SMST 6D: Ace of Hearts! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: SM, R1/2, ST and other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: Due to the series being in a shared universe environment, the timeline of the "original" Robotech Series will not be the same in this story. However, the main events will be consistent. As always, C&C are welcomed.
Part 38
Thirty minutes later, everyone is assembled for the wedding, which will takes place in a non-denominational chapel on the grounds of UN Spacy Command HQ, located in Macross City, Alaska (North America). Well, maybe not everyone…
"Where is she?" Lisa asked, as she and the rest of the bridesmaid waited for maid of honor to arrive.
"I told you, she's on her way-" Serene began to say, until something caught her attention.
'Ranma?' Serene thought.
Serene sees Ranko peeking her head through the inner doors of the chapel. She scans the room until she sees Usagi.
"Wait, there's Ranko," Miriya said, as she and the other members of the wedding party turn to see Ranko waving her hands.
"I wonder what's going on, Rick," Max asked, as he looks over at towards Ranko, who was waving her hands at Usagi.
"Probably got caught up in some of the usual trouble," Ben said.
"I'm more concerned with Ranma being missing," Roy said, as he leans over a bit.
"Yeah, where is he, anyway?" Ben asked.
"Excuse me," Serene said, as she steps down from the raised platform. "I'll be right back."
Serene then trots over to the inner door, exits into the main foyer and turns towards Ranko.
"'Ranko', you're late," Serene said. "What's the hold up-?"
Before Ranko could reply…
"Me, All-Mother," Brunhide said coolly.
"I thought I told you to wait outside?" Ranko said.
"I'm a Valkyrie, 'husband', the first of my kind. Why should I?"
"Okay, what the heck is going on?" Serene said.
"Well, Brunhilde found out about the plans of using our LMDs to look after things-" Ranko began to say.
"No, I found out that a ROBOT is going to take the place of MY bed-mate," Brunhilde seethed. "I will not let anyone-"
Serene raises an eyebrow, as her eyes crackled with power, as the sounds of thunder rolled in the distance. This causes Brunhilde to lower her eyes.
"I meant no disrespect, chief wife and All-Mother, but my woman's pride and my love for my husband is at stake."
"Brunhilde, this mission will require Ranma's attention, since we both have had dealings with the Robotech Masters," Serene said gently. "The LMD that was suppose to be like Ranma in every way possible, since I have extensive experience in knowing what Ranma can do, as well as what he likes."
"All-Mother, please," Brunhilde said. "It's bad enough that I have to share our husband, but I need special consideration from you on this matter."
"Hey, I have needs too, you know, but you don't see me whine about having to share Ranma with a dozen other girls," Serene said. "It's something that I have long since accepted as a sort of 'occupational hazard'."
"Humph!"
And then, the doors to the inner chapel open up.
"Hey, guys, Minmei's parents want to get this show started-" Ben said, as he sticks his head, only to see a nearly seven-foot tall Amazon-like woman decked in Viking gear that was talking to his friends.
"Um…"
Brunhilde looks down, and frowns.
"What are you looking at, little man?" Brunhilde said.
"Um…"
"Give us a minute Ben," Ranko said urgently, as she pushed Ben back inside.
"But-"
SLAM!
"Okay," Ranko said, as she clapped her hands. "I promised Brunhilde that she could come with us."
"Really?" Serene replied.
"Yes, 'she' did," Brunhilde said. "I will not take no for an answer, even if you threaten me to be stationed in Hel, All-Mother."
Serene sighs.
"Okay, but you can't come with us, dressed like THAT," Serene said.
"How can I not? When I expose my true self to public, my mortal guise became denied to me, when the home government declared me to be not 'Akane Tendo'. Only now has that edict been lifted, but just now."
Both Ranko and Serene turned to face each other. They then turned to look at Brunhilde.
"Why are you smiling at me like that?" Brunhilde said.
"Brunhilde, I am the Izanagi, which make me the Akane Tendo's 'All-Father'," Ranko said.
"Um, that's kind of gross."
"Brunhilde, past fifteen generations, it's okay. But I am Akane's quite distant ancestor."
"Ugh. No wonder my family is so mess up."
"If you think that's gross, the Tendo, Saotome and Hibiki clans come from the same tree."
"Oh, goddess."
"Yes?" Serene said with a smile.
"I didn't mean it! Sheesh."
"Anyway, I can grant you back your identity fairly easily, with some help."
"I will help the Izanagi to re-initiate your mortal guise," Serene said. "Once you have your mortal guise again, everything associated with 'Brunhilde' will disappear, until you recall this power again. Is this okay?"
"I will do anything to have my life back," Brunhilde said, as she wiped away a tear. "I made my choice to become a Norse goddess, but I miss being my old self these past couple of years. Huh. Some warrior I am, with me crying like a helpless maiden…"
"Brunhilde, you risked much, when you fought against the Angels," Serene said. "That allows us to grant a boon."
Both Ranko and Serene each place a hand on Brunhilde's shoulders.
"This may feel a bit…strange," Ranko said, as her eyes begin to glow, as did Serene's…
FWOOSH!
"Ohhhhh," Akane said, as she went limply slightly, as Ranko caught her. She wore a simple sundress and comfortable shoes.
"I got you," Ranko said.
"Are you okay?" Serene asked.
"I…I guess so…Stormy-!"
"He exist in a stitch in time, and won't feel the passage of time, until you transform back to Brunhilde."
"Well, I'm never going to be Brunhilde again…ever!"
"Never say never," Ranko said. "This is especially the case, since we might be going into a war zone."
"You can enlist, if you want, Akane," Serene said. "Other wise, you can come with us as a civilian."
"I'll THINK about it."
Akane then felt her hair.
"Why is it so long?" Akane asked.
"You haven't used your mortal guise for a long time, Akane," Ranko said. "This is the result."
"Huh," Akane said, as she tied her hair into a ponytail. "Well, this will have to do for now."
"Alright, just…find a seat somewhere," Ranko said. "We have a wedding to attend…"
BLIP!
"I agree," said Ranma, as he straightens his bow tie and formal wear. "Now, I'm ready to be the best man…"
"I look awesome, me," Ranko said with a grin.
"You, too," Ranma replied.
"Oh, goddess," Akane said. "The narcissism spewing forth is WAY too much to handle…for the world."
"Ha, ha, very funny," Ranma and Ranko said in unison.
"Guys, shall we?" Serene said, as she and the others enter the inner chapel…
The next day…
"This is Skull-22," Lt. Sasuke said, as he moved his Veritech "Alpha Fighter" into the launch position. "I'm in launch mode-"
"Man, I can't wait to begin this mission," Lt. Naruto said, as he rolled his fighter into position for the launch sequence.
CHIRP!
The face of the flight control officer, Lt. Sakura, pops up on one of Naruto's monitors.
"Idiot, you weren't cleared for launch yet!" Sakura yelled.
"Ah, what's the hold up, then?" Naruto said. "I'm ready to go!"
"If you want to be grounded, Naruto, you'll follow regulations!" Sakura said. "Okay, Skull-23, you're clear for launch."
"About time!"
"Skull-24, YOU are cleared for launch."
"Thanks, Sakura-chan," Lt. Renata said, as she taxis her fighter for the launch sequence.
"Flight Control to Skull-One, all designated escort fighters are in position for launch," Sakura said. "Over."
"Thank you, Flight Control," Ranko said. She then switched lines.
"You guys ready for some adventure, Rick?"
"Ready," said Commander Rick Hunter, as he breathed with a sigh. Rick was the squadron's "XO" (i.e. the executive officer).
"Hey, Rick, I bet you can't wait until you get to your honeymoon," Lt/Commander Ben chuckled.
"Ah, knock it off, Ben," Lt/Commander Max said. "Cut him some slack."
"Besides," Lt/Commander Miriya said with a grin. "The wait makes the sex a lot better."
"Hey!" Rick said.
Everyone laughs good-naturedly.
Meanwhile, on the Bridge of the SDF-3 "Pioneer"…
"We are ready to launch shortly, ma'am," said Sakura, as she adjusted her seat at Flight Control.
"Excellent," replied Admiral Lisa Hayes, the commanding officer of the SDF-3 "Pioneer", as she stood on the deck of the Bridge, while over-looking Macross City.
Ensign Ino, on Operations, turns towards her crewmate.
"I don't see why YOU have the right to be the pilot," Ino fumed. "You only beat me by one point."
"Which is why I get to be Flight Controller. Nyah!"
"Oh, no!" Ensign Hinata said, as she looked over from Communications and Sensors. "I hope they won't start fighting again."
"Well, it's something to be expected, Hinata," Ensign Ten-Ten said, as she manned the Weapons Systems.
"Settle down, girls," Lisa said, as she sat down in her seat. "We still have to rendezvous with Commander Breetai's fleet at the Robotech Factory, so we can begin move into position for the space jump…
A while back, on orders from the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village (Hokkaido, Japan), Naruto and a select group of shinobi were asked to enlist into UN Spacy, so that they could participate in the Robotech Expeditionary Program. Officially, the Hokage wanted to broaden her elite shinobi's experiences, especially since aliens were known to humanity. Unofficially, she wanted to send an ANBU team to protect the Jade King and Queen, who were really Ranma (disguised as Captain Ranko Tend, the commander of the elite Veritech "Skrull Squadron") and Usagi (disguised as the Meltrandi warrior Serene). Regardles of the reason, Naruto and Renata were glad to go on a grand adventure with their parents…
"Flight Controller, begin launch sequence," Lisa said.
"Launch sequence begins at T-Minus ten seconds…"
"What do you think we'll find, Ten-Ten?" Henata asked.
Ten-Ten looks over towards her friend.
"Aliens, I suppose," Ten-Ten said with a shrug.
"Oh."
"Five…four…three…two…one…zero-" Sakura said. And then…
"LAUNCH!" Lisa yelled.
VROOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!
On the ground, everyone cheered, as the SDF-3 takes off with a roar, thanks to a combination of the anti-gravity generators and the boosters. When the ship gets high enough, the Skull Squadron receives the green light for launch.
"Skull Squadron: LAUNCH!" Ranko calls out.
VROOOM!
The fighters blast off at tremendous speeds, so much so that they will soon escape the gravitational pull of the Earth.
"Yahoo!" Naruto yells with glee. "Space, here we come!"
"Oh, shut up, loser," Sasuke said with a smirk.
Tbc.
Next time: A warp and an arrival.