SMST P5A: Warrior Princess of the Splugorth! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST, Rifts and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: Although there have been other Rifts segments in other stories, this story will "collect" all those segments in a linear format. Hopefully, doing so will not violate the terms of the site. Also, this story takes place after the events depicted in "Samurai Jill". C&C are welcomed.
Part 1. "Preamble"
"YEAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH-!"
The samurai known as "Jack" was satisfied that his efforts were not in vein, especially since it was his friend "Jill" that went through great lengths to free him. Still, watching the demon dissolve into nothing gave him a sense of satisfaction…
Jack turns to Jill.
"You have allowed me to regain my honor, by returning me my sword years ago," says the ruggedly handsome Japanese samurai. "And thanks to you, I can return to my time, and end his menace…forever."
Usagi felt a mixture of sadness and happiness, as she realized that Jack was going home after all, while he…was not.
FWOOSH!
With Aku's destruction, the spell that was keeping Jack in the future was undone, as evidence by the sudden appearance of a spatial disturbance known as a "rift".
"Usagi, you should come with me," Jack says. "We can have a life of peace…together."
Usagi looks away. Living a life of peace was tempting, and living that life with Jack was not a bad prospect. However…
"I cannot," Usagi says. "I have…friends to attend to."
"In understand."
Jack bows his head.
"It was an honor fighting by your side."
Usagi bows her head likewise.
"The pleasure was mine, as well."
And then Jack turns to leave that hellish future…
"Jack!" Usagi asked.
"Yes?"
"You never told me your name."
Jack smiles. He was about to say his name, when the vortex suddenly sucked up the unknown samurai…and vanished.
Usagi sighed, as the rains came about. Such fierce atmospheric conditions tends to be the result of artificially created spatial dimensional rifts, since it is the tearing apart of the natural order…
As Usagi trekked down to the valley below, it became apparent that she had to use shelter of some sort. She squints her eyes, as she scans the area, until she came upon an opening of a cave.
'Great,' Usagi thought to herself, thinking that a wild animal might be occupying the cave. Not that it was a problem for her to deal with the occasion bear. After all, her skills as a swordswoman and a martial artist were phenomenal at this point in her life. She had to be good, since it was the only way to defeat Aku in the first place
'Out of the flying pan and into the fire, I guess…'
However, luck was somewhat on her side, since the cave was neither occupied nor deep, most likely due to the fact that the mountain that the cave existed within was somewhat treacherous and unstable.
"At least I can take a nap," Usagi says to herself, as she enters the cave. "In fact, I can use this time to meditate on my next course of action. And just so that I won't be 'surprised'…"
Using her chi-enhanced strength, Usagi moved a large stone in front of the cave's entrance.
THOOM!
"There," Usagi says, as she sits her pack down. She took out her special flashlight that needed only to be jerked several times to activate, since it didn't need batteries. And in a world where civilization fell, batteries would be hard to come by.
"Not bad," the Moon Princess says to herself, as she gets her bedding ready for the evening. "I'm not too hungry…eh, I'll wait until morning to find food."
With that, once she got herself comfortable, Usagi went to sleep. As she slept, she dreamed of her youth, and of home…
The night wore on, as the rains filled up the valley. Due to the fact that Usagi had sealed her cave thoroughly, no water seeped into cave. However, as the temperature began to drop, the water froze over. However, Usagi continued to sleep through all this, preferring to rest, rather than face an uncertain future…
Two hundred years later…
Much of the surrounding land near Usagi's cave had changed over the years. The valley was now a meadow, while a river ran threw it. A forest had long since sprouted around the area…
BOOM!
Usagi emerges from her hole with a yawn.
"I should have known that the 'Art of Sleep' technique would have caused me trouble," the Moon Princess says to herself, as she shook off the dust.
The 'Art of Sleep' was a meditation technique that allows a person to achieve a suspended state. Some would say that a true master could achieve immortality…
Well, time to get something to eat," Usagi says, as she extended her senses. She did have gold, silver and precious stones to help pay for things…
"Ah," Usagi says to herself, as she picked up a collection of life signs with her senses. "Let's see what happened while I slept…"
And with that, Usagi followed the river downstream, where she hopes to find a river or township. Unknown to her, a group of alien slavers were on their way to the same human settlement, with the express purpose of obtaining fresh "meat" as well…
A few days later…
"Oof!" Sailor Moon says, as she was put in the pen with the rest of the newly acquired slaves.
The hulking guardsman, called an "Overlord", smirks, as he turns away from the gate.
"Are you okay?" says a voice.
Sailor Moon looks up to see a human female. The female appeared to be lean, with long, dark hair…
"Need a hand?" the woman asked, as she extends her hand in friendship.
"Yeah, I guess so," Sailor Moon says, as she reaches for her new friend's hand. "You know where we are?"
"I'm not sure, but I think we're in the pens for potential concubines," the woman says.
"Ah, nuts," Sailor Moon says, as she felt her dampening collar. Had she not be so distracted in saving that village from these alien enslavers, Sailor Moon would have already made her escape. Sailor Moon had wished that she were at her peak. However, spending years in a suspended state had degraded her physical skills as a martial artist. Certainly, her most recent master and teacher, Lord Roah, would be ashamed of how weak she had become…
'Still, at least those innocents won't be harmed,' Sailor Moon thought…
"Why are you wearing those garish cloths?" the woman asked.
"They are my costume," Sailor Moon says. "I'm a hero."
"A hero."
"Yes. I'm called Sailor Moon, the champion of Love and Justice."
"Huh."
"What's your name, if I may ask?"
"I am called 'Aloe', stranger."
"And…how did you get here?"
"I was…taken from my home on a raid a week ago," Aloe replies. "And I've been here for a few days."
"I see…"
"And you, stranger?"
"I got dumped here by some sort of vortex from another place."
"Ah, a 'rift' happened. I'm…sorry to hear that."
"Me, too-"
"YOU!" says a voice. "Meat!"
Sailor Moon turns to see the same Overlord that had put her in the pen.
"Huh?"
The pen's gate was opened. Sailor Moon sees that the Overlord was not alone.
"I want this one," says the cloaked figure, as it points a long, bony, talon-laden finger at Sailor Moon.
"ME?"
"Of course," says the Overlord. He then reaches in and grabs Sailor Moon by the arm.
"No-!"
Sailor Moon struggled, as she was taken to a loading dock. Loading unto transport vehicles were hulking figures, mostly male of varying species.
"I do not understand why would you send a potential concubine into the mines, my lord," the Overlord says.
"The reasons for my master's actions are his alone and his alone," the cloaked figure says. "However, this female has a power that will serve him well. However, I do not want her needlessly damaged…"
Two servants appear, as they swarm over Sailor Moon.
"What-?" Sailor Moon says, as she was held in place, as a chastity belt was put into place, even though it was paced over the one-piece portion of her magical sailor fuku.
CLICK!
"Sir," says one of the servants, as she hands her master the key to the chastity belt's lock.
"Why…why-?" Sailor Moon cried out.
"As I have just said, you have a power that will serve my master well. However, you need to be…tempered. The mines of Golgotha will do the trick, I think."
The cloaked figure turns to the Overlord.
"Take her away."
"NO-!" Sailor Moon yells, as the Overlord directs his fellow Overlords to take Sailor Moon away…
'In five cycles, you will be ready for the next phase of your destiny,' the Powerlord thinks to himself. 'And you will become a worthy general in army of the Splugorth Empire!'
Eventually, Sailor Moon was deposited in the mines of Golgoth, which happened to be a high gravity environment. Almost immediately, she was being threatened with 'molestation', however-
"Get away from her, you maggots!" says a female ogre, as she beat off Sailor Moon's would-be "molesters".
Sailor Moon looks up from the muck that was the result of ore, sludge and something that shouldn't be mentioned in pleasant company…
"If you don't want to be harassed, you better come with me," the ogress says, as she extends her hand in friendship. "Us females have to stick together, right?"
Sailor Moon gets up, as accepts her hand in friendship.
The days roll on, followed by weeks and months of hard labor. Without the benefit of her magical girl powers, Sailor Moon's costume began to wear-and-tear. Within five years, the only thing she was wearing was her now-fingerless gloves, her chastity belt and what's left of her top (now in the form of a bikini top). Pieces of cloth and leather were strapped onto her body to give herself some form of modesty. Then again, considering that the minds were hot and humid, stripping down to the bare essentials was a necessity. Still, in spite of all this, her new friends proved to be a source of comfort…
"Meals done!" "Amy" the Hobbit (short with hairy feet) says, as she tapped the pot of stew.
The mines also served as the homes to the slaves, and were designed to provide some sort of light within the caverns…
"Finally," says "Raye" the Drow (black-skinned elf), as she sits up. "I hope your meal improved from LAST time."
"Ah, don't be so cruel," says "Mina" the Draenei (blue-skinned, cow-like legs and tail), as she came over with her "salad" bowl. Due to conditions in the mines, having a salad meant eating moss and lichen.
"I prefer MEAT, my dear Mina," says "Lyta" the Ogre (green-skinned, big, small tusks). She was the one who saved Sailor Moon that first day in the mines…
"Lyta, you're suppose to have your vitamins and rocks," Mina says.
"You mean, 'minerals'," Amy says.
"Isn't that what I said?"
"…"
Raye could only shake her head in disbelief.
Sailor Moon giggled. Although working in the mines were tough, she did have friends to rely upon. And, like her, they all wore chastity belts to prevent accidental pregnancy from their male counterparts. Other than that, the females had to stick together to defend themselves…
And then there's the matter of Sailor Moon's health. The environment had caused a change in the humans that were brought to this planet, and Sailor Moon, without the protection of her magic, was not exception. She had grown a few inches, while her body matured. Working the heavily loads every year for the past five years had toughen up her body. Sailor Moon had gotten athletic over the years, but, now, her body was enhanced. She was just glad that she didn't get "mannish" in the process.
"You know, I enjoy times like these," Sailor Moon says. "I mean, working sixteen hours a day for the Empire can be rough."
"Well, all I know is that a new batch of slaves will be taken over from this place," Lyta says.
"Where will we go?" Amy asked. "Maybe I can be a house servant again."
"Well, for me, it's back to the gladiator arenas," Lyta says.
"I'll…probably be a concubine again," Mina says.
"Well, I do know that my clan is working to buy me back from the Splugorth, which is always a plus," Raye says.
Amy turns to Sailor Moon.
"What are you going to do, Serena?" Amy asked.
Sailor Moon sighs.
"I don't know. Maybe after tomorrow, I'll know what to do with my life."
"I'm sure things will work out…"
A few days later, the healers were examining Sailor Moon, while she was in chains…
"Well?" asked the Powerlord. A Powerlord, who looked like thin version of the Overlords, but with small horns and sharp teeth, were the managers of the Splugorth Empire…
The female healer looks up from her examination.
"She has been untouched, sire."
"Good."
"WHAT do you want?" Sailor Moon says red-faced with shame and embarrassment.
"I want to offer you a deal, young one," the Powerlord says. "I want you to lead an army."
"M-me?" Sailor Moon says.
"Yes. You see, I am a bit of a…prophet amongst my kind. I KNOW who you are, and what you are capable of doing, if sufficiently motivated."
The Powerlord pauses for dramatic effect.
"You were sent into the mines in order to hone your stamina and strength. However, I cannot motivate you to lead an army if you are uncooperative."
"You damn right I won't!"
"But given sufficient training and advice, I think you will be able to. So, what do you say?"
"No," Sailor Moon says. "I'm not going to hurt innocent people for you or anyone else."
"But if I say that you will only fight against my master's enemies and rivals, many of whom are many times WORST than he? And what if I will teach you how to harness that power of yours? Surely, you could use it to help you find your way home?"
'Home,' Sailor Moon thought.
"And, in between campaigns, you can participate in the gladiatorial games in Splynn, so you can earn your freedom. Of course, your inhibitor collar will be removed, so that your powers will be honed."
"I see…"
"Bottom line, I'm only going to offer this chance ONCE. Take or leave it."
"But…why ME? I'm just a magical girl."
"Really? Look at yourself, female."
Sailor Moon does just that. A combination of Golgoth's biosphere and the hard labor not only restored her to her prime, when her old master, Lord Roah, had hone her mind, body and skills, but had essentially made her a supernatural being that could withstand environments that made it inhospitable to normal people. And definitely, no one would believe her that she was ever "petite", even if shown the "before" pictures.
"But…why…?" Sailor Moon began to cry.
"As I've just told you, I possess prescience. Truth to be told, I am a trained Seer. And from my visions, I know that you are the one that my master needs to lead one of his many armies. Your mark and standard was shown to me in a vision. And using historical records, I knew that you were more than just a legend. But I knew that you needed to be…tempered for my master's purpose. So you were sent to the mines of Golgotha."
The Powerlord pauses for a moment.
"You see yourself as a champion of Light. I understand this. But I am giving you a way out of your predicament with honor."
"Really?" Sailor Moon says with a sniff.
"Really. You are of the Moon, the symbol of magic and of the hunt. Accept your destiny as a princess amongst the minions of the Splugorth Empire…and be free."
Sailor Moon thought long and hard about her predicament…
"Well?"
"I'll…take your offer," Sailor Moon says sadly.
"Good," the Powerlord says, as he extends his hand.
Hesitantly, Sailor Moon took it…
SSSSSSSSSSS-!
"Ow!" Sailor Moon says, as she looked at her hand. There was a silhouette of an octopus etched in her skin.
"You know work for my master, Lord Splynncrth of the Splugorth Empire. That mark is his symbol. Break your word, and you will die by his command. Understood?"
"Y-yes…"
"Good. Now, let me take you to your barracks, where you will begin your training…"
Meanwhile, somewhere else…
In a temple in an area once known as "Montana", a lone figure sits in a state of contemplation. For years, the man sought to relieve himself of the guilt he felt for losing a friend, even so far as to help found a society of knights as a means of combating the evils and monsters that plagued this wild and cruel world…
And then, the man, who was a senior member of a fellowship of "Cyber-Knights", opens his eyes.
"Usagi," Ranma says, with a facial expression that was a mixture of a smile and sadness. "You've returned to me…"
Tbc.
Next time: We take a step back as to how Usagi and Ranma survived in their respective circumstances, before Ranma begins his quest to find his long-lost friend Usagi. See you next time!