SMSTSS38: Trail of the Moving Pictures! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a limited story.
Author's Note: This story is strictly based on the upcoming movie trailers that have come out recently. It will serve as an experiment of sorts. If well-received, more chapters can be added later. As always, C&C are welcomed.
It is said that the Moon Princess has had an extensive life-span, ranging from before the Dawn of Man to the End of Time itself. Let's take a look at some of those experiences, shall we?
1. "A Life with a Hobbit" ("The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" tie-in).
Being the tallest maiden in the Shire was something that the once-and-future Moon Princess had to get used to. Although she was a fair maiden, Usagi Tsukino was expected to carry her weight in work.
"Lady Usagi!" said a young boy, as he ran up to Usagi, who was on her knees pounding her neighbors' laundry by the river. "Lady Usagi-!"
Usagi looks up from her work. She was dressed in a simple dress that included and apron and a head scarf made from silk.
"What is it, Tobi?" Usagi said, as she stretched her back. In spite of her superhuman abilities, even she can get a sore back from constantly bending over. Still, at least she didn't have to chop wood all day like Ranma was doing…
"A gray-haired wizard has arrived with a quest for Master Baggins!"
"Oh?" Usagi said, as she begins to gather her laundry. There was only one gray-haired wizard she knew since arriving to Middle Earth from another time, after she fled from danger, through a spatial rift, to this forgotten world…
"Yes, My Lady!" the young Hobbit replied with an enthusiastic nod.
"Then we better hurry and see this mysterious wizard," Usagi said, as she stands up. "Help me with these clothes, if you can."
"Yes, My Lady!" the boy said, as he began to help Usagi with the gathering of the laundry…
After delivering the laundry to the other maidens for distribution, Usagi trotted down the winding path to Master Bilbo Baggins home, which overlooked the Shire.
"I wonder what's going on?" Usagi said, as she was about to open the Bilbo's front door, only to have Bilbo open the door immediately before Usagi had a chance to do so herself.
"Lady Usagi!" Bilbo said with excitement
"Ah!" Usagi screamed in surprise, as she fell unto her rear.
"Oh, sorry about that," Bilbo said, as he helped Usagi to her feet. In spite of the size of a typical Hobbit, they were as strong as normal men.
"There you go," Bilbo said. "I hope I didn't frighten you."
"Naw, I'm okay," Usagi said, as she dusted herself off.
Just then, a tall, gray-haired, gray-bearded man sticks his head outside Bilbo's home (called "Bag's End"). He was puffing on a long pipe, carried an air of regality, had a twinkle in his eye, and possessed an infectious smile.
"Ah, Lady Usagi," said the wizard Gandalf the Gray. "You seem well."
"Considering the fact that I'm out of breath, I'm surprised that I am, Master Gandalf," Usagi said, as she dusted herself off.
"Lady Usagi has been staying with me since you brought her here, Master Gandalf," Bilbo said.
"Ah, I see…"
"NOTHING has happened, sir," Usagi said indignantly. "Master Bilbo is not my type."
"Hey!" Bilbo replied. "It's not like I've tried to court you, you know!"
"Maybe THAT is the problem? That you don't even try to take a peep at me or something? A lady has to be sure that a man she likes as a friend is interested in something more."
"Well, that's the thing: I'm a hobbit, not a man. Specifically, I'm a Baggins, and we do not pursue without cause."
"Humph, sounds like an excuse to me…"
"Well, as much as I like to continue to be an eyewitness to this banter amongst friends, I have an important quest to ask of you two."
"Have you found my friends, Master Gandalf?" Usagi asked. "When my friends and I fled Wormwood, I was the first to enter the rift that led me to this world. But…when I emerged from the rift, they weren't behind me…"
Usagi looks away, before returning her gaze towards Gandalf.
"I…I hope that Ranma and the others made it out of the citadel of the Unholy, before Ranma blew it up completely."
"I have not determined the cause of your arrival or your separation from your friends just yet, Bunny," Gandalf said. "I am still working on your problem, but something of great importance has come up in the meantime."
"Oh?"
"Yes, you were insisting that I go on an unexpected journey, but have yet to elaborate on the reason," Bilbo said.
"This is true," Gandalf said, as he took a puff of his long pipe. "First thing you and Bunny must do is host a dinner for your new traveling companions."
"…What?" Usagi asked.
Later that night, Bilbo, with Usagi's help, hosts a feast for thirteen rowdy dwarves. Unfortunately, a few were of the impression that Usagi was on the menu, so to speak.
SMACK!
"Stop grabbing my butt!" Usagi yelled, as she tried to regain her composure, causing the dwarves to roar with laughter.
"That is one 'hare' you won't be getting your hands around," said one of the dwarves, before the dwarves all break into laughter again.
"Aye, she's a slippery one," said another dwarf. "I would love to roll in the hay with that one."
"As if!" Usagi replied, before stomping off back to the kitchen.
"Master Gandalf, I do not mean to say anything disrespectful, but how are they suppose to help me with my quest?" Bilbo asked.
"Why not ask Master Thorin for clarification?" Gandalf asked.
Bilbo turned to the one who would lead this merry band consisting of a hobbit, dwarves and a fair maiden.
"Master Thorin, can you clarify the situation, please?" Bilbo asked.
Thorin Oakenshield was the only dwarf present with a royal blood. He and Gandalf had met earlier to discuss the possibility of reclaiming his lost kingdom, which was but a prelude to something else…
"Hmmm?" Thorin said, as he puffed his long pipe.
"I would like to know how our little expedition is supposed to come off without a hitch with this lot."
"I want to reclaim the Lonely Mountain's treasure, in order to better serve the dwarves. Unfortunately, I need a…burglar to break into the old vaults, while to rest of my band deal with its master."
"Who or what is its master?" Bilbo asked with suspicion.
"A creature of immense power named Smaug," Gandalf replied. "But knowing any more details beyond that is on a need to know basis…."
Gandalf turns an eye towards a harried Usagi, who was serving more food to dwarves.
"And the Bunny will play a key role in how your story will end, Master Bilbo."
"You mean, Usagi is coming along?" Bilbo asked in surprise. "But, does she know what it is to be taken place?"
"She will soon enough," Thorin replied, as he took another drag on his pipe. "That, she will…"
The next day, Usagi, Bilbo and the thirteen dwarves prepare to leave the Shire. Of course, Usagi complained throughout the preparations.
"I don't see why I was roped into coming along with you all," Usagi said, as she places a sack filled with supplies on a pony, which will be used to for much of the trip to the Lonely Mountain.
"Then why did you agree to come along, then?" Bilbo asked.
"Master Gandalf said that he'd help me with my problem. In the meantime, he suggested that while he goes off to take care of something else, I should help you guys out."
"We do appreciate your assistance, lass," Thorin said, as he mounted his pony. "We have much ground to cover, and I rather have a gentle hand in reigning in my fellow travelers."
"Gee, I cannot wait," Usagi said, as she rolled her eyes.
Thorin nods his head, missing Usagi's sarcasm in the process, before turning Bilbo.
"Now, your job is to protect the map that Master Gandalf gave to you, since we need to travel to Rivendall for additional clues in translating the text."
"I understand, Master Thorin," Bilbo said. "Hobbit I am, smart I am as well."
"Commitment phobic, you are, too," Usagi said slyly.
"Humph."
And with that, an unexpected journey begins, one that would prove to be more hazardous than thought possible…
"Ah!" Usagi screamed, as she and her fellow travelers were confronted by trolls.
"Booga-booga-booga!" yelled one of the troll attackers, as he confronted Usagi. "I will eat on your flesh, little girl…"
Pause.
"And then eat ya whole!"
"As if!" Usagi yelled back. "I'm not going to be your snack, on ANY level!"
Usagi brought up her sword hilt, which was made from a type of unbreakable crystal. It was colored dark blue with a gold-and-silver etching that created an intricate pattern which coalesced into a crescent moon.
"Ya-tah!" Usagi said, as she fueled the sword hilt with her life force, activating its blade.
SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!
A blade made from a sharp, white crystal emerges from the sword hilt. Usagi's mystic weapon was a "crystal sword", forged by Stone Magicians from another realm (and dimension). It was bound to Usagi's life-force, so only she could use it…
"Stay back, you!" Usagi said, as she raised her sword to her troll attacker.
"Ha! As if you can use that thing in your hand like a master…"
"Oh?" Usagi said, as she points her sword to the skies. "Call Lightning!"
From out of nowhere, a lightning bolt strikes the offending troll, knocking him off his feet.
"So, what you think, troll?"
"I think I might need to revise my estimates," groaned the troll.
"Ha!"
After dealing with the troll attackers, the traveling party manages to make it to Rivendall, the home of the high elves. Of course, elves were not exactly the welcoming sort…
"So, we have visitors," said Lord Elrond, lord of Rivendall, as he scans the group. "I see a maiden, a hobbit and thirteen dwarves."
"Sir, we came here on bequest of Gandalf the Gray," Usagi said, as she stepped forward.
"We are on a quest to recover a treasure from my ancestral home of the Lonely Mountain, Master Elrond," Thorin said. While Thorin did not like to differ to elves, he knew that he needed Elrond's help on collecting the remaining clues to translate the map that was in Bilbo's possession."
"Please, sire, we only want to rest for a while, and be on our way," Bilbo said.
Elrond purses his lips, as he glanced towards a tower that was the highest in all of Rivendall. He could see another high elf, Lady Galadriel, standing by the window of her guest room…
"Very well," Elrond said, as he returns his attention back towards the visiting group. "You may rest here while Master Bilbo conducts his research. But bear this warning in mind: you are guests of the people of Rivendall; conduct yourselves appropriately while you are here."
"Of course, Master Elrond," Thorin said with a nod. He then turned towards his companions.
"Any of you who misbehave while you are here will answer to ME."
"Awwww!" yelled the other dwarves.
Later, Usagi was enjoying an afternoon swim and bath in one of the guest saunas.
"Ahhhhhh," Usagi said with a sigh, as she relaxed. "I could really enjoy this moment forever…"
"Then, how can you appreciate this moment of respite?" said a voice.
"Ah!" Usagi yelped, as she nearly jumped out of the water. When she saw an elf woman entering the sauna, she relaxed a bit…
"Did I startle you?" said the elf, as she sets down her bath things.
"Ah, no," Usagi said, as she relaxed again. "I…I thought I had the place to myself."
"I could give you that privacy, if you wish."
"Naw, I'm okay," Usagi said, as she made room for the she-elf. She was amazed that elf females had flawless complexions, as if their skins were made from fine silk…
"The name's 'Usagi', but you can call me 'Bunny', if you like. Everyone else does."
"'Bunny'…interesting name," said the she-elf, as she descends into the water. "My name is 'Galadriel', by the way."
"Oh, nice to meet you, I guess…"
Tbc.
