SMSTSS 42: The Return of the Lady of Shadows! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST, Castlevania and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a two-part story. C&C are welcomed.
Special Note: This is the sequel to "The Lady of Shadows"
Author's Note: This was supposed a Halloween special, but real life got in the way.
Part 1
The Lady of Shadows, the Dark Princess, was the undisputed ruler of the so-called "World of Darkness". Well, at the very least, someone who commands respect if not loyalty amongst the denizens of the Dark. Having mastered the lycans, the vampires and the necromancers, the Lady was a shadowy goddess who knows no bounds of decency, though it was only her sense of reason and mercy that kept her ambitions in check. Her very name drives fear in the hearts of those who exist in the twilight of the cosmos. Many of its denizens knew that confront this person did so at their peril, while those who seek great renown within the darkness did so at their discretion. Still, very few would know that beating within her black heart was the soul of a magical girl who sought to bring love and justice to all, even if her methods were rather…unconventional…
Nekomi Prefecture: Tokyo, Japan.
While in her wolf-girl form, Usagi howls at the moon of a nondescript house.
"HA-WOOOOOOOOOOOOO," Usagi yowled, as her crescent moon mark glowed softly. Her silken white fur was a sign of being "pure blooded" amongst the wolf-kind, the Garou.
"HA-WOOOOOOOOOOOOO-!"
The owner of the nondescript house, Akane Tendo-Saotome, sticks her head out of the window.
"Would you be quiet?" Akane yells. "Ranma will be ready to go to that damn party of yours in a few minutes. Besides, what will the neighbors think?"
"They should worry about what I'm thinking," Usagi said jokingly, as she shows her fangs while reverting back to a more human appearance. This causes Akane to roll her eyes.
Inside, Ranma, in his girl form, steps out of the bathroom wearing "his" cute witch outfit, complete with hat and broom.
"Man, I'm so 'hot', it's amazing that I've haven't fallen for myself," Ranma-onna said, as she preens in front of the floor length mirror.
"Ranma, I really wish MY HUSBAND didn't prance around like some floozy," Akane replied.
"Hey, when you got it...flaunt it," Ranma-onna said jokingly.
"Humph!"
Usagi converts her body into a misty fog, and flows into the Akane's house through the window. She then reforms her human body…
"My, you're looking pretty good in your costume," Usagi said.
"Um, why are you nude?" Akane said. "Don't you have access to clothes with, well, unstable molecules?"
Thanks to Dr. Reed "Mister Fantastic" Richards, of the famed "Fantastic Four", clothes can now be treated with a special enzyme that can adjust with those with transformative capabilities without damaging the clothes.
"Didn't have time to wash," Usagi said. "But, if you feel uncomfortable about me being this way…"
Usagi summons spiders, a lot of spiders, to form webbing around her body, by spinning their silk into a dress.
"Ugh!" Akane said, thinking that now she had to call pest control in the morning.
"Impressive," Ranma-onna said.
"Yeah, I learned it from Lilly," Usagi said, as she then shaped and hardened the calluses underneath her feet into shoes.
"Is this daughter of Dracula?" Akane asked.
"No, that's Lilith," Ranma-onna said.
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"Well, it's no different from calling one person 'John' while another person 'Jonathan'," Usagi said. "Still, Lilith is a popular name, but there are many variations on it, particularly amongst the Dracul."
"That's Count Dracula."
"No, the name 'Dracul' is an order warriors amongst the Tzmisce vampire clan," Ranma-onna said. "Originally, they served the Catholic Church for centuries, until they fell from grace, starting with Prince Vlad of the House of Tepes."
"And HE is 'Count Dracula' of the Bram Stoker book."
"I still don't know why you aren't going to stab these…the monsters, Ranma," Akane said. "I mean, their evil, right?"
"My approach in dealing with this, as the 'Sorcerer Supreme of Earth' is more to do with actions rather than intent," Ranma-onna said. "Generally, I won't intervene if the would-be victim is of low character or outright evil. I will intervene if innocents are involved, but, generally, I have a hands-off stance…"
Pause.
"Besides, I let the hunters—mundane, enhanced or paranormal—to deal with them, while I deal with the big guys, like the vampire gods, the lycan chiefs or the arch-necromancers."
"Well, in that case, why don't you deal with HER?" Akane said sarcastically, as she thumbs Usagi's way.
"Hey!" Usagi yelled. "JUST because I have minions who like to eat people, that doesn't mean I a bad person…"
"Yeah, right!"
"Akane, you shouldn't worry about such things," Ranma-onna said mischievously. "I 'impale' Usagi every chance I get. Heh."
"Ranma, you jerk!" Akane said, as she punches Ranma-onna in the jaw, one for being sexist, and another for reminding her that Usagi was her other wife.
"Ow!"
Usagi merely giggled. In some strange way, having Akane beat up Ranma was almost a turn-on to her…
"Well, I know when I'm not wanted," Ranma-onna said, as she makes sure that her witches hat was snuggly on her head. "Let's roll."
"Okay!" Usagi said, as Ranma-onna tosses her broomstick into the air, where it floats in place. She and Ranma then hop onto the broom.
"Don't wait up," Ranma-onna said with a wink and a nod. She then clicks her heels, and takes off, with Usagi having already wrapped her arms around her "husband".
"See ya!" Usagi said, as she crackled with laughter. "HOHOHOHOHOHOHO-!"
"Ugh," Akane said to herself. She wondered if Ryouga was seeing someone these days. At least HE was a "normal" martial arts adventurer, unlike her perverted husband and even more perverted co-wife…
"At least, I can relax for the rest of the evening-"
Suddenly, Akane's Justice Society communicator, which was in the appearance of credit card/identification cars, thanks to Dr. Michael "Mister Terrific" Holt's technology, sounds an alarm.
"GAH!" Akane yelled, as she nearly jumped. She then rushed over to her communicator, and activates it. A virtual window appears.
"Yes?" Akane said.
"Hawkgirl, we need assistance," said Alan "Green Lantern" Scott, as he spoke in somber tones. "We have a situation with Solomon Grundy…"
The protector of Earth tells Akane that the newest iteration of the zombie creature known as "Solomon Grundy", formerly Cyrus Gold, had returned to attack Washington, DC, in America. However, unlike previous incarnations, this newest Solomon Grundy was an avatar of a decaying force known only as "The Gray". So, not only was Grundy still big, tough and super-strong, but now he has the ability to decay biological life into a zombie-like state, before he could then control the victims of his deadly embrace….
"Okay, I got it," Akane said, as she began to undress. "I'll be there as soon as possible, after I get my sister Kasumi to watch over Kenma-"
"Um, you don't have to undress in front of me, Akane," Alan said, as he blushed slightly.
"I thought you were, well, you know."
"I may have 'come out of the closet', but I have been with women before."
"Oh, sorry…"
The Lady of Shadows was an anomaly amongst those of her stature. Unlike Umar or Blaze, Usagi's darkness was rooted in her need to do whatever it took to end a crisis. Unfortunately, this meant doing things that were rather…unorthodox.
Earlier in the year, Usagi went on a fact-finding assignment to inspect one of the investments of the Rantsu Foundation, the charity organization that she and Ranma had set up after amassing a lot of money over the years. This investment was in the form of an oil company that had a series of wells along the Arctic Circle near the American state of Alaska. In fact, it was the second trip into the region in recent years. Unfortunately, that first time dealt with roving band of vampires who wanted to take advantage of thirty days of perpetual darkness. Even more unfortunate, the second time up there, she would be dealing with roving band of werewolves, after the plane she was returning home on accidentally crashed in the middle of a forest…
"Well, this is a fine mess," said Diaz, as he and the other survivors of the plane crash huddle around a makeshift fire. "Half of us are dead, and we're miles from anything remotely civilized, you know-"
"Would you shut up?" Talget replied. "We should have a bit more faith in our ability to get through this."
"'Faith'? Don't shove that religious crap into my face. I'm a realist-"
"Would you BOTH shut up?" Ottway said, as he raises his hand.
"What is it?" Usagi said, as she looks up from reading her book. She wasn't worried about finding a way out of the area, but wanting to wait until the weather clears up before making a break towards one of the many hidden installations that the American government owned with the survivors.
"We're surrounded by wolves," Ottway said. "Nasty wolves from deep in the wilds…"
Sure enough everyone could see the glowing eyes of the wolf pack that was staring at the plane survivors.
"See?" Diaz said. "See what I mean?"
Usagi sighs, as she closes her book. She should have remembered that the north was full of changing breed and kinfolk of changing breed, ranging from werebears to werewolves. And from the looks of this particular pack, the plane survivors were dealing with a particular tribe of werewolves called the Red Talons…
"We have to stay close to the plane," Ottway said. He then noticed Usagi walking in front of him.
"Lady Rantsu!" Ottway said. "Don't move ahead of me-!"
"Mr. Ottway, whatever you do, you keep everyone calm and still, no matter what," Usagi said, as her eyes turned silvery.
"What are you planning on doing?" Diaz said.
"I'm about to deal with the Alpha of this pack," Usagi said, as she suddenly burst out of her clothes into her own giant wolf form.
"Holy crap!" Talget yelled.
The wolf pack backed up in surprise, as Usagi-inu rounds on them. The Alpha, however, stood his ground.
"So, you're one of us," the Alpha said in Garou, the language of werewolves, as he and Usagi-inu circled each other. "However, we do not hide our true form."
"Whatever," Usagi-inu replied. "These men are under MY protection. Find your meal elsewhere."
"Make me," the Alpha said.
And, with that, the two went at it…
The next morning, the Red Talon pack, with Usagi-inu in the lead, was traveling long and hard, with the humans holding onto their while on their individual backs. With the defeat of the Alpha, Usagi-inu was now the de facto Alpha. However, in spite of the Alpha's defeat, Usagi-inu did not kill the Alpha. In fact, Usagi-inu promised the pack a fresh, dead "game", such as moose, for each human that would have been eaten by the wolves. The Moon Princess didn't want to trade one life for another, but felt that the lives of humans took priority. Meanwhile, Usagi-inu had the survivors make an oath to never mention what had happened, including telling other that she was a shapeshifter.
"I…I really don't know what to say about this," Ottway said, as he held unto Usagi-inu's fur, as the Lady of Shadows ran through the forest with her pack.
"I think it's better not to think about it," Usagi-inu said.
"Agreed…"
Of course, the Moon Princess was the Lady of Shadows, and had the powers of both Lycans and Vampires alike, not to mention being a "natural" mistress of necromancy. However, unlike having the ability to become a "wolf-person", being a blood drinker involved a little bit more…sophistication when dealing with other vampires…
Recently, Ranma and Usagi celebrated their wedding anniversary with a trip to…Las Vegas, Nevada.
"Honey, we're here!" Ranma said, as he carried Usagi across the threshold of suburban home, located just outside of the city.
Usagi looks around the room, and then at her husband.
"Put me down," Usagi said.
"What's wrong?" Ranma asked.
"Look, I don't appreciate your efforts buying me gifts, but why a house? We could rent a suite whenever we're in town."
"That is true, but our enemies to leave, well, collateral damage in their wake," Ranma said.
"Ah, I get it. The mayor is still upset over that fight involving the Hulk and four of his enemies?"
"That, too. Besides, we can always lease the house as a timeshare."
"Okay, okay, I get it," Usagi said, as she looks around the living room. "You know, it's been a while since we bought a place that no one knows about."
"Precisely."
"And, it's been a while since you last gave me access to the credit card to decorate a new place."
"Exactly- what?"
"Yes, Ranma," Usagi said with a wide grin. "I'm really going to enjoy this newest shopping experience- er, I mean house."
"…."
Over the weekend, Usagi and Ranma begin the process of decorating the new house. It was during this time that they meet their new neighbors…
"Hello?" said a blond, attractive woman, as she knocks on the front door. The door was open, to allow the smell of fresh paint from inside to dissipate faster.
Usagi turns from her painting a fresh coat of white in the living room.
"Yes?" Usagi said, as she sets down her pain brush.
"Hi!" the woman said. "I'm one of your neighbors from next door!"
"Um, hello," Usagi said with a nod. "And you are…?"
"Oh, I'm 'Judy Brewster'," Judy said. "I'm sort of the neighborhood welcome committee. And…I wanted to give you a fresh-baked pie-"
"Did someone say…'pie'?" Ranma said, as he stuck his head out of the kitchen. He was going through the crawl space to inspect the electrical and plumbing, in order to allow for further improvements to the house.
"Oh!" Judy said, as she was taken aback at first to the sight of Ranma. She almost dropped her pie.
"Oh, my," Judy said, as she drank the sight of Ranma being shirtless. "Oh, dear…"
"What's going on?" Ranma said, as he stepped up to Usagi's side.
"Well, it appears that there is a neighborhood 'welcome committee'," Usagi said. "Oh, by the way, my name is 'Usagi', and this is my husband 'Ranma'."
"Hey," Ranma said, as he took Judy's free hand to shake it.
"Oh, dear," Judy said with a furious blush. "We seem to have hot, er, well-distinguished men moving into the neighborhood of late."
"Oh?" Usagi said.
"Yes, a man named Jerry Dandridge and his friend Billy Cole moved into the house across the street last week," Judy said. "At first, I thought they were a couple, but I learned that they are just very good friends making investments in the local real estate."
"Yeah, right," Ranma said sarcastically.
"Anyway, I invited them to our annual block party tomorrow tonight, so I am extending the invitation to you two. I know it is short notice, but…"
"That would be wonderful," Usagi said. "Oh, let me know if you want me to bring my special dish."
"Bunny, we're supposed to make new friends, not new enemies."
"Humph."
"Bring anything you feel appropriate," Judy said, as she hands the pie to Usagi. "And again, welcome to the neighborhood."
With that, Judy leaves to return to her home.
"Well, Ranma, what do you think?" Usagi said.
"Well, I think, this pie deserves to be sampled," Ranma said, as he takes the pie off of Usagi's hands. "Preferably with some vanilla ice cream."
"You and your stomach," Usagi said with a sigh…
Tbc.