TRT16: Path of a Shinobi by Way of the Moon and a Horse! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, Naruto and other properties belong to the respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: This story takes place shortly after the first "Robotech War".
Part One
May 11, 2011 CE: McKinley Air Force Base, Alaska (HQ of UN Spacy).
It's been a month since the end of the "Earth-Zentraedi War". During that time, pockets of Zentraedi warriors have been rounded up from processing. Many were allowed to return to their many-miles long ships, which were impounded by UN Spacy on one of the moons of Jupiter. Furthermore, since Lord Breetai, who sided with Earth during the war, was now the highest-ranking officer of the Zentraedi, he was now in command. Thus, with the help of Lady Azonia and Commander Khryton, it is expected that things will calm down by the end of the summer months.
In the meantime, there was one unresolved matter to attend to…
CLINK!
Everyone in the room drank, after Admiral Henry Gloval, commander of the SDF-1 "Macross" had honored Ace Veritech Pilot Lt. Rick Hunter and Public Relations Officer Lt. Lynn Minmei on their official announcement that their impending nuptials.
"That was quick, Rick," said Commander Ranko Tendo, leader of the Veritech "Skull Squadron", as she sipped her wine.
Rick raises an eyebrow.
"What?" Ranko asked.
"Look, we all know that you are 'Ranma Saotome', so why keep up the pretense?" Rick said.
"Why the concern?" Ranko said, as she saunters up to her old friend and wing-mate. "Don't you like my body?"
"Ranko, quit teasing Rick," Minmei admonished.
"Yeah, otherwise, you and I might have to hook up," said Captain Roy Folker with a wink and a nod, commander of the SDF-2 "Megaroad".
"Roy!" said Lt. Commander Claudia Grant-Folker, as she jabs her elbow in Roy's rib.
"You're right, that was classless, especially with the missus around…"
"Besides, this person is with ME," said the Meltrandi warrior Serene, as she hugged Ranko.
"I thought we had a 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy'?" Veritech Pilot Lt. Ben Dixon asked.
"Didn't you get the memo?" said Veritech Pilot Lt. Max Sterling. "That had been dropped a long time ago."
"Probably because their people were dying at our hands by the millions," said the Meltrandi Miriya said. She, like Breetai, sided with the humans against Supreme Commander Dolza and his armada.
"That sounds too cruel to say, Miriya," said Commander Lisa Hayes, First Officer aboard the SDF-1 "Macross".
"Ah, don't worry about Miriya," Max said. "She's just grumpy from her pregnancy."
"Humph!"
"Oh, that's right," said Lisa. "Serene told me about it…"
"Well, Sister Serene should keep her mouth SHUT."
"Everyone," Gloval said, as he tapped his wine glass in order to get his old crew's attention. "I just wanted to say that I am proud to have served with you. We were able to persevere under extreme circumstances, and for that, I think you."
Gloval raises his glass.
"I propose a SECOND toast," Gloval said. "May we all forge a path towards the future…?"
"HERE, HERE!" Ranko said.
CLINK!
Meanwhile, in New Asgard (in another dimension)…
"Outrageous!" Brunhilde yelled, as she looks at the images of Lokidis' reflecting pool in her inner sanctum. "How DARE my husband be on Midgard, while I, Brunhilde, has to remain her in the Golden Realm!"
"Honestly, sister, you should behave yourself," Lokidis said, as she sipped her drink.
"How can you be so calm about this?" Brunhilde said, as she turns towards her sister. "As long as we are HERE, we cannot reclaim our mortal lives…as 'Akane Tendo' and 'Nabiki Kuno' respectively."
"Yes, this is true," Lokidis said, as she wave the images of what was transpiring on Midgard away. "However, the All-Mother has made Lord Baldur 'regent' in her stead, and Baldur had decreed that until further notice, the Norse shall NOT have contact with Midgard."
"Grrrr!" Bruhilde growls. "I bet this is ALL Ranma's fault! He probably want to collect more floozies in my absence from our bed…"
"Gee, way to think beyond yourself, Brunhilde," Lokisdis said sarcastically.
"Humph!"
A few days later…
CHUNK!
CREEK…!
"We're finally home," Ranma said, as he carried Usagi into their new home. Actually, it was his mother's home, since the home of Usagi's parents had yet to be rebuilt from an attack caused by Black Lanterns 18 months ago.
"Are you sure that it's okay?" Usagi asked, as she held unto her husband of many years. "We could find a new place…"
"Well, we lost the lease on the place in Nekomi, and Ryouga and Atalanta are living at. But Mom won't mind us looking after her house, until either she decides to move back, or lease it."
"Well, we could finally rebuild my folks' home in the interim," Usagi said, as Ranma helped her unto her feet.
"Agreed," Ranma said. "I'll call the contractors tomorrow to get an estimate."
"Well, just be mindful that I want the house to be rebuilt EXACTLY as it was," Usagi said. "We can rely upon the schematics of the house stored within the computer banks of the 'SS Ranusagi'."
Silence.
"Hey, want to 'break in' this house?" Ranma said with a wiry grin.
"Oh, I see," said Usagi with a mischievous. "Well, let's do it in your parents room, so we can be naughty."
Ranma thought about it for a moment…
"You're on," Ranma said, as he pulls her to the appropriate place…
Later that night…
"Man, what's with the frog chirping sound?" Ranma said, as he sits up. He and his wife were sleeping on a mattress in the middle of the bedroom.
"Who knows?" Usagi replied with a sigh. She then sniffed the air, before opening her eyes to see…a large toad staring at her.
"Ah!" Usagi said, as leaps up, and lands in Ranma's arms.
"What, what?" Ranma said, as he caught his wife.
"There's a frog staring at me!" Usagi said, as she points to the toad that was looking at them.
"More like a toad," Ranma replied. "A hatch or window must have been left open."
"Well, it's hideous."
"Usagi, it's just a toad. Nothing-"
To toad opens its mouth to reveal a small scroll.
"-More."
"Huh," Usagi said, as she gets back on her feet. "It's a messenger, but from whom…?"
Usagi takes the scroll from the toad, thanked it, and reads it…
"What does it say?" Ranma asked.
"We're being summoned to Mt. Myoboku by the Elders of the Toads," Usagi said.
"When?" Ranma said.
"Now-"
POOF!
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh-!
THUNK!
"Oof!" Ranma said in unison.
"Owie," Usagi said.
"My, oh, my," said an anthropomorphic female toad of a grandmotherly disposition named "Fukasaku". "Did we catch you two at a bad time?"
"Well, I'm glad we did, heh," said the female toad's male counterpart, named "Shimna", as he gave Usagi a lecherous grin.
"Hey!" Usagi said, as she tried to cover up her "naughty bits".
"What? We're all naked here."
"Well, for YOU it's natural. Humph!"
"Elders," Ranma said, as he ignored his modesty, as he bowed slightly. "I assume that there is a reason for this…summons."
"Other than looking at your fine, human body?" said Fukusaku said. "Yes, yes there is."
"You know, Lady Usashinko, I wish I was not married in our younger days," Shima said. "That way, I could have challenged Lord Ranshin, defeated him, and then we could have 'done it' Toad-style."
"Ew!" Usagi said with disgust. On the other hand, she could always learn a new technique…
"Ha!" Ranma replied. "Like I'd let you. And besides, that's unnatural."
"Really?" Fukusaku said. "What about those rumors we once heard about you wooing the goddess of frogs named 'Heqt'?"
"Hey, first, she was in her HUMAN form when we got together. And any time either one of us have had relations with an anthropomorphic entity, it was in the context of THAT."
"So there!" Usagi said, as she stuck out her tongue, while thinking about her role as the mother of the Egyptian gods…after mating with Sobkt, the god of alligators.
"And besides, Usagi and I are gods. Are tastes in mates is not predicated by mortal standards. Although, I can't speak for Usagi all the time."
"Hey!"
"But enough or OUR personal lives. What do you guys want?"
"Well, we want to thank you for helping to protect Earth during that unfortunate incident involving those not of your world," Shima said.
"No problem."
"And second, we elders might have made a mistake."
"How so?" Usagi asked.
"Years ago, young Jiraiya, upon completing his training on Mt. Myobuko, was told by the Great Sage Toad of a destiny that lies before Jiraiya," Shimna said…
Ranma looks up to see the sleeper Great Sage Toad.
"Is he…?"
"He's just resting, dear," Fukasaku said. "He IS getting old, you know."
"Nevertheless, Jiraiya was given a prophecy that a student of his would bring peace to a world of pain," Shima said. "And that in order to find his destined student, he would have to take a long journey across the lands and beyond in order to do so."
"I don't see a problem with that," Ranma said.
"The problem, dear, is that we might have set him off on this journey," Fukusaku said. "And, as a result, we might have put him in danger."
"Ah, the 'self-fulfilling prophecy' paradox," Usagi said. "Happens all the time."
"We are asking you for your help in making sure that Jiraiya survives his journey," Shimna said.
"Wait, Juraiya is going to…die?" Ranma said with worry.
"That is a possibility, I'm afraid, based upon the direction of his path."
Usagi turns Ranma.
"We can't let that happen," Usagi said. "We owe it to him, especially since we trusted him with our son."
"Of course not," Ranma said.
"Lord and Lady Rantsu, when you came to us to establish the 'Animal Path' that would allow others to make Summoning Jutsus, you two took on an awesome responsibility to insure that those after you will use these gifts wisely," Shimna said. "Now, we of the Toad implore you to look after Jiraiya, whom we have an affinity for."
"Elder, you don't have to say anything more," Usagi said. "We will do what we can."
"Excellent!" Fukakaku said. "After all, we did put in a lot of time an effort training you two with our ways…"
"That is true," Ranma said. Back when he had been killed by an alien named Raditz, he had journeyed to many places in the Immateria to learn new techniques, after his initial training with a god named "King Kai of the North". During this journey, he had learned that the Toad Spirits knew how to become harmonious with one's chakra, and spent time with them to perfect the Hidden Lotus Technique into the discipline known as "Senjutsu"; he also learned the Toad Fist while he was spending time on Mt. Myoboku, the home of the Toad Sages. Later, when Usagi was dealing with having part of the alien android Cell within her, Ranma took her to see the Toads. Initially, the training almost did a number on Usagi…
FLASHBACK!
"Ranma, I'm scared- CROAK!" Usagi said, as the skin of underneath her jaw expanded, as she sucked in air. She was squatting down on a lily pad, like a toad's, had eyes were like a toad's, was greenish and had webbed hands and feet like a toad's.
"Usagi, you have to relax," Ranma said, as he sat nearby. "If you can't, not only will you turn into a toad, but will become a stone toad."
"But…what if I'm stuck as I am now- CROAK!"
"Then I always will love you," Ranma said.
"Really- CROAK!"
"Really. Now, just relax…"
"Okay-"
Suddenly, a dragonfly flies overhead…
SNAP!
Usagi's now elongated tongue snakes out and grabs the dragonfly.
"Mmmph!" Usagi said, as she chewed her food. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all…CROAK!"
Ranma could only stare at the comedy that was his wife's antics.
"…"
END FLASHBACK!
"Okay, we'll do it!" Ranma said.
And thus, a new chapter begins…
Tbc.
Author's Note: This story will cover the events that will lead towards the final confrontation of Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki. Is Juraiya destined to die, or can destiny be changed? Remember, neither Ranma nor Usagi believe in "fate", so anything is possible. Until next time…