SMST 5D: A Thanksgiving Carol! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a Multi-Genre Story.
Special: This story takes place after the "Secret Invasion" (Marvel Comics), the two-part episodes "Stolen Earth" and "Journey's End" (Doctor Who), and the "Final Crisis" (DC Comics), but before "Dark Reign" (Marvel Comics), "Faces of Evil" (DC Comics) and "The Next Doctor" (Doctor Who). C&C are welcomed.
Part 1
It was Thanksgiving Eve, Ranma and Akane Tendo was well on their way in getting things ready for their son Kenma's first holiday. Although their neighbors in Nekomi Prefecture thought that it was strange that a Japanese couple would celebrate a Western holiday, they appreciated the fact that both Ranma and Akane had organized a neighborhood potluck dinner, so that everyone can share food amongst each other. Besides, it was nice to relax, after lives were almost lost on Earth. Hence, that is the reason why everyone in the neighborhood understood why Tendo(s) were celebrating Thanksgiving the next day…
"Ah," Akane says with a smile, as she nursed her baby boy. "To think you could have been that other person, Kenma…"
Akane was referring to the fact that in an alternate timeline, her son Kenma would become the protégé of her great-grandfather's immortal enemy: the Master. The Master had avoided a temporal paradox problem by using a cybernetic race, from the future, to kill off one-tenth of the world's population. Subsequently, he would rule the Earth for a single year, as he prepared to launch his "Empire of the Time Lords". Since being stopped, the Master has been stuck in a pocket dimension within a virtual prison known as "The Phantom Zone", while the Master's rival, the Doctor, has subsequently learned that he was not alone. In fact, he learned that his great-grandchildren were the Tendo sisters Kasumi, Nabiki and Akane, and will be visiting them for Thanksgiving.
BAM!
Akane looks up to see Ranma carrying a box into the living room. For the adventurer, Thanksgiving Day was also a day Ranma engages his favorite pastime: watching a football game. This year's game will features the "Lions versus Titans" game, and the "Cardinals versus Eagles" game. The actual potluck dinner won't take place until later, which gives Ranma the opportunity to host a few of his friends to watch the two games while socializing.
"Huh," Ranma says, as he puts down his box on a nearby table. "It looks like the kid has the right idea. Heh."
"Very funny, Ranma," Akane says with a smirk, as she dislodge her child from her bosom. "And why are you bring that crap into the house?"
"Because I want to properly watch the game," Ranma says, as he brings out his cap with the beer cup holder from the box. He then places it on his head.
"See?" Ranma says. "With this, I can drink beer hands free."
Akane rolls her eyes.
"But, I would like to inform you that all the I invites have been sent out, thanks to Mercury."
"In other words, you, as Agrippa, seduced the Olympian messenger god to deliver the invites, simply because YOU forgot to deliver them ahead of time."
"…"
"Am I right?"
"Akane, I don't seduce GUYS. That would be gay."
"Well, you're technically right, since you seduced Mercury as a WOMAN."
"Look, I can't help it if my female personalities have such influences on me at times."
"And they are…?"
"Okay, you know Agrippa, Olympian goddess of Time, right?"
"Right…"
"Then, there's 'Orini Hanuel', who was a Chosun royal kitchen lady, who ended up as the Queen Mother to a Princess."
"Um, okay…"
"There is 'Lady Cassandra', whom you know."
"Unfortunately…"
"Then there's 'Tigra', Fury of Apocalypse, and avatar of Byokko, the Heavenly Tiger."
"Yeah…"
"There's 'Hulkma'-"
"Wait, 'Hulkma'?"
"Yeah, well…I kind of got dose of Gamma radiation that turned my female body into…a Gammazon."
"So this…'Hulkma' goes around and-"
"No, actually. Remember when had amnesia a while back, and thought I was born a girl?"
"…"
"When I hit my head on a rock near your family's koi pond while we were arguing with each other over nothing?"
"You mean…THAT incident was the catalyst to this 'Hulkma'?"
"Yep. So anyway, Hulkma's existence is…weird."
"How so?"
"She is strong as any other Gammazon, but…she's such a sweetie that she'd make Kasumi look like a stern disciplinarian."
"Wow, that is something…"
"And finally, there is Kushina Uzumaki of the Land Whirlpools."
"Wait, I thought Uzunokuni Prefecture no longer exists."
"Eh, it's a bit complicated, as is Kushina's 'origins'. Basically, the Uzumaki clan was a branch of the Uchiha clan. When I was reborn as Kushina, the Uzumaki's took me in. Unfortunately, the head of the branch clan and the head of the parent clan didn't see eye-to-eye, and thus a rivalry ensued. But because of the success of the Uzumaki(s) against the Uchiha(s) in their battles, the head of Uchiha(s) was able to convince the head of the Senju clan that the Uzumaki was forming an alliance with an enemy clan. Thus, the Ninja Wars took place. Needless to say, the war ended with the decimation of the clans living in the Land of Whirlpools, while the victors divided the territory itself. Unfortunately, a war built on a lie is not something that anyone is going to admit to."
Ranma pauses.
"But I've been engaging in lobbying efforts to restore the Land of Whirlpools be, so that I can give the children of Kushina and Minato their heritage."
"And the reason is…?"
"Since I am technically Uchiha anyway, it'll be up to me to restore my parent clan's honor."
Ranma then looks his son Kenma.
"And I don't want ANY of my kids pay for the actions of some jerk, Akane."
Akane smiles slightly. She knew that her husband's sensitivity towards matters of honor stems from his own experience with his own father's actions…
"But anyway, those are my, er, female personalities. And I don't want to count Ukyo, since I don't want to think of her as being a part of me, even though her circumstance is similar to Lady Cassandra's."
"That's nice-"
FWOOSH!
A glowing, Olympian messenger god appears before Ranma and Akane.
"Agrippa, I have completed my deliveries, save for one," Mercury says, as he presents a sealed envelope. It was made from fancy parchment, and had a red wax seal on the flap.
"Really?" Ranma says, as he took back the envelope. He looks at the address…and frowns.
"Akane, I got to go," Ranma says, as he gets up.
"Ranma…?" Akane says with concern.
"It's okay, but I got to address this situation myself."
Ranma then turns towards Mercury.
"Keep Akane's company."
"But-"
ZIP!
Ranma was gone.
Mercury turns towards Akane and her baby.
"Um, hi!" the god says cheerfully. "You have a cute kid."
"Um, thanks?" Akane replied.
Meanwhile, in a place far beyond the farthest star, yet closer than a heartbeat, a young-looking woman sat on the beach of an island that was situated in the center of an endless sea. She wore no clothes, and her extra long hair was undone, causing it to pick-up some of the grains of sand…
ZIP!
Ranma see the woman, as he reappears in "normal space". He shakes his head.
"Usagi," Ranma says, as he slowly walks towards his wife.
Usagi turns towards her husband.
"I told you that I wanted to be alone for a while," Usagi says.
Ranma kneels.
"Usagi, I know you wanted to be left alone because of what has happened-"
"Exactly," Usagi replied. "We may have won, but at what cost: more of the same death and destruction for NEXT year?"
Ranma sighs. He allowed Usagi to go off by herself to recuperate from what has happened, even so far as to recall all of her incarnations and doppelgangers before disappearing into her own personal realm. But with Thanksgiving Day coming up, he was hoping that Usagi would come out of her shell…at least for her friends and family's sake.
"Look, I'm not going to force you to come back with me-"
"Then don't."
"I see where this is going," Ranma says, as he gets up. "I'll give my regards to the family."
"Ranma…I'm sorry," Usagi says, as she gets up. "Look, I know you mean well, but I need…some more time, still."
Ranma looks into his wife's eyes…
"Fair enough," Ranma says. "I just hope you'll accept this invite."
Ranma presents the fancy envelop to Usagi.
"Thanks," Usagi says, as she accepts the envelope. "I hope it's waterproof, since I got no place to put it…especially as I am."
"I've been meaning to ask you why are you naked."
"Why not? There's no one around, and being as I am is a part of my 'Seeking'."
A seeking is a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment…
"Whatever. Look, I got to go."
"Let me guess: football again?"
"Hey, I got to indulge, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah," Usagi says, as she gives a kiss on Ranma's lips. "Give Akane and the baby my best."
"Will do," Ranma says. "Be seeing you…"
ZIP!
Ranma was gone.
Usagi sighs, as she head deeper into her personal island to turn in for the day…
And hour later, after eating her meal consisting of a freshly speared fish, Usagi lies on a mat, and huddles in a small cave. The weather was warm enough so that she didn't need to have any covers.
"Ranma means well, but I need to be by myself for a while," Usagi says to herself. As she drifts off to sleep, night suddenly turns to virtual daylight.
"Huh?" Usagi suddenly sits up.
Standing before her was-
"My darling daughter," a glowing Serenity says, as she shakes her head. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"
Usagi blinks.
"Well?"
"Mother, can I at least put some clothes on?"
"Why bother? You didn't mind Ranma being present while you were nude."
"That's because he is my husband."
"Oh, right. My apologies…"
Ten minutes later, Usagi was fully dressed, and sipping tea in her cottage. Originally, it was built as a private retreat for herself and Ranma. When she returned to this personal realm, Usagi decided to avoid using it unless necessary, while she was going through her Seeking.
"So, what can I do for you, Mother?" Usagi says, as she hands her mother tea. In this realm, spirits can have actual, physical form.
"Thank you," Serenity says, as she accepts the tea. She takes a sip.
"Tasty."
"So, what's up?"
"You, dear. I hate seeing you like this."
"Mother, what can I do?" Usagi says, as she sets her cup and saucer down. "I'm tired of all this."
"I know, dear, but you have to stay strong-"
"It wasn't good enough to save Steve, or Donna, or Ted, or anyone I ever cared about. Mother, they were my friends…and I let them DOWN."
Usagi turns away.
"I don't know if I can deal with that again, especially knowing what the future may hold."
"Then I am glad that I am here," Serenity says. "Tonight, you will be visiting three spirits-"
"Stop," Usagi says. "I've seen the movie, and I don't need an intervention. And beside, we're no where near Christmas."
"Does not matter, my daughter. These spirits will be visiting you tonight, so be prepared. And even if you do not need an 'intervention', at least entertain their presence."
"Fine."
"Good. Just keep an open mind about this, because I do not want you to be lonely like I was…when the Silver Millennium ended."
With that, Serenity steps back.
"Be seeing you," Serenity says before fading from view.
"Why me?" Usagi asks herself with a sigh.
Tbc.
