3: With Great Power…
Natsuki was standing on the surface of the Pacific Ocean, her bare feet not even rippling the water, as her wings kept her aloft through means she didn't quite understand. It seemed as if they generated a field of anti-gravity, because, large as they were, she was versed enough in physics to know they shouldn't be capable of propelling a human body, even one as light as forty-eight kilograms, into the air. The other thing that surprised her was how light and fluffy they were when they were composed of filament thin ice crystals.
The wings did seem to grow from her back whenever she chose to manifest them, and so she'd taken to wearing a backless dress these days to be ready to summon them. She'd lost a very nice jacket already when the wings tore right through them as they'd sprung into existence.
She'd chosen the middle of the Pacific to test her abilities. The circuit stone she'd been given, which was now merged with her body, gave her access to the powers that any version of her in the multiverse had, and she had discovered that some were far more destructive than others. Aparently, one version of her was the Head-Mistress of an academy for girls studying in materialization powers, and she could summon forth a beam cannon of such destructive force that she had to anchor herself in place to avoid being tossed backwards by the recoil.
She could summon ice crystals of varying sizes. She could fly. She could teleport. Apparently in some universes she was a werewolf, but she was bound and determined to never let Shizuru find out about that. Or Nao. The Pup and Mutt nicknames might come out of retirement if Nao found out that Natsuki was a werewolf in some worlds. And she was apparently a vampire in a few, judging by the elongated fangs she could grow and the sudden surge in speed and musculature that accompanied their appearance. And while she'd always prided herself on her marksmanship (having taken out several of Yatagarasu's feather-darts before they could hit Kagutsuchi), but her accuracy seemed ridiculously spot on when she summoned her newfound abilities. And she seemed to be able to heal from injuries with ridiculous speed, now.
"Miss Kuga," She heard Miyu's voice, and looked around.
"Miyu?" Natsuki blinked, "Where are you?"
"I am currently standing at the entrance to the safehouse you've allotted for the HiME. Utilizing the materialization technology your mother has outfitted me with, I am capable of speaking to you via transmissions through a sub-ether network. Miss Alyssa asks that you join us."
Natsuki smiled, and with a casual thought, she traveled instantly to the compound that would now house the former HiME and their families safely.
"Astonishing how quickly you do that," Alyssa marveled, "It reminds me of Homura's powers."
"If you're going to be insulting," Natsuki smirked.
"Should you really be using power that Nagi Homura and Mashiro Kazahana gave you?"
"You saw the news, too, Alyssa. Those things overran that oil refinery with ease, killing everyone there. And someone tried to kidnap Shizuru. I'm not going to leave my family vulnerable. And that includes the extended sorority that are the other HiME."
Alyssa sighed, "I get that. I do. I just…Natsuki, you now have access to an ungodly amount of power. More than any of us ever had as HiME. In fact, Miyu and Mother think you may even have more power than the Obsidian Prince, now. And you know what they say about power."
Natsuki nodded, "I get it, Alyssa. And I suppose Shizuru is worried, too?"
Alyssa smirked, "Honestly, I seldom discuss you with your wife. I mean, we don't do much together, her and I. The only thing we really have in common, aside from large busts, is you."
"Maybe I should arrange for the two of you to do some things together," Natsuki smiled sweetly.
"I already have a girl who obsesses over everything I do, Natsuki," Alyssa sighed, "And she hasn't aged a day in the last seventeen years. Unlike a certain problematic history teacher I could name, Miyu really will be forever seventeen. She looked the same when I was two years old. My constant, unchanging companion."
"Your doting surrogate mother," Natsuki patted Alyssa's head.
"Natsuki!" Shizuru embraced her from behind, "I'm so glad you're back!"
"You look happy," Natsuki smiled at her, "Good day?"
"I'll tell you all about it, later," Shizuru promised, kissing her, "But for right now, the girls wanted to see you."
Natsuki's face brightened, "Oh, are they back from school and day care? Let's go."
"I'll join you in a moment," Shizuru chuckled, "I needed to chat with your sister a moment."
Natsuki bounded down the hall to see her daughters.
"What's going on, Fujino? I wanted to make sure that Natsuki…"
"Understands the dangers of her newfound power?" Shizuru smiled at her knowingly, "That's precisely why I sent her to see our daughters. Mashiro promised me that the circuit stone would allow Natsuki to safeguard her mind from the thoughts and memories of her other selves. But the sheer amount of power that she's now privy to, it makes you worry that she'll be corrupted."
"And you're not?" Alyssa blinked.
"I have a little experience with madness," Shizuru reminded her, "There is no salve for a troubled mind like the love of those around you. Natsuki has me, and she has Saiyuri, and Naomi, and Sachiko. She has you, and Nao. She has people she wants to protect, and that keeps her grounded and focused."
Alyssa blinked, then smiled, "You really do trust her completely, don't you?"
"Alyssa, you know everything that happened at the Festival, don't you?"
"I've heard."
"Natsuki forgave me when she thought I'd committed the move vile and base act of betrayal possible. A belief that I, admittedly, fostered and shared. A person who can not only forgive that, but show love and compassion to the person responsible, that's not a person I would ever consider capable of corruption."
Alyssa sighed, the nineteen year old looking suddenly dejected, "What do I have to do to have that kind of love in MY life?!"
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That night, as Natsuki slept, she found herself face to face with another version of herself. Emerald green eyes shone brilliantly in the darkness, and her other self was smiling gently.
"Are you another version of me?" Natsuki asked.
"Not exactly. Spoken language doesn't really have a term for this, but I think the best way to put it is I'm all of you at once, including the you who's talking to me now. I've seen every world you've ever been in or will be. I have to say, you're doing very well. The ones where we end up with Shizuru tend to be the happiest ones. There's one where you and she are living together with some interesting pets, and no other conspiracies going on. There's worlds where you end up with Nao. There's a few where you and Mai date. I know of at least one where you tried to date Yuuichi. And there's one where you actually married Takeda and had kids with him. That was a sad world, I'm afraid."
Natsuki wanted to make a wisecrack, but something about the aura of this ultimate her made it seem inappropriate, "Why? What happened?"
"Takeda was a gentle and warm lover. He also died at an early age of a heart attack. Yet another victim of Karoshi."
"So, what am I doing here? Is this a prophecy sort of thing? Or a warning? Maybe a tutorial on how to use all this new power?"
Her definitive self smiled again, shaking her head, "C'mon, is any version of us really so cliched? No. It's just that I don't usually get a chance to speak to my component selves. So, I thought I'd take a moment to chat. I just wanted to say that…you've given me some really good, happy moments, and I'm glad you're a part of who I am."
Natsuki blinked, then started laughing, gleeful, girlish laughter, then wiped her eyes, smiling, "Thanks. I mean it. Thank you. There must be quite a few good worlds out there, if the penultimate version of me is so chill."
"Just stick by Shizuru, whatever you do, and make sure to kiss that woman every day. Trust me, whenever one of my component "me"s kisses Shizuru, I feel it."
Natsuki smiled at this other self, "Will do."
She turned over in the bed, wrapping her arm around Shizuru, a contented smile on her face.