SMSTSS6: Blue Moon! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST, James Cameron's Avatar and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre, mini-story.
Special Note: This story takes place after the events set in "The Enterprising Experience", the events after "Blackest Reign and a Dark Night", and after the events of "Spatial Loss". In other words, this is a tandem story.
Part 4
It was dark now. Unfortunately, that didn't mean that there was nothing going…
"Eeek!" Usagi said, as she jumped into Ranma's arms. "A bug!"
"Usagi…you're…heavy-!" Ranma said, as he held the ten-foot tall avatar in his arms. After fleeing from the cat-like creature (called a "Thanator"), he, Usagi and Jake had gotten lost. Upon reaching dry land, with Usagi's help, he managed to turn himself back to normal, using his always-available teakettle to do so. Of course, Jake was alarmed when he saw this, but chose not to say anything about it then and there. Now, it was time to survive the night, in spite of the danger than the jungle has presented itself…or lack there of.
"And it's just a damn bug!"
Really?" Usagi said, as she looks around. "Oh, it's looks cute."
Annoyed, Ranma drops his friend.
CLUMP!
"Owie…"
"Look, we got to find some food, shelter and the whole works," Ranma said, as he turns towards Jake, who was sharpening a long stick. Luckily, the trio had enough gear on them to allow them to survive a week, before alternatives are needed. However, it was particularly problematic for Ranma, since he did not have the benefit of having an avatar. He was small, in comparison to everything else, which annoyed him to no end. Still, Ranma was never one to back down a challenge, and he would be damned if he died on some hostile planet, and not be able to see his wife and daughter again…
"No kidding," Jake said, as he puts away his knife. "The terrain around here is so treacherous, that what would have taken a day walking a straight line, might take a week to do so."
"Not to mention all the nasty things running around," Usagi said, as she cautiously looked around.
"Alright," Jake said, as he rubbed his forehead, before turning towards Ranma. "Ronnie, did I imagine you turning into a busty, red-haired girl earlier today? And where did you get a kettle of hot water anyway?"
"Yes, you did," Ranma said, as he broke out in a sweat. "Yeah…"
"Oh, stop it, Ranma," Usagi said, as she chided her friend. She turns towards Jake.
"Ranma got a 'sex-changing' curse when he was an aspiring, young martial artist."
"What do you mean 'was'?" Ranma interjects. "I'm STILL aspiring."
"There's no such thing as curses," Jake scoffed. "But I do believe in shape-shifting aliens, which is a more reasonable explanation."
"Do I look like an alien to you?" Ranma replied. "Hell, you AND Usagi look like the aliens. And if I was, why would I be here?"
"Spying? Observing?"
"Preparing to give probes to the unsuspecting victim?" Usagi offered.
"You're NOT helping, Usagi."
"I'm just trying to lighten the mood, here, Ranma."
"Jake, alien or not, I'm here, and we all need to work together. Okay?"
Jake looks into Ranma's eyes…
"Okay, and the kettle with the hot water?" Jake asked.
"Martial arts technique involving creating a personal pocket dimension," Ranma said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, and here I thought you may NOT be an alien after all-"
"SKKRRR-YIP!"
Everyone turns around to see a pair of glowing eyes, thanks to the light from their portable lamp. Unfortunately, black-like dogs that looked like a cross between a hyena and a grayhound accompanied those eyes.
"Usagi, you're the xeno-biologist!" Ranma said, as he whirls about, trying to get a handle on the situation. "What are they?"
"I think they are called 'Nantangs'," Usagi said.
"In English?" Jake said, as he lights a torch. He wanted to use fire to drive the creatures away from him.
"'Viperwolves'."
"Gee, I'm feeling MUCH better," Ranma said, just as the creatures attacked.
"SKKRRR-YIP!" said the lead Viperwolf, as it and its pack attacked.
"YA-TAH!" Ranma said, as used a pair of sticks to utilize techniques that were learned from his Escrima training.
WHACK!
BLAM!
SMACK!
CRACK!
Ranma may not know what these things were, but he knew that most dog-like creatures had a basic physiology that was consistent…he hoped. That is why he focused on stunning his attackers, knowing that the Viperwolves were doing what came natural to them.
SMACK!
"Not…bad!" Jake said, as he tried to defend himself, although he was not as successful as Ranma was.
"'Not bad'?" Ranma replied. "How many did you hit?"
"Um, one."
"Oh, okay," Ranma said, as he rolled his eyes. Actually, fighting while wearing a breathing filter was a bit more taxing than normally, but he was not about to end up as food for anything. Otherwise, he'll never hear the end of it in the afterlife…
Meanwhile, one of the viperwolves corner Usagi.
"Nice, doggies," Usagi said, as she was ganged upon. "It's okay-"
"SKKRR-YIP!"
"Ah!" Usagi said, as the lead viper fell on top of her. She felt drool on her face, and a growl on her ear, when the viperwolf stopped.
"Oh?" Usagi said, as the viperwolves began to sniff her. One of them began to lick her face, causing her to giggle.
"Heeheeheeheeheehee-!"
"Usagi?" Ranma said, as he and Jake realized that all the viperwolves have ceased their attack on Usagi, and were crowding around her.
"What's going on?" Jake said.
"I…I don't know," Usagi replied. "But as long as they aren't attacking, I'm fine with it-"
SNAP!
All eyes turn towards the source of the sound, and see an attractive, Na'vi girl pointing an arrow at them.
"Who are you?" the girl asked in accented English.
"Wait, you can speak our language?" Jake asked.
"I know of the ways of the Sky People, although not as much as my mother and father," said the girl. "I also know that you are capable of 'Dreamwalking'."
"'Dreamwalking'?" Ranma asked.
"That's what the Na'vi call humans who uses avatars," Usagi said.
The girl, upon hearing Usagi speak, turn to see her very clearly now. She widens her eyes.
"You…you have returned!" the girl said, as she suddenly drops to her knees.
"What's going on?" Jake asked.
"Yeah, what's going on…Usagi?" Ranma asked.
"How am I supposed to know?" Usagi said, as she plays with one of the viperwolves. "I am as much in the dark as you guys are."
"Well, why don't you ask the girl?"
"Fine, I will," Usagi said, as she goes over to the girl. "Um, excuse me?"
"Yes, Daughter of Eywa?" the girl asked.
"Why do you call me that?" Usagi asked.
"Eywa tells the story of how she of Eywa, but not of Na'vi, who will guide the instruments of the Na'vi's salvation in our greatest time of need, and will unite us as a nation."
"Wow, that's heavy."
"And the fact that the nantangs do not wish to cause you harm says as much," the girl said, as she slowly rose from her prostration. "Come; I must take you to see the head of my clan for answers."
"Wait," Jake said, as he reaches out for the girl. "I didn't catch your name."
The na'vi girl turns to look at Jake.
"I am called 'Neytiri', princess of the 'Omaticaya Clan'. We can travel overhead to reach my Hometree quickly."
And with that, Neytiri leaps upon the trees, with the express purpose of using the overhead vines and limbs to make it back to her home.
"Well, what should we do?" Jake said.
"I don't know, but can't stay HERE," Ranma said.
"Last one up is a rotten egg!" Usagi said, as she kissed one of the viperwolves on the snout, and climbs up the tree after Neytiri. Being na'vi made it easier to be limber…
"Yeah, right," Ranma said, as he climbs up the tree. "Like I need an avatar to do what you do. Hell, anything you can do, I can do BETTER…"
As Ranma climbs up the tree, Jake could only stare at the absurdity of the situation.
"Where do these people come from anyway?" Jake said, as he climbed up the tree…
As Neytiri and her companions traveled to her "hometree", they stopped when Life Seedlings floated, like dandelions seeds in a cool breeze, and landed on the Sky People.
"What-?" Ranma said, as he was about to brush off the seed.
"Stop, little one," Neytiri said. "These are children of Eywa."
"Hey, I ain't little!" Ranma yelled.
"Are these seedlings alive?" Usagi asked.
"All is a part of Eywa, but these seedlings are extension of her will," Neytiri said.
"Then what does this mean then?" Jake asked.
"You are favored, you three," Neytiri said. "For what reason, only the queen will know."
And then, just as suddenly, the seedlings fly off.
"Come, we must continue our journey to resolve this mystery," Neytiri said. "And make sure that the 'little one' keeps up."
"I told you-!" Ranma began to yell.
"Oh, get it a rest, Ranma," Usagi said. "I'm sure that once Neytiri and her people get to know you, you will be accepted."
"They better…"
"I'm more concerned about us possibly getting killed in all this," Jake said.
"What?" Ranma asked. "You're scared?"
"No, I'm not…little man," said Jake with a grin.
"Just keep dancing on that proverbial minefield, Jake," Ranma said.
"What? You're going to hit my avatar, or my real…CRIPPLED body?"
"Yeah, I just might," Ranma replied. "I need to use my legs to give you a fat lip, you know."
"Humph."
By early morning, Neytiri and her traveling companions had made to Neytiri's home village.
"We have arrived," Neytiri said, as she surveyed the landscape.
Usagi looks up to see the massive tree, which spiraled towards the heavens. She didn't have to be a martial artist to know that the tree was a home to a lot of people.
"Hey, Usagi," Ranma said, as he nudges his friend. "Everyone is staring at you."
"Huh." Usagi said, as she looks around. She saw that the Na'vi were getting on their collective knees upon gazing upon her.
"Do tell…"
"I just hope it's not to eat us," Jake said.
"Oh, Jake," Usagi said, as she chided her associate. "Not every sentient life form is a cannibal. Now the Naussicans…they'd eat anyone with a pulse."
"Huh."
After being escorted to the heart of the Hometree, Neytiri presented her new friends to her parents…
"This is the chief of the Omaticaya Clan, 'Eytukan', my father," Neytiri said, as she points to a stern man. "And this is the voice of Eywa, Mo'at…my mother."
"Why have you brought these people here, daughter?" Eytukan asked.
Ranma and Jake were glad to have access to their universal translators on their person, though there jargon was lost to them…
"I believe that I have found the 'Daughter of Eywa', Father," Neytiri said.
"Most curious," Mo'at said, as she inspected Usagi. She took a sniff of Usagi's skin.
"Well?" Eytukan asked. "What shall we do with these three?"
"The girl can stay for further inspection," Mo'at said. "As for the men, they will need to be…tested."
"What?" Jake and Ranma yells.
"Good," said another Na'vi male, as he steps forth. "I and my brothers will teach these Sky People what it means to be outlanders."
The crowd backs up, as more Na'vi males show up.
"Ranma-!" Usagi said, as other females hold her in place.
"Mother, Father, what is the meaning of this?" Neytiri asked.
"Deeds are more revealing than words," Eyutukan said. "How they demonstrate their prowess against Tsu'Tey and the others will allow me to decide if they are worthy of staying amongst us."
"Great, just great," Jake said, as he went back-to-back with Ranma. "I hope you know how to fight, Ranma."
"I hope you can keep UP, Jake," Ranma said, as he scans for the first to fight him…
Tbc.
