Ranma 1/2 is the creation of Rumiko Takahashi and Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoko Takeuchi. This fan-fiction isn't intended for commercial use but is rather a tribute to Ranma 1/2 and Sailor Moon.

Chapter 12 – Reactions

Kasumi opened the dojo door causing the many people training there to pause. "Eclipse, Demando, General Adams and Commander Takahashi from the Japan Self-Defense Forces would like to talk to you."

"That was faster than I expected," commented Ranma.

General Adams raised an eyebrow. "Any particular reason you expected a slower response given the bombshell your Queen dropped, Black Wiseman?"

"This is Nerima which sees more weirdness in one week then the entire rest of Tokyo if not Japan sees in a month if not a year," said Ranma.

Commander Takahashi nodded. "This ward does have a reputation for the strange and bizarre. Panty stealing gnomes, martial artists going through stone walls as if they were made of tissue paper while throwing the occasional energy blast, and even stories of people changing into animals."

"That last part would be due to Jusenkyo," explained Ranma.

"What is this Jusenkyo?" asked General Adams narrowing his eyes.

"It's a small valley in the Qinghai province of China filled with magical pools," commented Ranma. "Whatever falls into a pool takes the form of whatever drowned there when splashed with cold water and the process is normally reversed by warm water. While there are methods of control there is no true cure."

"You've got to be kidding," said General Adams frowning.

"No. Fortunately there is a powdered version of the Pools that produce one time effects so we can demonstrate their properties without cursing everyone who wants proof," said Ranma pulling out some packets and handing them to the general. "Thoth said your scientists will likely want to test them so we put in an order for an entire crate of them. Should be here in about half a month."

General Adam looked at the little packets in his hand. "How do they work?"

"Add one packet per barrel of standard water. Produces about 150 liters of one shot Jusenkyo water."

"But the real Jusenkyo is permanent."

"Yes, but I don't imaging you came all the way here to learn about the strangeness of a over 4,000 year old valley in the outskirts of China."

"No we didn't," said Adams. "We came here about the announcement your Queen made."

"Thank you for coming so quickly, General Adams and Commander Takahashi," said Usagi bowing to the two men.

"Queen Eclipse," said General Adams and Commander Takahashi as they bowed in return.

"Please, sit down," gestured Usagi.

"Thank you, your majesty," said General Adams as he and Commander Takahashi sat down on the dojo floor.

"As your government may have already surmised we only told your people part of the entire story," said Usagi nervously. "Beryl is only part of the problem but it was best if the people thought she was their main foe."

"There are other foes?" asked Commander Takahashi.

Usagi solemnly nodded. "Pharaoh 90 and something calling itself Princess Snow Kaguya. Either one on its own is a grave danger to this planet but combined…" Usagi shivered.

"Our current information points to the conclusion that Pharaoh 90 and quite possibly Princess Snow Kaguya as well are not living beings but constructs that were designed to perform a doomsday machine function similar that to Sailor Saturn but with a lot less collateral damage," said Ami.

"Doomsday machine? Just what level of power are we talking about here?" asked General Adams.

"Sailor Saturn's Death Born Revolution is powerful enough to take out planets," said Sailor Moon.

General Adams paled. "Take out planets?" he whispered. "Are you trying to tell me that this Sailor Saturn was some form of real life Death Star and there are two similar things out there?!"

Ranma straightened up slightly. "Death Star?"

"It is a reference to a movie called Star Wars, Black Wiseman," said Ami. "In it an oppressive Empire creates a weapon called the Death Star to terrorize people into submission. However, it is unlikely the Moon Kingdom used Sailor Saturn in such a manner as the destruction of any major planetary body would have played havoc with the delicate gravitational equilibrium of the solar system."

Ranma paused in thought and then quickly stiffened. "Of course, how could I have been so blind!"

"Black Wiseman, what is it?" asked Usagi.

"The Dark Kingdom was a pocket reality created from ki and Pharaoh 90 absorbs ki. That blasted thing was designed as a ultimate safeguard in case the residents of the Dark Kingdom figured out they weren't really in the future of their old universe."

"I get it," said Hotaru. "Pharaoh 90 was to prevent them from returning by absorbing the energy that held their prison together forcing them to escape into our universe. But then the explosion of my father's experiment made Pharaoh 90 think this is the Dark Kingdom." Hotaru then frowned. "But what of Mistress 9? Does this mean that she is not really alive either?"

Ami shook her head. "No, because the energy of Pharaoh 90 and Mistress 9 while similar is different. I think Mistress 9 was caught up in your father's explosion and Pharaoh 90 used her as part of its programming."

Hotaru scowled. "It is a good thing Queen Serenity has been dead for 12,000 years because between the two of us she would be wishing she was not only dead but in the most unpleasant part of Hell to boot."

"Two of you?" asked General Adams.

"I am actually two people: Tomoe Hotaru and Mistress 9," explained Hotaru. "Mistress 9 is an energy being who brought me back to life after being killed by the same accident that attracted Pharaoh 90 to this world." Hotaru looked at Ami. "I take it the whole statement about planetary alignments is just more lies, Thoth."

"Yes but a necessary one as the ki Earth has is dynamic while that of the Dark Kingdom is not," said Ami. "Pharaoh 90 is likely recalibrating itself so it can form its primary function of shutting down the Dark Kingdom."

"Which will devastate the Earth's ecosystem," scowled Usagi. "But we can't take the battle to Pharaoh 90 until Hotaru's father opens the portal to whatever sub-reality the blasted thing is in."

"And stopping my father now would just allow Pharaoh 90 to find someone else to start the whole thing up elsewhere. So we are stuck in the position of waiting for my father and his constructs to make the first move and react," finished Hotaru.

"At least we know how he and they act," grumbled Ranma. "All we really know about Princess Snow Kaguya is her assumed name and that she will try to freeze the world in about two years time."

"Which fits all too well into Pharaoh 90's time table," scowled Rei.

"Never mind all these Moon Kingdom artifacts floating around for someone to find and activate," grumbled Usagi.

"Floating around?" asked General Adams who then shook his head after a moment of thought. "No, I doubt this technology being here is any accident in which case some degree of care must have been put into it not being easily discovered."

"I agree with the general," said Ranma. "I would further add that we are likely using what the Moon Kingdom considered antiquated or even obsolete technology."

As the conversation continued Luna looked on at her charge with a mixture of pride and concern. After the meeting ended and the two military men left Luna leapt into Usagi's lap and looked up at her frowning.

"Thought we revealed too much, Luna?" asked Usagi.

"Actually I was concerned about you," replied the moon cat. "You have become more like the Princess I vaguely remember but there is something missing as well. I can't quite put it into words but I am concerned in your effort to become more mature you may be losing something important."

'The talking furball could be right,' said Genma's sign. 'Even Wiseman admits he lost something that Ranma still has,' said the other side of it.

Usagi frowned as she looked around at the youma around her clearly curious at her response. "Are you saying that I might be taking things too seriously?"

"I think it is more you becoming the mask you have started wearing," said Wiseman. "You are trying to portray what you think people expect out of a leader especially with what you think youma want in one."

Usagi leaned back in thought. "You mean that I am misinterpreting the concept of a strong leader?"

Wiseman nodded. "Just as 'man among men' can be viewed many different ways so can the term 'strong leader' because even within a single culture there is diversity."

"Perhaps Purple Wiseman is right," Usagi said turning to the youma next to her. "Rept, just what do youma want in a strong leader?"

Rept smiled. "As Purple Wiseman said it varies but there is one constant: we value power and strength that requires some degree of sacrifice."

Usagi frowned in thought. "Is that why you despise Beryl—because her power and strength had no or little sacrifice?"

Rept nodded. "Yes and she has not even tried to progress beyond what she was originally."

Usagi continued to frown. "Perhaps I am being dense but why do you accept me? My separation from Sailor Moon and later transformation into a youma were accidents. Even my martial arts knowledge was imparted by Black Wiseman."

Rept chuckled. "The difference is that you progressed beyond those initial accidents. Black Wiseman may have given you the knowledge but you still have to train to be able to use it. The willingness of your friends to actively to become like you without the kind of pressure Beryl employs speaks of a solidarity highly priced in the youma society of the Dark Kingdom. Your inner court came up with a way to keep Roda from needlessly dying that I never even thought of even though everything was right there in front me. Unlike Beryl you seek out advice beyond your own inner court in areas you know that they might be lacking in—such as youma society in the Dark Kingdom. Beryl rules by fear while you prefer to rule by consent and reason. That and far more is why we not only accept but follow you."

Usagi nodded. "If I understand you, this means if Sailor V does decide to join our clan she must provided something of her own or find a way to grow. If not she will be at best viewed as boosted food."

Rept nodded. "Yes Clanhead Eclipse, that is completely right. However, if the stories of her fighting something in England alone are accurate she likely will be regarded as being more valuable than simple boosted food."

Usagi again nodded as she looked at Ranma. "Black Wiseman, did the members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces believe us?"

"I believe so though I could tell they figured out we were holding back information. My concern is what will happen as the information gets relayed up the chains of command."

"Little we can do about that," said Usagi who again turned to Rept. "I need some ideas on how to convince youma to think of humans as more than either food, breading stock, or useful clan members."

Roda cocked her head to one side. "You mean there is something else?"

Usagi smiled facing the youma. "There is friendship."

"Ah, you mean someone useful to the clan like Elder Kě Lún," stated Roda.

"That is not what she means at all," responded Rei as Usagi blinked and then frowned.

Usagi finally slumped sighing. "Neith…Rei, don't be hard on Roda. If anything I wish to thank her for making me realize that I have been neglecting the friends I had before I met any of you. I can't remember the last time I even talked with Yumiko or Kuri and I have been letting Naru wallow in depression rather than helping her through it. I need to reconnect to my other friends and I am going to start with Naru because she is my oldest friend and also because she is going to be the hardest."

~*~*RS*~*~

The next day at Juuban Middle School a depressed Naru sat down to eat her lunch. "Naru-chan, I'm sorry I have been neglecting you," said a familiar voice.

Looking up Naru blinked. "Usagi? Your parents said you had ran away from home and were asking everyone where you might be hiding," she said grabbing her friend's hands.

"It's alright now. My mother found me and we are working through what caused me to lose it in the first place," said Usagi wincing at the memory.

"Why did you run away from home?"

"Have you heard of a place called Jusenkyo?"

Naru shook her head.

"It is an obscure valley in China near the Tibetan boarder filled with pools of water. Water from these pools can change a person's form and for a rare few even their mind based on water temperature." Usagi sighed. "Somebody thought the best way to see if they had the Pool of Virtuous Man or Pool of Twins water was to pour it on me. It was the later and split me into two people." Usagi took a deep breath. "Myself and Sailor Moon."

Naru's eyes widened. "You're Sailor Moon?!"

"I was Sailor Moon," Usagi said smiling sadly. "My parents didn't react well to my late night youma fighting or my getting splashed with Jusenkyo water and were using Purple Wiseman and Mistress 9 as verbal punching bags. I emotionally lost it and ran out of the house right into a youma finishing up on her latest meal. She saw me as dessert until I asked her if it was for herself or boosted bitch Queen Beryl." Usagi chuckled. "That hit a cord with her and then Ranma found us. He took us to a place he knew, and it was there I had my second encounter with Jusenkyo water."

"Second encounter?"

Usagi again took a deep breath. "Pool of Youma." she said as her skin turned chalk white with a bluish tinge.

Naru blinked. "You look just like Queen Eclipse."

"Naru-chan, that is because I am Queen Eclipse."

Naru again blinked. "Usagi, Queen Eclipse said she was going to Furinkan high school."

Usagi chuckled. "Youma are natural shape shifters so it was easy to make myself look older. As for my grades it seems that the method Ranma used to give me his martial arts knowledge also gave me his insanely fast learning curve." Usagi then sadly smiled. "One of my clan's new members made me realize that I had been so busy worrying about the welfare of the world as Sailor Moon and later Queen Eclipse that I was in danger of losing what made me Tsukino Usagi."

Usagi gently grasped Naru's hand. "It was bad enough I was letting one of my oldest friends drift away but I was letting it happen when you needed me the most." Usagi then looked down. "Given that and what I am about to tell you I imaging you will likely hate me."

"Hate you? Why would I hate you?!"

"Nephrite was one of Beryl's Shitennou or generals as was Zoisite the one Nephrite died saving you from." Usagi winced. "Zoisite has decide to stop serving Beryl and asked for admittance in the Black Moon Clan and is currently allied with both that clan and my Grey Moon Clan."

Naru put her other hand on the hand Usagi was using to hold hers and shook her head. "Usagi, you are my friend and while I am angry about Zoisite that doesn't mean I hate you. It was clear from your interview that you are trying to do what you think is right for all concerned."

Usagi let go of Naru's hand and hugged the girl as she sobbed a little. "Thank you. I was so worried that you would hate me for allying myself with the killer of the man you were in love with."

"Looks like we both had the same idea but you got here first," said a calm voice.

Usagi broke out of the hug and turned to face, "Neo-Queen Serenity."

"Usagi, who is this?" asked Naru concerned by the amount of anger in her friend's voice towards the woman who looked like an older version of her friend.

"This is what I would have turned into without Purple Wiseman," said Usagi her voice almost a snarl. "An idealistic idiot who tried to turn the world into her idea of utopia by removing everyone's evil and if you didn't like that idea you got an express trip to the outer most planet of the solar system, Nemesis."

Neo-Queen Serenity winced. "You really don't like me very much do you?"

"I don't like what you represent," corrected Usagi folding her arms.

"And what do I represent, Queen Eclipse?" retorted Neo-Queen Serenity angrily.

"Blind idealism with a good dose of misguided self-righteousness," responded Usagi. "No matter what happened to the Earth in your future you did not have the right to mess around with people's minds nor to exile people who didn't agree with your stupidity to Nemesis."

"You rather I have been like Wiseman?" responded Neo-Queen Serenity.

"Hardly. Purple Wiseman is a pessimist who is so use to looking at the long term that he can't easily see short term issues." Usagi sighed. "You have both done what you think is right but neither of your methods is perfect. Purple Wiseman knows this; the question is do you?"

"I just wanted everyone to be happy," cried Neo-Queen Serenity.

Usagi shook her head. "I have learned you can't have happiness without sorrow. The members of my clan wonder why Purple Wiseman has been so lenient with you; the simple fact is he knows you—possibly better than you know yourself. He knows if you are given all the necessary information you will follow your heart and do the right thing."

"If I would do the right thing then mind telling me how I would think turning myself into a youma and convincing my friends to do likewise was right?" retorted Neo-Queen Serenity tears running down her face.

"Because thanks to the people of Nemesis I know youma are living thinking beings that just happen to have an unusual food requirement and with the proper training they and humans can coexist." Usagi stopped and scowled. "But that is the real problem isn't it? You and your Sailor Senshi are having trouble coming to grips with that one simple fact. Sadly, I can think of many reasons why and none of them good."

Neo-Queen Serenity frowned. "And just what are these bad reasons?"

Usagi sighed. "You really want me to say it don't you? Alright, the fact of the matter is once you stop thinking of us as things and as people it upsets your little simplistic view of the world."

Neo-Queen Serenity's frown turned into a scowl. "You said us."

Usagi rolled her eyes. "We aren't going down this path again are we? Ok, for the sake of argument let's say you and your Sailor Senshi are right and the pool does affect the mind. Can you honestly say that my behavior as a youma has been that much different from that as a human?"

Neo-Queen Serenity paused for a moment and then shook her head. "No, I can't say that your behavior has been that much different."

"Look, perhaps my view of you was influenced by Purple Wiseman but so far you and your Senshi haven't done much to counter that version." Usagi then reached out her hand.

"Please, we can't really be fighting Beryl and all that she has let loose if we are worrying if you and your Senshi are going to come in and start blasting without first finding out what is going on. Purple Wiseman thinks your actions have been the result of too little information and too much well intentioned but ultimately bad advice." Usagi extended her arm tears starting to form. "Purple Wiseman for all his pessimism still believes you will do the right thing. Are you going to prove him wrong by continuing to give up on yourself and blindly following the vaguely remembered ideals of a long dead kingdom?"

Neo-Queen Serenity stiffened and reaching out took the hand.

"Thank you," said Usagi as she wiped a tear.

"Uh Usagi, could you explain to me just what is going on here?" asked a very confused Naru.

"Eclipse being herself rather than what she thinks people expect of her," said a calm voice.

Three pairs of eyes turned to find a young man in Chinese silks his hand behind his head in embarrassment. "Sorry, but when Wicked Lady sensed her mother coming here it was all I could do convince the clan that just having me and Chronos Aeon come here was better than them all show up enmass or the entire honor guard being sent in. I also thought it would be better if I came as myself rather than as Black Wiseman."

Naru blinked. "You're Black Wiseman?!"

"When I am like this I prefer my actual name, Saotome Ranma," Ramna said nodding his head in Naru's direction. "To answer your question, simply put Neo-Queen Serenity and Purple Wiseman are time travelers. They are what Usagi and I became in one possible future."

"Future? But Purple Wiseman said he came from another planet," said Naru.

Neo-Queen Serenity winced. "He does. The planet I exiled him to about 1,000 years ago."

"What? But people don't live that long!" exclaimed Naru

"Ki manipulation can allow people to live that long," corrected Ranma a ball of bluish ki forming in his left hand. "The problem is that emotional ki manipulation has its negative side," Ranma continued gesturing with the ki ball as he talked. "Using one emotion for your abilities like I did makes it easier to feel that emotion. If I had continued to use confidence I eventually would have become totally megalomaniacal, a friend of mine is danger of killing himself because he uses depression, and my fiancé is using anger way too much. I would even suggest that if the process continues you would be able to feel only that emotion."

Ranma dismissed the ki ball as he continued. "Neo-Queen Serenity's ki is about as badly messed up as P-chan's is; the only difference it the emotion they are channeling. The one good thing is at least what emotional ki she is channeling is not going to turn Tokyo into Hiroshima revisited if it goes too far."

"That's impossible!" Naru exclaimed.

Ranma shook his head. "No, it is very possible especially as I know that in what was one of my futures I blew the top off a mountain with an amplified ki blast and that what the Moon Kingdom called magic seems to involve a lot of ki manipulation."

Neo-Queen Serenity frowned. "That doesn't quite fit, Ranma."

"Doesn't it?" he asked as a staff appeared in his hand. "Catch," he said casually tossing the staff to Neo-Queen Serenity.

"The Time Staff?" Neo-Queen Serenity said scowling. "I know from the Pluto of this time that you are her mother's reincarnation but I…"

"That is not the Time Staff," interrupted Ranma. "That is a ki duplicate."

Neo-Queen Serenity blinked and looked at the staff. "A ki duplicate?" she asked as the staff changed to a bluish white color and dissolved in her hands. "Oh crap," she said looking at Ranma. "I think…I think, I need to get back before my Sailor Senshi get worried and start looking for me," said Neo-Queen Serenity as she turned and started walking at a faster that normal pace.

"Before you go have you contacted either Sailor Uranus or Neptune?" asked Usagi causing Neo-Queen Serenity to stop and slowly turn back. "I want to meet with them and I need to know if I… why are looking at me like that?"

Neo-Queen Serenity sighed. "We didn't exactly see eye to eye with their methods which may have been why they died in our history. They and the Witches 5 were looking for three items hidden in the pure heart crystals of three people." Neo-Queen Serenity gave a sharp bitter laugh. "Turned out they had two of the items in their own pure heart crystals all the time."

"But from what Neith said long term removal of a pure heart crystal would kill whoever it belong to." Usagi's eyes widened. "That is why there is no Sailor Uranus and Neptune in your time. They died and you didn't understand enough about the Ginzuishou to even try to bring them back."

"Given what I now know maybe that was for the best," said Neo-Queen Serenity tears forming in her eyes. "At least they weren't living the lie that I accidentally imposed on my Sailor Senshi." Neo-Queen Serenity suddenly stiffened and her eyes grew wide. "I just realized."

"Realized what?" asked Ranma.

"Three items, each from a Sailor Senshi: the sword from Uranus, the mirror from Neptune, and the pearl from Pluto!"

"Wait a minute," responded Ranma, "the sword Kusanagithe, mirror Yata no kagami, and pearl Yasakani no magatama are supposed to be the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan not the moon and more to the point if you got the pearl from Pluto…"

"Who or more accurately what have I been dealing with all these centuries and why didn't I remember I knew Pluto earlier?" finished Neo-Queen Serenity as she started to tremble.

Ranma frowned in thought. "Regardless of who or what she is, I don't believe your Pluto is evil or misguided."

"What?!" responded Neo-Queen Serenity.

"Think about what Pluto can access and what she would know. The more I look at it the more her actions make sense especially if her options were limited. Someone had to send that alternate Wiseman I faced to this world this history and right now I know of only two people with enough knowledge to pull it off."

"Alternate Wiseman?" Neo-Queen Serenity asked.

"From a history where Kuno rather than I became Wiseman," said Ranma. "We sent him back to where and when he belonged. But we still don't know why he was sent to this timeline or which future sent him here."

Neo-Queen Serenity frowned. "I see. Too many secrets. Too many agendas. I'll do what I can but I can't promise you that all my Sailor Senshi will not stop causing problems."

"I understand as I will likely have the same issue with the youma who want to join my clan," said Usagi. "All you like me can do is try."

~*~*Embassy of the United States; Tokyo, Japan*~*~

In the American Embassy Ambassador Morgan closed the report he had scanned through and looked up at General Adams. "General Adams, I can see you did your best to try and put a positive spin on this mess but in the end it boils down to that there has been some maniac working on conquering the world for the last six months and not one military expert even knew about it." Ambassador Morgan gestured to the report, "and if that wasn't bad enough the entire safety of the world during that time has hinged on a bunch of underage girls running around with alien artifacts they barely even knew how to use."

The general sighed. "I know and even as advanced as Purple Wiseman and his people are they fully admit what they have are only pale imitations of the Moon Kingdom's technology." The general sat an opaque crystal globe about the size of a baseball on the desk. "Blue Saphir said this is a duplicate of the medical globe he carries around with him. It is all the medical advances of Nemesis made in the last 1,000 years as well what medical information was brought to them from Earth many centuries ago." The general gestured to the globe. "This globe not only contains the medical knowledge of 6,000 years but makes the best computers we have look like vacuum tube monstrosities. Yet, this is just a crude approximation of what the Moon Kingdom was able to do some 12,000 years ago."

Ambassador Morgan frowned looking at the crystal globe. "In her interview, Queen Eclipse said youma at worse regarded humans like prize milk cows."

"True but Queen Eclipse also said there were those who desired to meet humans who were strong on their own merits to be potential clan member and even mates," commented Adams. "From what I was able to determine the youma realized long ago that trying to rule over humans was a bad idea and so long as it doesn't make us useless as food and potential mates they are perfectly willing to let us govern ourselves as we see fit."

"But they do favor certain governments and beliefs over others," probed Morgan

Adams nodded. "Yes they do. Their strong belief in strength through merit favors democratic republics along the lines of the United States. The fact the United States is one of the superpowers on Earth also speaks to their ideal of power through merit."

"You are recommending that we start building a relationship with them."

Adams slowly stood. "They revealed that the Moon Kingdom had real life Death Stars and one of those things has our Earth in its sights but they are completely confident that they can take that thing out. Anyone with that kind of power could squish any army that opposed them like a bug. I'd rather have them as an ally then an enemy. It certainly would be better than leaving matters to a bunch of jail baiters that are playing around with powers they don't really understand."

"These new players are willing to share their technology with us and tell us what is going on which is more than be said for the Sailor Senshi," said Morgan. "While they likely have their own agenda it clearly behooves the United States to be their ally."

Adams nodded. "Black Wiseman made on offer to show just what someone trained in the martial arts since the age of five could do. He also said that if we had any outdated equipment that we didn't mind getting destroyed it would make the demonstration more impressive."

Morgan nodded in thought. "I think we can arrange that." Morgan then turned his attention to the crystal globe. "I assume you were told how to access the information in this."

"According to Blue Saphir there are two methods: direct transference into the holder of the globe and audio and verbal communication. The globe is designed to run on minimal ki energy so not the unduly fatigue the doctor using it."

Morgan leaned forward. "That alone will certainly progress medicine. Can you give a sample of this audio and verbal communication?"

"Of course," said the general touching the globe.

~*~*Tendo Dojo*~*~

"I still can't believe I am holding over 1,000 years of medical knowledge and discovery in the palm of my hand," said Ami holding a similar globe in her hand in the Tendo dojo.

"It was indented as a peace offering to Neo-Queen Serenity," commented Blue Saphir. "It contains all the medical discoveries made on Nemesis as well as an archive of all the information we were able to bring from Earth."

Ranma stopped in mid kata and looked at Blue Saphir. "All the information from Earth?" he asked catching a fist blow by the youma he was sparing with in his open hand.

Blue Saphir frowned, "I know that tone but I was very careful to explain that we got medical information from Earth many centuries ago and that we have been updating it since arriving to fill known gaps. Given they all think King Pendragon is King Arthur Pendragon they will just assume any Earth discoveries in it either came from him or are ones I have recently added."

Wiseman chuckled. "You see younger-self, we don't always miss the obvious."

Ranma folded his arms. "I imaging some of the very early ki discoveries were made by your martial artist friends and were recorded in great detail. Details like names and dates."

Wiseman again chuckled. "Yes, but that is a narrow 50 years in some 6,000 years worth of material. Even if they somehow do figure out we are from a future we still have the out of going with the basic truth," said Wiseman gesturing to the Black Moon Clan. "We were a group that came to Earth in hope of reestablishing diplomatic relations and wound up in our own past and decided to run with it. Because we have succeeded in changing so much of what we know beyond that is rapidly becoming useless."

"You really have a problem with lying, don't you?" asked Nabiki from the dojo's doorway causing everyone to turn in her direction.

"Was wondering how long before you would make your interest formally known, ancestor," said Esmeraude scowling. "How much is it going to cost us to keep you from trying to sell this to every person you think might buy it?"

Nabiki frowned shifting her gaze to Wiseman.

"Don't give me that look, Nabs," said Wiseman. "We all know that information is your stock and trade and there are times you don't care who you endanger or emotionally hurt as long as you get some yen. The fact you turned my first attempt at marrying Akane into a mini-warzone in my history proves it." Wiseman then chuckled. "But you are right. Oh, I can leave things out and let others jump to the wrong conclusions but I am so in the habit of making sure what I do say is true that I have effectively become incapable of telling a direct lie."

"It's not just you," said Nabiki. "All of you have the same problem. While you can mislead people by leaving things out or providing facts in a misleading manner nothing you say is an actual lie."

Prince Demando now chuckled his hand going behind his head in a manner so similar to Ranma when he was embarrassed as to be a little spooky. "I guess you have us there, Nabiki-san. The reason is because Ki training on Nemesis has gotten to the level that anyone with anything that we would call skill would spot it in an instant. So only the very young even try."

"So your Ki techniques can function like a lie detector," said Nabiki frowning.

"In a limited matter," admitted Wiseman. "We cannot detect indirect lies and half truths. For instance saying that Ranma are not the same person would be a half truth and be undetectable—even by me."

Nabiki nodded in understanding. "Sort of the way I do some of my deals. To address my decedent's concern it is in my self interest to keep what I know and what you haven't revealed secret. After all how can I enjoy the money I make if I am dead, frozen stiff, or living on some planet on the outer edge of the solar system?"

Wiseman chuckled. "Practical as always."

"You are no slouch yourself," complimented Nabiki. "Your moon base is clearly designed in case there is a massive defection or even overthrow of Beryl."

"Very perceptive."

"What I don't understand is why you haven't sought out the two remaining Sailor Senshi. Chronos clearly has an idea of who they are."

Chronos Aeon chuckled. "Actually, I have been keeping tabs on them seeing how much of their old lives they remember and if any of our groups have come close to them. So far none have."

"Based on the conversation Black Wiseman and I had with Neo-Queen Serenity I can see why she is avoiding them," said Usagi. "The other two forces either have cut back on operations or are being stealthy about what they are doing. Neo-Queen Serenity gave the impression of Sailors Uranus and Neptune being loose cannons on deck and that the Pluto of her time may not be what she appears to be. Chronos, I want you to contact them and see how accurate Neo-Queen Serenity's view of them is and to relay the fact that we know whose pure heart crystals contain the sword, mirror, and pearl. We may not be able to address the Pluto problem but we sure can try with Uranus and Neptune. But before you see them touch base with Sailor V, I want her to have some idea on what is going on."

~*~*RS*~*~

"Serenity, I could really use some help on how to address this situation," said Sailor V.

"I'm sorry but I am still trying to come to grip with the idea that the Princess has encountered a magical pool that turns her into a youma and is being advised by people from the outer most planet of the solar system."

"She seems to intent on bringing humans and youma together and that youma called Rept implied plans at making something grander than the Moon Kingdom," said Artemis.

"Black Wiseman said something about that other Sailor Venus meeting Pluto in this time period and the Time Gates being a time machine." Sailor V shivered, "Pluto said that the Sailor Venus she was talking to and her fellow Sailor Senshi were nothing more than animated corpses preserved by magic."

"It is possible that the Ginzuishou could do something like that but I cannot understand how that happened."

"Oh that part is easy," said a voice behind Sailor V.

Sailor V jumped and spun around her Venus Love chain in her hand to face, "Pluto? What are you trying to do, startling me like that?"

"Seeing if you were as well trained as I had hoped," said the Senshi letting her human features morph back into her default youma one. "I was in no real danger as I could have easily disarmed you if you had been so sloppy at to attack me without thinking. Oh, and I call myself Chronos Aeon now."

"Pluto, I want an explanation," said the voice from Sailor V's communicator.

Chronos Aeon's expression quickly turned to one of such fury that Sailor V took a reflective step back. "I know that voice," she hissed grabbing the hand the communicator was in. "Queen Serenity, the last Queen of the Moon Kingdom; I thought you were dead. You being alive will help us answer a lot of questions. Beginning with why in hell did you kill over 200 billion people to create the Dark Kingdom and Pharaoh 90 as well as sending your daughter and Sailor Senshi to be reincarnated in the future?"

"What?" squeaked the voice from the communicator.

"You didn't know? Oh that is rich. Purple Wiseman is going to have a field day with that piece of information. He is angry enough at Neo-Queen Serenity for not learning how the Ginzuishou worked and turning everyone on Earth into emotionless sheep and her best friends into well preserved animated corpses but finding out that this whole mess is due to you not knowing what the hell you were doing is going to send him off the rails."

"Pluto…" began the voice.

"Not Pluto, not any more," hissed the Senshi youma her nails growing longer. "Pluto served a Kingdom that existed in another universe whose last ruler killed over 200 billion people because she was a bigoted incompetent and in one future may serve her braindead airheaded idealist moronic boosted piece of food reincarnated daughter. I am not that person. I am the Guardian of not just the Time Gates but to the Grey Moon clan as well. My duty is to the people of this Earth regardless of them being human or youma. So how the hell did you survive the end of the Moon Kingdom?"

"I didn't. Strictly speaking I am not Queen Serenity. I merely call myself Serenity because that is whose mental algorithms I am based on."

Chronos Aeon's features softened. "You mean you are some form of artificial intelligence."

"Yes and I have as you would say 'woke up', It sounds like the person I was based on made some disastrous decisions after I was created. I have been helping Sailor V or rather Sailor Venus as much as I could."

Chronos Aeon let Sailor V's hand go nodding. "I'm sorry for that outburst. A lot of my views about the Moon Kingdom have been shattered and I have been under a lot of stress dealing with the mess that the last Queen made." Chronos Aeon smiled softly. "Eclipse wanted me contact you so there was some coordinated effort in protecting this world rather than everyone going off and doing their own thing due to lack of information. Right now our main foes seem to have pulled back operations but we think this only the lull before the storm. Now if you excuse me, I am going to have to contact Sailors Uranus and Neptune next and that may not go as well." Chronos Aeon raised her staff and disappeared from view.

Artemis frowned. "She may have Sailor Pluto's powers but there is something… well, off about her."

"She was talking more like a youma than a human," commented Serenity. "Boosted food was a term used by youma for Sailor Senshi in the days of the Moon Kingdom as they felt they didn't earn their power."

"The problem is I can't find out a lot about Jusenkyo so there is no way to check if the pool of youma did more than just change the way she looks," said Minako. "Though from what you are saying it sounds like it may have altered the way she thinks."

"A youma with the full powers of a Sailor Senshi and who knows who we and some Sailor Senshi we haven't even heard of are," said Artemis shivering. "That really worries me though if she did think we were enemies we wouldn't be having this conversation; we'd be dead."

"Not necessarily," said Minako frowning as she pulled out a book. "I may not have found much on Jusenkyo but I did find the entire teachings of Sun Tzu. While I only skimmed through the Art of War and don't understand all its nuances I was able to grasp that killing is not top of his list of how to handle enemies." Minako opened the book to a marked page. "Listen to this: 'Therefore, to gain a hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the highest excellence; to subjugate the enemy's army without doing battle is the highest of excellence. Therefore, the best warfare strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, next is to attack alliances, next is to attack the army, and the worst is to attack a walled city.' If we are considered the army then we are third in the list of things on the totem pole."

Artemis nodded understanding his charge's point even if she had mangled the saying. He again frowned. "That means this battle between Eclipse and Beryl is totally different from that we had with the Dark Agency and we may be ill prepared to fight in it."

Minako nodded. "I think we many not be the only ones."

~*~*Dark Kingdom*~*~

In the Dark Kingdom Beryl sat on her throne brooding in silence. What control over the youma she had was gone as Metaria no longer would enforce her orders. Beryl knew that once the youma found a host that Metaria deemed suitable that the best future she could look forward to was as a youma plaything. Worse, Metaria no longer simply sat in the background but forced herself to the surface and controlled Beryl's body when the whim hit her.

Metaria forced herself to the surface uncaring about her host's reaction and picked up the book that the youma had thrown at her host and had fallen to the floor when she had ordered the remaining youma to find her a new host. Metaria frowned as she had expected the wisdom of the greatest human general who had ever lived to require volumes of material and yet here it was in one book not even two hand spans large and less than a finger width thick.

Metaria opened the book and noted it was broken down into thirteen chapters: Calculations, Doing Battle, Planning Attacks, Formation, Weakness and Strength, Armed Struggle, Nine Changes, Army Maneuvers, Ground Formation, Nine Grounds, Fire Attacks, and Using Spies. Given Queen Eclipse would clearly attack the Dark Kingdom it was obvious the third chapter would be the most informative and so Metaria started with it hoping that it would be somewhat understandable without the preceding chapters.

'Generally in warfare, keeping a nation intact is best, destroying a nation second best;' began the chapter. As Metaria continued a slow dread of realization hit her: Sun Tzu had taken the insanely complex matter of warfare and brilliantly reduced it to simple and easily remembered phrases. Not only could a phrase stand on its own but combined with others each took on other meanings giving the reader awareness of deeper strategies. Several hours later Beryl now in control continued to ponder what she has seen through her connection with Metaria and looking up at Shitennou Kunzite sighed.

"We can't win," she said dejectedly. "We don't have the time, resources, much less a plan to fight this. I don't think even the wisdom of Sun Tzu can help us now. Metaria revealed one fact that I kept from you and the youma in the hope that I could turn this into a victory."

"What truth is that, you boosted bitch?" hissed a youma who had overheard the conversation.

Beryl winced and resigned herself to even more pain once the youma found a new host for Metaria. "Black Wiseman uses power from the same source as Metaria."

"What?!" asked Kunzite and the youma attracting more attention then Beryl really wanted.

Metaria asserted control again. "I should have asserted control then but I thought this host might be able to do something once she got access to the wisdom of Sun Tzu." Metaria lifted the book in her hand. "All it tells me is that her fears of Queen Eclipse coming here soon were unjustified and we have next to no options for turning this conflict around. There is nothing I can give the youma to compete with Queen Eclipse's offer especially as she is the Princess."

Metaria leaned back in the throne. "The original Wiseman must have known or suspected. That is why he was getting the Sailor Senshi to trust him and his successor so they would accept the fact the Princess they were sworn to protect had came back as a member of the very race they once considered either parasites or vermin."

"But the Ginzuishou…" begin Kunzite.

Metaria gave a bitter laugh. "Don't you think either of the Wisemen have thought of that? Based on what I have just read, I wouldn't be surprised if they either already had some if not all of the pieces or know exactly where they are and are waiting for us to show up. Even worst Purple Wiseman is allied with two Sailor Senshi none of us even heard of. Nemesis was the only other planet in the solar system besides Earth that even had a youma population and yet it now has a Sailor Senshi. The Princess has come back as a youma while a youma named Thoth is in possession of the Mercury computer and is able to operate it. Kunzite, I admire your loyally but the only thing left to do is to meet with the clan heads and figure out how best to end this mess."

"Including surrender?" asked Kunzite.

"It's not like we are exchanging one boosted human for another or calmly lining up heads bowed to be slaughtered as would have likely been the case if Princess Serenity had reincarnated as a human," said a youma clan leader.

"Once we determine what is acceptable we will contact Queen Eclipse," said Metaria who then frowned. "Thing is I don't think she will be idle and her time will be spent further strengthening her position."

~*~*RS*~*~

Haruka and Michiru both frowned as a youma calmly pulled out a chair and sat down at their table. The youma then gestured and a staff appeared that she propped against the table. The eyes of both Haruka and Michiru widened to the size of saucers as they recognized the staff.

"You recognize it," said the youma calmly. "Good. That should make this easier. Queen Eclipse asked me to tell you two that we know exactly where the sword, mirror, and pearl are. Given their long term removal would result in needless death we have decided to leave them where they are."

The youma then folded it hands. "The question is what are you two going to do? Kaioh Michiru? Tenoh Haruka?" asked the youma snapping her fingers several times. "Please, I know finding out the Princess is a youma is a bit much but…"

"Finding out the Princess is a youma is a bit much?" asked Haruka as Michiru nervously grabbed her hand. "What about you?"

"Well at least you are no longer staring like a pair of white belts who have just seen two grandmasters go at it," commented the youma. "Really, I expected better from the two of you. Sailor Venus even after finding out that in one future she turned into a well preserved corpse animated by magic was more coherent then you two have been and she is one of the Inner Senshi. We Outers are supposed to be made out of sterner stuff. Though, I could never understand why Jupiter was considered an Inner when her world is the biggest of the outer planets."

"So not only is the Princess a youma but Sailor Pluto is a youma as well," commented Haruka her right eyebrow twitching.

"Please, call me Chronos Aeon," said the youma smiling. "Sailor Pluto…belonged to a different era a different universe. But her duty remains and that duty is mine."

Haruka narrowed her eyes and leaned forward. "You're serious."

Chronos Aeon nodded her expression becoming somber. "Very. The Moon Kingdom had its good points but it also had its bad ones as well. The biggest of those bad points was the distrust between humans and youma. If that distrust had not existed Queen Beryl wouldn't have been able to entice the people and youma of Earth to help her in start a war that slaughtered billions; a war who's after effects are now being felt in this universe."

"That distrust was not without basis," said Haruka angrily.

"Granted and the behavior of the youma following the current Queen Beryl's orders doesn't help things in this universe. But at least we know why they were behaving as they were. A youma looking at certain clanlessness in its future will fight like a samurai whose only choices are death or dishonor."

"You said you know where the sword, mirror, and pearl are but have decided to leave them where they are because their long term removal would cause needless death," inquired Michiru.

Chronos Aeon nodded. "Namely ours; seems the blasted things are in our pure heart crystals. Black Wiseman is working on a replacement or a way to safely extract the blasted things."

"In our pure heart crystals? But that is the last place… oh I see," said Michiru frowning.

"Right, if it was the last place you would have looked for them in then it would have likely been the last place Pharaoh 90 and his allies would have looked for them in as well," said Chronos Aeon.

"Pharaoh 90? Who or what is Pharaoh 90?"

"We think it is a failsafe against the prisoners of the Dark Kingdom escaping back to their own reality that has malfunctioned and thinks this Earth is the Dark Kingdom." Chronos Aeon glanced around and leaned forward her voice barely audible. "Left to its own devices Pharaoh 90 will kill 90 percent of the life on this Earth."

"What?!" hissed Haruka. "I can't believe that Queen Serenity would…"

Chronos Aeon shook her head as she leaned back in her chair. "Neither do I but Thoth pointed out past a certain point technology and magic becoming interchangeable. That means both can wear out and degrade. That is why I don't fully trust the technology, magic, or whatever you would like to call it we have from the Moon Kingdom; as good as it was in its day that day was 12,000 years ago. That the stuff works at all after nearly 120 centuries of neglect is a testament to the skills of the Moon Kingdom's craftsmen but I would not like the fate of this world depending on it all working as well as it did all those centuries ago especially as we don't have a full manual on how to even use it and even if we did it was designed to be used in another universe."

"I see," said Haruka frowning in thought.

"Given what we both remember from those days and what has been going on for the last six months I know it is going to take a lot to even begin to trust me but I have to try," explained Chronos Aeon. "Within reason I'll tell as much as I know."

~*~*RS*~*~

"See Guide tell truth. Go through large gates and come out in Tokyo, Japan," said the guide pointing to the structure.

"I see, Groundling," said a young harsh voice. "And it was through these gates that the customer that fell in to the Pool of Drowned Female Phoenix Mountain Warrior passed through?"

"Yes, Lord Sa Fulang," replied the Guide.

"Did you see what they looked like before they fell in?"

"No, Guide only saw them after. They only customer that thank Jusenkyo. They also mention something about a Black Wiseman."

The ruler of Phoenix Mountain nodded as he examined the gates. He then took a step back as the doors of the gate changed color from black to light gray.

"What's with the Crystal Gates?" asked a female voice.

"They are responding to the presence of a mammoth amount of ki," replied a male voice. "A little something I set up just in case the Guide decided to contact one of the locals."

"Focus a little of my ki into them," said the voice as an image formed. "And we have a nice two way window," finished a man in a long black robe.

"Nice way to get around customs," said a Japanese girl smiling in slimy manner.

"The Crystal Gates are an important tool to be used for good of the Gray Moon Clan not for you to indulge in your personal schemes to make some yen, Tendo Nabiki," hissed the robed figure turning to face the girl.

"Can't blame a girl for suggesting," replied Nabiki.

"Personal achievement that betters the clan is one thing," hissed another voice as a humanoid being approached the girl. "Selfish self gratification is another."

"Leave her," said the robed figure. "She has to help us if she wants to enjoy her selfish self gratification. That makes her valuable to the clan." The figure then turned back toward them. "Excuse the interruption, Lord Sa Fulang of Phoenix Mountain. I am Black Wiseman, Advisor of the Gray Moon Clan."

"Allow me, Black Wiseman," said a female voice as a claw hand gently grasped the figure's shoulder.

Kiima watched as her lord paled and took a reflective step back in reaction to the female member of the Phoenix tribe that walked into view.

"Who you?" asked the Guide. "You not customer that fall into Pool of Drowned Female Phoenix Mountain Warrior."

"No, I am not; that was Roda," said the female breaking into a really frightening smile. "I am something more unsetting than the return of Lord Sa Fulang's drowned daughter."

"What?" asked Black Wiseman clearly surprised. "You mean that pool…"

"Oh yes," said the female with a far away look of sadness in her eyes as if remembering an incident long ago. "Her name was Helia. Her wing was wounded in one of the many early battles the Phoenix tribe had with neighbors who no longer exist. She thought she could use one of the pools to break her fall but it turned out the pool she chose was uncursed. As the Guide would say in his overly simplistic manner 'very tragic story'."

"Who are you?" asked Lord Sa Fulang shaking though it was unclear if it was from fear or anger. "I was the only one who knew the details—especially her name!"

The female's eyes focused on Lord Sa Fulang a strange mixture of sadness, pity, and anger in them. "I doubt you will believe me but very simply I am you; or rather what you would have become in one future 1,000 years hence."

Load Sa Fulang narrowed his eyes. "You have a very poor sense of humor."

"Who said I was joking?" asked the female.

"These might help," said a purple robed figure handing two items to the female.

Load Sa Fulang's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as he recognized them. "The Kinjakan and Gekkaja."

"Yes," nodded the female who glanced at purple robe.

"In view mode the Crystal Gates ki reserves are drained at a much slower rate," spoke the figure.

"But they are still being drained," continued the female. "Return to your mountain and verify your Kinjakan and Gekkaja are still where you last left them and you will see that I am not joking. I am you." The female turned and her gaze fall on Kiima. "Dear Kiima, my last love on Earth and my first on Nemesis; it has been so long since I saw you in anything but my memories. But you have your Sa Fulang who belongs in this time and it would be unfair to ask him to share the short time you will have together." The female then reached out touching the surface on the other side and the gates went black again.

~*~*Tokyo, Japan*~*~

Sa Fulang rested her head against the Crystal Gates sighing. "That was one of the hardest things I have ever done."

Wiseman put his hand on Sa Fulang's shoulder. "I know what you are going through."

"For you it is even worse; your old loves are right in front of you," sighed Sa Fulang. "To be reborn, live a life only to be consumed by flame to do it all over again as everyone with one exception around you even your own children grows old and dies."

Sa Fulang reached up and took Wiseman's hand in her own. "That is partly what drew us together. We were the only ones who could even begin to understand what the other was going through as generation after generation came and went."

"I remember that day so long ago when you asked to become my mate," chuckled Wiseman. "I think you had wanted to ask earlier but you had to make sure that I would even consider the idea."

"You have that right," grinned Sa Fulang. "For all intents you were my mother and father every time I went through my cycle. I knew that you had to be comfortable with relationships with your own decedents before I even posed the idea." Sa Fulang then hung her head blushing. "I also had to be sure I was ready to take on the female role as I didn't want to scare you."

"That was the one thing you had no worry in. Centuries of dealing with people who could change their gender like people of my generation changed clothes had totally desensitized me to ideas of male and female." Wiseman then patted his stomach. "Though carrying a child does play havoc with your hormones and emotional control."

"What?" asked Ranma in a weak voice.

"I don't think he was ready for that, grandmother," said Esmeraude shaking her head.

"Wait a minute, Grandmother?!"" asked Ranma swaying on his feet.

Wiseman groaned. "You're not helping, Esmeraude."

"Wiseman," started Akane her aura coming into the visible range, "you do have an explanation for this, right?"

"What has her so pissed?" asked Esmeraude causing Akane to stare at her.

"I think it has to do with something humans called the incest taboo," said Blue Saphir thoughtfully.

"Oh, that old thing," said Esmeraude dismissively. "That got dumped nearly seven centuries ago when ki training allowed us to correct any genetic abnormalities that showed up and prevent them from being passed to the next generation."

Veneti cocked her head to one side. "Does that mean she has issues with the relationship Aquatici and I have?"

Blue Saphir chuckled. "According to the records the incest taboo was regarding close blood relations. While it is true I created both of you and have treaded you as if you were my own biological daughters you are not blood relations."

"I don't understand," said Aquatici a puzzled expression on her face. "The royal families of Europe especially the Habsburgs had marriages between half brothers and sisters as well as between uncles and nieces and those were viewed as acceptable."

Wiseman shook his head. "Those marriages were political power plays as well as a form of primitive eugenics. Just because we have to technology address any genetic issues that come up doesn't mean we should adopt such activities ourselves."

Wiseman removed his hood and leaned forward his eyes cold and serious as he looked at Akane. "You may be my first wife, Akane; but that does not give you the right to judge us by your time's standards any more than we have the right to judge you and everyone else here by ours." Wiseman leaned back steepling his hands. "Perhaps that reporter was right. Perhaps we are alien in the way she meant the word rather in the flippant way I portrayed it."

Wiseman then frowned in thought. "Mistress 9, do you think your host would be happy in our time?"

Mistress 9 looked at Wiseman and shook her head. "I don't think so. She has started making friends and most of those are people of this time."

"What of you and the youma with you, Zoisite?" continued Wiseman as he turned his attention to the Shitennou. "Would they be happy in a time when nearly all they knew is at best something only read in history books?"

Zoisite frowned thought. "No, I don't believe they would but they have already considered the Gray Moon Clan a better option then the Black Moon Clan."

Wiseman nodded. "They are right. The Black Moon Clan in its own way suffers from some of the same problems Neo-Queen Serenity and her Sailor Senshi do; the only difference is we knew there was a problem before we ever left Nemesis. The time between new or innovative ways of using ki or developing martial arts has gotten longer and longer with each generation. Once the rate was measured in months or years for really complicated techniques; now even new simple techniques seem to take a decade to be developed."

"You mean you felt you were reaching the end of what you could develop in isolation?" asked Wicked Lady.

"Something like that. I haven't been tolerate with Neo-Queen Serenity just because I know she will do what is right once she gets her head screwed back on straight but because in a way we need her."

~*~*RS*~*~