SMSTSS 32: Hero Infinity! – By DS Wynne


Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST, DC Comics/Marvel Comics and other properties belong to their respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre two-part story.

Special Note: This is in response to the comic book changes that are going on with DC and Marvel Comics.


Part 1


The once and future Moon Princess was summoned to the Temple of Time, located within the umbral realm of the planet Pluto. Actually, Pluto was de-classified to 'planetoid' status by Terran astronomers in the early 21st century, so the guardian of the Time Gates was not exactly in the best of moods these days…

"Yo, what's up?" Usagi said, as she took off her sunglasses. She had just got back home from a White Dress party that was hosted by Sean "P. Diddy" Colmes, when she received the summons…

"Princess, you're here," Sailor Pluto said. "I- wait. Why are you dresses like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like one of those silly socialites made famous by the likes of Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian?"

"I was…in costume," Usagi said, as her eyes shifted away from her old friend. "Yeah, that's it…"

"Anyway," Sailor Pluto said, as she rolled her eyes, deciding that she could deal with matters of decorum, pertaining to the Princess' demeanor, later. "I summoned you because of this man…"

Usagi watched as a holographic image of a certain yellow-clad speedster appeared.

"Do you know who this person is?"

Usagi stares at the image of the yellow-clad speedster…

"I can't believe I forgot about this guy," Usagi said quietly.

"Well?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do," Usagi said with a sigh. "His name is 'Eobard Thwane', otherwise known as 'The Reverse Flash'. He is a descendant of Barry 'The Flash' Allen's twin brother Malcolm Thwane, aka 'Cobalt Blue'."

"You seem to know this family very well."

"Well, I should, since I know Barry Allen very well."

"You don't mean…?"

"Unfortunately, I never became more than friends with Barry, not that I didn't try. Wait, I did go on a date years later, but that was a 'friends with benefits' kind of thing, when neither of us were attached at the time…"

Pause.

"But, Barry did love Iris West more than anything else…"

"Can you tell me about this…Reverse-Flash?"

"Ah, yes. Well, Reverse-Flash was a super-criminal from the 25th century. It was only by chance that Barry came across Eobard, while Barry was experimenting with his super-powers."

"Pardon?"

"Barry wanted to see if he could master time travel through the use of super-speed. I suppose doing that was what caused him and Eobard to cross paths. And it was because of that encounter that a feud between the two took place, expanding years."

"But you sounded surprise when you saw this man, the Reverse Flash."

"I did, because he should be dead," Usagi said.

"Pardon?"

"Eobard murdered Iris West out of revenge against Barry. During the subsequent scuffle to bring Eobard to justice, Barry accidentally killed him. And so, that should have been that, as far as Eobard Thwane is concerned."

"Apparently, this Eobard Thwane was brought back to life, and is trying to destroy Barry Allen's life," Sailor Pluto said. "But in doing so, the timeline has changed significantly."

"Just how significantly?"

"See for yourself…"

Sailor Pluto shows a world at war, where the Amazon Nation had finally united as one, and is in a battle of supremacy against a resurgent Atlantis. Thus far, the only significant casualties were the one hundred million people who drowned to death, when Atlantis sank a significant portion Western Europe, as a means of opening up a new front in their war against the Amazons.

"Oh, my god!" Usagi said.

"That is not all," Sailor Pluto said. "All the heroes of this twisted era have either been corrupted, or made ineffectual to stop the violence."

"What…what happened to Ranma and me?" Usagi asked.

"Your parents died when the Chinese Amazons, the Joketsuzoku, invaded Japan, after taking over China and much of East Asia," Sailor Pluto said. "However, Japan was able to beat back the invasion, thanks to the presence of the United States."

"So, what happened to me?"

Sailor Pluto shows a young JSDF cadet named Usagi Tsukino, who was working out at the local gym on base.

"I…she cut her hair," Usagi said, as she observed Lt. Usagi Tsukino's movements. "But…what happened to my history as 'Sailor Moon'?"

"Thanks to the invasion by the Amazons, the Japanese authorities are much more aware of magic and youma activity. So, the threat poise by the Negaverse's 'Dark Kingdom' is very much present."

"So, let me guess: Beryl and company are laying low while the fighting between the Amazons and Atlantis rages."

"And they won't make their move until the war's end, when everyone would have exhausted their resources."

"Correct."

"Okay, what about Ranma? What happened to him?"

"Observe," Sailor Pluto said, as she shows a female Ranma Saotome training with Shampoo and a number of familiar faces.

"Explain to me what I am seeing," Usagi asked.

"When the war between the Amazons and Atlantis took place, Ranma and his father were caught on the wrong side of the battle. It was also around the time the pair was cursed with their respective Jusenkyo curses. However, seeing that Ranma had great potential, the Joketsuzoku made Ranma's curse permanent, while removing memories of his life as a boy."

"What happened to Genma?"

"He was lobotomized, and made into a pack animal."

"Yeesh."

"But there is a greater danger than just these changes in the timeline," Sailor Pluto said. "If these alterations by Eobard Thwane remain, it could have a devastating effect on Reality."

"How so?" Usagi replied.

"Because, Princess, your actions are the lynchpin that keeps 'The 52' intact," Sailor Pluto said. The 52 is the name of the reality—one of many that can possible exists in all of Reality—that was created by the actions of Sailor Pluto, Sailor Chibi-Moon, the heroes Booster Gold and Rip Hunter, and the villain Kang the Conqueror, when they fought the menace of Mr. Mind. Mr. Mind had been devouring Reality in order to recreate the Universe in his own image. The five attempted to save the Universe from Mr. Mind, and had failed to do so fifty-one times, through the constant use of back-stepping into the past as a means of correcting whatever tactical mistake was made in their war against Mr. Mind.

It was on the fifty-second attempt to defeat Mr. Mind that Sailor Moon, Ronin and their dear friend the Doctor—a Time Lord-were called in to help deal with the crisis. In the aftermath, fifty-one Earths survived the devouring of Mr. Mind, each altered historically thanks to the battle against Mr. Mind. Rather than allow these worlds to go by the wayside, it was decided to place these Earths into the umbral realm of the prime Earth. Thus, in effect, these altered Earths were shadows that could be accessed through your standard means, such as stargates and "shallowings" (the thinning of the barriers that make up the space-time continuum). The only problem is that these altered Earths had access to the primary Earth n the same manner as well, so it's not unusual for weird phenomenon to pop up now and again, such as, for example, evil versions of the Moon Princess, and others attempting to invade Earth Prime, as a way of gaining access to the rest of the Universe, making Earth one of the most important planet in all of Creation…

"Ah," Usagi replied. "So, by not stopping the Reverse-Flash, a paradox of epic proportions will occur, because I'm not around to facilitate the restructuring of the space-time continuum."

"Correct."

"Okay, so, where do we begin?"

"Now, would be the best time," Sailor Pluto said, as she begins to program the Time Gate. "In order to catch Eobard, we have to insert you into the Usagi Tsukino of the new timeline. Otherwise, he will detect your energy signature."

"Right, using the Beckett Method," Usagi replied, referring to "Project Quantum Leap", a military program designed to allow time travelers to travel into the past of one's own lifeline. Later, the method was improved to travel not to the past, but also to the future, to alternate lifelines, and even time travel along other people's lifelines. It was only in recent years that the method has been refined to the point that the time traveler maintains his or her identity, and not has their own mind get swallowed up by the proverbial host. Thankfully, Usagi was an experienced time traveler and dimension hopper…

"Correct. Due to time constraints, inserting you into the other Usagi Tsukino will be…off."

"By how much?"

"You might suffer from 'Swiss Cheese Syndrome'."

"In other words, I won't tell what's 'real' or not in this new reality."

"Correct."

"What about my powers?"

"Your senshi powers will be the first to come back, followed by your more…exotic variety."

"And skills and knowledge?"

"Physical skills may be somewhat hampered, due to the fact that your new body won't have the same motor muscle memories of your present body. However, once you have regained your full memories have returned, you should have no problems."

"I'm glad to hear that, Setsuna," Usagi said. "Well, let's do this."

And with that, Usagi steps into the Time Gate, and was gone…

"Ah!" Usagi said, as she bolts up in her bed. She quickly looks around to see that she was in her own room, in one of the houses on base.

"What a strange dream," Usagi said, as she rubs her head. She then ran through her short, but stylishly cute, hair before rolling out of bed. She then patters across the room, and enters the bathroom.

CLICK!

Usagi turns on the faucet, and rubs water on her face. She examined her face, and then her bust and hips through her t-shirt and shorts…

"I'm not missing anything," Usagi replied. She then tasted her own tongue and frowned.

"Yeesh," Usagi said, as she gagged a bit. "My mouth tastes nasty…"

Usagi decided to brush her teeth and gargle with some mouthwash. Since she was already up, she might as well get in a good workout.

Humming to herself, she tucks in her "dog-tags" underneath her undershirt, and opens her medicine cabinet. She pulls out her toothbrush, toothpaste and small bottle of mint mouthwash. She then closes her medicine cabinet, and the looks up to see-

"Ah!" Usagi said. Other than longer hair, styled in her old "Meatball-head" hairstyle, and a fancy looking sailor fuku, her reflection looked the same. She violently, shook her head, and then looked at her reflection again. Somehow, her reflection appeared normal again.

"I must be having a nervous breakdown or something," Usagi said, as she collected herself. "Maybe I should see Ami in the morning…"

Meanwhile, just outside the base, a secret meeting was taking place…

"Greetings, Elder," said Soun Tendo, as he bowed before the Co-Matriarch of the Joketsuzoku, Cologne, while allowing her entourage to enter as well. By day, he was a civilian martial arts instructor for the cadets at the base.

"Greetings, Soun Tendo," said Kon Lon, as she nods her head. "Your wife sends her greetings."

Soun nods with a smile at the thought that his beloved was alive and well, even if it was in a state of captivity, forcing him to work for the Joketsuzoku.

"And how are my daughters?"

"Kasumi has completed her training as a Healer, while Nabiki is doing well in her training as a Lore Master," Kon Lon said. "As for the other one…"

A member of Cologne's entourage removes her hood, showing a girl with long, dark hair.

"Hello, Father," said the girl in fluent Chinese.

"Akane!" Kasumi said, as he hugged his youngest daughter, Akane. "Akane, you're here!"

"Yes, I am," Akane said, and none to friendly either.

"It's just that I thought I would never see you again, my child."

"If the Joketsuzoku wins its war against the Japanese, then you might see the rest of your family," Cologne said.

"I am willing to do anything. That is why I have been providing you with tactical information about this base."

"Of that, I am grateful. However, the Council of the Joketsuzoku feels that a stalemate is not in the best interest of our side in this 'cold war' in the long run."

"Oh?"

"We know that tomorrow will be the day the next batch of military officers will graduate from your academy program, before being assigned to the appropriate officers training course. At he same time, we have new warriors ready to be tested in battle…"

Pause.

"We cannot allow that to happen without our 'input'. And since there will be important persons in attendance, the Joketsuzoku has decided to assassinate your honored guests, as well as eliminate as many graduating cadets as possible."

"But…you can't!" Soun said. "We only want to live in peace!"

"You can live in peace, but under the banner of the Joketsuzoku," Cologne said. "Of course, if you want to see your wife and your other daughters again…"

"Okay, okay," Soun said quickly. "Forgive my impertinence. It won't happen again."

"See that you remember that."

"Of course, of course. In the mean time, I will show you to your sleeping quarters. In the morning, I will give your…warriors the appropriate dress and identification to get onto the base without any difficulties."

"Good."

"This way, please…"

As Soun escorts Cologne to her room, another cloaked Amazon lowers her hood. Her hair was long, and red.

"What do you think, Akane?" said the girl in perfect Chinese.

"I think he is a symptom of the weak gender," Akane replied likewise.

"So, you will follow the directives of the Matriarch after all?"

"Of course," Akane said. "When this mission is over, it will be by my hands that Soun Tendo will die, according to Amazon Law…"

Pause.

"You know that, Ranma."

Ranma Saotome nods her head grimly. While she didn't like the idea of slaying one's parent, all loose ends had to be tied up.

"Of course I do," Ranma said with a smirk. "I live serve the Joketsuzoku, and the Amazon Nation…"

The next morning, Usagi did see the on-site base assistant physician…

"So, how long have you been having these dreams, Usagi?" Ami said, as she jots down her notes on paper. Usagi and Ami have been friends for years. When Usagi lost her parents, Ami's mother had taken her in. Since then, the pair and their circle of friends, many of them orphaned because of the Joketsuzoku's invasion of Japan, joined the JSDF at the age of sixteen years old, through the military academy program, to serve and defend their country in a variety of ways. The program was truncated to a three-year program, followed by one-year of field training in the chosen branch of service. Due to the war, the Japanese government has accelerated officers training for both academy cadets and non-commissioned officers. Only a few have received special consideration to skip the first or second year of academy training, depending upon their entrance scores. That was why Ami became an officer earlier than most of her peers, so that she could become a medical doctor…

"For a while now, Ami," Usagi said. "And not only do I have these dreams, but I swear I am remember stuff that I have experienced before."

"Any headaches?"

"None. Just…the dreams."

"Well, it could be stress from the upcoming flight test," Ami said. "Have you chosen which branch to serve?"

"I'm not sure, Ami. I'm not sure if I am ready to go into the field."

"You can't blame yourself for what happened to Naru and Gurio, Usagi. No one knew that the Joketsuzoku was going to attack that day."

"I don't blame them for what happened that day. I blame myself for freezing up when their craft was shot down in the Sea of Japan. I…I shouldn't have been so scared."

"You froze up because of what happened to your parents."

"Maybe, but I can't serve my country if I can't function."

"Well, let me know if you have any headaches," Ami said, as she tore off a slip of paper from her note pad. "In the meantime, here…"

"Was this?" Usagi said.

"The grocery list for the after-graduation party Rei and Mina are setting up."

Usagi simply blinks.

"We pulled straws, remember?"

"Oh, yeah…"

Pause.

"Well, I better get cleaned up," Usagi said. "After all, I don't want to miss my own graduation…"

Tbc.