SMSTSS 24: The Prime Avenging Moon meets Fear! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, Marvel Comics, DC and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre, two-part story based upon the coming meta-storyline "Fear Itself" from Marvel Comics.
Special Note: This is a sequel to "Ran, God of War".
Part 1
"The Temple": New Urgrund, Prometheus Galaxy.
With the arrival of the Fifth Age of the Gods, and with the end of the New Gods of both New Genesis and Apocalypse, and with the recent demise of Amatsu-Mikaboshi (aka "The Chaos King"), the surviving (or resurrected) gods decided to hold a celebration of sorts on New Urgrund with the inauguration of the newest session of the Council of Godheads. As many knew, New Urgrund was the fusion of New Genesis and Apocalypse, which occurred after the demise of the evil Lord Darkseid. In the end, New Urgrund was designated as a neutral world, where gods, exemplars, oracles, archmagi, arch-scientists, alien intelligences and other powerful beings could converse and commune as equals. Thus, a gathering of the chief gods from Earth and elsewhere was a progression of this. Unfortunately, like any party, there is always a chance for mischief to break out…
"What?" Lord Zeus of the Olympians said, as his eyes sparkled with power. "Say that again?"
"I'm just saying that I'm the better fighter than you are, Zeus," said Lord Izanagi, Skyfather of the Amatsu-Kami (or Japanese gods). Izanagi, like many gods, had multiple incarnations. In his particular case, Izanagi was also Ranma Saotome, Anakin Skywalker, Eldarion of Gondor, River Song and, of course, Ran of Asgard (to name a few).
"Why do you think I use all my mortal and immortal guises? Just out of bordom?"
"Ranma, I really wish that you were careful with your words," said All-Mother Thordis, as she shook her head. Like Izanagi, Thordis had a number of incarnations as well, including the guises of Iussaset (mother of the Egyptian gods), Theia (Titaness of Light), Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom, Lady Orochimaruko of Otonokuni Prefecture and Usagi Tsukino (to name a few). She should have remembered what happens whenever Izanagi and Zeus get together…
"Hey, I'm just being honest, that's all," Izanagi said with a smirk.
Not saying anything, Zeus removes his cape from his person.
"Husband, what are you doing?" Lady Hera said.
"I'm giving Izanagi the pleasure of eating those words…with my fists," Zeus said, as he cracked his knuckles.
"Um, this thing between you and Ranma won't affect my position as 'Shazam Sailor Moon', will it?" Thordis asked, referring to one of her enhanced forms as "Sailor Moon".
"No, cousin, it will not," Zeus said.
"Good," Izanagi said, as he used both fists to hit Zeus, sending him into some mountains hundreds of yards away.
"Arrrgh-!"
"Huzzah!" Izanagi said, as he leaped into the fray…
"Oh, my," said Lady Tsunami of the Jurai Choushin. The Choushin, consisting of three sisters named Tsunami, Tokimi and Washu, were the triumvirate heads of their pantheon. In fact, they were the only members of their pantheon.
"Yes, my chosen one," said Tokimi, as she examined with interest. "Live up to your reputation."
"You know, you can always count on Ranma to liven these meetings up," Washu said, as she nibbled on her bag of popcorn…
Later, back on Asgard…
"Ow!" Ran, son of Tyr the Great (Genma Saotome's Norse guise) and Idunn the Keeper of the Golden Apples (Nodoka Saotome's Norse guise) said, as he felt the sting of his bruises, as his wife Thordis applied ointments to his wounds. He had hoped that shifting from his Izanagi guise to his Ran guise would lessen the injuries. It didn't. In fact, he felt the pain even more so as a "lesser god"…
"Hold still, now," Thordis said, as she sat on her knees, on her shared bed, while a handmaiden stood nearby. "It's your fault, you know."
"Don't remind me," Ran said, as he winced slightly. "I only wanted to see how much power Zeus had, now that he's back as the All-Father of his 'family'."
"Well, for what it's worth, you did good in stalemating him at least, before the other gods broke up the fight," Thordis said, as she kissed the back of Ran's head. She then turns towards her handmaiden.
"Thank you, Anya," Thordis said, as she gave the tray to her handmaiden. "You can go."
"Thank you, your majesty," Anya said, as she bows her head slightly, before turning to leave.
"Now, we can get some rest," Thordis said, as she moves over to her side of the bed.
"That's it?" Ran asked.
"Sure," Thordis said. "Sister Lokidis said that the salves will heal you up by morning."
"I don't know," Ran said with a wiry smile. "I might feel some…discomfort during our sleep."
"Well, then, my prince, I suppose I can…help you become more comfortable," Thordis said, as she kissed one of Ran's wounds.
"I think I'm hurting here," Ran said, as he points to the bruise on his left cheek.
Thordis kisses Ran on the cheek.
"And, maybe here," Ran said, as he points to his lips.
"I see," Thordis said, as she kisses Ran on the lips. "How's that?"
"I think I'm getting better," Ran said with a smile.
"Good," Thordis said, as she suddenly begins to get into bed. "Good night, my dear prince."
"What?" Ran said.
"I'm asleep, now," Thordis replied, as she giggled.
"Fine, I GET the joke," Ran said, as he gets underneath the sheets. "GOOD night. Harumph!"
And, with that, the couple settles in for a long, long night…
As all of Asgard slept, an omen descended upon the land.
"YOU TRIED TO ERASE ME FROM HISTORY, PEOPLE OF ASGARD," said a deep and ominous voice. "NOW, I SHALL GET MY REVENGE UPON THEE…BY RETURNING THE FAVOR!"
With that, a mist of some kind descends upon the land, enveloping all that it touches…
Usagi Tsukino woke up, expecting to be in her bedroom with her husband Ranma Saotome. However, she realized that she was in her own bedroom, at her parents' house.
"What?" Usagi said, as she rubbed her forehead. "How did I get back here?"
Just then, a familiar black, magical cat jumps unto her bed.
"Good morning, Usagi," said Luna the Guardian Cat. "How are you today?"
"Fine, I guess," Usagi said. "What are you doing here?"
"I live here," Luna said. "Are you okay?"
"I hope so," Usagi said, as she gets out of bed. She noticed something that was odd about her, upon looking at herself in the mirror: she appeared to be fourteen years old again.
"What the hell?"
"Usagi, watch your language," Luna said. "What if your parents hear you speak like that?"
"Good point," Usagi said, as she rubbed her chin. She then turned to look at Luna.
"Luna, what year is it?"
"Wah-?"
"Humor me."
"This isn't some trick question or prank of yours, is it?" Luna asked.
"No. Please?"
"It is the year 2011. Why do you ask?"
"Luna, are you sure?"
"Of course I am. Now, what's the problem?"
"I don't know-"
Just then, Shingo bursts into Usagi's room.
"Usagi!" Shingo said, as he runs into the room. However, he appears as a ten-year old boy.
"Something happened to us!"
"So, I'm not the only one," Usagi said with a sigh of relief. "Luna, we have to call an emergency meeting of the Sailor Scouts."
"Meeow?" Luna replied.
"Luna, I know that you can talk, that you served my mother, Queen Serenity, and that I am the younger brother of Princess Serenity as Prince Selene," Shingo said, as he made a slight face of disgust.
"Huh?" Luna replied in disbelief. "But…how did you know that?"
Pause.
"Oops…"
"Just get on with it, Luna," Usagi said sternly. "We have a serious predicament on our hands."
"Since when have you been so…commanding?" Luna wondered, as she leaps unto the bedroom windowsill. "I'm not sure if I like this…new you or not."
With that, Luna leaves to assemble the remainder of the Sailor Scouts…
"Usagi, what's going on?" Shingo asked.
"I have no idea…Selene," Usagi said jokingly.
"Oh, shut up, meatball head!"
Later, at the Hikawa Shrine on Cherry Hill (hence, the nick-name "Cherry Hill Temple")…
"And that is the situation that you presently face, princess," Setsuna Meioh said, as she hands Usagi a personal access data device (or "PADD") of her findings. Thanks to the resetting of the Universe, after the demise of the Chaos King, Setsuna's Norse guise was Hild, ruler of Nifhel (or simply "Hel"). Her daughters were Hela (the goddess of death), Marller (the goddess of sin), and Urd (Norn goddess of the past).
"I can't believe this," Usagi said, as she read the information, before handing it off to Ami Mizuno. Ami's Norse guise was Fulla (goddess of knowledge and arcane lore).
"So, everyone that is connected to Asgard has been reverted to normalcy, circa 2004?" Minako Aino asked. Minako's Norse guise was Freya (the goddess of love).
"So, what do we do now?" asked Makoto Kino. Her Norse guise was Thrud (goddess of power).
"And is it the fault of 'Dumpling-Head'?" asked Rei Hino, a local Shinto priestess (among other professions). Her Norse guise was Vigdis (the goddess of war).
"Oh, dear," said Hotaru Tomoe, as she clutched her book bag. Her Norse guise was Eir (goddess of healing and mercy).
"Must we go there, Rei?" Usagi asked with a smirk.
"With you, always," Rei replied.
"Now, let's not cast disparages on the princess," said Michiru Kaioh. Her Norse guise was Nerthus (goddess of the seas and rivers).
"At least things are back to normal somewhat," laughed Haruka Tenoh. Her Norse guise was Eostre (goddess of the dawn).
"I…hope so," said Mamoru Chiba, as he looks at Usagi. His Norse guise was Forsetti (god of justice).
"Mamoru?" Usagi asked.
"Yes?"
"MUST we go there?"
"But we can have our old lives back. And, shouldn't we think about Chibiusa?"
"What about me?" Chibiusa asked. Her Norse guise was Tarene (the goddess of thunder).
"What about her?" Usagi asked. "She seems fine."
"No, we can get together to make sure that she is born."
"Oh, I see where this is going," Usagi said, as she reaches over to grab Mamoru's hand. "Come on."
"Where are we going?" Mamoru said in surprise.
"We are going to 'hook up' and make a baby….right now."
"WHAT?"
"Usagi, quit playing around," Luna said, as Artemis the Guardian Cat and Diana (Artemis and Luna's daughter) giggled, which warranted a glare from his wife Luna. "This is serious."
"I am being serious," Usagi said.
"Princess, for the record, as of now, you're underage, which makes what you are proposing 'illegal', and you can't have children due to your 'Quickening'," Setsuna said with a smirk.
"D'oh!"
"I hate to interrupt this 'show', but what should we do?" Haruka said. "I mean, save for the fact that everyone has forgotten us, nothing has changed."
"Someone out there did this to us," Usagi said, as she stared off into the distance. "We need to solve this crisis."
"What do you think is going to happen if nothing is done, Princess?" Artemis asked.
"I smell…fear. Something…something is out there wants Asgard to suffer. For what reason, I have NO idea."
"Then we should just resume our lives, and keep an eye on anything unusual," Ami said. "In the meantime, I will research out problem."
"And while you're doing that, I will go over to Nerima to check on my husband," Minako said, as she grinned from ear to ear.
"Uh, no," Usagi said. "You can do that later."
"Awwwww…"
Later, at Juuban Middle School…
"And remember class, always come to school on time," Miss Haruna said, as she turns to face Usagi, Ami, Minako and Makoto. "Otherwise, you will miss your designated breaks, right girls?"
"Yes, Miss Haruna," the girls say in unison.
"So, while the rest of you can go out and enjoy your lunches, the offenders of school policy will have to remain here," Miss Haruna said, as she looked at her watch. "Class adjourned…"
"I'll see you all later," said Naru Osaka with a chuckle, as she gets up from her seat. Her Norse guise was Ran (god of victory). On this day, Ran used his "curse" to check in on his wives, after making sure that his people in Nerima were okay…
"I can't believe you will leave your wives hanging like that," Makoto said.
"Hey, I'm not the one who got you guys late to school," Naru chuckled. "See ya…"
With that, Naru leaves the classroom.
"I swear, this day can't get any worse," Usagi fumed.
Just then, the wall bursts in, revealing an amazon-like warrior. She was dressed in Asgardian armor and carried what appeared to be a war hammer. But what was most striking was the fact that she wore a red masked designed like a skull.
"Prepare to meet your doom, All-Mother," said the stranger, as she points her war hammer at Usagi."
"Won't get any worse, eh?" Rei said with a smirk, as she turns to face Usagi.
Usagi could only sigh in response.
Tbc.