Disclaimer: You have to be talented to own stuff.
Also: Apologies Douglas...
An Otaku's Guide
To
The Multiverse
In the beginning Tezuka created Manga and Japan created Anime. Fandom was born from these two abominations of entertainment and that's exactly what this series is: A woeful, cheesy "I heart you" from an Australian otaku to her three favourite things: the written word, manga, anime and television.
READ IT IF YOU LIKE: Sci-Fi, Anime, Doctor Who, Sailor Moon, Cardcaptors, T.V, Books, Irony, Parody, a good love story, words…
FLAME IT IF YOU HATE: (See above)
Chapter 1: Just Around the Corner
Megumi grabbed Chiharu's leg and flung her into the air. She held her breath, stepped forward and faced her partner Naoko as she mouthed, "one…two…three". Megumi held out her arms in anticipation but Chiharu did not land in them, she looked up and saw Chiharu suspended above her with a grin glued to her face. She gasped and looked to Naoko, she too stood still with her arms outstretched and mouth hanging open. Megumi screamed and began to back away but immediately realised that if she moved and Chiharu "unfroze" she would get hurt.
Megumi looked around the schoolyard, everything was frozen. About half a dozen girls were suspended in the air like Chiharu, the hands of the clock on the Tomoeda Elementary clock tower had stopped moving and a bird flying across the schoolyard was trapped in mid-flight. In the silence, Megumi easily heard the soft creak of the south entrance doors opening. She turned around and saw a mass of dishevelled white hair poke out of the small gap between the doors. She watched on as the owner of the hair, a young man, cautiously squeezed through the small gap in the door. Another, taller, man followed him through the door in the same cautious manner. He dropped his baggy, page-boy cap as he squeezed through the two doors. The two of them looked around the schoolyard and stopped and stared when they spotted Megumi.
The man with the white hair pointed at Megumi, "YOU!" he cried.
He stormed over to Megumi, the other man picked up his baggy cap and strode after him.
The white-haired man grasped Megumi's arm tightly, "YOU'RE the reason I'm in this" he shouted, which sent his curls flying.
Megumi shouted for help and the man wearing the cap quickly grabbed hold of the white-haired man and wrenched him off of Megumi's arm.
"You can't hurt her Agent James", said the man wearing the cap.
"Shut it, you hypocrite! Your "black moon clan" treat women like crap!"
Agent James shoved the other man and sent his hat flying. Megumi gasped when she saw the black crescent moon tattooed on the man's forehead.
Agent James wheeled around "Not pretty, isit Megumi?"
"Who are you? What are you doing here? How do you know my name?" said Megumi quickly.
Agent James turned to the other man "What did she just squeak Alexandrite?" he demanded.
Alexandrite shot Agent James a poisonous look as he replaced his cap, then he turned to Megumi.
"We will tell you later, just come with us" said Alexandrite, "it's not safe here".
Megumi stared from one stranger to the other and then looked up at Chiharu, who was still suspended above her in mid-air.
"Did you do this?" she asked Alexandrite.
"No, he did. He's a monster"
"Are they…dead?"
"No, just frozen in time"
"Oh, I see…"
Agent James suddenly jumped between Alexandrite and Megumi. "You know, it would make things a whole lot easier for me if you would just speak English!" he shouted.
"Megumi, you must come with us" said Alexandrite, "or you will die".
"I cannot leave, I do not know you", said Megumi, in English.
"Finally, you're speaking my language", sighed Agent James. He pulled out a laminated ID card from his coat pocket and thrust it towards Megumi.
"Look, I'm Agent James, Male, 5 foot 8 inches, Time Agent from the 30th Century"
He pointed to Alexandrite.
"He's Alexandrite, inhabitant of Nemesis, member of the Black Moon clan, confidant of Prince Sapphire"
"And we're both here to save your life" He gabbed Megumi's hand. "Now RUN!"
Agent James pulled Megumi towards the south entrance, Megumi cried out in pain as her wrist twisted into an awkward position.
"Ah! Chiharu, Naoko! Miss Tomoe!" she cried.
"Shut it, Megumi!" growled Agent James and with one final pull on Megumi's arm she slipped through the south entrance after Agent James.
Megumi tripped over and fell on the smooth, cold "floor". As her vision focused she saw Alexandrite and Agent James illuminated by a bluish light emitting from something in Agent James' outstretched palm. As the two men talked their conversation floated around in the void that occupied the "room" they were in.
"Are they following us?" asked Alexandrite.
"Why don't you find the door back to Tomoeda and take a look?!" said Agent James hotly.
Alexandrite stepped away from him and disappeared into the darkness, "Well, have you set the co-ordinates yet Agent James?"
"I'm a Time Agent, that's what I do!" he cried
Alexandrite muttered "fool" under his breath and it echoed through the expanse.
"Well, "Prince" Alexandrite, why don't you make yourself useful and find Megumi", Agent James said reproachfully.
At the sound of her name Megumi cried "I am here!" in English.
Agent James looked down, "Oh Megumi, are you falling for me already?" said Agent James sarcastically.
Alexandrite emerged from the darkness and helped Megumi up. She peered at the small glowing object that Agent James held out in his hand.
"What is that?" asked Megumi, pointing at the strange object.
"It's a time watch" answered Agent James proudly.
"What does it do?"
"Well, this is a TW Xi and its special features include glowing, obviously, transportation through time, convenient dimensional hopping, easy recharge and it can tell you the time in Moscow!" said Agent James, his manic smile light up by the TW Xi.
Megumi turned to Alexandrite "Where are we going with this crazy man?" she whispered.
"Another dimension, Megumi, but do not fear him", reassured Alexandrite.
"Why should I not fear him? He hurt my friends and kidnapped me!"
"I believe him to be the lesser of two evils, Megumi, and he will protect us. Many dark forces are out there that you cannot believe until you've travelled with him" said Alexandrite solemnly.
Agent James forced himself between Megumi and Alexandrite, "Alright, that's it, future companions MUST SPEAK ENGLISH!" he cried.
He pushed a button on the TW Xi and loud creak emitted from the darkness. A small rectangle of light appeared just ahead of them.
"Okay, let's go!" cried Agent James.
He marched off into the darkness as Megumi and Alexandrite trailed after him.
Megumi had begun to drag behind the two men who trudged ahead of her. She ran up and tugged on Alexandrite's sleeve, "Are we there yet?" she moaned.
"No, Megumi, please don't ask again!" said Alexandrite sternly.
"Now, I don't speak Japanese but even I know what she just said", laughed Agent James.
Alexandrite muffled a giggle and was promptly nudged in the ribs by Megumi.
"You take me away from my home, to walk endlessly in the dark and...YOU LAUGH!"
"I am sorry, Megumi" said Alexandrite, "but it is for your wellbeing"
Megumi crossed her arms and sat herself down on the cold floor.
"I won't walk another step until you explain yourselves!" insisted Megumi.
"Now Megumi, we must keep moving, get up please", insisted Alexandrite.
"Why did you take me from my home?!" said Megumi tearfully.
Agent James pushed past Alexandrite, "I have no idea why the Agency wants to protect you but I won't be blamed if you get yourself killed!" he growled.
He clamped a hand around Megumi's wrist and pulled her roughly to her feet. Megumi struggled free and stomped on Agent's foot. He cried out in pain and Megumi returned to sitting on the floor.
Alexandrite conceded with Megumi and sat beside her.
"Agent James, I think she's entitled to know who we are", said Alexandrite calmly.
"Don't hide behind her Alexandrite, you'd love to know my history" seethed Agent James.
Alexandrite avoided Agent James' gaze. Megumi turned to Alexandrite and caught a small smile on his face as he readjusted his page-boy cap.
Agent James sat down and placed the glowing TW Xi in front of him, the three gathered around the small circle of light.
"Nice little campfire we've got going on here", said Agent James sourly, he took a deep breath, "well…you first Alexandrite".
"WHAT!" cried Alexandrite, he glared at Agent James then hung his head in compliance. "Well, pardon me Agent James, but seeing as you already know my history I'll talk only to Megumi", he said smugly.
"WHAT?!" said Agent James as Alexandrite turned to Megumi.
"My name is Alexandrite Akayashi, I come from Nemesis, the tenth planet of the solar system in an alternate version of 30th Century Earth", he began.
Chapter 2: Taking Orders
A ghostly female face formed in the middle of Alexandrite Ayakashi's quarters. Her green hair framed her pale pointed face, a gloved hand waved at Alexandrite who was laying face-down on his mattress.
"Ayakashi!" trilled the woman.
Alexandrite sat bold upright and faced the image.
"That pitiful Sapphire needs some "cheering up", report to the laboratory!"
"Yes Emerald" said Alexandrite, bowing to the ghostly female form as she faded away.
He flitted about his small quarters, looking for that stupid hat Pez had sent him from one of her shopping trips to the 20th Century and quickly exited his quarters. He whistled a bright tune as he descended down into the depths of the ancient castle he now called home. He reached a particular level and found a familiar, large bolted door. He opened it a crack and peered in.
"Oh, hello Alexandrite", said a quiet voice.
Alexandrite entered cautiously. Prince Sapphire sat on a stool with his arms around his knees, a grave expression on his face.
"Saphir…" started Alexandrite.
"I don't want to go, Alexandrite" said Sapphire sadly.
"But you must", pleaded Alexandrite, "to exact revenge on the people of Earth".
"I don't believe in this plan for revenge" said Sapphire hotly.
"Well fine then, if not for Nemesis than go for your brother!"
"I am sure Diamond will be fine on his own"
Alexandrite lowered his voice, "Not with the Wiseman whispering in his ear", said Alexandrite.
Sapphire leapt of off his stool and glared angrily at Alexandrite. Alexandrite took a step back.
"You know I am right", he said.
Sapphire nodded sullenly and walked away from Alexandrite and his own anger. Alexandrite followed him over to the tall windows, carved out of the walls of the castle that lined the east wall of the room. The two of them looked out over Nemesis in silence.
"I am like my brother, Alexandrite, I don't want to live in darkness all my life" confided Sapphire.
"I believe you Sapphire" said Alexandrite, "and to be perfectly honest, I could not picture you on the throne".
"Yes, thirst for power is not a trait I share with my brother" said Sapphire bitterly.
"It's a good thing siblings aren't exactly alike", smiled Alexandrite, "or I'd be a crazed shopper like my sisters".
The two of them laughed.
"I suppose I must go Alexandrite" said Sapphire, "As you said…for my brother"
"You can finally escape the darkness", said Alexandrite brightly.
Sapphire turned to Alexandrite, "You will follow after me, Alexandrite" he said firmly.
"Of course", said Alexandrite, looking away from Sapphire. Alexandrite knew very well that he would never be able to leave Nemesis.
Alexandrite steadied his trembling hands by gripping tightly to his white pants. The Black Moon Clan in its entirety was boarding the command ship that would lead the Nemesis attack on 20th Century Earth. Alexandrite made a low bow to Prince Diamond and then was rudely pulled aside by Emerald.
"You slug", she hissed, "How dare you bow to Diamond. Your sisters are traitors of the Black Moon Clan!"
Alexandrite stood silent in shock.
"But don't worry Alexandrite Ayakashi, as of today you are no longer in Prince Diamond's service, may your existence on Nemesis be bleak!"
She shoved him roughly and strolled towards the ship. Alexandrite's shaking hands ceased as he spied Sapphire rushing towards him.
"That Emerald has no respect. I'll never acknowledge her as Queen", said Sapphire sharply.
Alexandrite swallowed his shock and nodded in agreement.
Sapphire smiled at Alexandrite, "You're a faithful friend Alexandrite, which is why I wish you to have these". He held out a pair of blue gloves.
"These are your own" said Alexandrite, "They are not mine to have".
"I want you to have them" said Sapphire warmly.
Alexandrite took them reluctantly and then confessed that he had nothing to give Sapphire.
"You have given me friendship, Alexandrite, I'll never forget that" said Sapphire.
He clasped a hand on Alexandrite's shoulder and then turned to leave.
"Glory for Nemesis", cried Alexandrite after him.
"Glory for all, Alexandrite", called out Sapphire as he boarded the ship.