SMST: The Mythic Age!
Disclaimer: "SM", "R1/2", "ST" and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 10
Not all business that our traveling heroes had were centered on Camelot. As King Arthur began his reign as ruler of the Britons, Usagi and her companions Ranma, Hoshi, T'Pol and Makoto continued their journey across the world. Although T'Pol was THE "Lady of the Lake", she did like to see the shores beyond Briton, trading her place with her friends. Even Sir Ranmax, one of Arthur's most loyal knights and brave warrior, blade the role of "Lady of the Lake"…much to her chagrin. As the Lady, her fiery red hair and porcelain-like skin gave her the appearance of a proper Celtic, in spite of her "Easterling" features. And many a brave knight tried—and painfully failed—to woo this beauty, prompting Ranma to wonder if being a noble knight causes brain damage, not at all dissimilar to a certain kendoist from modern-day Nerima, Tokyo…
So when there was an opportunity to help the son of an ally on a quest, Ranma naturally took the job, if only to allow for his turn to be Lady of the Lake to be skipped. Joining him in his quest was Usagi and Makoto, all three of which have had experiences dealing with "monsters"…
FWOOSH!
"I hate this," says Ranmassen Wiglaf, as she huddled in her wet cloak. Ranmard was hoping to avoid the storms, thereby preventing her curse from activating. If she tried to change back now, others would consider her to be a demoness or something. Only the fact that Weohstan, of the Geats' "Waegmunding" clan, had made Ranma his heir, that prevented him from being burned at the stake the last time he had accidentally changed…
"I wish I still had my godhood back," Ranmard says to Usagiude. Both she and her companions were arriving from Geatsland, what would one day be known as Sweden. As a result, they were dressed as Vikings or Norse folk.
"I wouldn't worry about it, Ranma," Usagiude says, as she used her lantern to read her notes under her wooden umbrella (or collapsible parasol, as it was known then). Having been already invented in the East, Usagiude was glad to have it with her during this storm.
"When we get there, I'll place a meme spell on those people who will over-react when you change back."
"Guys, how long do you think it will be before we reach Denmark?" Makotude asked.
It should be noted that the typical thing to do when traveling to new lands is to change one's name to fit the lexicon of the local populace. In this particular case, the three added Viking suffixes to their respective names…
"I'll go ask Beowulf," Ranmassen replied, as she made her way to the forefront. There, at the bow, stood her former student. Beowulf sensed her presence.
"Old master," Beowulf says, as he beckons his head to the side.
"Hey," Ranmassen says. "How are we doing?"
"What? Afraid of being wet?"
"Not afraid," Ranmassen replies.
"Then it's because of your present beauty."
"Yeah."
"It should not be long," Beowulf says. "In the meantime, we can go below decks so that you can bare me a worthy heir."
"The only thing that you'll bare is a bandage on the wound that will be inflicted upon you."
"Ha, after slaying half a dozen creatures of the Sea during that race of mine with my trusty sword, you can certainly try."
Ranmassen folds her arms.
"It was TWO sea serpents and a mermaid that you encountered that day, and I recall you using a sword of a different nature to 'stab' the mermaid. And you STILL lost the race."
"Priorities, my friend. Besides, I would not have made it across the channel THAT far if it had not been for your adequate instruction."
"Yeah, yeah…"
Soon, Beowulf's party arrives at the hall of King Hrothgar of Heorot. Ranma, back to his male self, stood by his former student's side, with Usagi and Makoto standing behind.
"So, you are here to slay the beast known as 'Grendel'?" the old king asked.
Usagi looks around the hall. She could sense death all around her…
"Aye, my king," Beowulf says confidently. "I and my companions are here to do the deed."
The king nods his head. He then scans the group.
"Why do you have females with you for this task?" the king asked.
"Sire, I have been taught the Old Ways," Usagi replies. "If there is indeed a monster, I know how to deal with it."
"Then I take it that you are a sorcerer?" says a bearded man that stood next to the king.
"I am."
"Sire, this woman should be put to death. She is NOT of the body of the Christ Church!"
"No!" Makoto says, as she places a hand on the handle of her sword. "She will not be harmed while I breathe."
"Who are you?" says the young woman, who was apparently the queen.
"And I am her 'maid of arms'," Makoto says. "I am to protect her in all cases, wherever she goes."
"Ah," the king says. "I shall allow her presence in this case, Unferth."
"But sire-"
"Enough! As I have said earlier this day, God help those who help themselves. And there has been too much death as it is."
"Sire, we are here to do a job, nothing more," Ranma says triumphantly.
"My companion speaks the truth," Beowulf says. "We will deal with this beast of yours."
"Very well," the king says. "You shall have this grim assignment. For now…let's drink and be merry!"
That night, the great hall sounded with merriment…and passion.
"Ah, this is the life," Beowulf says, as he drank his mead. "THIS is the kind of reward I seek after a day's battle."
"I guess so," Ranma says, as he drinks his mead. He then feels a tap on his shoulder. He turns around to see a buxom blond woman carrying a pint of mead.
"Sir, I would like to invite you for a private drink?" the woman asks demurely.
"Umm…"
"Ah, go ahead, noble knight," Beowulf laughs heartily, as he gives Ranma a gentle push into the woman, whose name would turn out to be "Ingrid".
"Whoo!" Ingrid squealed.
"Um, sorry about that…"
Meanwhile, Usagi was in the middle of preparations for the task of dealing with a potential threat. As much as she wanted to enjoy the party in the Great Hall, Usagi would rather carry out her responsibilities first before merriment. So, with the king's consent, she found a secluded stone, fire pit to do her divinations.
She then turns to Makoto, who was standing guard.
"Mako-chan, you CAN join the party, you know," Usagi says. "I don't need to be watched."
Makoto turns to her old friend. All evening, she was wondering what Ranma was up to…
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I am just as good an Amazon as you are. So I CAN take care of myself, you."
"Thanks," Makoto says, as she leaves the pit.
"Hhh," Usagi says, as she shakes her head. She then decided to look into the future. As she threw her Runes onto the floor in front of the fire…
"Welcome home, Usagi," says a voice.
Usagi turns to see-
"Urd?"
The Norn goddess of the past smiled at her old friend. She brought up some pints of meads.
"Thirsty?"
"You know I can't drink when I do this stuff," Usagi says. "How are your sisters?"
"Oh, they're fine," Urd says, as she sits down by the fire. "Belldandy is wondering when you will visit Asgard."
Usagi sighs tiredly.
"Urd, after what had happened between Thor and Ranma, I don't know…"
Thor had challenged Ranma in combat for disobeying the will of Odin. Odin did not want either Ranma or Usagi to take the "Test of the World Tree", out of fear that one or the other could supplant his reign as the Lord of Asgard, as least according to a prophecy from the Norns. Later, this prophecy would come to pass when Usagi, after merging with Thor, acquire "The Will of Odin" (called the Odinforce in modern times). And thus, Usagi assumes the mantle of the Lord of Asgard. Of course, that's a LONG way off before that happens…
"I know, I know. It was just an idle thought. It's just that with the cycle of Reckoning reaching its fruition, I don't know what will happen to us."
"I wouldn't worry about," Usagi says with assurance. "As long as I remember you guys, you'll be around."
Urd smiles.
"Then, let's propose a toast then," Urd says, as she brought up her mugs. "To the future?"
"You're trying to get me drunk or something?"
"Maybe…"
"Fine, but ONE drink," Usagi says, as she accepts the mug. "To the future."
CLINK!
Later that night, Ranma awakens to a scream.
"What is it, my lord?" says Ingrid says to her bedmate.
"Stay here," Ranma says, as he picks up his sword, and ran out the room.
Ingrid looks at the nude Ranma's backside and sighs in contentment.
As Ranma heads for the great hall, he runs into a robed Makoto.
"What's going on, Ranma?" Makoto asked.
Ranma was about to say something but dismissed the thought as being non-important.
"Go get Usagi," Ranma says, as he continues on his way.
"Er, right," Makoto says, as she heads for the door to get Usagi from her chamber. When she did, she saw a surprising sight. Apparently, Usagi was with someone.
"Usagi?" Makoto asks in surprise. "Who-?"
Urd decides to peek from underneath the furs.
"YOU!" Makoto yells. "I should have expected you to side-track Usagi from her work…with something."
"Um, hello, Makoto?" Urd says, as she gets up in embarrassment. "I better get going. Take care!"
FLASH!
And Urd was gone.
"Usagi, what were you up to?"
"Not know, Makoto," Usagi says, as she rubbed her temples. "I had a rough night."
"No kidding."
"Please, don't."
"Fine, but Ranma thinks there is trouble."
"Oh?"
Meanwhile, Beowulf and Ranma both confront…GRENDEL.
"Noise!" says the hideous creature. "Noise, noise, NOISE!"
"Ah, you speak!" Beowulf says. "Know this, creature…I am the nightmare of your kind. I. AM. BEOWULF!"
Ranma had managed to stun the monster, and had sent the creature packing, only to have his former student lop off his left arm.
"BEOWULF, NO!" Ranma yelled, before the deed was done.
CHOP!
"ARRRRRRGH!" Grendel yelled in pain, as he ran off into the night.
"Beowulf, why did you do that?" Ranma says angrily.
"We've injured the creature," Beowulf replied. "It will soon die."
"And what if it has friends?" says Usagi, as she and Makoto enters the hall. "And if can talk, then we could have deal with the creature peacefully."
"Bah!"
"Well, at least no one was injured this night," Makoto says, having seen no bodies.
Usagi stared at the direction of where the monster went. There was something familiar about it…
"We should drink and be merry!" the king says. "For the creature shall soon die."
However, the next night, Grendel's mother shows up to exact vengeance against Heorot. Luckily, Ranma and the others were there to greet it.
"Echidna, I'm surprise to see you this far north," Ranma says, as he greeted the Mother-of-All-Monsters. Usagi had created a barrier to keep Echidna at bay.
"After Kratos slew my husband Typhon, I left the bosom of Greece to attend to my affairs," Echidna says. Strangely, her human form looked like the form of the modern day actress Angelina Jolie. "And now, my son is dead, and I demand satisfaction."
"Your son attacked these people first," Makoto says. "Your son's death resulted in HIS actions-"
"I shall satisfied your blood lust," Beowulf says. "And while we battle, fairest 'Kaninude' and 'Sannard' will keep watch of the hall, while 'Hastassen' and I will go meet the monster."
"Kaninude", "Sannard" and "Hastassen" were the Swedish equivalent of Usagi, Makoto and Ranma's names respectively.
Ranma turns to Echidna.
"That's good for you?" Ranma says.
"Yes," Echidna says, as she turns to leave. "You know where to find me."
And with that, Echidna disappears in a mist.
"I really hope that this turns out okay," Ranma says.
"Ah, my friend," Beowulf says. "What could possibly go wrong?"
Years later…
"BEOWULF!" Ranma says, as he sees his friend slay the dragon, which later turned out to be Beowulf's son "Fafner". Apparently, instead of fighting Echidna, Beowulf had cut a deal with her and fathered a child. Now a man, the child was going to be used to destroy Heorot, now under the domain of King Beowulf.
Ranma sees Beowulf plummet to his death.
"Ranma, I have them," Makoto says, as she pulled Beowulf's wife, Queen Wealtheow, and his young mistress Ursula.
"You…you seem so young," Wealtheow says.
"I get that a lot," Makoto smiled. "But you're still good for being gray-haired."
"Th-thank you," Wealtheow says with a blush.
A day later, King Hastassen Wiglaf and his consorts stood as Beowulf received a funeral worthy of a Viking.
"Beowulf, you miserable and brave bastard," Ranma says. "You gave me a kingdom to be caretaker of, and women for my bed. Bah."
"Oh, be quiet," Usagi says, as she held Ranma's hands. "You know that by doing this, it'll keep most of the Vikings off of Briton's back…for at least a while. And besides…it's been a while since I was within a steady commitment."
Ranma turns to Usagi.
"I thought you and Perceval were an item."
"Well, I haven't seen him since he decided to search for the Holy Grail. I'm not going to wait for a guy who doesn't know his priorities."
"Then we should get married."
"Naw, because Wealtheow needs to keep her station, if Denmark is to survive. Besides, she doesn't mind."
"Really?"
"Really. And, she did profess a liking to you years ago."
"Really?"
"Really. She didn't because Beowulf got to her first, and that previous husband, King Hrothgar, specifically wanted Wealtheow to be available."
"Oh."
Ranma turns his full attention back to the burning ship. Usagi and Makoto stayed behind with their friend to share in his grief, as mourners returned to the castle above the beach.
And then, they see a familiar face…
"Hello, my lord," Echidna says seductively, as she bobbed in the middle of the water. "I'm waiting…"
"Oh, boy," Ranma says, as he sweats.
"Huh," Makoto says. "It looks like she wants something from Ranma."
"Yeah, his 'sword'!" Usagi yelled.
Tbc.