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. ********* Elsewhere Nabiki groaned and propped herself up on her elbows. Darkness surrounded her, blinding her large brown eyes, and unnerving her. She had no idea where she was, but did her best not to panic. She remembered falling into Yoshitsune's arms, but everything else was a blank. Her mouth felt cottony, and her muscles ached; it felt that she had slept on the floor for a week. Someone had been nice enough to supply her with a pillow roll and a blanket, but not much else in the way of company or comfort. The darkness that surrounded her couldn't keep the damp air at bay, and when Nabiki ran her hand through her short brown hair, it came back wet. 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 cool night air that she had been walking in. Spring had been late in coming this year, and the humid warmth was just what the doctor had ordered. But that didn't appease Nabiki in the least. It was still an unknown place, and for all that she knew, she was still in danger. What a time for some deranged martial artists to come calling! Ranma was away and there was no way that he could come for Nabiki. It figured. She shouldn't have let him go to his mother's alone. Well, there was no use in crying over spilt milk. She needed to try and gather as much information about her environment as possible before bumbling about. Maybe it would give her a better understanding of her captors as well. She closed her eyes in order to organize her perceptions and concentrate better. First she needed to know if she was truly alone. "Hey! Is any one here?" Her voice echoed loudly around her, and was soon followed by the sound of leaves rustling above her head. An abrupt feeling of wrongness filled her... as if she had yelled and screamed while visiting a temple, or a cathedral. This quiet, dark place was special, and she was disturbing the peace here. She silenced herself and allowed the peace of her surroundings to wash over her. She had other ways of gathering information. The place 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 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 single 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. She couldn't help it, the invitation was too compelling. Her alto 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. 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. 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, Nabiki's heart ached because of it. She moved with the voice, away from the unconditional love, back toward the other voices. **Amazing ** Nabiki was overwhelmed by the emotions in the voices. Wonder, disbelief, snide criticism, exasperation, pride, and a spark of love flowed around her. 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 Nabiki of her grandmother. There was a moment of shocked discomfort as the entities scrambled for their dignity. Nabiki couldn't suppress the girlish giggle that escaped her throat. The feelings of humiliation grew, and an underlying sense of agitation accompanied them. The ancient voice said formally. **Thank you.** She responded mentally. It seemed like the appropriate response to make. The voice appeared to grin with amusement in the confines of her mind. There were sounds of laughter in her mind, situated somewhere to her left; while on her right, she only catalogued embarrassment and frustration. Another voice roared. A sexy baritone voice filled her thoughts again, causing her mind to wander somewhat. Nabiki blushed and tried to focus her thoughts on something very mundane. Unfortunately, a picture of the young man from the night before popped into her mind, complete with him serving her strawberries. The fact that he was dressed in tight black pants, a little bow tie, and little else made her bite her bottom lip. Where the hell did that come from? More laughter followed the cackling mental voice. Nabiki 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 wasn't alone! Her eyes quickly opened again and she found her body surrounded by light. The light had no outside source, nor was it blinding as one might expect. It did have enough power to illuminate her immediate surroundings though. She at once 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. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" She inquired. The sound of her voice echoed loudly back at her. Again, she felt as if she had violated some profound tranquility; a primal sacredness. Yoshitsune said angrily from somewhere off to her right. The ancient voice scolded from up above Nabiki. Both voices cowed at the disappointment in Mother's voice. Mother began affectionately. Mother's mental voice dropped to a whisper. The trees above Nabiki seemed to bristle and squirm indignantly. "Um." She began, but quickly switched to thinking again. Nabiki beamed at the pleasure in Mother's tone. It was a rhetorical question. Mother knew exactly how Nabiki was feeling. she said honestly. The mirth and incredulity in Mother's voice made Nabiki smile. She felt like a young girl again, being fussed over by her mother and grandmother. she admitted. It was obvious that the ancient voice was staring right through her soul in that moment, weighing and gauging everything that she had ever done. It made Nabiki feel very self conscious. She felt violated in a way, waiting to hear the ancient voice call down the wrath of Heaven and judge her. Judgment never came. The ancient voice said finally. She repeated her earlier questions again. A sharp pain lanced through Nabiki'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. She could tell that she wasn't the only one that had experienced the pain. Above her the trees groaned and rustled mournfully in a solemn wind. Yoshitsune was the first to recover his wits. The voice was soft, and breathless, but not weak. Yoshitsune seemed to nod in Nabiki's mind and then his presence along with two others was suddenly very far away. Nabiki asked. Mother replied enigmatically. She had hoped for more clarity, but knew that getting a straight answer from this being was going to be more than difficult. There was no reproach in the voice, only mature advice. Apparently, there were more important questions to be asked anyway. She inquired hopefully. There seemed to be a mischievous smirk in the venerable voice, and Nabiki could readily see her own smile looking back at her in her mind's eye. It was eerie. Despite all of that, the watery walls sprang to life, filling with every known color, forming pictures of places that she had never before seen. Nabiki'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, Nabiki 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 questions 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 lost 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 and 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 was 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. Of course Artemis had ruined all of that soon afterwards, but she had still managed to revive that sense of propriety when it mattered. But now, after so long apart.... To have her boy 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 should have known that he would have been reborn, especially since Endymion had been brought back. 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 bone 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. Blood decorated their fuku, in a chaotic pattern. Mercury 's gloves and bodice were soaked, while Saturn had truly taken on the visage of her title. 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!" Saturn 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 herself, had access to more. When the deed was accomplished, Serenity swooned, falling into a pair of comforting, 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 in a rebuke of his own. She sighed and nestled herself into the safety that his arms alone could provide. "That was a senseless risk Usako." He whispered hotly. 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 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, 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? Besides the refrigeration system was blown, and there was no sense in letting the merchandise go to waste. 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 caused 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 all right?" 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 service of the Courts of Venus, among all of the Ley People! You'd think that he would have had 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 Kiima ran through the warrens of Mount Phoenix surrounded by five of her most powerful guard. The mountain was already falling apart from the inside, and if she didn't get away soon, the young child in her arms wouldn't grow to revenge himself on the devils that had all but slaughtered their people. Young Saffron had aged four human years since that Saotome boy had left. Which not only surprised the people of Phoenix Mountain, but bolstered their faith in the God-King. It was as if Lord Saffron hungered for another battle with Ranma Saotome, to revenge himself on the human. Kiima wondered silently if her Lord had not for seen the disaster that was now befalling his people, and in a desperate attempt to save them tried to regain what he had foolishly lost. Which ever the case, Saffron had been the one to save her little band each time they ran across the Rhakshasa. The thought of the Devourers loose again in the world terrified her. The legends had spoken of their banishment long ago, and the memory of the carnage that they left in their wake seemed very real now that she had seen the beasts with her own eyes. She had to get her Lord away from here. Saffron would continue to grow in power and he would seal these monsters back in the shadows from whence they came. "Stop." Kiima looked down at the child in her arms, and noted the intense look on his cherubic face. She would never get used to the adult voice coming from that toddler's body. "Stop Kiima." She complied instantly, with the guard forming up around her in a tight circle. "Lift me onto your shoulders." "Yes Lord." She complied with his wish without question. A cold, sick feeling fell over her; the sensation left her feeling unclean, as if she hadn't bathed in years. "I am glad to see you again Saffron." A hideous voice slithered from the shadows, echoing madly and reeking of evil and violence. Fear gripped her heart as a hundred pair of shining, green eyes lit up the shadows around them. "It is good that you remember me Lord Phoenix. Can you remember what I did the last time I was free?" The toddler-king made no response, he simply stared into some distant place and wreathed his small group in protective dome of flames. There was a collective hiss from the shadows, and the darkness seemed to recoil a bit. "I see that you do." The smugness in the voice angered Kiima to the point of action, but Saffron's hand on her cheek halted her. "A pity that you are not at your full strength. It would have been a monumental battle." The warriors surrounding Saffron and his seneschal raised their blades in a protective ring of steel. The men and women knew that their lives were forfeit, yet they prepared themselves to sell their lives dearly regardless. "You are a fool Indra." Kiima couldn't believe the age that had suddenly entered her monarch's voice. "Am I now? There is no Serenity to save you this time." The unspoken promises that hid in the unseen thing's words, combined with one hundred laughing voices, leached the hope from Kiima's limbs. If she had not had Saffron with her, she would have crumpled to the floor in despair. "You are mistaken beast." Saffron smiled viciously into the shadows and increased the diameter of his flaming circle by another two feet. "The Moon Kingdom yet lives, as does its Queen, the Ginzishou has sung many times in the past year." The young king closed his eyes and the flames changed color, from red and orange to a whitish blue. The darkness hissed and retreated further. "I will have your head for a trophy Saffron!" The shadows boiled, vomiting forth hideously misshapen bodies. Saffron didn't notice. His eyes had turned south and east of his mountain home, and a small grin deepened his smile even more. "Not today, I should think. No Indra, definitely not today." The world went white and from deep within the granite of the mountain's heart, a phoenix cried out in rapturous joy. Right before the mountain itself exploded. ******** 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 pleasant. The last time that he had seen her do that, he had forgotten their one year, six 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, orbiting the pair as their namesakes orbited the sun. 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 was 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 swiveled 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. The small, weary, body of Pepper slept soundly. 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. Providence to be sure. But he was grateful all the same. 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 be the latter; or a combination of the two. He envied her. She said quietly. He said nonchalantly, waving off her concern. Shampoo snorted in derision. The Amazon maiden stood with her fists resting forcefully on her hips. Herb was about to retort when Cologne and Pepper sat bolt up right in their beds, crying out in rapturous joy. 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 unforeseen, 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. . . an heir. 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, for 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 in his mother's footsteps. And from the rubble of what had once been a majestic mountain, a bloody figure crawled out. His feline head was scarred and bruised, and one arm hung limply; obviously broken and useless. His gaze turned southward and a little toward the east hungrily. The bird had escaped his jaws for the moment. But the Tiger had fought the Phoenix before, and they would do so again. And the next time Indra promised himself the pleasure of feasting on Saffron's heart! End Chapter Six