Well, lookit that. While working on an original fantasy, I figured out how to save this darn fic. I was too ambitious before; I had a huge long semi-thought-out plot spanning three fandoms and two epic fics. No wonder I dropped it all those years ago. God willing, there will only be one of these fics, and there certainly will only be two stories crossed.
I've worked out a couple of the plot kinks that would have irritated me immensely. I hate when fanfic authors assume that certain things can happen (like Usagi simply being flung to a different dimension: um, why the DBZ universe? Just because it makes your life easier? Don't think so). So I'm doing an overhaul of the first chapters I'd posted, to cover those changes. I actually like the writing of the first few chapters, so I'm trying to keep as much of the original writing intact as I can. Some things are changed, but that's The Way Things Go, as they say.
For the new readers: as far as timelines go, Sailormoon: just before the fight with Galaxia. I use a blend of anime and manga canon; for the most part, the plot leading up to this will be anime, but major manga plot points will factor strongly later in the story. Example: Chibichibi is not going to be Galaxia's starseed, and the senshi have sailor crystals, not starseeds.
DBZ: Future Trunks timeline, post-Cell games saga. More clarification in the story.
Odyssey of Chaos
She watched the destruction detachedly. She watched as the flames consumed and buildings collapsed and a complex civilization was wiped out. She had heard the screams of the fearful, the death shrieks of the dying, the wails of children, all silenced now. She had watched the doom issue from his hands, bringing this intricate society to its knees and beheading it cleanly. She had witnessed it all, and she had been on this miserable excuse for a planet for a scant hour. She witnessed, too, the culprit of these atrocities, his body silhouetted by the raging destruction.
She had sought him out here. She knew someone else was out there, displaying the same callous disregard for life as she, the same desperation, the same self-seeking ambition matched in volume only by the power running through their veins.
And he was powerful, oh yes. Had this destruction not been enough to convince her, she could sense the power as though it was his scent and she were a well-trained bloodhound. It had led her here. He had been careless about his power, made no attempt to hide it though he easily could have. Somehow she knew that this was not through stupidity on his part, but through confidence. He knew his power well, cared little that others would find it out. He wore it proudly, daring others to follow in search of it. Let them try, his pride dared.
She was drawn to him. He was not in any way what she sought, did not fit into her ambitions or her plans. But here, oddly enough, was a kindred spirit. She had enough servants to populate this burnt-out wasteland, but she did not have kin in power. She was matched only by the enemies she knew, one day soon, she would face.
She finally decided to approach the figure wreathed in his flames. Her metal shoes clicked against the broken streets as she approached him.
"I'm surprised you haven't tried to attack me," she remarked coolly.
"I cannot sense your power, and so I perceive that you are powerful," he replied.
"Oh?"
"I know of your reputation. I have not traveled far, but tales of a ruthless warrior in gold, a great destroyer, were murmured in nearly every world just before I myself destroyed it."
His reputation was growing, as well. Whispers of a strangely beautiful man shot through the past few worlds she had visited. He had asked many questions, they murmured. Much like she had, she remembered thinking. They said he asked about gods and angels, just before he destroyed everything, leaving few survivors. If any.
"A great many rumors are told in this galaxy."
"I also knew you were following me. Just because I can't sense you doesn't mean I don't know when I'm being followed."
"You're looking for something," she remarked abruptly.
He turned to look at her. The flames around him sparkled and danced in his molten gold eyes. "I am One who has fallen from the Heavens. I was cast out for the Chaos inside of me, and now I wander the galaxy in search of a way back Up."
"And these worlds disappoint, don't they?"
He nodded.
"I have traveled farther than you have, my friend. I was disappointed many times too, until I learned how to look smarter."
"What do you search for?" he asked.
"I?" she paused. "I search for a star. A star worthy of the most powerful sailor senshi in the galaxy." She met her gaze to his, her flashing scarlet eyes gleaming with glory. "I scoured this whole place until I found it, and I very nearly have it in my grasp. There are only a few pieces of the puzzle missing before I can finally attain what is rightfully mine."
"Have you any insight, then?" he asked. "If you have searched as far as you claim, you might have some knowledge that could help me."
She regarded him for a long while, her face blank and her eyes calculating. She smiled finally. "Yes," she answered. "I have heard of a world. It is presided over by a god who created seven orbs. When they are brought together they manifest into the power of the god, granting the finder their wish."
"I've heard of it, too. As I heard, it was destroyed. It was besieged by the one called Freiza, there was a rebellion. They tore the planet apart."
"Namek, I believe. That is not the planet I speak of. One of their gods came to another planet, eons ago, and created his own set of orbs."
A puzzled look crossed his face. "That seems odd."
"It does," she agreed. "But it's what I've heard."
He walked toward her, inclining his head slightly. "I thank you for your help. If there is anything, in turn, that I can do for you, don't hesitate to ask. I feel that you and I might be quite beneficial to each other's quest."
She inclined her own head. "I agree. In fact…" she paused. "There is, I believe, something you can do for me. That planet I told you about. A few different aliens live there, I've been told. It's rumored that it is home to two of an otherwise extinct race. You might have heard of them: they have no doubt asked for your powers of destruction in their battles. They ruled a great empire before Freiza destroyed them."
His eyes widened. "I certainly know of them." He squinted off into the distance. "There were survivors, you say?"
"Only a few. One of them might have something I need. If you could find out what you can…"
"Certainly, my lady." He extended a graceful hand toward her. "We shall be in touch, then?"
Her mouth turned up in a triumphant grin. She took his proffered hand. "Of course."
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Well, that's the new intro. Even though the woman is someone you might be able to figure out, we'll get to some more readily recognizable characters next time.
