Alrighty, peeps, an AU (alternate universe) fic here. I think you'll find it's not sooo radically different as some AUs, I've just switched things around a little bit. Should be kinda interesting. Well, either read it or go away. If you like Ryoko, you should like anyone of my fics (Vengeance, World of Stars, and Ryoko's Past).
Disclaimer: I do not own Tenchi Muyo
The Pirate and the PrincessRyoko slumped in her commanders' chair, gazing out the window of the Ryo-ohki with boredom.
"Ryo-ohki?" she called.
"Mreow?" came the instantaneous reply.
"Where are we?" A series of star charts showed up on the screen. "Hmmm, fairly close to Jurai, I see. If ever there was a stuffier, more boring planet…Well, since I'm in town, I guess I can do them a favor and liven things up!" Ryoko grinned and straightened up with anticipation. "Full speed ahead, Ryo-ohki! I just love saying that."
"Mreooow!"
"Oh, come off it! Have I ever hurt anybody?"
"Miya."
"That guy was asking for it!"
"Meow."
"They were in my way…Alright, but I've never killed anyone! And anyway we desperately need the money. Come on, let's go! Jurai has the best radishes in town. I know how you love radishes!"
"Mreow, meow!"
"Whaddaya mean, 'you've moved on to carrots'?! When did this happen? You've loved radishes since your first hatching…Argh, it doesn't matter, I'm sure this plant-freak of a planet has good carrots too, let's go!" Ryoko tapped her foot angrily as Ryo-ohki reluctantly powered up into hyper speed.
* * * *
"Lord Tenchi! This is a very good arrangement for Jurai! Balsi may not be as old and prestigious as Jurai, but their technology is amazing and their population is rapidly growing. In mere centuries, it is estimated that they will be as large as Jurai. Therefore, you see that it is essential that we establish alliances early on, and - Lord Tenchi, are you listening to me?" Tenchi was sitting cross-legged on the floor, both eyes closed. He opened one eye and stared at the thin balding man in front of him.
"Really, Akito, I'm trying to meditate. Grandfather says my concentration is off and I don't need anymore head wounds! Besides, I don't want to marry, not yet." The eye closed.
"Lord Tenchi, she's extremely beautiful, and very proper. A fine specimen of princess."
"I don't want a 'specimen' for a wife. If you like her so much, you marry her."
"I couldn't possibly marry someone in her class, your lordship, don't be ridiculous. Lord Nobuyuki is counting on you to - "
"My father doesn't have anything to do with running this planet, Akito. Mother is the sensible one."
"Well, Lady Achika then, is counting on you - "
"You know very well mother doesn't believe in arranged marriages. Hers' and fathers' wasn't arranged. You're the one who's pushing this, Akito."
"Alright then, me and the rest of Jurai would like to see you married. They are very worried about this rising power." Tenchi sighed and stood up slowly.
"Look, I'll talk to my parents at supper tonight. Is that good enough for you Akito?" Akito nodded curtly.
"Thank you, my lord." He turned to leave, and then paused, "I've helped to raise you since you were a young boy. I just want what's best for you and the rest of Jurai." Tenchi smiled.
"I know Akito. Sometimes what I want isn't what's best for Jurai."
* * * *
"How much longer now, Ryo-ohki?" Ryoko muttered tiredly, rubbing her temples.
"Mreow."
"We're here! Why didn't you say something? Never mind…Where is Jurai's largest bank located?" Maps began flashing across the screen. "There! That one will do. Right next to the palace, eh? Sounds like an adventure." Ryoko grinned wickedly and grasped Ryo-ohki's controls. "Their defense system will be incredibly strong, no doubt. Be prepared, Ryo-ohki." Almost instantly they were bombarded by blasts from a Juraian police ship. Ryoko grasped the controls tighter and dodged the blasts. "Are you okay, Ryo-ohki?"
"Mreooow!"
"I know you don't want to hurt anyone, so we're just going to disable their ship. Let's see, their power supply should be located right…there!" A small rectangular metal box was enlarged on the screen. A thin orange beam shot out of the Ryo-ohki and engulfed the box in a small explosion. The ship's lights flickered once, then dimmed into darkness. Ryoko quickly steered passed the ship and towards Jurai. Once she entered the planet's atmosphere, its defense system activated. Wooden lasers and self-destruct bombs lay between her and her destination. Ryoko concentrated, raising Ryo-ohki into the next power level. She used her abilities to phase the entire cabbit-ship around each weapon. The space pirate occasionally fired a blast, but relied mainly on her speed. The palace and bank soon came into to view. The palace, a massive structure of carved wood and leaves rose above the tallest of trees. The bank, though huge, was only a quarter of its size. Ryoko hovered in the air for a moment, then grinned. "Okay, as long as we're here, we might as well say 'hi' to the royals, whaddaya say Ryo-ohki! Aim a mild blast at the palace."
"Meow, miya!"
"That's the point, Ryo-ohki, I want a little bit of a challenge and the palace guards will have to do."
* * * *
Tenchi jogged down the hallway clutching the Tenchi-Ken. Grandfather is going to be furious! He thought worriedly, If only Akito hadn't kept me so long…His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when an explosion rocked the palace. Tenchi slammed against the wall and fell to the ground, holding his head. Alarms began to blare loudly all over the palace.
"All palace guards report immediately to the Jurai Palace Bank. We are under attack by the space pirate Ryoko! Repeat, we are under attack…" Tenchi climbed to his feet laboriously, gingerly touching the growing bump beneath his hair. He listened to the announcement with growing excitement. The famed criminal Ryoko! He looked hesitantly in the direction of the gym and his grandfather, before sprinting in the opposite direction. Finally, a chance to prove my skills in a real battle he thought.
* * * *
Ryoko swung her sack of money around, catching one of the guards full in the face. Thank goodness for Jurai's wooden currency, she thought with a grin. The guard staggered backwards, dazed, and Ryoko phased behind him and stuck a leg out. He tripped, hitting his head on a jutting root. Ryoko quickly twisted around and struck another guard in the jaw, knocking him out cold. She rose into the air and sent a few blasts at the feet of a guard, causing him to lose his balance and twist his ankle. As he struggled to limp to safety, Ryoko swooped down and sent a mild electric current through his skull. A laser blast caught her in the shoulder and Ryoko cursed, flipping backwards. A blond galaxy policewoman stood slightly behind a tree, holding a gun. Ryoko grinned and phased behind her. The woman looked frantically around her then froze at the sound of Ryoko igniting her energy sword. She swallowed and turned around slowly. Ryoko smiled, 'Oh, I'm gonna have fun with this one!'
"Hi, I'm Ryoko."
"I-I-I'm…I'm…" She took a deep breath. "I'm galaxy police officer Mihoshi and I am hereby placing you under arrest." Ryoko released her sword and sighed sadly.
"Oh, well, I guess if you have to…" Mihoshi cheered.
"Oh wow! You mean it? You're going to come quietly?" Ryoko nodded.
"But first I'm going to have to see some I.D."
"I.D? Oooh, okay. I know I have it with me, where did I put it?" Mihoshi began frantically searching her pockets, pulling out various objects. Ryoko laughed softly, shaking her head. Time to get back to business… Ryoko phased away quietly and picked up the money where she'd dropped it.
"Okay Ryo-ohki!" she called, "Ready for pick-up!"
"Wait just a minute, Ryoko. Haven't you time for one more?" Ryoko whipped around and stared curiously at the young boy that stood before her. He was slightly taller than her, with brown eyes and short black hair.
"Sure," she responded casually. She dropped the money and ignited her energy sword. "You don't look like a palace guard." Tenchi ignited his own sword without responding. They circled each other warily, searching for openings. Suddenly Ryoko lunged forward swiping at Tenchi viciously. He instantly threw up his sword to block her, trying to keep up with her lightening fast attacks. Ryoko was slowly pushing Tenchi back, and he desperately thrust forward, trying to regain his footing. They locked swords, the fight changing to a contest of strength. Ryoko realized with surprise that her sword was being forced back. He's stronger than he looks, she thought before phasing away. Tenchi stumbled forward, amazed at her sudden disappearance.
"Yoohoo!" Ryoko called from above. Tenchi jerked his gaze upwards and stared at Ryoko while she waved cheekily. "You'd better watch out!" Tenchi leapt to the side just as orange energy blasts rained down to where he had been standing. Ryoko laughed and floated down in front of the amazed boy. "Let's end this, shall we?" They re-ignited their energy swords and immediately attacked. Tenchi tried each technique he'd been taught, but Ryoko easily countered every one. Finally, she knocked him on the ground with a punch to his jaw and held the tip of her sword to his throat. So, now it ends Tenchi thought, almost calmly. He raised his eyes and stared at her defiantly. Why is he staring at me like that? Ryoko wondered, flustered. She lowered her sword and wordlessly offered her hand. Tenchi paused, confused, then grasped her hand cautiously. Ryoko shivered as she felt the energy pulsating from him.
"You are very powerful…" she murmured in awe. Tenchi looked at her quizzically.
"You defeated me easily."
"With more training, you could be very strong," Ryoko trailed away, realizing they were still holding hands and she was complimenting an enemy. She instantly released his grasp and backed away. "If you want a rematch, train hard and meet me in the Jurai gardens in 6 months." Why the hell did I say that? His immense energy force is intriguing, but…
"Agreed," Tenchi said quickly. Why did I say that? She is extremely skilled, but if I meet her again, she'll surely kill me! Continuing to hold the prince's gaze, Ryoko reached down and scooped up the bag of money, phasing to Ryo-ohki.
"Let's get out of here!" Ryoko commanded.
* * * *
Tenchi watched as Ryoko disappeared from sight. He turned to walk back into the palace, when he suddenly heard a voice.
"Aha! I found it! I found it!" A young blond woman hurried out of the forest over to Tenchi, who backed away hastily. "Lord Tenchi, I found it! Hey, your arm seems to have healed."
"Yes, yes it has, Mihoshi." Tenchi was pressed up against the wall, eyeing her warily. "What did you find?"
"Oh, I found my I.D. Where's Ryoko, I can arrest her now and be a big hero!"
"Sorry Mihoshi, she's already left."
"What?! Oh nooooo!" Mihoshi sobbed
"Hey, don't cry…Why don't you come to the palace for dinner?"
"Really? Wow, what an honor! I'd be - Hey, Tenchi, do you hear something?"
"It's your wrist communicator, Mihoshi."
"Oh, hey you're right!" Mihoshi fumbled with the device on her wrist, accidentally unlatching and dropping it. Tenchi bent forward to retrieve it, just as Mihoshi stepped forward. Her foot came down on his hand, crushing it. "Oops, sorry Lord Tenchi…You know, this reminds me of that time I shot you with my blaster! You had that exact same expression on your face…"
"Mihoshi, come in Mihoshi. We have spotted the criminal Ryoko fleeing in her spacecraft, the Ryo-ohki. She is in space sector Alpha-5. Please pursue and arrest her at once!" Mihoshi saluted, then bent down and grabbed her communicator.
"Guess that dinner will have to wait Tenchi, I'm on a mission."
* * * *
"Zat wash a very suchshussful robbery, Ryo-ohki!" Ryoko hiccupped, swaying slightly with a sake bottle in hand.
"Mreow?"
"Drunk?" Ryoko slurred, "I'm not drunk! I never drink. Only on shpecial occasions. Like Tueshdays…I mean, how offen do you shee a Tueshday? Wedneshdays too. And Thurshdays. And Fridaysh. I never drink on Shaterdays though."
"Miyaa!"
"Whaddaya mean, itz Shaterday?"
"Space pirate Ryoko! This detective Mihoshi and - "
"Do you hear a voish, Ryo-ohki?" Mihoshi's face appeared on the screen. She cleared her throat noisily. Ryoko turned dizzily.
"I, detective Mihoshi, will - "
"Oh, hey Mihoshi!"
"Ryoko, I'm going to have to - "
"Iz today Shaterday? Because me and my cabbit were having a dishagreement whether itz Shaterday, and I tink iz - "
" - place you under arrest according to galaxy police code 155567 - "
"…Iz you lishening to me? Oh, iz like that, iz it? Okee, Ryo-ohki, lez go to Balsi. Thash a nice place. They lishen to you dere."
"-89004. Please cooperate and you may…Ryoko?"
* * * *
Kiyone sighed as her ship drifted along the Balsi intergalactic border. She carefully lifted her coffee cup and took a long drink.
"Doesn't anything happen in Balsi," she moaned, slamming her cup down.
"Kiyone, there are two ships approaching swiftly from the east." Kiyone immediately straightened.
"What type?"
"One is a galaxy police cruiser, and the other is the Ryo-ohki, space craft of -"
"Ryoko!" Kiyone breathed.
"That is correct. Ryoko will be crossing the border into Balsi in 10…9…8…" Kiyone clutched the edges of her seat, leaning forward to view the approaching ships.
"7…6…5…4…3…2…" Kiyone punched the loudspeaker button. "1…0"
"This is the galaxy police officer assigned to the planet of Balsi! The space pirate Ryoko is now in Balsi territory. Thank you for your aid, I will take it from here." The other G.P. craft slowed to a halt as Ryoko sped on. Mihoshi's face appeared on the screen before Kiyone.
"Kiyone!"
"Mihoshi!" The two stared at each other.
"I should've known it was you, Kiyone! Always looking for a way to climb to the top, even if it means using your teammates as the rungs!"
"This is my jurisdiction, Mihoshi!" Kiyone shouted, "Go hide under a Juraian rock and pretend to be a real detective!"
"HQ ordered me to - "
"I'm acting on the orders of King Azusa of Balsi." Kiyone ended the transmission abruptly and watched with satisfaction as Mihoshi turned and left. She hurriedly sped off after Ryoko, and soon located the intoxicated pirate weaving back and forth wildly. Kiyone easily caught her in a tractor beam. Ryoko appeared in front of Kiyone, a small furry creature on her shoulder.
"Offisher Kiyone!" Ryoko saluted sloppily.
"Hello, Ryoko. It's been a while. Two years, would you say?"
"Confidenshally, I'm shtill trying to figure out what today iz. Mihoshi waz no help at all."
"Figures. Well, it looks like you're spending the night in the slammer."
"Oh, goody."
K, tell me what you thought in a review…pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaassssssseeeeee?!?!
