and notice her
now! He
would see her for the woman that she was!
Luna cringed. She could see all that she needed to know. It
was
going to take a miracle to save Aramas from the Moon Princess'
divine
wrath. Things were made worse, by the fact that the Ginzishou
began to
respond to Serenity's anger.
A silent wind kicked up as the heiress to all that the Moon
Kingdom
had been, lit up like a beacon. Counters and preparation tables
were
flung to one side of the kitchen, as if they had been made of
paper.
White light bathed the scoured room, encompassing everyone in a
bright
glow and lifting them off of their feet. All in the room save
for Serenity
cried out in alarm or warning, only to find their voices
swallowed up by a
deafening silence.
Serenity stretched her arms out before her, focusing the power
of
the crystal. One by one the Senshi began responding to the power of
the
crystal, as their Planet's totems shone on their foreheads.
They
maneuvered themselves in a rough circle around Serenity and
Ranma.
Tuxedo Kamen burned away, to be replaced by Endymion, Prince of
Terra.
The crescents on Serenity's, Artemis', and Luna's brows shone
in
unison.
**In the name of the Moon!** Luna's mind cried out. **Usagi what
are
you doing?** Serenity's eyes blazed white, mirroring the crystal's
glow.
The power of the crystal hummed, wrapping her in a majestic
glory
that Luna had rarely seen. The girl that was Usagi, and the girl
that was
Serenity; that Luna had helped raise, was gone. In her place
stood a Queen.
Every bit the woman her mother was and more. The
Ginzishou throbbed
with life in time with its mistress' heart beat.
But underlying the loud pulse, another beat mixed with
Serenity's
that caused Luna's stomach to twist coldly. The menace of
Serenity's
anger that had filled the air before slowly changed to
something lighter.
Something much more awe-inspiring. Luna's eyes
widened in shock as she
watched Aramas' body rise from the floor
swaddled in tendrils of the
Ginzishou's energy.
Not now! Not like this! It wasn't meant to happen like this!
Luna
needed more time to rekindle her relationship with the only son
she had
ever known!
The boy's body swivelled in mid-air, turning slowly and
changing
slightly. The colors of his clothes deepened, slowly assuming
a black cast
that rivaled the void of space itself.
Luna recognized the uniform of the crescent guard instantly.
Damn
It! She needed more time! Time that Fate seemed unwilling to
impart.
Tears fell freely down her face as Destiny reached in his
immutable hand
and touched Ranma. Changing the clothes yet again. From
the deepest
black, to the purest white. A white that matched
Serenity's. And Luna,
Chancellor to the throne of the Moon, cursed
every God that she knew for
stealing her son from her.
Ranma's brow blazed to life with a crescent that
mirrored
Serenity's. His eyes opened, and ignited with the same white
life that
flowed from the Moon Princess. Ranma Saotome, once known as
Aramas
the Drumheller, opened his mouth. An act that Serenity
mimicked.
"I remember." They said in unison. The echoes of their voices
intertwined
and seemed to resonate in the hearts of every man and woman
throughout
Tokyo. A column of light, punched through the ceiling and
roof of the
restaurant, rocketing towards the moon that was little more
than a sliver
in the evening sky.
Sailor Saturn, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Uranus materialized in
the
small kitchen taking their places in the circle; adding their power
to the
beam. The Silence Glaive appeared in Saturn's hands, even as the
other
tokens of power appeared to their owners - each in turn. Pluto
was the last
to appear, like a wraith, holding the Time Staff cradled
silently in her
arms.
Her power bolstered the others, broadening the
pillar of light and causing
it
to divide into a mighty rainbow.
The light hit the moon, illuminating the satellite for all of
Europe
and Asia to see. And then, the rainbow splintered; sending all
but three
beams, that were too intimately intertwined, shooting
throughout the solar
system. Lights flashed brightly in the sky as the
planets responded to the
revival of one of their own.
"I REMEMBER!" The heirs of a long dead kingdom cried out in
one
tremendous voice; shaking the earth in the process, causing the
winds to
howl, seas to rage, and animals to fall silent. All the
windows within a
ten-block radius shattered at the sound, driving
people to their knees. The
planets shot back their homage, sending wave
after wave of power into
their Avatars.
The advent of a solar system, honoring the first born son
of
Serenity, Queen of the Moon Kingdom, washed over the Earth. A
king
had awakened, and all of nature stilled to witness it.
*********
Saotome Residence
Nodoka Saotome clutched her heart as a stabbing pain shot
through
her chest. The plate that she had been drying, fell from numb
fingertips,
to shatter on the floor at her feet. Something had happened
to Ranma. She
could feel it. There was a sudden sense of loss, and
Nodoka felt as if her
world had just been ripped from her.
*********
Somewhere near Nanking, China
They had traveled far, and lost many, but a group of refugees
from
the fallen Musk and Amazon kingdoms finally found rest in a small
village
two days North and East of one of China's largest cities.
Shampoo and Herb sat in a dark room, guarding one of the
last
Matriarchs of the Amazons, and in truth their only hope for
survival. Herb
sat in a chair that over looked the tiny cot that held
the future of his
once mighty dynasty.
A small, weary, boy named Pepper. He shook his head, in wonder
as he
thought of the flight from Joketsuzoku. The boy had carried
matriarch
Cologne on his back for over twenty miles before finally passing
out
due to fatigue. Herb and his generals had lost many more of
their
straggling band before all was said and done, but midway through
the night
an eerie mist sprang up around the refugees.
Herb wasn't sure how long they had bumbled around in the mists,
yet
as the first light of the sun touched the mists, the exhausted army
had
found themselves on the outskirts of a small valley just north of
where the
village they were in now.
How they had traveled so far in one night, Herb would never
know.
But to be sure, he was grateful. It had saved the fifteen hundred
men and
women of the remaining Musk from extinction. He silently
wondered how
many of his people would be left to rebuild the kingdom,
when the enemy
was defeated. He chanced a glance in Cologne's bed and
his hope fell.
If they could be defeated.
Shampoo caught his gaze in her own large, beautiful, eyes,
pinning
the young king to the floor. She was so beautiful, filled with
the grace of
a tiger, and the undying fire of a phoenix. All that she
had known had been
destroyed, and yet she fought on. Either she was too
stupid and stubborn
to know when to quit, or her hope truly sprang
eternal.
Since he knew her to be intelligent, it had to one of the others; or
a
combination of the two.
He envied her.
"You should get some sleep." She said quietly. "We don't know how
long
we will be here."
"I'll be fine." He said nonchalantly, waving off her concern.
"Just like an idiot male!" Shampoo snorted in derision. "Full of piss
and
wind!" The Amazon maiden stood with her fists resting forcefully on
her
hips. "Take what you can, when you can Warrior! You'll never
know
when it's lost to you until long after it's gone!"
Herb was about to retort when Cologne and Pepper sat bolt up
right
in their beds, crying out in rapturous joy.
"HOPE! He has ascended! The Prince has come!"
"The Son of the Moon, the Heir of Atlantis is come to Terra!"
And then they fell back to their rest; fast asleep before their
heads
touched their pillows.
**********
Musk Palace
Ahbrim Ur stalked like a caged animal. He had felt
something
building the moment he woke this morning, and it continued
steadily
throughout the day. Marut's attack on the Senshi was not
unforseen,
neither was it the event that he felt in his bones.
Something big was
coming, something that he knew that he wouldn't
like.
And then he saw it.
The power of the Ginzishou rocketing to the heavens. The
earth
seemed to tremble and groan in rapture, the winds cried out
joyously in the
mountain passes, and the Ley Lines sung.
They spoke with one voice to those that could hear; millions
of
voices unified in purpose to honor a son that had been hidden away
long
ago. The voice chilled his blood, broke his soul, and caused his
anger to
boil fiercely.
"SERENITY!" He roared in denial at his wife's final sin against him.
She
had never told him that she had birthed a son . . . .
The noise brought five Rhakshasa loping into the room. Hoping
to
build their stature, by defending this human that the clans had
supported.
They died writhing in black flames in an instant as Ur's
body ignited in a
battle aura, the likes of which this world hadn't
seen in millennia.
A third of the palace was leveled before Ur had been able to get
his
anger under control again. Those Rhakshasa not wounded or dead,
had
gained a new respect for the human that lead them in this hunt
among
humanity. The winds and earth paid little heed to Ur, the man who
had
once ruled them had fallen far in their eyes. He could command them
still,
but they would never willingly serve him as they once had.
They prayed in their celebrations that the son, would follow more
in
his mother's footsteps.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~