'Dimensions. Height, width, depth. But are there others? Yes, time can be one as well. There may or may not be others, no one is completely sure. But, as in the book 'Flatland,' it might just be because we cannot relate to the 'higher' levels above our 3+1 senses.' - H.S. Physics
'Look, Ma! I'm the King of the World!' - A. T. Great (Sorry, Bob. Borrowed the idea. I'll give it back sooner or later.)
Throughout history, calamity occurs in points that are recognized in later times, but at the time of the incident are never noticed. In this instance, it was quite clear that calamity was coming, but no one knew just why.
On the television in Ami's apartment, the Inner Scouts were watching an episode of 'Ranma Nibunnoichi.' Makoto had just taken a bite of a brownie, as a certain scene played upon the screen.
'Okay, pig. Just hold on. Sheesh, it's like you're afraid of a little hot water.'
Usagi giggled. "I just love this, Mako-chan," she gushed, her eyes still riveted to the screen. "I mean, it's just so funny."
The tall girl just bobbed her head, as she sipped a little milk to moisten the thick mush in her mouth.
'[SPLASH] You!'
Makoto gasped, coughed, and then sprayed milk and brownie bits out her nose. Due to her having the glass against her lips, the backwash of the accident ricocheted against the bottom of the cup to splatter the entire contents into he face.
Torn between the hilarity felt by seeing the scene of Ranma and Ryouga's bathroom scene and the obvious pain that one of the team was feeling, the others did their best to control their amusement. Ami was quick to produce a towel for Makoto, Rei was patting her back, and the two blonds were getting red-faced as they bit on their tongues. After a few moments, the blue haired girl sighed. "Makoto?" she asked in her usual soft voice. "Why did that scene surprise you?"
As the auburn maned girl dried her face, she debated her response. What do I tell them, that I'm from there? she asked herself. I tell them that and Usagi'll probably hit me with a 'Therapy Kiss' before I could make myself clear. Pork-butt is BACON when I see him, though. She drew a deep breath, then answered the mild-mannered girl. "It's kind of extreme," she hedged. "Ranma changes into a girl; we've met the Starlights, so a boy that becomes a girl is reasonable. But a boy that becomes a pig?"
Luna snickered from her hiding place under a chair. "I can believe it," she chuckled. "I can turn human." Suiting words to action, the black-furred Mau shifted to a teenaged human form. The human-Luna tilted her head in a manner that belied her feline reality. "Art occasionally does imitate life."
Externally, the tall redhead seemed to be simply pondering that. In her mind, however, she was using the recipe skills of this form to contemplate how she would turn a certain bed-warmer into roast suckling pig.
Akane's Home Reality:
Detective Kurogame glanced over at his partner. The broad-shouldered man had frozen in place, his face draining of all color. "Ryo, old buddy, what just happened?"
The shaggy haired police officer shivered once, a whole-bodied shaking. "Hitori," he stated in a surprisingly level tone, "you've seen my... problem, right?"
The smaller man shrugged. "Yeah," he responded calmly. "It's a little freaky, but that same 'problem' has helped us solve quite a few cases. What of it?"
A fearful Detective Ryouga Hibiki turned his face to his partner. The smaller man gulped, as he noted the eyes that had stared down PCP-crazed junkies and desperate crime lords with nothing to loose were filled with such overwhelming terror bore their payload of fear into him. "She knows," he babbled. "How could she? I'm dead. She'll BAKE me!"
The stunned non martial-artist just patted the terrified muscle-bound man. "No you won't," the older man assured him. "You're too young to fry."
The Nowhere Bar 'N' Grille:
Tisiperone cackled in glee, slapping her taloned hand repeatedly on the tabletop. She finally had the payoff for that little trick she played upon that samurai nine generations ago! The self-styled 'Fang of Vengeance' had tried to claim that only men could set up a proper torture. He had arrived in Neilfhelm, willing to arrange a deal with his escort – her – in order to buy his release to Asgard.
Hild-sama had approved it, so they picked their targets. He had picked a fellow samurai, whom he had caused to be cursed with descendants that tended to speak before they thought. Leading to a young Ranma, and his eventual death. Vengeful, true, but flat at the end.
She had picked his family. An obvious curse, the one of direction problems, hid the real whammy; not only did the sufferer have the inability to find what he wanted, but he also ended up where they least wanted to be. The first part would fade, as the person afflicted found their place in life, yet the hidden part would fester and grow, regardless of what they tried.
Her table-mate, the poor tortured soul, could only gape. "You win," he stated in a calm voice, his thirst for revenge slaked. "What man could plot such horror, compared to such as yourself?" His eyes twinkled, the same crimson as the markings upon his brow. "Such evil, indeed."
The Fury's laughter tapered off, as she returned his gaze with one of lust and, indeed, true love. "Kuroma," she sighed in joy, "once a generation, you prove to be such a weenie." At his furious expression, she cupped his cheek. "But you're MY weenie, snookums."
She began laughing again, at the befuddled expression on his face.
The cloaked being's hood shook, as if the being inside were laughing him- or herself sick.
Labor Reality:
Makoto walked back toward her apartment slowly. Her earlier fury at Ryouga had faded into a dull simmer at the subterfuge her so-called virtuous protected had pulled upon her. While she was contemplating that, she didn't notice the beings fading into solidity around her. Her concentration, however, was broken when their leader spoke in a familiar voice.
"Look at this, my followers," she stated in a haughty voice. "This one, a 'good' being who fights for 'love and justice,' is herself carrying such darkness inside herself."
The timbre of the voice caused her to whip her gaze toward the speaker. There, surrounded by beautiful, ethereal female creatures, was a transformed... "Galaxia," the untransformed senshi stated through a throat that was clenched in fear. Why are you back?"
The gold-clad senshi gave her a pitying look. "I am not that Dark-corrupted clone you faced," the powerful warrior sighed. "I am a being of Purity. As such, I cannot allow a planet of such tainted souls continue." The saddened senshi waved a hand at her entourage. "Yousei," she commanded, "cleanse this one from existence."
Inside the senshi of the planet of storms, a barrier crumbled. The hidden well, filled with what the long-dead ruler of this system considered an intolerable taint, was exposed to the spirit dwelling therein. Her face twisted into a snarl of rage. "What right do you have, Galaxia, to decide what is acceptable?"
The glittering protector of Order frowned. "I am the sole bastion of Order," she claimed. "Evil and Chaos is to be eliminated."
Makoto seethed, as the minions of Light closed in. "Chaos is growth," she countered. "If evil is banished, then all suffers; people can choose what they follow." She reached behind herself, clutching for her henshin wand. She felt her hand wrap around a shaft, and brought it forward instinctively. "What is light, without dark?"
"Heaven," Galaxia returned.
"Not so," the auburn-maned senshi countered. "How can a mark be formed if no shadowing exists?" She raised the rod in her hand, finally noticing the cuts it had inflicted upon her hand with it's serrated shaft. Words, never before uttered, rose within her mind as she gazed at the murky emerald and the blood-red glyph within. "Jupiter dark crystal," she hissed, "EMPOWER!"
From above, a bolt of dark lightning slammed down over her, cutting her off from view.
Ami's computer screeched. Jumping in shock, she watched as the display filled with data. With a hand that was shivering with mortal terror, she keyed the communication function to emergency call. "Everyone," she whispered, "answer, please! Galaxia is back!"
Riding the wave of Dark energy, Shadow-senshi Jupiter felt the altered uniform come into being around her form. The powers within her sang at the chance to be released for the first time. The wave of mystic shadow disappeared from around her body, and she gave an evil smirk at the gaping senshi clad in shining gold. "Time to dance with Jupiter, bi**h," she growled.
Usagi and her time-shifted daughter hid to one side and stared at the scene before them. Makoto, after growling while she held a warped version of her usual henshin wand, had been engulfed within a Cimmerian version of her normal power-up. As the energy faded, Jupiter stood there, revealed in her new outfit.
The main feature of the shadowy version of her uniform was that it was all leather and iron. Black leather bodysuit, ringed at the shoulders and leg holes by thin bands of black metal. Colored leather versions the other parts were present as well, the hues muted. Upon her brow was a ring of black iron, with a fitfully-glowing emerald centered on her forehead. Centered upon her chest was a larger copy of the same jewel.
They continued to gape, as the group of glowing followers dogpiled her. From within the mass of shining flesh, they heard Jupiter's shout. "JUPITER FOREST DECAY!" The light that shone through the skins of the anti-youma sputtered, dimmed and went out, as their bodies, clothing and jewelery seemed to go through a instantaneous time-lapse into oblivion. Their friend, in her murky uniform, brushed the glitter from her outfit as she stood up. The kuro-senshi glared at the Light-empowered Galaxia. "So, bright-slut," she bit out, "are you up for more?"
The warrior of the galaxy waved a hand. "Later, shadow-spawn," she answered loftily. "This was just a calling card." As she faded from being, her voice seemed to echo from everywhere. "I am just coming into my power. Let Sailor Moon know."
The odangoed girls twitched as their shadowy compatriot let her shadowed senshi transformation fade. "Come out Usa, Usagi," she called. "I know you two were watching."
Usagi approached carefully, one hand to the pendant hanging from her chest. "Mako-chan?" she squeaked out. "What happened?"
The taller girl sighed. "I was angry," she confessed, "when that..." She unconsciously felt herself growl. "...witch decided to show up. I felt whatever Serenity-sama did collapse and the power just take me." She felt her painful smile twist into a grimace. "Goddess, that felt both hideous and... wonderful, at the same time."
The blond leader of the planetary protectors wrapped the gently weeping girl in a hug, as the pink-haired girl called their teammates and arranged a meeting.
TO BE CONTINUED...
First enemy to show: An inverted version of their greatest foe! What's next? Just guess!
You may be right... and maybe not.
So just WHAT was the other monster attacker about? Wait for it....