Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi, 3x3 eyes (Sazan Eyes) is the creation of Yuzo Takada, Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoko Takeuchi. All are used without permission. This fan-fiction isn't intended for commercial use but is rather a tribute to Ranma 1/2, 3X3 Eyes, and Sailor Moon. This is dedicated to Fire (dzillman) and partly inspired by DC comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Chapter 10 - Dispositions
Pegasus had his hand to his chin as Steelfeather related the encounter with the mysterious visitor. "Well looks like you were right about someone being behind the appearance of Wiseman and Nephi, and they finally showed up," said Ranma.
"Kaiyanwang Paradox. Not the most promising of names," commented Parvati.
"You said this Kaiyanwang Paradox was dressed in a tattered purple robe and claimed to be from the End of Time?" asked Pegasus.
"Yes, does that mean something?" asked Kodachi.
"Unfortunately it does. You see I am something of avid American manga, or as we call them comic books, reader. The outfit and place match those of a villain in one of them called the Time Trapper. If this Kaiyanwang Paradox is basing herself off of that villain we are all in trouble. In the comics the Time Trapper was the most dangerous foe of a young group of superheroes who would often use time as a weapon; that hints that while Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune are her primary targets the rest of the Sailor Senshi may be on her people to hurt list." Pegasus looked at Shadow Pluto. "Get the Sailor Senshi here. All of them. I don't care if you have to bring them here in their underwear but get them here."
About half an hour later the Sailor Senshi were told the story of the brief encounter. Meiou Setsuna was the first to speak up, "Pegasus, Wiseman's little delaying tactic finally failed, and I have been trying to convince Neo-Queen Serenity not to come here but..."
"How long we got before Neo-Queen Serenity shows up and starts trying to clean our minds like they're pieces of laundry?" growled Wiseman.
"She will be here by the end of the week."
"I thought Queen Serenity died with the Moon Kingdom," said Usagi.
"This is her reincarnated daughter. My mother means well but her methods leave a lot to be desired," Black Lady then glared at Wiseman, "Not that Bakaman's ideas on how to stop her in the past have been an improvement. Oh well I guess it takes a thief to catch a thief."
"Ouch. That sounds like one of my distractive insults only a lot more subtle," laughed Ranma.
Wiseman growled, "I am not an idealistic airheaded nincompoop."
"No you are a pessimistic loose cannon of a nincompoop. Not there is much difference." glared Black Lady who then scowled. "Doesn't say much for us going coming back here going along with your original if we can't stop her we destroy the world idea."
"And just what was wrong with it?" snapped Wiseman, "Neo-Queen Serenity subjects have less will in them then the majority of the beings Pegasus has pulled from the ShadowRealm. Better to be dead than live like that if you can even call that 'living'. Existing would be a better term."
"Bravo, Wiseman!" exclaimed a strangely artificial female voice as a pair of hands clapped. "When I offered some of her subjects to my Shikima to have fun with they said that playing with blow up dolls would have been more worth their while."
Everyone turned and saw a figure in a tattered purple robe leaning against the entrance to the main room, "Kaiyanwang Paradox, I presume." frowned Pegasus.
"Give it up Pegasus," said the figure pulling out what looked like a small compact. "I have both the Ginzuishou and Jakokusuishou. The pitiful hundred some souls you have been trying to release are nothing compared to the 300 billion the Ginzuishou and Jakokusuishou contain. Your Eye will learn nothing about me I don't want it to learn." Paradox snapped her fingers and four female figures moved up beside her with a fifth moving around in the background. "And in case anyone has any brilliant ideas on trying to fight me I brought my best friends along as an honor guard."
The first figure was bathed entirely in flame, the one next to it had a body that looked like it was made of ice, next to that was a woman with the wings, horns and tail of a succubi practically drooling, next to her was an female figure with long talons on her hands and feet, but it was their faces that startled Pegasus. He looked between the Sailor Senshi and Paradox's honor guard and back again. "Oh no." he whispered.
"Why does your honor guard look like my friends?" glared Usagi.
"Pegasus knows. Don't you?" asked Paradox the mocking tone showing though her artificial voice.
"Hotura, could you please come out into the light?" said Pegasus.
"But Uncle I am sitting right next to you." Hotura said then her eyes widened in realization as she turned he attention to the shadowy figure behind Paradox. "Oh no."
"He was asking me to step into the light," said the shadowy figure as it moved forward. Pegasus scowled as he saw his niece only this version had half her face covered in a silver metal and her left hand seemed to be made of the same material.
"What happened?" Pegasus said his voice harsh and promising pain.
"Sailors Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto happened," said the figure gesturing to her face. "They nearly killed me simply because I possessed the power of Sailor Saturn. I survived but as you can see not intact. Right leg, left arm, and the left side of my face had to be replaced by this living metal."
"Paradox, what happened?" asked Pegasus his one real eye glaring.
"Why tell you when I can show you." said Paradox as what appeared to be the Time Gates appeared.
~*~*Begin Time Gates images of Crystal Tokyo*~*~
Everyone widened their eyes at the carnage they saw. The broken bodies of the Inners were all over the place as well as the twisted remains of a young man in a tuxedo wearing a mask lying in a pool of dark red liquid that nobody really wanted to identify. To one side was Sailor Pluto her senshi uniform torn. Over to the other side was Sailor Moon with a robed figure standing beside her.
"All this time, I hated the wrong person," said the robed figure. "You were the real enemy all along, Sailor Pluto. Neo-Queen Serenity was nothing but a pawn in some sick game to recreate a kingdom that died some 13,000 years ago."
"You would go this far just to make sure this Crystal Tokyo you planned would happen? You killed my friends just to prevent us from going back and saving my daughter! You are even more a monster than Wiseman is!"
"You do not know the half of it," grumbled Wiseman. "I found lost records of the twentieth century and found out the same day some one called Black Lady died three people of the Tsukino family also died: Kenji, Ikuko, and Shingo. If I was to guess I would say those people were somehow important to Neo-Queen Serenity and the real reason you were stopping her is because you are afraid of her finding out something about their deaths."
"Idiotic Outers were like bulls in a china shop. They were so eager to get the three items of power that they got reckless. Before I knew what was going on they had managed to get those three pure heart crystals destroyed."
"And rather than let Neo-Queen Serenity find out the truth you went off and killed her friends." Wiseman's hood turned to look at the bodies. "I am curious as to why their bodies are giving off demonic energy."
"Because for all its power the Ginzuishou cannot bring back the dead. The best it could do was give them psudobodies and mask their true nature. From Beryl on the Sailor Senshi had more in common with the demons they fought than the humans they protected." Sailor Pluto gave a humorless chuckle, "You know what is the ultimate irony? The founders of the Silver Millennium were the Sanjiyan Unkara which literally means Divine Demon. But Queen Serenity's grandmother had broke with tradition and stopped using the title Kaiyanwang because it meant Demon-eyed-king. If she had kept the title or my mother had told me of her true origins I would not have blocked access by the Sanjiyan Unkara and they would have likely been able to stop Queen Beryl."
"So to sooth your guilt you played mystery woman not telling us who we are fighting and letting my parents, brother, husband, daughter, and friends get killed just so you could use me to restore the Silver Millennium?" growled Neo-Queen Serenity.
"I could not go back and tell my youngerself how it all turned out because if anyone messed around there was a chance Crystal Tokyo would not exist."
"And here I thought I was the manipulative bastard," said Wiseman shaking his robed head. "I guess you are going to kill us both and wait around for your pawn to reincarnate so you can try again."
"I don't need the Time Gates to know the future both of you have planned for me will not be a pleasant one. If it is any consolation, Wiseman, I will make your fondest wish come true. You get to see Neo-Queen Serenity die. Death Scream."
"NO!" yelled Wiseman stepping in front of the attack and taking the full blast. He then fell into Neo-Queen Serenity's arms, "Takes too much energy to keep my soul in this skeletal body of mine." Wiseman chuckled, "The final irony. All this time I have been trying to destroy you and the Sailor Senshi and my last action was to save you." Wiseman reached into his robes and pulled out the Jakokusuishou, "You were as much a victim as those you sent to Nemesis. For good or bad you are the only one I can trust to make sure my people are not left alone. My robe and crystal will allow you to defeat the Pluto bitch." Wiseman put the Jakokusuishou in Neo-Queen Serenity's hand as his own hand along with the rest of this body crumbled to dust.
"Don't worry; without Queen Serenity to direct it you will remember none of this in your next incarnation. Death Scream." Neo-Queen Serenity reflexively pulled up Wiseman's cloak to shield her and was thrown back by the blast "Seems Wiseman's cloak has some protective properties against our attacks," frowned Pluto. "Oh well, studying it will give me something to do while waiting for you to reincarnate."
Neo-Queen Serenity shook her head and opening the compact that held the Ginzuishou and put the Jakokusuishou right next to it. Suddenly her outfit turned jet black while the blue trim turned to the color of dried blood. Sailor Pluto took a step back startled at the transformation. Neo-Queen Serenity then swung the cloak around her and rolling her head back laughed in a manner that put Kodachi to shame, "So if I bring them back again my friends will have more in common with demons than with my human subjects? Well Pluto thanks to you and your actions Neo-Queen Serenity is dead. Meet her replacement," roared the figure that blasted Pluto into unconsciousness with a mixture of power from the Ginzuishou and Jakokusuishou. The robed figure than walked over and picked up the unconscious Pluto. "Compared to you, Queen Beryl and Pharaoh 90 were bumblers in manipulation. In the name of all the lives you had me ruin I will punish you, Sailor Pluto; but I have no idea on how."
Suddenly a tall muscular green skinned demon appeared with a totally bewildered look on his face, "What in the name of the infernal realms happened here?" he asked.
"The final battle of Crystal Tokyo." The robed figure that had once called itself Neo-Queen Serenity looked at the demon. "You are a Shikima aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Here enjoy my gift," said the robed figure throwing the unconscious Pluto to the demon, "Except for her durability all her powers are nullified. My only request is that you not kill her; I want her to suffer for what she did."
"Oh there is no danger of that. I am very careful with my food. May I ask your name and title?"
"My name? Since my birth was an attempt at creating a temporal paradox, Paradox is my name. As for my title I will use the one my great grand mother had: Kaiyanwang." At which point the Time Gates went blank.
~*~*End Time Gates images of Crystal Tokyo*~*~
"Who are you?" asked a rapid paling Tsukino Usagi.
"Come, my dear. We were not that dense," said Paradox removing something from her neck and pulling off the robe revealing the altered costume seen in the Time Gates. "I am Kaiyanwang Paradox, formally Neo-Queen Serenity, formally Sailor Moon, formally Tsukino Usagi."
"Usagi," asked the ice demon, "this is not another one of your airheaded efforts at wiping yourself from existence is it?"
"Ami, how could you even ask that?" asked the fire demon, "The only time we come back to timelines like this is for one of three reasons. Either to change what happened to the Meatball head's family, grab Sailors Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto or some other bad girl material so the few normal Shikima back home can have fun, or she is trying to kill herself in some manner."
"Sad but true, Rei. Usagi has settled into a kind of pattern. She needs to broaden out more like I have." said the succubi.
"Oh yeh, that is going to work, Minako." said the clawed demon, "Like we need her chasing after anything even remotely humanoid that has anything resembling a sex drive and a thinking brain in its head."
"Are you saying I should branch into animals as well, Makoto?" smiled Minako spreading her wings, "I don't think you should hit your head against the wall like that."
"I never thought I'd miss you being boy crazy," sighed Makoto-demon her head now still against the wall she had been hitting. "Given the way things are going though Ami's right. This world is too different for us to really be changing anything and while still trigger happy the Outers here had not done anything warranting 'collecting'. So Usagi is here for the third reason, again."
"Actually there is one other reason you missed. That the magic of my previous life made me just very long lived not immortal," frowned Paradox. "You see guys the magic and science I have been using has finally reached its limit and I am dying. In fact, I estimate I will be dead in a month."
"So that is why you picked up everything and moved us to one of the many alternate thirtieth centuries you have been looking at. Without you to maintain it the equipment that has been keeping our little patch of reality together would fail and it would be like everything else around us." said Rei her flames settling down into a low red.
"Actually that may have been to the fact that the End of everything can only be held off so long," said Ami her ice skin taking on a bluish hue. "The equipment is failing isn't it?"
"Another year, two if everyone was lucky. We have only five of the old style Shikima left and at the rate their personalities are changing I would say it will be another century before they are like the rest."
"Then they will want to take human woman out on date just like our Hotaru's male demon-friend. Ah candle light dinners, Ferris wheel rides, boxes of candy. How romantic." giggled Minako-succubi.
"You would think the way you act at times you would not care for that any more." grumbled ice-Ami
"You know that is only when I haven't fed in a month. By that time I am so hungry I don't care if my date is willing or unwilling. Heck I am lucky if I care if they are male or female," scowled Minako-succubi. "I would love to have more of a normal relationship with a potential lover but in the majority of timelines even when I can hide this," pointing to her wings, "some demon hunting idiot shows up and ruins everything."
"It doesn't help when said demon hunting idiot generally happens to be one of our alternate selves," grumbled fire-Rei.
"Well that is partly because Meatball Head is usually in one of her punish the Outers by capturing and letting the few 'normal' Shikima 'play' with them kicks," snapped Minako-succubi. "The minute our counterparts find out about that, it is open season on every freaking demon in the area us included."
"It not my fault your pastselves were such narrow mined prudes."
"Usagi, we can handle it because we are not human. The Outers are human, and your Shikima are a little reckless with their toys. How many time haves you had to put the various versions of Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto's minds back together?"
"You have to remember that we have so many versions. I have actually got it down to where any one particular group lasts for months before I have to go in and fix their minds," smiled Paradox.
Pegasus put his chin on his hand. "Have you been a card carrying member of the Squirrel Brigade since what we saw happened or is this something new?"
"Because of those bitch Outers we are not even freaking human anymore!" yelled Rei her flames brightening, "It is certainly better than when our great leader was trying to directly kill herself."
"Mainly because every time I tried the damn Ginzuishou would heal me faster than I could slit my wrists and bleed to death, or slow my fall when I jumped from a high place, or well you get the idea," frowned Paradox. "I could not deal with the fact that not only didn't the Ginzuishou bring you back from the dead but it couldn't. In trying to save you I unknowingly turned you in things with more in common with the demons we fought than the humans we protected." Paradox hugged herself, "Then the Shikima told me just what my cleansing did to the people of Earth. The world would have been better off with Beryl running it."
The ice and fire demons looked at each other, "Ami, if Meatball Head is going to die of old age in a month why in the blazes are we still messing around with these baka?"
"Because she still believes, despite my efforts at trying explain Chubi-Usa's supposedly fading from existence was another one of Sailor Pluto's little stunts not to question her supposed knowledge, that she can wipe herself and us out of existence." responded the ice demon.
"Ami, this time it will work. All it requires is the mixture of the right timelines being merged through the Time Gates and poof our timeline goes bye bye." grinned Paradox
"More like rational thought go bye bye," mumbled Pegasus. "I assume we are one of the lucky timelines in this wondrous plan."
"Correct," smiled Paradox the look in her eyes showing that she was definitely several cards shy of a full deck. "The ironic thing is that I was created because Pluto killed my timeline's Ranma. Without him the Outers' recklessness resulted in my parents and brother's deaths."
"Why did Pluto go after me?"
"Unlike the majority of people who became Wiseman you actually came up with a good idea. Instead of taking out any of the Sailor Senshi that other you instead set up events so they got another power source to fight those who would threaten Earth. Wiseman Ranma even went further and purposely aimed for an alternate timeline that happens to be the one Hiroshima and Nagasaki belong to. That world was the result of one of my first history altering experiments by which I had a wishing crystal fall into your hands"
"You mean I created that timeline as both a time traveler and Wiseman?"
"No, the time traveler created the world. All Wiseman Ranma did was reshape the destiny of the girls who would have been the Sailor Senshi. For reasons I am not even sure about Pluto felt really threatened by this and took the other you out. Strangely I keep having this feeling that somehow my wishing crystal effort is involved in this timeline but I cannot see how. I am going to so love when the Valkyrie Warriors and Neo-Queen Serenity get here." Paradox chuckled as she and her friends faded form view.
Usagi frowned looking at the spot where Paradox stood. "Pluto," she said her voice sounding almost like a hiss of steam, "I want an explanation for what we just saw, and I want it now."
"I think the explanation is obvious, Sailor Moonbeam," said Wiseman, "In that timeline Sailor Pluto got so caught up in bringing back the Moon Kingdom everything else became expendable. Your friends, your family, the will of the human race, need I go on?"
"No, Wiseman, you don't need to go on," frowned Ranma, "Even nine years ago I think even I would have gotten the point. Well Pegasus was right in that somebody had been behind several of the events that have happened and far more."
"Shadow Pluto, can the Loony Toony version of Neo-Queen Serenity really do what she claims?" asked Pegasus.
The ShadowBeing nodded, "Yes. It would require the energies of the required timelines passing through the Time Gates and using the combined power of the Ginzuishou and Jakokusuishou but it could be done. Not that it would last."
"Grandfather Paradox."
"Right, while you can create alternate histories you cannot truly change the past because the events that caused you to take those actions would no longer happen. But if they don't happen then the timeline you came from does exist and around and around like a waltzing mouse it goes."
"Don't sound too stable," commented Ranma.
"It wouldn't be. Before long we would have a history more messed up than those of Pegasus' American Superhero comic books. Eventually the cycle would be broken but not before the world saw things like what happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki on a world wide level."
"She hinted at something happening related to Neo-Serenity's arrival," frowned Rei as she gripped the hem of her priestess robes.
"Valkyrie Warriors? Sounds like something inspired by a Wilhelm Wagner opera," frowned Pegasus, "I hope it does not mean the thought that just passed through my mind."
"What thought is that?" asked Makoto.
"Hiroshima and Nagasaki represent a timeline where Nazi Germany never existed, while in our timeline they did exist but lost WWII. What is missing from that progression?"
"Oh my Kami-sami," paled Ami, "A world where the Nazis not only existed but won WWII."
"And if as those cities show we are the product of our histories... oh Kuso." said Akane as she and Ranma both paled.
"From what I heard it would not be too hard to truly twist Crystal Tokyo into something akin to a Fourth Reich. Especially if you could find and eliminate the one person who knew different." Pegasus said looking at Setsuna. "I looked over the other world's history. The only mention of someone fitting Sailor Pluto's description was recorded as having committed suicide by letting herself fall into an uncursed pool at Jusenkyo around 1880. Ranma's counterpart tried to pull her out in time but..."
"Let me guess he fell in instead becoming the new Sailor Pluto," sighed Ranma.
"Well you got the fell in part right, but the Ranko persona that developed never called herself Sailor Pluto. She however has called herself Sailor Nemesis, a name that suggests she had some idea about a future world similar to Wiseman's. Here is something Shades is going to love; General Yamato has limited access and control of the Time Gates."
"What do you mean limited access and control?" scowled Shades.
Pegasus picked up a book and opened it to a marked page, "I think the words of a soldier will explain it best. 'We faced General Burakku Hiryuu who told us that personal and family honor was meaningless if it dishonored our country or Emperor. The honor of our country and our Emperor comes first and though we had been made samurai in name we must prove it by deed. He said to prove it to him and the world we were worthy of the title of samurai we would have to be above such concepts as race and purity. He then said if we failed our country would know fire, pain, death and dishonor on a scale not seen before and never to be seen again. He then summoned a portal that would show us what karma we would reap if we continued to follow the dictates of Prime Minister Tojo.'
'No words can describe the horrors we saw when we walked through that portal. Shambling nightmares that had been once human beings walking through a blasted landscape. Black patches that I was told had one been living people and were vaporized in an instant by the weapon used on the city. I felt a hand grip my arm and looked up to see the features of one of the General's ShadowRealm Oni allies pale. General Burakku Hiryuu spoke softly of how in this world we had treated the Chinese like dirt, slaughtering, raping, pillaging, and in the end challenging their ally the United States. He said this was the result of those actions. He told us that Tokyo had suffered a similar fate by less powerful weapons and in two days time Nagasaki would see this new weapon used against it. The black dragon lowered its head and asked hot water be poured over it. We were stunned when General Burakku Hiryuu shrunk down and took on the form of Emperor Hiriohito but in the uniform of the US Army. He said that was not the worst of it for to save his Japan his counterpart would do to unthinkable and surrender to the United States less than a month later. He revealed how and when he had first learned of this terrorable future and the means he had then been given to prevent it. We learned how for 16 years our Emperor had lived with this nightmare that had a place and a time. How six years ago he and our Empress had partly and permanently given up their very humanity to spare us this dishonor. Many of the men were moved to tears by the lengths the Emperor had gone to for his country's honor. I can say not a person from our world who ever goes there can forget the Hiroshima of our Emperor sensei's timeline, August 6, 1945 9:00 a.m.'"
Pegasus opened the book to another page and turned it so everyone could see. There was the Black Dragon form of General Yamato blood dripping down his wings which were shielding some Chinese women and children with flames coming from his mouth as a soldier dressed in the samurai garb of the sixteenth century was running a soldier dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Japanese Army through with his sword in the foreground. Pegasus picked up another book and started reading from it, "'The dishonor of this place weighs heavy on the General, nothing else can explain the barely controlled rage one can see in his eyes. He says in that other world we terribly dishonored the American soldiers here. What did Tojo twist us into that we would dishonor one such as Audie Murphy, a man despite his barbarian looks has the heart and soul of a Japanese Samurai? My heart feels heavy at the answer as I remember Hiroshima being the response to that dishonor. There seems to be some sort of deadline we are fighting against as well as the soldiers who minds and souls have been poisoned beyond reclaiming by Tojo. We eventually reach General Edward P. King, Jr. and I again see the samurai spirit. His men are starving, low on supplies, and yet they fight on. This seems to lift the General's spirits and we finally beat back the Imperial Army, we share our rations with the American soldiers and draw our battle plans. No matter what they are we know we will be leaving Bataan soon.'"
"Pegs, I think we may have problem." frowned Ranma.
"This is a very different Yamato Hirohito. He knew of this world and tried to prevent that history from being his and now is in that history with his only method of time travel to one of the most tragic days in Japanese history. If this information is even remotely correct his dragon form is faster and more maneuverable than a modern jet and with a lot more fire power. And if that isn't enough to give the Chinese the jitters then the fact he has access to 3 million people with abilities that could single handily take out entire companies of men without breaking a sweat certainly will."
"Oh I wouldn't worry about the 3 million on the mainland I'd worry about the 1,000 on the artificial island Tsunami in the Sea of Japan." said a voice.
Everyone turned to see the Elder Sage as he walked into the room. Ranma narrowed his eyes as he noticed the man's movements seemed slightly more sluggish than their last encounter, "The General is trying to figure out what to do with Purple Base Tsunami."
"You alright?" asked Hotaru.
"No, I am not. There is only so much my martial arts skills can do and I am pushing the limit. I have not slept in three days." The Elder Sage sat down at the table and steepled his hands in front of his face. "I have been to the location of every damn Death Camp the Nazis had putting up shinto wards."
"Why?" asked Ranma.
"Precaution. It is only a matter of time before some idiot figures out those camps would make the perfect focus for creating something akin to the Millennium Items. The wards will royal screw up any amateur and most skilled attempts. That should give the spirits there enough time to create stronger defenses." The Elder Sage staggered to his feet. "Something is brewing connected to my past in this world; I can feel it. Something that will come to a head soon."
"Elder Sage, does the name Valkyrie Warriors mean anything to you?" asked Pegasus.
Elder Sage paused, "Neo-Fuhrer Serenity's yougerself and her happy inner circle. The psychowitch who in her efforts to eliminate her Sailor Nemesis killed 100,000 people. It was that disaster that brought home to everyone just how far the Nazis were willing to go. That was the only reason the Emperor invaded China: to fight Nazis from a timeline where they not only existed but won WWII. Sadly despite all the warnings there were those who thought they could control the war to their own ends and Japan effectively had itself a civil war as well as a war with the Nazis. Adding to our problems is the fact that the Nazi world was being used as an all you can eat buffet by a robed nutcase named..."
"Kaiyanwang Paradox?" finished Pegasus.
"Yes," scowled Elder Sage. "She took a major hand when the Nazis decided the Japanese royal family was disposable in 1955. She saved the Emperor from being killed and turned him into a freedom fighter with a blood feud with the Nazis under the name Wiseman. She then went one step further and got a Wu named Benares convinced he was a US Captain named Samuel Benares Wilson. When the guy found that a 19th century man named Samuel Wilson had likely been the basis for Uncle Sam and he could not be killed, he developed the delusion that he was the spirit of America. With Sailor Nemesis these three formed the core of freedom fighters that slowly started pushing back the Nazis despite my counterpart figuring out some mystic magic. That knowledge along with Kaiyanwang Paradox's constant meddling limited how much we could but we were still able to use Sazan to save millions from extermination." Elder Sage gave a wry chuckle. "It is strange to have such clear memories of things that for me never happened. About a year ago we ramped everything up when Valkyrie Moon showed up and we figured out she was the precursor to Neo-Fuhrer Serenity. We even got the help of her enemy from her previous life in the form of Queen Beryl and three Outer warriors of the Moon Kingdom who hadn't been twisted by the Nazis." Elder Sage paused and adjusted his glasses, "But what is with such an interest in another timeline?"
"Kaiyanwang Paradox has taken an interest in this timeline. I took a long shot she was somehow involved in the timeline you have knowledge of." frowned Pegasus.
"Pegasus, Kaiyanwang Paradox is dangerous. I would say she is even crazier than that or this world's Hitler was. That Wiseman had declared open season on Nazis didn't help. He sees Kaiyanwang Paradox as a valued ally no matter what she does. Some of what her demons and the Disrupter do to the Nazis and those that support them make the Nazis own crimes against humanity look like a Sunday School picnic. The sad thing is that with the exception of Sailor Nemesis and our people the freedom of that world is in the hands of total psychopaths."
"I take it you don't think things went this way by chance." asked Rei.
"Oh I don't think Paradox created that world, but she certainly took advantage once she found it."
"WAAAHHHHA, my counterpart is a totally evil lunatic." cried Usagi.
"Which one? Kaiyanwang Paradox or Valkyrie Moon, Sailor Moon?" glared Elder Sage. Usagi stopped in mid wail and looked at the Elder Sage who continued, "Why the blazes couldn't whatever altered things replaced this with the Tsukino Usagi that the Grandmaster trained. Instead of a good martial artist we get a poster child of Genma's view of females," he grumbled.
"WAAAHHHHA! Why is everyone so mean to me?" wailed Usagi.
Black Lady shook her head and started counting off reasons off on her fingers. "You're a klutz, you wail like banshee when where is something you don't like, you gave everybody in my timeline an emotional lobotomy, and your happy bunch of buffoons never really acted as a team no matter which of you dysfunctionals was leading the disaster. Did I forget anything?"
"Yes," growled Chubi-Usa, "BLACK LADY NO BAKA!" whammm
Everyone developed sweatdrops as Black Lady sat there twitching an insanely huge mallet now firmly planted on her head. "Mind telling me where you developed this little attack?" grunted Black Lady.
"It was something Ranma told me about. Seems his wife Akane did it a lot before they got married."
"Oh so that is where you learned it from." said Black Lady was she slowly removed the mallet from her head. "Any other little things your Ranma told you that I should know about?"
Chubi-usa smiled and started counting off on her fingers, "He told me about and Nephi taught me how throw Ki, the Bakusai Tenketsu, Happo Go-en Satsu, Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken, the improved Neko-ken."
"Hold it." said Ranma holding up his hand, "Improved Neko-ken? Exactly how did it get improved?"
"You open a portal to the ShadowRealm and let one of the cat spirits merge with your soul. Mom blew a gut when she finally found out. Then I told how the original was done. She then ran to the bathroom and threw up." Chubi-usa smiled.
"I trust the Bakusai Tenketsu was also improved?" asked Ranma.
"Yep. Mom would have gone on the warpath if I had used the old method." Chubi-Usa then grumbled, "It was bad enough when she found I used the original method for learning the Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken. My Ranma wasn't too happy either."
Ranma frowned, "When did you learn these techniques?"
"Oh, over the last year. In fact I learned the Happo Go-en Satsu last week. I got to show it to Mom when she and Mars got into a yelling match about something. Strange thing is Mom looked frightened afterward," frowned Chubi-usa.
"Chubi, just what is this Happo Go-en Satsu?" asked Setsuna frowning starting to wish she had paid a little more attention to Ranma and company.
"I can answer that as I have seen and been on the receiving end of it," said Ranma. "It is a long distant variant of the Old Pervert's technique which allows you to drain Ki from people."
"Drain Ki? Oh crud sounds a lot like what Queen Beryl and her bunch did in my timeline," groaned Setsuna rubbing her head. "Your mother likely panicked, and somebody talked her into something dumb."
"Yes I would definitely call going in half cocked with no plan, getting yourself, your friends, and your daughter best friend's parents killed something dumb," grumbled Nephi as she glared at Setsuna.
Setsuna looked back at Nephi and decided to confront this issue head on. "You hate me, don't you, Nephi?"
Nephi smiled cruelly, "Not you, my timeline's version of you, Pluto. You on the other hand I simply don't trust. Both of you could have prevented a lot of pain and misery even with the general view of the future you had via the Time Gates. Instead you sat back during that mess with Beryl and the later battles. Little word of warning, my parents may not have survived but their sensei and the Shadow Kingdom most certainly did. They see any threat from your timeline and they will react, badly."
~*~*RS*~*~
Hours later Black Lady was walking along the floatation ring sorting out her views on Chubi-Usa. "You really think I am like you were, Black Lady?" asked a young voice.
Black Lady spun around and faced Chubi-Usa. The small pink haired child was frowning, "You really think that after Ranma taught me to see Ki that I would be blind to just what my mother had done?"
"I don't understand," said Black Lady
"You understand part of it but not all. Mother royally screwed up. But neither she or the Inners were to blame." Chubi-usa's eyes flashed raw hatred, "Pu was. She isolated Mom from a realistic view of the world. She sacrificed two of the Outers for her goals in my world. Hell I just found out that time traveling witch was ready to kill mother, her family, the Inners, even us so that her precious Crystal Tokyo would exist and that pushed Mom totally over the edge." Chubi-Usa closed her eyes and seemed to compose herself when she reopened her eyes the hate had been replaced with anger, "So are you going continue to direct your hate to the wrong person or are you going to wise up?"
"What about my Pu?" asked Black Lady.
"She is not the total egomaniac Paradox's or mine was. She still wants to listen." Chubi-Usa gave a smirk, "You know why I was so eager to learn Ranma's Ryu? So I could learn the Umi-senken and the Yama-senken." Chubi-usa broke into a horrifically evil smile, "Have any idea as to why?"
"The Umi-senken would give you a kind of invisibility," said Genma as he glided down, "but the Yama-senken is only useful to break into houses."
"Not after Kumon Ryu was done with it, Pops," said Ranma seemingly appearing from nowhere Akane holding his hand. "He turned it into a series of deadly air blade attacks. One was so powerful it literally created an edge of pure vacuum." Ranma narrowed his eyes, "I can think of only two reasons someone would want to learn both. The first was the reason Kumon Ryu had; to re establish his dojo. But the other parts of the Ganso Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu don't really fit into that. That leaves the second reason. Small Lady, I am curious; just how did you plan to get away with murdering your Pluto?" finished Ranma looking the little girl in the eyes.
"WHAT?" yelled Black Lady staring at her younger counterpart.
"I nearly had Mom relent and restore everyone until Pu stuck her nose in," glared Chubi-Usa. "You have any idea of the lies and half truths she would tell Mom about the only friends I had simply because their ShadowRealm nature didn't fit into her little view on things? Or how many times I had to talk Mom out of cleansing me because I was unhappy she was reluctant to let me see those friends?" the little girl spat.
"Enough times that you decided to kill her." scowled Ranma.
"I was nearly ready too. Everyone knew Ryoko's little stunt was unlikely to work but it gave Pu yet another reason to get Mom to do something stupid. I thought I had explained to her that Pu was wrong and that at best Ryoko's machine would create another timeline. Looks like I left too blasted early and everybody except Hotaru wound up dying as a result."
"What happened to Hotaru?" asked Akane.
"Lord Panik blasted her clear of the Castle before Nephi's mother used Dark Hole. At least that is what Replay showed. We were playing hide and seek and I fell asleep inside the machine Ryoko was working on. I've had enough time to figure out how to use the ShadowRealm to show me what I missed, and it wasn't pretty. Mercury reduced to a bloody pulp, Pu gutted like a fish, Jupiter run through, Venus and Mars with broken necks, and of course Mom getting a trip to the ShadowRealm via Dark Hole." Chubi-Usa signed. "Likely give me nightmares for weeks," she muttered. Chubi then frowned, "How much did you hear, Usagi?"
Ranma and Akane both saw a figure emerge from behind a tree in the forest that grew between the Castle and its floatation ring revealing itself to be Usagi. "Ranma, I didn't sense her," whispered Akane.
"Neither did I, but then again I wasn't looking for her. The large amount of ShadowRealm Ki this Castle puts out makes detecting anyone here harder than normal. Sort of like trying to see a candle flame that has a bonfire right behind it."
"Also in her normal state the power of the Moon Kingdom is masked making it nearly impossible." said Chubi-Usa, "But being her daughter gives me an edge though; I should have spotted her before this."
"Perhaps because she had a little help," said Shadow Pluto as she stepped from behind another tree. "We were wondering why you were taking her counterpart's death so well and figured you might reveal something when you talked to Black Lady."
"You should know why I am taking mother's death so well, but I will sum it up for you with two names: Cynthia Pegasus and Tendo Skyfeather. If mother can't be brought back via Monster Reborn she can come back the same way Skyfeather did." Chubi-Usa then smiled that nasty smile again looking at Shadow Pluto, "Heck she might even learn a few things right, Mistress 9?"
Usagi looked at Shadow Pluto who shook her head gesturing to Black Lady, "I would watch throwing my old name around. The last thing I need is her mother's trigger happy friends hearing that."
"Well at least we don't have to worry about Pharaoh 90 trying to consume all life on Earth on top of everything else." said Ranma.
"Sadly the death of Hotaru's father and my imprisonment were at best set backs. I vaguely remember him talking about another option but he never gave me the details. Thanks to Pluto's knowledge that option has a name: the Seal of Oreichalkos."
Chubi-Usa put her hand to her chin, "Makes sense. Pegasus said there were strange irregularities to the Seal of Oreichalkos card indicating that it had been inserted into Duel Monsters by some outside force that was long gone. Never was able to figure where it came from but it sure was useful."
"Ok, the mysterious monster that has a taste for all life has a back up plan involving Duel Monsters. Wonderful," groaned Ranma. "This plan have something resembling a timetable, Shades?"
"Unlikely," said Shadow Pluto. "I only have the vaguest hint of anything even remotely resembling a plan and given the comments Setsuna made I suspect she simply took advantage of Pharaoh 90's back up plan to cripple him which mean in her history it was not fully formed. Even if Pharaoh 90 did have a plan I suspect the recent events as well as the League of OtherWorlds has thrown the whole thing into the dumpster."
"Why?" asked Usagi.
"Despite the broad brush you demon hunters paint them with not all Demons are the same," said the cackling voice of Choukai. Turning everyone saw the grinning features of the Chinaman emerge from the inky darkness that radiated from the Castle like a fog. "Many have codes of honor like Ranma here. Others realize a peaceful alliance with this League will bring them prestige and power. Still others have no wish to see a potentially endless food supply ruined. All these and many others have reasons to fight this Pharaoh 90 I have heard of." Usagi looked at Choukai and frowned as he continued, "Tell me honestly, is there really any difference between a Shikima who takes a woman against her will and a human with magical powers that forces someone to have part of their mind, no their very soul, under pain of eternal banishment, taken from them?"
Usagi eyes started to tear up. "No." she whispered, "None at all." The girl fell to her knees and starting crying. Not the earsplitting wail she had previously done but heartfelt sobbing.
"That was a little harsh, Choukai," glared Akane who turned her attention to the crying girl, "But perhaps it needed to be." she whispered.
Black Lady knelt down and pulled Usagi to her feet, "Come on, Usagi. You too, Spore." Chubi-usa glared at Black Lady, "Yeh, I hate that nickname too. Let's get the Scouts together and really talk about Crystal Tokyo. ALL of it; what was right as well as what was wrong." Black Lady then led Usagi and Chubi-usa back into the Castle.
Choukai brought his staff to his chin and cackled. "You know I had my doubts about this plan of yours, Shadow Pluto; but now I see why you had it done this way. You needed both of them to realize that each of their views of the world was one-sided." Choukai then frowned his voice taking on a more serious tone, "As well as bring some darkness to light."
"Ranma's and Genma's involvement was unexpected but it actually helped the plan move along. Her friends and daughter will help her emotionally recover and hopefully talk some sense into her future self."
"And failing that be able to try and punch her lights out." frowned Ranma.
"More along the lines of punching her friends' futureselves lights out."
"Gads I wish I remembered this power of mine earlier." came Luna's voice. "Would have prevented me from getting a demonstration of that Neko-Ken. At least Ranma and Ranko will not freak when they see me like this."
"Luna, that you?" asked Ranma.
"Yes. Boy it is chilly out here without my fur." said Luna stepping out where they could see her. Everyone blinked. There standing with a puzzled expression on her face and nothing else was a beautiful woman in her early 20's. "Something wrong, Ranma?"
"Ah bu. Luna?"
"Yes. This is a power the original Queen Serenity gave my line of Moon Cats. We can change into human form."
"I take it clothing was not part of the magic." said Choukai cackling.
"I couldn't remember how. Besides it doesn't matter. All of you except Ranma have seen me naked before. Why is Ranma hitting his head against that tree?"
"Because even 11 years ago, I was not clueless enough to go running around completely naked. Without my top in female form yes but not totally naked. A female with less modesty than I have, just what I did not need. Ok Luna, let's get you inside before you give somebody below one heck of a nosebleed."
Several minutes and one bucket of cold water later, "I thought you said this was a pad. Well when I am a cat I have pads on my feet."
"Luna, you have got to be kidding. You spend time with a human girl and you don't know what a pad is? Even Pai who had most of her mind in the 1600's knew that much!" exclaimed Ranko.
"Ok so if is does not go on my feet where does it go?" asked Luna.
"It goes here, baka," said Akane.
"Uh Luna? You ok? Uh Akane, I think you broke her."
"SWEETO!"
"How the hell did you get up here?" yelled Ranko.
"Akane," said Luna softly, "You have a mallet handy?"
"Sure."
"Thanks. PREPARE TO DIE, YOU FREAK OF NATURE!"
A moment later Pegasus looked up from one of his comic books to see a three foot tall old man running with a big bag followed by an unknown woman naked as the day she was born welding a mallet followed by Ranko and Akane. "How the..." Pegasus said before he jabbed at the intercom next to him. "All females, alert. Happosai, the Grandmaster of perverts is loose in the Castle." Pegesus didn't get much further than that as the League of OtherWorlds erupted into total pandemonium.
~*~*RS*~*~
Nephi shook her head at the announcement that came over the loudspeaker. "Nice job, Pegasus, that is going to send every supernatural female into a panic." she muttered pulling another cable into position. It had taken a lot of coaxing but Pegasus had agreed to let her build this version of Ryoko's time travel machine. Even if he had not gotten her word of honor it would have taken months to build the control panel and centuries to get the power need to do a physical transfer. She stiffened at the elderly voice behind her. "Why hello there, little girl, would you like to help a harmless old man?"
Nephi rolled her eyes and turned around, "Ranma-sensei told me ALL about you, Grandmaster Pervert Happosai. So knock off the harmless old man crap, Old Pervert. You have ANY idea how many poor Succubi came to the Shadow Kingdom just to get AWAY from you after you botched that summoning spell? Most were willing to promise to be celibate for entire year they were so afraid of you."
"There it is. Please Sailor Moon I'll be good; I'll even not feed for an entire month just send that thing away." said a Succubi her eyes wild with fear cowering behind Sailor Moon as both entered into the room.
"WHERE IS IT?" yelled Sailor Mars who nearly collided with Sailor Moon as she ran to the room. "Ok you little perverted freak, PREPARE TO DIE!"
Nephi's eyes went wide, "NO! No magic. The Time Machine trap card is right behind... OH SHIT!" Nephi dove for cover as the blast missed the perverted martial artist and hit the Time Machine behind him which promptly exploded into a blinding flash of light.
Pegasus was puzzling over the readings at his computer screen with a candle being held by a ShadowBeing. Whatever the hell the Grandmaster of Martial Artist Perverts had done or caused to happen had triggered the dimensional transit system but everything said they were still on Earth. Thankfully the warning lights for airlines were on two separate and redundant circuits so there was no danger of somebody plowing into the now nearly pitch black Castle of Dark Illusions. Not that Pegasus was taking any chances, 'Swords of Revealing Light.' The ShadowBeing blew out the candle as light filled the room and Pegasus looked out a window at one of the towering Swords. The only bad thing was now the Castle was immobile but it was certainly better than having a pitch black who knew how many ton monstrosity of a floating building with a bunch of red lights around its boarders floating over Tokyo.
"What happened?" asked the voice of General Yamato.
Pegasus turned and frowned at the horse side black dragon, "Some sort of overload. I could have sworn we jumped worlds but as you can see we are still on Earth. Why you here?"
"A woman in a tattered purple robe said I should get here as soon as possible. She said something important was going to happen."
"Somehow I don't think she was talking about our human pervert problem." scowled Pegasus.
"What a Haul! What a Haul!" yelled a small gnomish like creature as it dodged the blasts of the enraged Sailor Sensei.
"SUPREME THUNDER!" kathoom
"AQUA ILLUSION!" Wham
Nagako watched as the girls tried their best to blast the little pervert, "You did say human right?"
"Sadly that is human. What is scary is he has the succubi and nearly every other female demon hiding in terror." said Pegasus as he walked over to an old shortwave radio and after turning it on started fiddling with its dials.
"What are you doing, Master?" asked the ShadowBeing.
"I think... You are seeing if we traveled in time." stated Yamato.
"Time is a dimension like any other." Pegasus said as he stopped on a station a voice coming from the speakers.
Happosai smiled as the girls continued to chase him. Not only were the powerhouses of Ki but their magical attacks were giving his first real challenge in years. Since woman had either pounded him into the ground or launched him skyward he knew surviving a fall from this height was not going to be a problem and so gleefully lept between the Swords and of the Floatation ring into the inky darkness. In moments the Sailor Senshi were doing their best to keep Sailor Moon from falling to the ground. After that the girls all decided that they would wait to daylight then find the pervert and introduced him to a new meaning in the word pain. There was no way any of them could know the problems the morning would bring.
~*~*RS*~*~