On the black planet Jurai two women faced each other primed for battle. One was covering in purple fur, her short ponytails of dark blue hair flickering in the wind as she swiftly raced at her enemy. From the ends of her slender fingers came long claws, each claw sharp enough to sever even the strongest man in two. Mayuka Masaki ran at her prey like a woman possessed, eager for the slaughter to come.
Fortunately our heroine, a woman with silver hair, golden eyes, and a black and red battle-suit, was a powerful woman, not a man. With fluid grace Ryoko drifted at the advancing youth like a leaf riding the winds. Her golden eyes studied each of Mayuka's motions carefully, watching, waiting for the moment to strike.
She did not have to wait long, as Mayuka slashed forward with one purple claw planning to sever Ryoko's midsection. With serpentine swiftness Ryoko dodged the blow, catching the maddened youth's arm forcefully and pulling her forward. At the same time, the eldest Hakubi daughter raised her left knee towards Mayuka's stomach. Not to inflict injury, but rather to stead the advancing blue-haired girl for what was to come. An attack that hurt Ryoko more than it did Mayuka.
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
Three times Ryoko's arm soared towards the sky; and three times it found its
mark on Mayuka's presented bottom.
Holding the squirming rebel in place the silver-haired woman brought
about her own breed of parental justice.
As she finished her task, she released the screaming woman, who promptly
whirled to face the golden-eyed woman, rubbing her posterior while fighting
back large tears. "No fair! Spankings hurt!" Mayuka whined, her voice
betraying her attempt to be strong.
"I told you I'm not playing around, missy," Ryoko warned once again, this time shaking a finger at her old charge to emphasis her point. For a moment, Mayuka seemed to consider her words, while she rubbed feeling into her cheeks. Yet it was not long before her attention changed to the woods beyond, and the vacant eyed youth shot into the black confines. Damn! Why is it nothing like this ever goes easy? Oh well. It's her bottom, not mine…. Wincing at her own thoughts, Ryoko sighed hoping she could avoid hurting her little girl any further.
Flying swiftly into the darkness covered trees, she soon gasped. Just inside stood a figure, not Mayuka, but a mirror image of Ryoko like the one she had blasted moments ago. Shaking her head to clear away the shock, Ryoko fired a crimson blast into her doppelgangers chest, quickly returning it to the inky bleakness it had been spawned from. As she prepared to advance another attacker appeared, this one behind her. It's powerful arms constricted around her throat tightly, and had it not been fro her ability to teleport, Ryoko might have been doomed. Turning to her foe, the golden-eyed woman fired again, this time destroying an Ayeka shadow. Where is that girl? She asked herself feeling her anger growing. She's only making this harder on herself…. Just then, three more shadow beings arose taking the shape of Tenchi, Kanji, and Minagi. It took a moment to note the difference, but two telltale scars grace the creatures face, giving away its origin.
Creating an energy blade the lithe space pirate prepared to battle the monsters before her, when her keen eyesight caught movement beside and behind her. More of them! There's too many to fight. Looking up Ryoko could barely make out the tops of the trees against the blackness of space. With a powerful leap the powerful woman made a break for the treetops. It was at that moment Mayuka sprung her trap.
The trees where Ryoko had fought were, instead merely constructs of darkness made by Mayuka. Now the majestic black trunks melted into long tendrils, wrapping themselves around Ryoko's waist, wrists, legs and throat, before hurling her to the ground.
The Palace:
As Ryoko faced off against her delinquent charge, Tenchi Masaki strode out of the blackened castle into the gloom filled gardens in search of his wife dressed in his Lighthawk regalia. No longer did he bear the beard he had grown since coming to Jurai, having used his Lighthawk blade he had shaved it away after being rejected by Ryoko.
A sting on his cheek and the hand imprint there reminded him that it had not been a dream. To think that Ryoko would push me away like that, he thought as he looked for any sign of his wife's form. I guess she really has grown. I wish I could say the same. I guess I'm still the same guy I was all those years ago.
At that moment he saw her, frozen in inky darkness as she sat upon a bench sobbing over their current plight. Damn Yazuha, Tenchi winced carefully making his way towards his wife. Why couldn't she stay dead? Why did she have to bring this evil on Jurai?
Shaking his head, the brown-eyed youth felt a chill on his face from the loss of his beard. Burr! I forgot how cold it gets at night on Jurai. Now I remember why I grew a beard in the first place, to stay warm. Now to be honest, this isn't Yazuha's fault at all. She just finished it off. I should have tried harder for Mayuka, but I was so nervous about making a mistake I left her mainly to servants care. Sure I may have played with her a few hours each day, but mainly I dumped it on Ayeka and the others. Well once this is over I'll start making it up to everyone, I promise.
Kneeling before his wife, Tenchi Masaki looked at her soulfully. She appeared to be an ebony statue, yet as he caressed her hand he felt her silky skin under the surface of darkness. Her head was angled down as she had been crying. Swallowing hard, the young prince found it hard to look at her in such a manner. Now that I found her what do I do? He asked himself hoping the answer would suddenly appear out of thin air.
He did not wait too long before an idea struck. Smirking at the simplicity Tenchi leaned forward, and gently kissed his wife on the lips. Just like the old fairy tales, he thought as he sought to awaken his beautiful sleeping wife. What followed was a blinding light, as white light began to pour from where his lips had touched, slowly it grew consuming more and more of Ayeka's slender frame, until she no longer bore the evil darkness, but sat free and in color once again. "Welcome back, m'lady," Tenchi said in his most knightly manner bowing his head.
To say the least, Ayeka was shocked. Her husband knelt before her in Lighthawk armor, it seemed to have somehow changed to night instantly, and darkness covered everything like oil. "What…?"
Placing a finger on her lips, the brown-haired prince shook his head. "Ryoko's taking care of it."
Rising to her feet, the purple-haired princess gasped at her former rivals name. "Then you've spoken to her."
"I have." He agreed now standing before her. "She rejected the offer."
"Wha-" was all Ayeka could mutter before falling into her beloved husband's arms. She couldn't be sure whether she was happy or sad, only that Tenchi was hers completely now and forever and for that she would eternally be grateful. "Mayuka, is she alright?"
"I don't know," Tenchi said quietly his heart hurting at his daughter's
name. "But-" just as he began to speak,
twin points of light illuminated high in the sky. As one the married duo looked upward. A battle was clearly taking place, one of great magnitude. With ever fiber of his being Tenchi Masaki
wished to rush off and join the fight against the darkness, but in his heart he
knew the time for running was over. His
place was here with his wife on Jurain soil.
No amount of wishing or ploys would change that fact. As of this moment he would be the kind of
king his people needed, one who would stand by his decisions. Thought it was hard, the brown-eyed man
realized he had no choice but to sit back and watch as two figures decided his
kingdom's fate. "I think that's our
answer," he whispered, feeling Ayeka tighten her hands on his chest as they
watched to two energies prepare for battle.
Earth:
Ryoko's Cave:
Deep under the ground two youths stood in an ancient chamber where once a demon *3 had slept. True, her origin had been one of science and not divination, but to many people and for many years this place was an unholy symbol. Yet to one of the two young figures standing in the dank cavern under the ominous cave, it was the greatest place on Earth.
With a laugh in his voice Kanji Masaki smiled as he examined Ryoko's resting place. "Amazing he stammered. It's so cool! I can see why dad was scared to come here! But at the same time it's so cool. Man! To think Ryoko spent seven hundred years entombed here! That had to suck!"
As the red-haired youth continued to blab, Minagi turned her golden eyes away. This place was as much a pain to her heart as it had been to Ryoko. We were both alone for so long, she sighed cupping her hands over her heart. Sis was better at dealing with that loneliness than I was. I am so thankful Master Yakage was there for me, or I'd have gone crazy. A faint smile cracked her face as she looked at the gloomy floor. But I'm not lonely anymore. Not since I met mom and sis. She's always there for me; I can feel her in my heart. Even if she does pick on me, I know she still loves me. Ryoko made my life complete, after being alone for so long I have a sister now. What more could I ask for?
Looking up at the ceiling, the young woman fought back her tears. I'm glad Ryoko found Mayuka, she thought able to feel Ryoko's continual unyielding love for the orange-eyed child even over the distance. She'll save her and they'll all be happy: Ryoko, Tenchi, Mayuka, even Lady Ayeka. Sis always acted so tough and bitter to Lady Ayeka, but I know they were friends. Sis loved Ayeka. I guess that's why it hurts her so much that her and Tenchi are having the problems they are, she paused blushing at the thought of two people she knew having sex.
In an instant, Minagi's world crumpled, and an intense pain shot through her head nearly stopping her heart as well. With a gasp she fell to her knees. "Hey Minagi check me out," Kanji shouted from a perch near the pool. "I bet this is what dad looked like at the-" instantly his voice halted as he saw her fall. "Minagi!" In scant seconds the young man was at her side, kneeling before her with fear in his eyes. "Minagi what's wrong?"
"Sis… Ryoko, she's gone." Minagi cried tears rolling down her cheeks. "She's gone!"
Confusion quickly came over the young prince's face as he held her shoulders, tying to look into her downcast eyes. "Well yeah, remember Washu said that this morning. She went off to find Mayuka."
"NO," she pouted, barely able to say that single word. "She's not in my head anymore. I can't feel her. That means she's… she's… gone. Onee-san is dead…."
What is she talking about, he wondered as she melted into his chest, tears pouring from her eyes as she wailed. Looking over his shoulder the young man felt anxious. I better go see Washu, and see what this is all about. This is weird, even for Minagi…. Yet as he started to rise, Kanji felt tightness on his arm as Minagi clutched his sleeve powerfully. His heart sank seeing her like this, and the young man rested back on his knees. Holding his silver-haired companion close as they sat together grieving in the cold dark of Ryoko cave.
Moments earlier:
The Courtyard on Jurai:
Darkness flowed around the struggling woman, burying her with the relentless force of a bursting dam. Having been slammed onto her back the silver-haired space pirate focused all her power into forming a shield in a vain attempt to fight back the oppressive inky black substance that threatened to crush her.
Each second felt like hours as Ryoko's face contorted in pain. Gritting her teeth she slowly pushed her arms outward trying to extend her force field as much as she could. The strain was truly great, as if she were trying to lift the entire planet, and in that moment of turmoil under Mayuka's crushing darkness Ryoko understood the true battle she was fighting. She's like Tenchi, she thought. Except when she managed to use her Lighthawk wings, it didn't arise from an inner warmth and light, but from all the pain and sorrow she's been living with. Those things I fought were all the people who hurt her. Poor girl, she never could tell anyone what she really wanted. Her daddy was too much of an emotional coward to deal with the idea, and her mom… well her mom was Ayeka! So now Mayuka's so scared of being hurt again that she's attacking everyone she thinks could be a threat to her. Wincing, Ryoko's heart ached more than her arms. My poor baby, she's suffered so much. I wish I could protect her, but that's not really my power. I'm more of the destructive type, but I'd give everything to be able to protect. As she mentally whimpered these tired words, a sudden brightness exploded before her. Gasping her golden eyes locked onto the light. Well I never expected this….
"The wings of the Lighthawk," she whispered in reverence. Somehow I called Tenchi's Lighthawk wings! Reaching out tenderly her fingertip grazed the trio of light wings before her as a pang of sorrow and a dark though coursed through her heart and mind. I knew Tenchi and I were a perfect match! This is living proof…. As her hand graced the glowing shield her gems vanished, no longer adorning her ears and wrists. Yet Ryoko could tell they were not destroyed, nor taken from her. Instead it was as if they had melting into her being, finally becoming hers completely. Like a drop of water trickling down a window the powerful energy of the Lighthawk wings began to soar down her arms, altering her black and red battle-suit as they traveled.
As this strange metamorphosis occurred, the purple furred assailant glowered high above, watching the bulbous mound of inky darkness with disdain. Why isn't it going down? It should have crushed Ryoko by now! Suddenly the black mountain erupted as a white curved blade flew forth from the gaping hole in Ryoko's prison. Swerving at the last possible moment, the enraged youth narrowly avoided the attack. As soon as she could regain her wits, Mayuka turned her glazed eyes back to the source of the assault.
With the grace of an angel, Ryoko ascended from her confined donned in new Lighthawk regalia. Her hands and forearms were now covered with a silky white pair of gloves complete with matching knee-high boots. Yet that was where her sensibility and modesty faded. Unlike Tenchi, whose clothing had been a reflection of his inner noble nature, Ryoko's spirit was much wilder and free. Her clothes, or lack thereof, were little more than a 'V' shaped white swimsuit, which barely covered her frame and seemed at least two sizes too small even for her false modesty. From mid-breast were two button shaped golden medallions, which bore smooth red gems similar in fashion to her old gems in the center, and from these came two long strips of cloth that went over her shoulders like two long partial cloaks. I certainly am a sexy demon, she giggled to herself with a wink, placing one finger beside her mouth. With her free hand she gripped her hip and arched her legs into a '4' formation looking like her usual carefree and cheery self. Yet this new façade of joy was short lived as a roar from above brought her back to her senses.
"No fair!" Mayuka screamed. "Everybody's cheating! You can't do that!"
Glaring at the seemingly possessed youth, Ryoko's tone was flat and without mirth. "That's enough young lady! Don't make me come after you! Get down her now."
Hearing those words brought about a stirring in the angered girl. From deep within memories raced to the surface. Memories of her adventures with Ryoko, and all the times she could recall seeing the lithe woman defend her from troubles.
Yet an even older memory crept to the forefront of her mind, one she had not remembered until just now. She saw herself enjoying an afternoon tea, her dad, mommy Ayeka, and the others sat around her. Ryoko watched her every move like a hawk, and what happened next shocked the vacant-eyed woman. The golden-eyed woman reached out to take a hold of her, but not in a loving way. Instead Ryoko had meant to hurt her. Just like everybody else, Mayuka fumed. Ryoko doesn't love me! She just wants to be mean to me. That's why I… Smiling, the clawed girl held her hands before her as she remembered how she had dealt with that situation. I used it. With a flash of light, a large blade of white light erupted from her sinister hands. She knew it was not authentic as her father's was, but at this moment in time Mayuka possessed an exact likeness of the Lighthawk sword.
Ryoko frowned at the sight. No, she sighed inwardly. Don't do it, honey. Don't use that thing. It'll only hurt you. However the scantily clad woman knew her words could do nothing to change the course of events that were coming. Instead she held out one hand to summon power for her own weapon. The blade that formed was like her old weapon; save this one was composed of white light. Not wasting a moment to ponder this, Ryoko leap at her adversary, hoping to settle this matter as quickly as she could. Taking in her old friends stance, the lithe woman was hard pressed to find any openings in her defense, and so when she found one she closed her eyes, swallowed hard, and swung driving the blade home. As Mayuka landed on the ground Ryoko soared upwards a ways before looking back. Their eyes met, and the vacant eyed woman smiled warmly for a moment. Then she began to wobble, and finally collapse backwards.
Never in her life had Ryoko felt her instant teleportation was so slow as she did at this moment. Appearing beside the fallen daughter the golden-eyed woman knelt beside her and lifted her limp upper body. "Mayuka!" She cried tears trickling like tiny streams down her silky cheeks.
"'ko mommy," the young warrior smiled, "you were always my favorite mommy. I'm sorry I was so bad, 'ko. Look, I wore my old dress from home. Do I look pretty?" As the wounded child talked the darkness that had consumed Jurai began to melt away, vanishing like night from the sun now that the source faded. Yet the entire planet could have been on the verge of exploding and Ryoko would not have even flinched to acknowledge it. Not now, while her beloved friend and soul mate lay bleeding to death in her arms. It was only when the darkness surrounding the dying youth vanished did her eyes move from the orange eyes. Instead she merely nodded her agreement to Mayuka, as she saw her without her fur in the white sundress with pink polka dots she had wore in her first life years ago. It was enough to break the Lighthawk Wings champion. Her breathing cracked and she began to sob uncontrollably.
"Don't cry 'ko," Mayuka pleaded, wincing as Ryoko's trembling agitated the large wound in her side that coated her dress with blood. "Owie… I got a bad boo-boo 'ko mommy, and I feel sleepy." Yawning the blue-haired girl's head lobbed to one side. "Maybe I should take a nap."
"Don't you do that young lady, I'm not going to lose you again. You hear me. You stay awake!"
Smiling, Mayuka looked at Ryoko warmly. Vacancy had returned to her vision, but this time it signaled that her time was nearly up. "But 'ko mommy, everybody has to go night-night sometime. Even you sleep too." Laughing the young minded girl grimaced as she did. "'Member the time you fell asleep when Ay-e-aye-ka mommy told you not to?"
Looking up from her tears, the lithe pirate had to smile. That could have been one of a million times, she thought, but said nothing only nodding her agreement. "Yeah, she got real upset, huh?"
"Don't worry 'bout me, I'm a big girl now," the dying child declared proudly. "I can take care of myself. But…"
"But what?" Ryoko asked quickly feeling a chill coming from Mayuka's body as her voice trailed off. "Mayuka!"
"Sorry, 'ko mommy," she whispered her voice barely more than a whisper. "It's just that I missed you. You always sung that nice song when it was sleepy time, 'member?"
Nodding Ryoko sniffed loudly, wiping her nose on her fingers before brushing them on the grass. "Would you like me to sing it to you again?"
"Yes please," Mayuka cracked her whisper fading. "Mommy Ay-e-aye-ka tries to, but…"
"That's why you had bad dreams," the golden-eyed woman giggled, trying to be brave in the face of death. "Ayeka can't hold a tune at all."
"Mommy," she said her head now swirling. "Could you sing now please, I'm really tired, and want to have all sorts of happy play dreams."
Smiling through the pain, Ryoko's heart soared to hear her charge call her mommy, without the prefix of her name. "Sure," she said clearing her throat as she recalled a song she hadn't sang in 20 years. *2
Rest your head, seek peace in your bed, today has been shed, start dreaming…
And like a dove, fly with my love, into your dreams….
When you wake, I'll be there always, for you whom I love, forever…
Dream now of, a time when you can play, where evils away, you're happy….
Sleep now dear, be of good cheer, pass me the beer, while I wait…
With this lullaby, I now say goodbye, I'll love you 'til I die, my darling….
As she uttered the last word, Mayuka's head fell back, and the last of her life force seemed to ebb away, she had lost consciousness, and Ryoko knew in scant seconds she would lose her favorite little girl forever.
"Ryoko," a heavenly voice called. Looking up, the golden-eyed woman saw Sasami standing before her.
"Sasami," the golden-eyed woman cried not ashamed to show her feelings at this moment. "I learned to wield the Lighthawk sword, but even with that power I couldn't save Mayuka. Please you can heal her, save my little angel, please?"
"I can't, and I won't." Tsunami declared coolly. "She is the daughter of my archrival, Yazuha. I do not possess the power to save her life. However it's not to late to save her life." Pausing she came to kneel before Ryoko, meeting her eyes intensely. "But there is a cost, and it is not an easy thing to pay. The price for the power to save her would be your life."
"Fine take it," Ryoko snarled. "Kill me, just save her!"
Tsunami said nothing, instead merely laying Sasami's old friends hand on the blood gash in Mayuka's side. "All you have to do is think about what you want. Your gems possess great power, and can do many things you yourself do not even know yet. Think of how I saved Sasami, then I know you'll find a way to save Mayuka."
As Ryoko recalled the tale of Sasami's death, her heart beat thinking she could perhaps merge with the dying girl. However the concept didn't seem right to her. That was Tsunami's way, and the lithe space pirate was original if nothing else. Thinking of all the horror she had seem today, her heart made the wish for her, thought even then Ryoko did not understand. All she knew is she wanted Mayuka alive, and the darkness to be taken from her so she could be innocent once again as she had been when she was born in Washu's lab. In that instance Mayuka disappeared, reduced to tiny light crystals that glowed brightly before her. Reaching out to touch one of them, she gasped in horror as it vanished. One by one the yellow glowing shards brushed against her and soon were all no more. "Mayuka!" she screamed, looking with fury to Tsunami who had risen and walked away. "You!" the white clothed warrior hissed. "You said I could save her! All I did was blow her to bits!" As she berated the goddess of this planet, Tsunami merely kept her back to her. It wasn't until she heard a girlish giggle did Ryoko rise to her feet prepared to use her new abilities on another old friend. Yet as she did a pain shot through her body, making her feel like she was going to puke. Instantly she fell, holding her stomach tightly as if trying to stop herself from exploding in a similar fashion Mayuka had.
Tsunami turned. "It's time to go, Ryoko." She smiled warmly, touching the quivering woman's head. "Don't worry you'll get used to that pain soon enough, as a matter of fact I think you'll even envy how little this hurts compared to what's to come. But I also hear many people are ecstatic when they feel this way."
"I'm no masochist…" she hissed her body feeling larger than it had, and her insides feeling as if they planned rebellion. "Your sister is. I'm a sadist.*3"
Giggling once more, the pink-eyed goddess knelt to hug Ryoko firmly. "I know. I'm sorry I forgot who you were, now as I said as of this moment your current life is over. Now I must take you to the next phase." Without so much as another word, the two women vanished, leaving no physical trace of their presence, but creating terrible emotional scars throughout the universe.
Washu's Lab:
The scene in Washu's grand laboratory was dismal and bleak. With a loud crash a beaker of some strange pink chemical exploded as it smashed into a computer console. Soon after another glass instrument broke, and a table filled with important documents toppled. Washu was having a bad day.
"No!" She screamed, holding her head tightly in her hands as she continuously willed her daughter to respond. "This can't be right, she had the Lighthawk sword!" Although she possessed a link with her daughter, and thus had learned about her child's transformation the details after Ryoko's charge into battle were sketchy at best due to some form of cosmic interference. Washu Hakubi was traumatized. She had meant to study her first born when she returned, as she always did, and perhaps gleam some sliver of knowledge into the production of Lighthawk wings by mortals. Yet now none of that could happen. Wincing she tossed a wooden chair across the room, finding no other method suitable to vent her frustration.
I'll have to find Minagi, she realized. She'll feel the link cut off, but she's only been doing this mental communication thing for a few decades now. She'll be upset and need to be comforted. Taking a deep breath the green-eyed genius hoped to sooth her jaded nerves. Ryo-Ohki seems to have assessed the situation and is coming home, she announced to herself as she mentally checked on her family, and it looks like Minagi is okay for now. Which means…
One instant a child-like genius had stood in the vast lab, now a full-grown woman had taken her place. At this time she was not a genius, not the universe's leading figure on all things genetic, botanical, physical, algebraic, physiological, metaphysical, chemical, or even geometrical. Washu had become an adult, because only an adult could feel the hurt she felt right now. She was a mother, and she had just lost her daughter. We had our share of fights, she sighed feeling her steely resolve rusting away. But we had fun too right Ryoko? It wasn't all bad… Falling back, an ethereal chair appeared to catch her as she caught her head and began to sob. My little girl… why… did you die to save Tenchi? He's not worth it, not if it means I have to lose you. No mother should outlive her baby girl. Come back to me my little Ryoko. Come back…
For now all Washu Hakubi could do was cry. When she had created Ryoko over five thousand years ago, she had meant to make the ultimate little girl who would inherit the wonders of the universe as all children do. What she forgot to take into account now struck her hard. The greatest scientific mind the universe has ever, or will ever, know, Washu, had dreamed of the ultimate life, but neglected the most sinister of variables. She had left out the cruelty of fate….
THE END
Next Time: It's been so long since I've killed a main character. I remember the days when I killed entire casts…. Ah… those were the days… sorry about that reminiscing. Anyway, I know you've all got questions. I mean we never found out: Will Tenchi and Ayeka EVER sleep together? What about Washu and Minagi? How will they deal with the loss of Ryoko? Why was Tsunami so mean, and was she really mean? Will anyone read anything I write after this? Probably not. Sadly we've reached the end, and so the answers are not easy to give. After all, The End does sort of make Next Time difficult. But there is hope; thank Tsunami for an Epilogue!
1: Once again I would like to note my sorrow for not mentioning this in chapter 5, but special thanks to Ledzepfan for the "Perfect" response of Ryoko's.
2: If you've seen Outlaw Star, and heard Melfina's song, then you know how the beat goes.
3: I know, I know, I over use these themes, please forgive me, as they are favorites of mine.