SMST5C: Journey into Mystery! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: None of the principle characters and situations belongs to me.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 25
A few minutes later, once the ground settles, someone exits the stone humanoid…
"I see someone," Liz said.
An old goblin in a wheel chair/cart exits the stone arch.
"Greetings," said the goblin. "I take it that you are here to see Prince Nuada?"
"We are, Master Craftsman," Ranma said. "I am 'Doctor Ranma', the present Sorcerer Supreme. These are my companions, and we seek entrance into your umbral realm."
"And what fee will you pay me for entering my domicile, sorcerer?"
"Why can't we just, I know, move him out of the way?" Hellboy asked.
"Because only HE can provide the way to another mention as a sort of living key," Abe said. "We enter without his permission, and we could end up somewhere else."
"Precisely," the goblin said. "Well?"
"I can give you a boon, Master Craftsmen," Ranma said, as he presents the goblin one of his Starfleet combadges. "This will allow you to communicate with Humankind at your leisure and on any level. But most importantly, you may make a request of me for anything at any time, so long as the request does neither directly or indirectly an innocent soul."
Ranma then tosses the piece to goblin.
"Ah," the goblin said, as he examines the piece. "I sense precious and rare metals encased in gold and platinum."
"Yes."
"I accept," the goblin said. "Come, follow me…"
As the group walks inside the stone figure, Hellboy turns towards Ranma.
"You got that at a 'Star Trek' convention, huh?" Hellboy said with a smirk.
"No, I didn't," Ranma replied. "I got it from a possible future timeline were there really IS a Starfleet."
"You don't say…"
After entering the stone giant, everyone could see a massive, underground city that once stood proud, but was now steeped in death and decay.
"My apologies for the state of your home, Master Craftsman," Ranma said, as he looks around the cavernous city. It reminded him of Moira, during the time of the War of the Ring of Sauron…
"This was a beautiful place once."
"You've been here, Doctor?"
"Indeed, when the world was once known as 'Middle Earth'."
"It is a shame that magic and imagination is fleeting these days."
"What happened to this place?" Liz asked.
"When the world changed, many hidden realms such as this one died out," the old goblin said. "Some us thought we can stay behind, after the Great Migration to Arcadia took place. But that was foolish thinking. Slowly, we either faded away, or took on human guises to be a part of humankind. On occasion, have our descendants realized their fae potential by revealing themselves in a physical way, but even then, that has been a rarity…"
The old goblin turns towards Liz.
"You are a descendant of a fire elemental, for example, my dear," the old goblin said.
"But…I am a pyro-kinetic."
"How do you think such things are possible? Wizards, psychics, witches, and shamans…your blood flows with the heritage of gods, angels and the Fae, although it is equally possible to be spawns of dark gods, demons, elementals and dark fae. Your science consider you an aberration of your 'human evolution', when, in fact, you are simply recovering what was loss."
"Oh. But…if that's the case, why would I be lumped into the bad category?"
"It's not much as elementals are 'bad', it's that they are forces of nature, which would make them amoral. Would you call a hurricane evil?"
"No."
"Then there you go…"
"Have you been here by yourself?" Abe asked.
"The angel of Death visits me often, but we do not need see her this day."
"Master Craftsman, maybe I can help you go to Arcadia, so you can be with your people again," Ranma offered.
"I appreciate that, sorcerer, but my place is here," the old goblin said. "Somebody will have to watch over the Golden Army, especially ME…since I was the one who made those monsters."
The old goblin points to his legless body.
"And I paid the price for my master handiwork in an accident."
"We apologize for your loss," Krause said. "Question: is there any weakness that the Golden Army may have?"
The old goblin looks at Krause.
"I afraid that if there is a weakness, it will have to be something that I have not factored in, when I created those armored monsters."
"Great, then we're screwed," Hellboy said.
Soon, after departing the company of the Goblin Craftsman, who refused to go into the armory, they see, at the central platform. Underneath a raised dial was a series of gears and cogs. No doubt, once the cogs begin to move, so will the Golden Army: seventy time seventy, or 4900 armored troops.
"Now," Ranma said, as he turns to face the group. "Now, you all got the new ammo?"
"Of course, Colonel," Krause said. "But their properties are strange."
"What material are you using for the shell?" Abe asked.
"The material is called 'Nth metal'," Ranma said. "From my recollection, the Golden Army can self repair."
"That doesn't sound good at all," Hellboy replied.
"No. You can break these guys apart, they will repair themselves by putting themselves back together."
"So, we'll be fine, then?" Liz asked.
"Are you a good shot?" Ranma asked.
"Yes."
"Then we'll survive the initial wave, if Nuada decides to use the Golden Army."
"Chances are that he will," Abe said.
"I know," Ranma replied.
"Which means that we would be facing a battle of attrition," Liz said.
"I like those odds, actually," Hellboy replied, which warranted stares.
"…"
Once the group reaches the top of the stairs, they see Nuada, Nuala and Usagi, who was now dressed in elfin garb.
"Ranma!" Usagi yells.
"Hey, Usagi," Ranma replied. He then turns to face Nuada.
"Okay, now what?" Ranma asked.
"The final piece, of course," Nuada replied. "And no tricks. I know that in this newest incarnation of yours, you are a 'Chaos Lord'."
"Oh, perish the thought, Nuada," Ranma said, as he presents the box containing the last piece of the controlling crown.
"Give it to me. My blade has been soaked with 'Hind's Blood'."
Ranma raises an eyebrow.
"What does that mean?" Hellboy asked Ranma.
"It means he'll kill Usagi…permanently, without being able to regenerate," Ranma said. In truth, he knew that Usagi would simply reincarnate, like the phase of the Moon, but not for a long time…
"Precisely. So, the final piece?"
"Don't, husband!" Nuala said.
"Nuala, please trust me," Ranma said, as he tosses the box.
THUMP!
KTCH!
"Now," Nuada said, as he takes out the last piece of the controlling crown out of the box, after pushing Usagi away. "A new age is upon us…"
With that, he fits the last piece in place.
KATK!
"My army will be at my command," Nuada said, as he places the controlling crown on his head.
"Do you doubt me, my Golden Army?" Nuada bellowed.
And with that the master gears begin to turn, as the entire Golden Army begins to wake up.
"Look what you have done!" Krause yells.
"You should relax, Herr Doctor," Ranma said, as he turns towards Usagi. "Now, Usagi."
Usagi embraces Nuada.
"What are you-?" Nuada said bewilderedly.
"What?" Nuada said, as he turns to face his sister and Usagi, who now appeared to be semi-transparent, but glowing with swirls around their bodies.
"I am enveloping my aura around us," Usagi said, referring to her light-based powers, which she acquired when exposed to cosmic radiation years ago. This was the same radiation that created the world famous 'Fantastic Four'…
"We are now both light-based creatures."
"But why?" Nuala asked.
"With us phased out of slightly out of synch with normal reality, Ranma doesn't have to worry about you getting hurt, when he fights Nuada."
"Grrrr!" Nuada said, as he pokes his blade towards Usagi. It passes through her harmlessly.
"Nyah, nyah!" Usagi said, as she stuck out her tongue.
Nuada then pricks himself, but nothing happens to Nuala.
"Moon Princess, you are right!" Nuala says with astonishment. "I do not feel my brother's presence-!"
Growling, Nuada turns towards Ranma.
"You TRICKED me!" Nuada says.
"No, you tricked yourself, Nuada," Ranma said. "You could have been a hero to your people. Instead, you corrupted everything you were taught."
Pause.
"And I seriously don't think Gwendolyn would recognize what you have become."
Ranma then brings out Haldafang, the sword that his mother Lady Arwen had given Usagi as a dowry.
"I challenge you for mastery of the Golden Army, and your birthright, Nuada, son of Balor. Because of YOU, because you could not accept your father's wisdom, Nuala and I could not be together. Today, that will change."
"So be it," Nuada said, as he takes out his weapons for paired combat. One blade was a short, curved sword, while the other was his extendable blade.
"Frank, guys-"
"We're on it," Hellboy said, as he and the rest of the team prepare to receive the ever encroaching soldiers of the Golden Army.
Meanwhile, Nuada leaps unto the lower platform, which would serve its purpose as a dueling ground.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance," Nuada said, as he and Ranma circled each other. "But that chance was taken from me by Sauron's assassins."
"I guess now is your chance, Nuada," Ranma replied. And then-
CLANG!
The battle was on.
Meanwhile, Hellboy and the rest of the team began blasting away.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM-!
"It looks like the ammunition that Ranma has given us is working," Abe said, as he reloaded his gun.
BLAM-BLAM!
"It won't matter if we run out of shells," Liz replied, as she reloaded her weapons.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! BLAM-!
"I need time to reload," Hellboy said, as he releases the casings from his gun.
"Right!" Krause said, as he unseals his containment suit. Now in his ectoplasmic form, Krause then takes over one of the armored soldiers, turning its orange/red hue into a blue one.
"Now, I can have some fun!" said Krause, as he began to smash the other mystic droids.
Meanwhile, the sword fight between Nuada and Ranma continues.
KLANG!
"Remember, shadow of Eldarion?" Nuada said. "I was once your teacher on the Elfin arts of sword and ground fighting, when we were but children."
Ranma pushes Nuada away.
"That is true, but I learned a few…other tricks since then," Ranma said with a smile, as he pressed his advantage. Although Ranma knew that he was ultimately faster that Nuada, Nuada's agility was comparable to his. Still, it is skill that will decide this day.
CLANG!
With a quick feint, Ranma rolls with an intended blow, disarms Nuada, takes control of Nuada's weapon, and-
THAK!
Nuada sees that his own weapon was embedded into his chest, thanks to Ranma. However, he knew that Ranma had not hit a vital spot.
"BROTHER!" Nuala said, as Usagi held her tight.
"Do it," Nuada said, as he shivers. "Give me a warrior's death."
"My role as the Sorcerer Supreme is to heal and protect the planet, and all her creatures from that which threatens it," Ranma said, as he uses his other hand to remove the controlling crown from atop of Nuada's head. "But I don't have to engage in death dealing to do so."
With that, Ranma pulls out the blade, causing Nuada to collapse.
THUNK!
"Brother!" Nuala said, as she was let go by Usagi, thus returning her to her normal state.
"Well," Hellboy said, as the Golden Army shuts down. "It appears that we have won…"
"And not a moment too soon," Abe said.
"Husband!" Nuala said, as she runs towards Ranma. "You did it! You defeated my brother-"
SPLURCH!
Suddenly, Nuala stumbles, and begins to fall.
"Nuala!" Ranma said. He then turns to see Nuada pull out his own blade.
"I will not see you win today, old friend," Nuada said, as he fell to ground. "The world…is yours, but you victory will be a pyrrhic…one."
As Nuada lay still, he begins to petrify…
Quickly, Ranma goes over to Nuala, who was beginning to petrify herself, due to the psychic link being re-established.
"Nuala, don't-" Ranma said.
"It is okay, my husband," Nuada said, as Usagi goes over to Ranma's side. "I know I can rest, knowing that this world's future will always be in safe hands…"
Ranma quickly turns towards Usagi.
"Usagi, you got to do something!" Ranma pleaded. "It's not fair that the innocent has to die because of the actions of warriors!"
Usagi sees Nuala, as the petrifaction becomes complete. Quickly, she makes a fateful decision…
Weeks later…
"You know, I don't know if I like using a disguise pendant to move around without getting harassed," Hellboy said, as he and Ranma sat around the wadding pool of the local mall. To everyone else, Hellboy looked like a…construction worker.
Ranma looks up from doing his crossword puzzle to turn to Hellboy.
"Oh, quite complaining, Frank," Ranma said. "Weren't you the one always saying, 'Oh, how tragic my life is, because I can't get accepted as I am', right?"
"Exactly. But still…"
"Look at it in another way: at least you don't have to worry about some priest trying to exercise you or something-"
"Hey, guys," said Liz, as she and Usagi step up to the fountain where their respective men were.
"Enjoy the poolside?" Usagi said with a goofy smile.
"I would enjoy it less if I didn't have to hold your purse," Ranma said with a smirk. "So, you guys done window shopping for baby stuff?"
"Yes…"
"THANK you," Hellboy said drolly. "Now we can actually get something to eat…"
As the couple passes by a mall shop, one would notice that the reflections of Hellboy and Usagi were quite different. While Hellboy's reflection was his usual demon self, Usagi's was that of Nuala's. At the last minute, Usagi used one of her doppelgangers to merge with the essence of the elfin princess, essentially merging the two. Now that Usagi and Nuala were one and the same, Nuala was now queen of the Forest Elves, having ascended upon the throne of the House of Balor.
As for the Golden Army and the controlling crown, while the Golden Army was once again placed in storage, sealed off again, the controlling crown was encased in a crystal clear material that was denser than the core of a black star. Only when Ranma and Usagi work act together can the crown be freed from its casing. Ranma wanted to destroy the thing, but Usagi pointed out that a weapon was a weapon; how it is used depends upon the wearer. She also pointed out the fact that the Golden Army was not indestructible, as evident by the use of Nth metal, which Usagi's Technocratic Union had in abundance, and could be used for the benefit of humankind, since their actions were dependent upon the wearer.
"And besides," Usagi had said to Ranma, "The creator of the Golden Army could easily create another controlling crown anyway, and he has your direct line, in case of trouble."
Ranma could not refute that logic, as twisted as it was…
Nevertheless, after the crisis involving the Golden Army was taken care of, Manning authorized some much needed downtime for the team, which why Ranma, Usagi, Liz and "Frank" were at the mall.
"What do you want for dinner, Usagi?" Ranma said, as he held his wife's hands.
"I'm not sure," Usagi replied in Elvish, as she and Ranma walked behind Hellboy and Liz, who, as always were arguing over who was right…about something. "You can always surprise me, my husband."
"Of course," Ranma replied likewise, as he stops in the middle of the walkway. "And Usagi?"
"Yes, Ranma?"
"Thanks for saving Nuala's life," Ranma said, as he hugged Usagi…
"Hey, I still day I should name our kid after my father, Liz," Hellboy yelled.
"Well, fine, as long as you don't name him 'The Fallen'-!" Liz yelled back.
"Come on," Ranma said, as he broke his hug with Usagi. "We better see what they are arguing about THIS time…"
"...And that's what happened," Ranma said, as he puts away the map that lead to the location of the Golden Army.
"Wow," Brianna said. "That story sounds so...romantic."
"How so?"
"Well, you still loved the girl, even after all this time. But it's sad that Prince Nuada had to go in order to resolve the crisis."
"My brother did not have to 'go'," Nuala said, as she stepped out of the shadows. "He made his decision to die long before now, and merely used the state of the world as an excuse to commit needless violence."
Pause.
"I will always love my brother, but his fate was always iin his hands."
"Usagi, I really wish that you didn't do that," Ranma said, as he folded his arms.
POOF!
"Well, I wanted to enhance your story Ranma," Usagi said. "And besides, you're not the one with Nuada living inside you."
"I thought you didn't mind," Ranma asked.
"Well, it feels too much like the kind Orochimaru tended to do, that's all."
"Huh."
"So, what happened to Agent Hellboy and the others?" Gina asked.
"Well, the team wanted to quit, so that they could be 'independent contractors'," Ranma said. "I told them that they should remain on the payroll of the BPRD, since Frank's expenses would outstrip his pay. He didn't want to, but was convinced by Liz, due to the fact that she was going to have twins."
"Well, Agent Hellboy is a good...man to work with," Britaney said. "So, I wish him well."
"Usagi, if...something was to happen to me, would you put me inside you?" Brianna asked, which caused everyone in the storage room to break out iin a sweat.
"..."
"Do you like icecream sundaes?" Usagi asked.
"Yes..."
"Then, sure. I reserve space for ya. Just remember that you'll be sharing your essence with several other personalities."
"Um, okay?"
Ranma sighs, as he shakes his head, wondering how he got mixed up with a girl like Usagi Tsukino, the one and only Sailor Moon. It was definitely a mystery to him...
Fin.
Author's Note: That's it for this story. Take care!