Disclaimer: Characters and concepts from "Tenchi Muyo!" were created by Kajishima Masaki and Hitoshi Okuda, and are Copyright AIC and Pioneer LDC. This work is a parody and not to be used for any commercial purposes.
Foreword: This story is based on some of the ideas in the "Tenchi Muyo!" manga, especially "Mother Planet".
Tree and Infancy
"All right, here goes." Ayeka's voice showed signs of nervousness. "I hope you're doing well today, Ryu-Oh. Washu and I are getting worried that you're not growing. The air in here is very pleasant, the water is pure, and the soil is just like the soil on Jurai, so that can't be it. We all want you to get bigger soon. Even Ryo-Ohki is anxious to fly with you, when you have a ship built around you again."
"I'm sure she is, Princess Ayeka." Tsunami's voice sounded from behind her.
"Lady Tsunami!" Ayeka let out a startled yelp as she turned around. Was there anything more embarrassing than being caught by a goddess, talking to a plant? Oh, yes--when the goddess was going to be your sister someday. "I ... ah ... you see, many people on this planet believe that talking to plants helps them grow, and Lady Washu said it couldn't hurt . . ."
"You already have your bond with Ryu-Oh," Tsunami gently pointed out, "so I'm afraid talking aloud will give no additional help."
Ayeka looked back at Ryu-Oh. The royal tree was still no more than a sprout poking through the soil, in spite of the time that had passed since the princess had planted the seed in the spacious unit inside Washu's lab. "If I may ask, Lady Tsunami, am I doing something wrong? Was it a mistake to use the unit that Kagato created after all?"
The goddess looked somber. The interior of the unit was a masterpiece of design, but she well remembered that it had originally been built to imprison the aspect of herself that was the First Tree. However, there were no hidden traps, and the fact that the unit's walls were exceptionally strong was now all to the good. "No, Princess Ayeka. I believe I know what the source of the trouble is. It can be resolved, but it will not be easy. I have come to ask if you are willing to bear the burden."
"What must I do, Lady Tsunami?" Ayeka tried to keep the anxiety out of her voice.
"That, I cannot tell you directly. You must trust me." Tsunami answered. "This is your choice, Princess Ayeka. I can well understand if you decline."
Now Ayeka was sure that a major sacrifice was at hand. But she was responsible for taking Ryu-Oh into battle against the Souja, which had resulted in the need to re-grow her royal tree. She bowed her head. "I trust you, Lady Tsunami."
------
Washu was busy entering data into her holographic keyboard when an unfamiliar voice came from the archway off to her left.
"Scuse me . . . Lady Washu?"
The pint-sized genius swiveled around in alarm. Could there be another Mihoshi, able to just walk into her lab? At first, she saw no one. Then her gaze went down, and there was a little girl peeping through the archway, wrapped in torn but expensive-looking cloth. For a moment Washu thought it might be Sasami, because the girl's hair was almost the same shade of light blue. But this girl looked to be only four years old, and her voice sounded like it as well.
"Who are you, little girl, and how did you get in here?" Washu asked.
"It's me, Lady Washu," answered the girl, "I'm Ayeka."
"Ayeka?" Washu stared in disbelief for a moment. Then she remembered that Ayeka had changed the color of her hair with a gene conversion, years ago. "What in the galaxy happened to you?"
"Lady Tsunami t'ansfoamed -- uh, changed me. She said it was to help Ryu-Oh grow, but that was all she 'splained -- I mean all she would explain." Ayeka said, having to make an effort to pronounce the words clearly. "And then she whooshed away-- I mean she disappeared."
"I see." Washu looked intrigued. "And your clothes didn't fit your new body?"
"Uh-huh." Ayeka nodded. "And my tear -- my ti-ar-a didn't fit, too. So can we use your t'ansmuter to make some new clothes for me?"
"Oh, you won't need clothes for while yet." A naughty smile appeared on Washu's face. "First things first."
There was a whirring noise behind Ayeka, and she turned to see metal tentacles swarming towards her. "No! -- Wait! -- WASHUUU --!"
------
Later in the day, with the family gathered around the dinner table, Washu was explaining the situation. Ayeka was still having a little trouble pronouncing complex words, so the pint-sized scientist did most of the talking. The now-smaller-than-pint-size princess mostly tried to look angry at Washu, but because of her stature it became a pout.
"It's a fascinating effect," Washu said, "Tsunami has preserved all of Ayeka's memories, but the connections between neurons have been reduced so that Ayeka's speech and motor skills are at the four-year-old level."
"Is that why she's spastic with her chopsticks?" Ryoko jumped in. Sure enough, Ayeka was having a lot of trouble getting food from her bowl to her mouth.
"Ryoko, you shouldn't say--" Sasami began with a reproachful tone.
"Oh, but I'm trying to help." Ryoko cut her off. "You have to know what the problem is before you can figure out how to fix it."
"Well, you have a point there." conceded Washu.
"So, Ayeka," Ryoko continued, "what you have to do is take the chopsticks in your fist, like this," she held her chopsticks together, "hold the bowl up to your mouth, and shovel the food in. Like most of us do." She demonstrated with enthusiasm, sending a generous stream of rice through her widely opened mouth.
"That's rude!" Ayeka shook her head, nearly smacking herself with her ponytails, which were now at the top of her head like Sasami's.
"Not on a bunch of planets that I've visited." Ryoko said. "In many places it's considered rude to make everyone else wait while you finish."
Ayeka's face fell as she realized that Ryoko had a point. Hesitantly she held the bowl up to her mouth, and started to move the food as Ryoko had suggested. In a few moments, however, hunger had triumphed over dignity, and Ayeka was munching away.
"Well, that solves one problem," Washu commented, "but we have a few more. It looks like Ayeka isn't going to be able to do much of the housework. Her strength and her coordination are both affected."
"Well, isn't that convenient," Ryoko commented.
"B'lve me, it's not." Ayeka responded as best she could through a mouthful.
"So," Washu continued, "Sasami will have to re-do the list of chores. I'm afraid the rest of us are going to have to pitch in a little more. Especially you." She finished with a look at Ryoko.
"Hey, why me?" protested the ex-space-pirate.
Ayeka opened her mouth, but Katsuhito intervened smoothly. "Because you have the greatest reserves of strength."
Ryoko put on an expression of fragility. "Oh, but I've been feeling so run-down since that last fight that Ayeka started. She was brutal--brutal, I tell you."
Ayeka began choking.
"I thought it came out pretty much even, like it usually does." Mihoshi put in her oar.
"And that brings up another point. Ayeka can't use her Jurai battle-suit or her tiara for the time being. I'm sure no one would unfairly take advantage of her inability to defend herself." Washu gave another look at Ryoko, who had an expression of considerable disappointment. "More, I can't be sure how delicate her neural connections are, given the regressed state of her brain. She should not get into fights--ANY fights."
"Well, I won't start any if she doesn't start any." Ryoko said.
"Not good enough." Washu stated. "Her emotions are going to run high, and her self-control has very likely been degraded to the level of a four-year-old along with almost everything else."
"Hmmph." Ryoko's expression was getting more displeased by the minute. "So how long is she going to stay like this?"
"That's difficult to say. Juraians have a wide range in maturation rates." Washu replied.
"A wide range?" Tenchi looked puzzled.
"That's right." Sasami nodded. "Some grow up about as fast as you're used to here on Earth. Others can grow many times slower. Do you remember my friend Asahi, who had aged only ten biological years in the seven centuries sister Ayeka and I were on board Ryu-Oh?"
"Oh, right." Tenchi said, then looked dismayed. "But if Ayeka grows at that rate, it will take her . . . almost a thousand years to get back to where she was."
"Nine hundred and eighty Earth years to be exact." Washu said, completely oblivious to the look of horror on Ayeka's face. "It's a good thing I'll be able to monitor the whole process." She added with gleeful anticipation.
"Oh, no . . . Ayeka . . ." Tenchi had not missed Ayeka's expression. "Don't worry. We'll do whatever we can to help you grow faster." He put his hand over her smaller one, and now he did miss Ryoko's look of outrage. "Washu, what's the best way to help Ayeka?"
"Well, she should perform activities to increase her body familiarity and coordination in a large-scale environment." said Washu.
"Huh?" said Mihoshi, and for once the remainder of the family echoed her confusion.
"She should spend lots of time playing outdoors," Washu clarified.
There was a loud snap, and the rest of the family turned to see that Ryoko had broken the chopsticks in her tightly clenched fist.
"Now who's 'thpastic?" Ayeka said, sounding exactly like a vengeful four-year-old.
Just wait, Ayeka. Thought Ryoko. Sooner or later you're going to get big again – and when you do, you're toast.
(To be continued . . . )
Author's note: In "The All-New Tenchi Muyo!" Vol. 6, "Pet Peeves", we see that Ryu-Oh is still only a sprout. (That volume is not recommended for Ryoko fans.) If you want an idea of how the child-like Ayeka looks, there is an excellent picture on the last page of the "No Need for Tenchi!" manga Vol. 10, "Mother Planet".
