SMST: The Mythic Age! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "Ranma ½", "Sailor Moon", "Star Trek" and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special note: This is a sequel to "SMST: Endless Sand".
Part 2: "Age of Silver" (Alpha).
When one hears the term "god", ideas of grandeur, authority and power personified come to mind. In the early days of Man's existence, anyone with a bit of power could easily be worshipped as a "god" (or "goddess"). In later times, more accurate categories would be developed to differentiate who was or was not god. How this notion has affected the likes of the lost crew of the SS Icarus, no one can truly say. However, their opinion on the matter was of great concern to Lord Chronus of Mt. Olympus. He knew that the crew existed long before he slew his father Uranus, an action that ended the era of the rule of Kingdom of Atlantis, since Uranus was the Atlanteans' patron on Earth. So, he set the stage for a plan that will ensure that ALL unknown variables have been dealt with…
BLAM!
The Izanagi slammed his opponent, the Monkey King, into the surface, causing a small quake in what will be known as the birthplace of the Qin Dynasty. It was also the birthplace of the Han. For days now, the Lord of Yahirodono (the equivalent of Mt. Olympus in the sphere of Japan) battled the champion of the Jade Court for the life of his wife, the Izanmi. The Jade Emperor feared the Izanagi's power, so he sent a fire elemental named Agni to kill Izanami. Contrary to popular belief, Izanami did not become the personification of death when she was imprisoned in the under world of the Yama. In fact, many stories of death and the underworld were influenced by many "layers" of the Underworld, with the story of Izanami's demise influenced by what would later happen to Persephone during the Age of Copper. The REAL story was that since the lands of the Yama were under the domain of the Jade Court, Izanagi had to challenge the Emperor in order to free his wife…
Before his opponent could recover, the Izanagi places a foot on the Monkey King's neck.
"I have no beef with you, Goku," Ranma says. "But I aim to get my wife back."
"Enough!" says the Jade Emperor, as he stood up.
Ranma turns to the Emperor.
"You may be ruler of the Jade Court, but I will determine my future. So, either you can free my wife, or I'll call some favors…from Shiva and Kali, and I know that you cannot afford a war with the gods of the Vedic and my family."
The Jade Emperor grimaced, knowing that the Izanagi was correct.
"You…may go."
Ranma bows his head slightly.
"Thank you, my Lord."
And with that, Ranma disappears in a flash of light.
FLASH!
A short time later…
"Daddy!" says the Amaterasu, as she and her brothers come running up. The young sun goddess was worried that she would lose her parents before she had a chance to introduce her boyfriend…
"Is Mother okay?" Tsukiyomi says, as he helped his father place his mother on a recliner. It was the god of the moon who clued his father on what was going on.
"She's resting," Ranma says. "But I want to make sure that she's fine, since she had become the Goddess of the Dead."
Inwardly, Ranma shuddered at the thought that Hoshi looked like some zombie. She definitely owed Hild BIG time in restoring Hoshi to normal…
"I'll get the healing medicines, Father," Tsukiyomi says.
"Yo, Pops!" Susanoo says, as he takes out his large sword (called "The Storm Breaker"). "I say that we should gather our allies, and kick those cowards' butt!"
"No," Ranma says.
"But, Pops-!"
"Can't you be more concerned about Momma than your ego?" Amaterasu complained.
"Who's asking you for YOUR opinion anyway?"
Ranma sighs. From what he recalled from his studies on myth and lore, Amaterasu and Susanoo will become antagonistic towards each other…after Amaterasu becomes the Lord of the Heavenly Realm of Japan. Knowing how sensitive he was about the timeline from his days in Starfleet (then known as just "UN Spacy") Ranma had to be cautious about his actions.
"Kids, stop," Ranma says tiredly. "Can't you two see that your mother is resting?"
"Sorry," the aforementioned children replied.
"Ranma?" Hoshi says tiredly.
"I'm here," Ranma says, as he held onto his wife. "I promised I get ya, and so I did."
Ranma was reassured when he felt Hoshi squeeze his hand in reply.
A few days later…
DING!
Ranma and Hoshi awoke to the sound of bells and light, as the image of an old friend appears. Although this person is known as Danu, the mother goddess of the Celtic gods, the mother goddess of the Vanir gods (who, along with the Aesir gods that make up the Norse pantheon) and elves, they knew her as-
"Hey, T'Pol!" Ranma says happily. "It's been a while."
"Yes, it has," Danu says, as she bowed. She looked even more regal than ever…in her white, flowing gown.
"What brings you by, T'Pol?" Hoshi says.
"It is time for us to meet again. You know where to meet myself and the others."
And with that, Danu disappears.
"Well, she's as abrupt as ever," says Hoshi, as she leans back in her bed.
"Then there's only one appropriate response," Ranma replies.
"Oh?"
Ranma smiles, as he begins to put the moves on his wife.
"Must you ALWAYS think about THAT?"
"Yes, yes I do."
"Figures."
A few days later…
"We're here," Ranma says, as he and Hoshi ride on the back of their giant pet crane into the domain of the Olympians.
"You think we'd get attack by Lord Cronus?" Hoshi says with concern.
"Naw," Ranma replied. "My buddy Zeus made sure that his father won't know about this meeting."
"Um, you DO know who Zeus is, right?"
"What? All that is just a bunch of stories. I mean, who would have guessed that the 'supreme goddess of the Edo' would turn out to be our little girl?"
"Well, I just don't trust that guy."
"I don't either, but someone has to keep an eye out on things that happen around here…"
Eventually, the couple arrives on one of the islands that dotted the Aegean Sea. There, on the beach stood three other peoples.
"Huh, so you made Makoto a goddess, Usagi?" Ranma says.
Usagi wore clothing that was heavily influenced by North African (especially Egyptian) and Near-Eastern cultures, while Makoto was influenced by Sub-Saharan cultures. Like Ranma, Hoshi and T'Pol, they had become progenitors of entire pantheons, or had a relationship to those same pantheons. In the case of Usagi, she was named "Iusasset" (the mother and grandmother of the gods), having had a relationship with Atum-Ra (the Sun god) before moving on. In the case of Makoto, she was known as "Mawu", and had become wife of Oxala (the creator god), and thus became the mother of the Orishas (or "African gods"). In that capacity, she gave birth to Olorun, the Sky god, who, in turn, fathered Aderimi (the Wind Goddess), Shango (the god of Thunder), and Obatala (the Lord of the Orishas). Eventually, Usagi and Makoto traveled to America, where they communed with the gods and spirits of those lands. In Usag's case, she had developed a relationship with Viracocha, the Incan god of civilizations. And in Makoto's case, she had a fling with Huitzilopochli (the Aztec and Mayan god of war)…because he reminded her of her "old sempai" Ranma. The irony is that this god's "avatar" would be unleashed in modern day…as Ogre, when Ranma participates in one of the Tekken Championships that one of his "investments" had sponsored…
Nevertheless, the crew of the SS Icarus would become legends in their own right, over a span of a human age.
"I didn't want to be lonely, Ranma," Usagi says. Everywhere she stood, the Earth gave birth new life.
"Hello, Ranma," Makoto says, as she smiled. And then, she was on Ranma within an eye-blink.
"Oh, how I miss you, sempai."
"Do you mind?" Hoshi says with a perturbed look. "He is MY husband, you know!"
"I'm sorry, Hoshi," Makoto says with an embarrassed look. "It's just that I have so many regrets…"
Usagi merely giggles.
"That is irrelevant," T'Pol says. "Regardless of what we are now, we have to act."
"Why?" Ranma says. "I mean, besides Cronus hating us for our association with the Atlanteans, who or what warrants our attention?"
T'Pol waves her staff in the air, and an image of an angelic man appears.
"His name is Sauron…though he is called 'Annatar' these days."
"So…what is he?" Usagi asks.
"He is of the 'Ainur'. Some believe that these Ainur were the 'Pure Ones'…the first sentient beings to be created by the Eru, or the One."
"Hmmm. Sounds like these people are angels or something."
"Ironic considering what we've become," Hoshi says.
"Putting cosmology and theological discussions aside, Sauron has been…a problem for my children and the people of Europa since the First Age, after Atlan and I made a home in the lands of Erie."
"See!" Usagi says. "Didn't I tell you that Atlan wanted to get into your pants, T'Pol?"
"Usagi be nice," Makoto says. "It's good that T'Pol found love."
"Er, yes," T'Pol says. "Regardless, I am concerned that he will cause trouble for those I…care about. So…I am asking for your help, my friends."
"T'Pol, of course we will help," Usagi says.
"Count me in," Makoto says.
"As you can count on US," Hoshi says. "Right, Ranma?"
"You bet. Besides, it'll be good to see what's Europa is like and all," Ranma says.
Meanwhile…
"How DARE they enter my realm without paying their respects!' Cronus yells, as he looks into a reflecting pool on Mt. Olympus. "Still, once the male is out of the way, I can take the women for myself, right Lord Sauron?"
"Of course, Lord Cronus," Sauron says with a nod. "I provide you a distraction as a means of getting rid your enemies, in exchange for 'Prometheum'…so I can make my 'One Ring'."
"That is a rather intricate means of controlling people by corrupting them."
"Perhaps, but I found that vice is the simplest tool to dominate others.
Tbc.