.:: When it all fades to black ::.
Stones, Sages and Keys
By: Erreway
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Disclaimer: Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki trademarks and related indicia are property of AIC and Pioneer Entertainment. This work is not done for profit, and I do not own the series.
Author Notes: *Sighs* Well, I hope this comes out better than Chap. 1 did. Truthfully, I think that that chapter was not very good. I might go over it any revise it, but don't expect it to come out anytime soon. Well, I have to thank those of you who reviewed (alphabetical order): blufair, MJ, Robusto, Saku. Thank you all for reviewing, you should know that it is because of you that I continue to write, because I know that at least some people read my story and are interested. Again thank you. Now, I have nothing else to say, except that I hope you enjoy this chapter.
*...* Thought
"..." Talk
//...\\ Mind Link
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[5:11 AM]
The Masaki family followed Washu through her lab, an eerie silence hanging between them. Sasami was just behind Washu, following her intently, a mix of anxiousness, anger and fear evident in her eyes. Behind her, Ayeka followed quietly, staring at her sister, wondering what could this 'beginning' be about and why her sister had disappeared in the middle of the night.
Mihoshi tailed Ayeka, for once not interested in the strange gadgets that were spilled around the lab. She had the odd feeling that this time she had to use every ounce of attention and self-control she possessed, since this was important. A couple of steps behind the group, an unusually tense Ryoko and a worried Tenchi followed. They walked at about the same pace, both staring forward, looking at nothing in particular, feeling nothing but dread and emptiness.
Tenchi looked sideways and stole a glance at Ryoko. She, however, was looking on ahead at Washu her eyes far-off. He stared forward again just in time to see Washu materialize a door and open it for Sasami to go through. The small princess thanked her and she went through, followed by Ayeka and Mihoshi. Ryoko however stopped in front of the door and looked at the dark hallway that extended before her.
//Washu…\\ Ryoko whispered to her mom through their link.
//It's ok Ryoko. But now we must hurry, I sense there is little time to spare and a great deal to cover\\ Washu said soothingly as she let go of the doorknob of the door and gently pushed Ryoko forward as Tenchi followed.
Washu resumed her position in front of the group, however this time Ryoko went with her, unusually quiet and tense. They continued on like this, until they got to one corner of the lab, where there were no machines and no light.
* * *
[5:34 AM]
"Washu…" Sasami whispered through the darkness.
Washu closed her eyes and materialized a hololaptop at her fingertips. With a couple of well-mastered keystrokes a small light shined from somewhere above them. Everyone temporarily blinded from the transition from dark to light shielded their eyes as their vision adjusted.
The gang found themselves staring at the back of a chair, with two computers, one on each side, and in front of it six screens were laid out, three on top, three on bottom. Everyone stared noiselessly at Washu as she stepped forward and carefully ran a hand on top of the backrest of the chair, over the black leather underneath her fingertips. Then she continued to run a hand on the armrest as she reached the front of the chair. She gave the chair one last glance before she sat down.
Washu sat there motionless for a second before she set to work. She pressed a button on the left armrest and the two screens moved so they were in front of her. She raised her arms, placed them on the keys and sighed. A second later she was typing commands fire-rapid into the computer. Once she was done, she stopped and put her hands in her lap. A heartbeat later all the screens blinked into life.
Everyone gasped as they saw the view laid out before her. Galaxies, stars, planets, suns. It was beautiful, it all was. Except…
"Hey, Washu" Mihoshi said moving forward next to the chair and standing next to the small scientist. "Why doesn't this one work? You didn't turn it on or something?" Mihoshi asked pointing to the top middle screen. When she didn't hear Washu respond, she turned to her, only to find the small scientist with tears brimming in her eyes. "Washu?"
"It works Mihoshi" Washu responded, but continued staring at the screen "And it is turned on"
"Really? Then why can't we see anything?" Mihoshi asked as she put a finger to her cheek and cocked her head to the side.
"Because there isn't anything to see" Washu said looking away.
"But-but I thought every part of space was covered with stars… that's what the GP taught us… if a part of space does not have stars, then it is a black hole"
Washu nodded gravely. "That's right" Washu said as she pressed the button on the armrest again and the computers parted allowing her to get up. "Except this is not a black hole"
The whole group stared at Washu as she came around the chair and stared at them. "That was once space, now it is no more." Washu whispered.
"W-what?" Ayeka asked fear cruising through her. "Where is this? What caused it?"
"This was in quadrant 34571… and I have a feeling a black whole caused this"
"What do you mean was? Isn't a black whole stationary?" Ryoko asked snapping of the trance she was in and taking her active place in the conversation.
"Yes, they are. At least normal ones are. But this one is moving, towards…"
Sasami cut in before Washu could finish "Jurai?" She asked fearfully, what Tsunami had said before she left playing through her mind 'evil is threatening this place… even though it is still far away'
Washu hung her head and nodded. "But not only that… It is also increasing in size, slowly but increasing nonetheless"
Sasami felt tears drop from her eyes and Ayeka gave a small scream "Washu! You have to stop it! Please!" Ayeka said moving forward and grasping the small scientist and shaking her violently.
Washu pried herself away from Ayeka's grip and responded, "I'm afraid I can't princess. I tried, but unfortunately this is beyond mine or anyone's capabilities right now."
Sasami gasped and stepped towards Washu "The stones?"
"Yes, the Stones, Sasami. We must search for them," Washu said giving the small princess a smile "And we must do it soon, or else this black hole will continue on, turning this whole universe into nothingness"
"W-what?" Tenchi asked looking between Sasami and Washu.
Sasami sighed. She slowly retold the story as Tsunami had told it to her, and Washu nodded in the background. "So we must search for the stones, and save the Universe"
"How do we find them?" Tenchi asked, feeling the approach of another almost impossible mission.
Sasami shook her head. "I don't know"
"That's where I come in" Washu said stepping forward "But you must also help, Sasami."
"What must I do Washu?" Sasami asked, not caring how she had to sacrifice, in order to save her family and her people.
"Tsunami did not finish the story. In order to protect the stones, a guardian was created and placed in a temple, guarding the stone. And in order to protect the temples a Goddess was created, a goddess that holds the key, a key which only she possesses, the only one who can open an entrance to the temple."
"You mean…" Sasami asked, the fear now catching up with her.
"Yes Sasami, Tsunami, Tokimi and I are those goddesses."
"What about the fourth one?" Sasami asked frowning
"After a while of protecting the stone, she grew tired of not being able to do anything else. So she predicted when the evil would come and gave her power and the key to a child in the future"
"Is that girl in the house?" Tenchi asked
"Yes" Washu said nodding
"Do you know who it is?" Mihoshi asked the small scientist
"No, nobody does, when she knows, we will." Washu stated crossing her arms over her chest.
"That is what the voice meant when she said 'don't forget…her'" Sasami added brightly, happy that the puzzle was fitting together.
Washu smiled but shook her head "Don't get it confused Sasami. A girl will open the path to the Wind stone and another girl will hold the Key to salvation. Or one girl might hold both. I am not able to predict it."
Sasami looked at Washu with a blank expression on her face and decided to let the subject go. "Well, anyway. Which stone do we get first?"
Washu sighed. "Water first, followed by Fire, Earth and finally Wind."
Sasami nodded. "And who are the… um what do you call them?"
Washu chuckled. "The Sages. Tsunami for Water, I guard Fire, Tokimi guards Earth and the chosen Sage will reveal the path to Wind."
"So Tsunami must open the path first." Sasami said sighing.
Washu shook her head.
"W-What? You said Tsunami first right?" Ayeka asked fearful that what she was thinking might be right.
"Yes, but unfortunately Tsunami cannot leave the ship, and she cannot do it from there."
Sasami felt her breath catch up in her throat. She opened her mouth to ask something but she couldn't speak.
Washu continued, trying not to feel bad for the small girl. They needed to be strong. "I cannot open the path to the Fire stone in my current form either." Washu turned to Sasami and stepped towards her "Sasami, we must both change. You must finish your merging with Tsunami, I must regain my 'Goddess' form" Washu said trying to be strong, even though she was scared herself, it had been 20,000 years since she had been part of the Chousin.
Washu expected Sasami to start crying, not understand, and be sad that this was happening. The small princess, however, did not flinch. "I understand Washu, if that is the sacrifice I have to make for the universe to be safe I will do it. I—" Sasami was cut off as Ayeka wrapped her arms around her.
"Sasami! You can't! its not time for you to grow yet!" Ayeka said desperately, tears in her eyes as she kneeled next to her sister.
"No, sister." She said stepping away. "This depends on us. I must do this, as Washu must." Sasami turned to Washu "I'm ready, what do we do?"
"Just grab my hands, concentrate and transport us to Tsunami, she knows we're coming and will tell us how to do the rest."
"Ok." Sasami turned to the rest of the family, as they stood there looking at the small girl, so determined and grown. She moved towards her sister and hugged her. "Please sister, help me."
Ayeka smiled. Sasami was scared deep down she was terrified. "I will Sasami. No matter what happens, if you merge with Tsunami or not, I will still love you."
Sasami sobbed into her sister's chest and pulled away. She gave her sister a watery smile and then turned to the rest of the family. She went towards Mihoshi and gave the police officer a hug, which caused the woman to start wailing. Sasami laughed a little *same old Mihoshi…*. She turned to Ryoko and went running towards the space pirate.
"Don't worry Sasami." Ryoko said as she crouched next to the small girl and wiped away a tear as it escaped her eye. "You will do fine, and when you come back, we'll love you just as we did before." Sasami smiled and pulled away. She reached for Tenchi and gave him a hug also.
"Everything will be fine Sasami," he said as she pulled away "We will be waiting for you to come back." He said giving her a smile. She smiled back and turned to Washu.
"I'm ready" Sasami said moving forward and taking Washu's hands in her own. Then they both closed their eyes and concentrated. They started to fade out and Sasami felt her resolute fade. However she kept on, since she knew the destiny of the universe laid in the hands of her and her family. Finally, they blinked out of sight and left the rest of the family to wait. They were all so worried about what was about to happen that they didn't hear as a tear splashed against the cold floor of Washu's lab.
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Yes! I finished Chap. 2! What did you think? Hope you liked it! Please tell me what you thought… I'll post the next chapter when I get 13-15 reviews. That's all for now, if you like this story then push me to keep going, I need to know what you feel (good, bad… you get the idea) you can also tell me like stuff you would like to see in the story, I like to keep an open mind!
On the next chapter of When It All Fades To Black – Metamorphosis:
Sasami must face her transformation with Tsunami and look within herself to find the key to the Water temple. What will it take for her to find the strength? Will she be able to?. Meanwhile the family must decide on how they will work together and find balance. Will they all go? Or will some stay? How will each member of the family play their part out in the puzzle? Find out in the next chapter of When It All Fades To Black… Metamorphosis!