Introduction and DisclaimerOkay, so The Dying Tree wasn't going to get a sequel. But then, Dark Heart wasn't going to get one either, so I guess there's a logic to it all, after all.
It was suggested to me by more than one person that a sequel could follow a number of different routes. And I know that I said I wasn't going to write Tokimi to a few of these people...but okay, I lied. Tokimi is a part of this story, with her fun little entourage, minus the irritating see-through dude who always annoyed me and with the addition of someone else, who I just had to find a place in my Tenchi Universe OVA fest. Yes, I do mean Seiryo Tennan! Although, the distinct lack of information available for Tennan-san means that I have had to do a lot of thinking and structuring for his family. Please note that his characterisation is not the comic relief from Galaxy Police - he is still Seiryo, but in a more sober light. Yes, I've tweaked. But since Seiryo doesn't exist in TU - I feel at liberty to tweak at will :) Purists please do not tar and feather me!
If this story goes how I think it will, the focus is not entirely on Tenchi and Ryoko, but dealing with greater issues as well. Other characters have taken more major roles and moved things off in a new direction. It is still basically a Tenchi x Ryoko setting and it is still TU with OVA elements and the restructuring of Jurai's Royal Family. Noone has pillioried me for this butchering yet, so I think I'm safe to keep working with it ;) Here's hoping! Oh yes, and I very much hope Miho-Kiyo will play a part in this story. I missed them in Dark Heart but couldn't see how to bring them in. Same applies to Ayeka, who will definitely be involved in this story :D!
Although this story involves Tokimi and company, readers will notice that it isn't a regurgitation of OVA 2 (or for that matter OVA 3). That would just be boring ;). I've experimented a little more with characters to make them fit the more modest sphere of TU, and so there is a little bit of artistic licence at work in places...but it will all make sense in the end. I promise ;) (She says, smiling hopefully and handing out the chocolate biscuits!). I don't know yet if this is a two or a three part story...but I hope it proves not to disappoint!
Usual legal bumf (copyrights etc) apply
:)
SynopsisDeep in the universe,
spinning around a distant star is a lone rock populated with life and
energy. Its inhabitants call it simply "Planet Earth" and assume
that nowhere in existence could possibly be as forward thinking or as
technologically minded as they are.
They are about to
get a shock. For Tenchi and Ryoko, the peace and quiet of
their homecoming to this isolated world is on the verge of being
disrupted once more. Word has spread through space about Tenchi's
claim to the divine, sparking more than the interest of scientists as
powerful people hunger for the truth behind the legendary Light Hawk
Wings. They think their adventures are over. They've
barely even begun. A powerful force is hunting Tenchi down,
prepared to stop at nothing to avenge an old grievance against the
Universe's most powerful sentient tree. Aided by a dashing, ambitious
Galaxy Police superior, an embittered scientist exiled from the
Science Academy and his confused droid, she sets her sight on Planet
Earth, determined to take and conquer all in her quest to lay to rest
once and for all the blood debt she feels hangs over Tsunami's
revered head. Little does she know that Tenchi has some
powerful allies of his own – some of whom have their own agendas
and who keep their secrets well hidden, even from those closest to
them.
And so the Earth
becomes a reluctant battleground as its frightened people wake up for
the first time to the fact they're not alone. And that their
very future as a planet now hangs on the wings of a hawk.
A Tenchi Muyo!
Fanfiction Chapter One
HAWK OF JURAI
by
VRAIEESPRIT
The storm had raged on now for three days and three nights.
As the lightning split the sky in two, terrified survivors of the weather's angry tirade hurried for shelter, barricading themselves in the few ramshackle buildings that still remained upright. Many gathered together in corners, clutching each other by the hand and muttering urgent and devout prayers for help, but their words seemed to fall on deaf ears, drowned out by the thunder that raged all around them.
There were few of
them left now. Of a thriving community of peaceful, spiritual beings,
less than a hundred still remained. Many had chosen to leave when the
earth-shattering storms and tremors had first begun, begging
transport from anyone who happened to take a pitstop on their land. Others had sought shelter with the enemy - those who had invaded their planet, the ones who, as rumour had it, had brought the suffering with their heretical scientific ideals. Those who were left were too poor or too stubborn to leave - the old,
the very young, the sick and the determined. And bit by bit, their
numbers had been whittled away.
Only one figure remained abroad throughout this tempest. As she struggled through the heavy winds and the spattering rain, she knew that even her magic may not be strong enough to save her planet from total destruction. As she crested the hill that overlooked the settlement, her gaze fell on the glistening domes in the valley below, and anger and resentment pierced her heart.
Newcomers. Those with the technology to build and protect themselves from the bitter, raging climate.
"This world has been dying ever since they came and do they care? Not at all." She muttered, clenching her fists together as her entire form became illuminated in a blue-white glow, protecting her from the worst of the weather. "People die, people starve, people suffer all around them, and yet they don't venture out - not one of them. They don't care what happens to the people here. So long as they can continue their mining and their trade. Stab the heart of my planet and let it bleed...but don't think you can kill all of our race so easily!"
She stretched out her hands, fierce concentration crossing her face as she lifted up from the battered terrain, soaring high into the black sky as she hovered over the new settlements, hate burning ever stronger in her heart.
"Your science killed the man I called father." She muttered darkly, bringing her fists together as bursts of energy spilled out across the surrounding landscape. "You and your machines...cursed beings, bringing evil and pain to my people and then leaving them to die while you live in the lap of luxury! Don't think I will forget you...any of you!"
She drifted down towards the new settlements, aware as she drew closer that a couple of the glowing domes were armed, and that their ponderous lasers were being raised in her direction. She snorted, raising a hand and blowing the ends off the guns with one fell swoop. Slowly she shook her head.
"I am not just another villager, cowering in your shadow." She muttered. "I am their avenger, and I will avenge everything that your people have done to mine! Every last one of you will learn to pay the high price my world has paid for your encroachment and your greed! You evil people who speak of peace and technology and harmony when you stab and dig and steal what is not yours! Do you think we are mindless fools? You will all pay! You and your descendents and the ones beyond that! I will not rest until you have all felt what I have felt to see my people destroyed and killed by invading charlatans. You have my word on this! I will never stop...and one day, I will destroy you all."
She drew closer to the domes, close enough that she could see through the semi-transparent panes and make eye contact with the robed creatures inside. They eyed her with both fear and loathing, and fresh anger shot through her as she recognised features of those she knew - once of her kind, now changed beyond recognition by their defection to the invading race. Behind them, on the wall hung a huge tapestry, threaded with the most expensive colours and shaded delicately to create the figure of a woman, so well embroidered that she might step from the picture at any moment. She stood, her hands outstretched, gazing down on the people who worked below her with a benevolent, peaceful smile. Her form was partially enveloped in the wood of a thriving old tree - a symbol that had been carved over and over again since the Newcomers had come to the planet with their fresh ideas and own religion - and thrusting out from the centre were a series of soft white spokes, glittered with silver at the edges and almost ethereal in their depiction.
The woman glared at the tapestry for a moment, then she spat at the dome, turning her back on the people inside.
"I will never cower to their false Goddess." She muttered. "This world has the protection of ancient spirits and rites and they are invested in me, as Priestess, now that my father is dead. I don't care what they do. They won't rid this universe of the old ways - the true ways - while there is still breath inside of me. Regardless of who I have to bring down to achieve my goal, or how much New blood must be shed. This planet won't die that easily. I swear it now, on the souls of those who have been wronged one time too many! I swear it!"
She raised her hands again, blue flame bursting forth from her body as she shouted her words up to the sky, defiant in the old tongue that bemused the Newcomers, but gave them no room to misunderstand her meaning.
She paused, narrowing her eyes until they were little more than glowing slits.
"And that means you too, sister-traitor, of whom my father had so many hopes!" She hissed. "I will find you too, and show you what your betrayal has done to our world!"
She glanced up at the sky, as more lightning spread across the heavens, momentarily illuminating the waste and destruction of the land in it's blast. She frowned, tears glistening on her lashes as she surveyed the destruction before her, then she turned, casting a final glance back at the frightened Newcomers huddled inside the dome.
"Yes, stare at me." She whispered, magic flickering at the ends of her fingers as she spoke. "And remember. For I will remember you. All of you, and your children and grandchildren too."
She brought her hands together, focusing her energy and blasting the dome with enough force to crack and shatter it's outer layer, sending the people inside running for further shelter. A humourless laugh passed her lips as she repeated the exercise, again and again until there was a hole big enough to allow rain to seep through.
"Oh yes, I'll not forget you or your false Goddess." She said softly. "Your...Hawk of Jurai."