Log recorded on Cycle 98.92.50.29

Author: Lady Tokimi

Heading: Comment

                The following file is intended to keep a record of the events leading up to the ascension of the New Goddess Ryoko (mortal name: Ryoko Hakubi). The history has been recorded in narrative form by request of Lady Washu. She, Lady Tsunami and I have made sure the events are told with meticulous detail, though we apologize if any inaccuracies may exist.

                If you wish to learn more about Lady Ryoko and her future teachings, or you require a more analytical version of the subject, please consult archive blocks 1,500-20,000. If you are a member of the Science Academy and are on assignment from Lady Washu, please bring your questions to her.

Log recorded on Cycle 05.12.79.43

Author: Lady Washu. Lady Tokimi. Lady Tsunami.

Heading: History. Unlocked on Cycle 54.68.12.45

                Ryoko sipped sake in the late dusk. She was perched in a tree on the highest hill above the Masaki home enjoying the last moments of the fading sunset. The beauty of the natural sky brought about self-contemplation, and during this moment of thought, a voice spoke to her.

                "Ryoko."

                The voice was unfamiliar to her and she didn't know what to think of it. Whether it was imagined or real was unknown. She was sure that answering the voice was harmless enough, so she tested it. "Yes?"

                A form appeared before her. A woman wearing a customary kimono garb that blended with the colors of the night. Her hair was a pale brown that arced behind her. An orange headpiece was fixed above her brow. Her face held no expression and her eyes were a solid violet that penetrated the pupil.

                "I am the Goddess of Power and Ambition. But there is no need to be so impersonal among family. You may call me Tokimi." Her voice was smooth and her words rehearsed.

                Ryoko absorbed her presence with another sip from her sake cup. "You'll forgive me if I'm a bit weary to believe you, o' spirit of the night." Ryoko said with a smirk.

                Tokimi allowed a smile to grace her lips. "How refreshing it is to finally speak to you. You are definitely your mother's daughter. No mortal has spoken to me with such insolence for more than forty cycles."

                Ryoko didn't think what she said was that sarcastic, and she wondered what kind of treatment she was used to if such a simple comment offended her. Ryoko responded with a short laugh. "Cycles? Now you're just making stuff up."

                "A cycle... is one full experiment of life. It spans from the creation of the first molecule, to the extinction of the last species. To put that into terms you might understand you'll have to imagine a number with one million digits. Multiply that number by itself and that will be the number of years for one cycle to complete."

                Ryoko laughed, "And I thought Washu was old..."

                "She is. Older than I, in fact."

                Ryoko rolled her eyes hopelessly; still ready to believe this was an elaborate prank by some unknown party. "Alright, I'll bite, who are you and how do you know Washu?"

                "As I said before my name is Tokimi. Washu is my elder sister. You are the first niece I have ever had. To speak openly, I am quite excited to be talking to you directly. Our family has not increased in numbers since Mother conceived consciousness."

                Ryoko sat forward and said, "So, are you similar to Tsunami?"

                "Ah, Tsunami... my other dear sister. She is the youngest among us. Her innocence is a charming reminder of why life exists. You see... her realm is Life and Fellowship. Her compassion is unlimited and she relinquishes it to all, even those I believe deserve none."

                "Oh yeah? That's like love, right? She's the goddess of love?" Ryoko snickered.

                Tokimi paused for a moment, only for effect. "I understand your skepticism. Given your experiences, witnessing a being such as myself appear from nothing, is not out of the ordinary. Allow me to take you to a more appropriate setting."

                Ryoko hardly drew in a breath before her surroundings were changed. Surrounding her was a consuming void. She felt pressure on the souls of her feet, so she knew she was at least standing in gravity. When she looked down, however, the only thing to see was the Milky Way galaxy.

                "I hope this view doesn't startle you."

                A feeling of disorientation swept through Ryoko and she fought just to stand. The darkness worked her fears intensely, but the light from the Milky Way Galaxy allowed her to keep her composure. "I... think I'll be ok." She finally said. "You said you were a Goddess?"

                Tokimi's image appeared and she smiled again. "Yes, and hopefully one day you shall join us among our realms, but for now you must remain on this plane."

                Tokimi paused to allow a change of subject. She said, "You seem to be taking this quite well. Much better than myself, I must say. When Washu told me I was to be a future Goddess I thought myself insane."

                Ryoko pulled her eyes from the galaxy's light to look at Tokimi. "I've had some time to think about a few things when I was locked away in that cave. I didn't put it all together at once, but I knew there might be more to me when my power could challenge Tsunami's. At least I thought so. Yosho defeated me at the peak of my strength, so I thought it was just some stupid fantasy."

                "Kagato was frightened of you power. Even though he would have aquired his goal if he allowed you to mature, he couldn't risk losing control of you. Your abilities far exceed any Juraian Knight. The only beings that could challenge you are Tsunami's Tenchi and my Z."

                Ryoko was disquieted. "I don't understand. I possessed all three gems. Even he could not control how I used them, so that must have been my strongest form."

                Compassion was now on Tokimi's face, the first emotion Ryoko had seen the woman possess. "My foolish sister, is she so blinded by her realm that she ignores her own daughter's conflicts?"

                "What are you talking about?"

                "Ask your mother about this when I return you. It is a subject too... implicit for me to speak to you about. It is not my place."

                "Alright... then why is it that you're telling me these things?"

                The memento stole expression from Tokimi's face. "The reason I come to you is because I need your help. Every cycle, Mother places a contest between my sisters and I to ensure we will work to create the most sophisticated life forms among us. Long ago when Tsunami was first conceived we did so with open war between our peoples. But it wasn't long before we realized how redundant it was to waste the lives of those races we worked to improve.

                "We agreed to simplify our contest to three warriors. Each would represent their goddess and their people to prove themselves in every merit a mortal being could possess."

                Ryoko raised her hand, "So let me get this straight... are you my enemy or something?"

                Tokimi smiled. "No, Ryoko, we have long since grown out of our former ways. In the last four cycles we have managed to finish with no bloodshed. Just because you may fight my Z or Tsunami's Tenchi, it does not mean you will kill them.

                "A side effect of forming these warriors is that we cannot help but to become significantly attached to them. Your mother loves you very much, I'm sure. And Tsunami cares for her Tenchi. I am so very fond of my Z... my precious Z. We all understand how we feel for our representatives, so as we work to create capable beings we also work for their safety.

                "Tsunami, being so young, is very protective of her Tenchi. As a result she tends to be somewhat ruthless when it comes to insuring his survival. Your mother is quite upset with her right now since she has caused the both of you much unneeded anguish.

                "Washu's original representative was not you. If you remember correctly, Washu once birthed a son with a man she loved. He was supposed to appear for Washu at the contest, but Tsunami wouldn't have it. The father of this child was a member of the Royal family on Seniwa, whose people are my creation. Currently the Seniwas openly oppose the Juraian Empire. If the boy would have fought for Washu, there would surely be an alliance between him and my Z. Tenchi is very capable, but he would not withstand an attack from two.

                "I saw and understood her fear for Tenchi's life, so I allowed her to destroy what little peace Washu had during her mortal life. I sense that Washu has forgiven me for that, knowing that she would act in a similar way if she were the third party. However Tsunami wasn't satisfied. Even though I am loosely involved in her matters with Washu I am reluctant to give my consent for her strategy."

                Ryoko began to see Tsunami in a different light. "What did she do?" She asked softly.

                "You know better than any other soul in the galaxy, Ryoko. My sisters and I have limited control over the fate of our people. Whenever a random thought occurs to you, even though it was your own, it's us reminding you to think of it. Whenever your find a moment to be convenient or coincidental, it is us who arranged it. Whenever you must make a lofty choice where the outcome is frivolous, we choose for you. Over the course of many millennia these microscopic events amount to whatever it is we wish.

                "Tsunami has designed your fate so that you would be in a position to fall in love with her Tenchi. She hoped that you and Tenchi would engage my precious Z together and defeat him. If this comes to be I will never forgive Tsunami."

                "Are you saying I only love Tenchi because Tsunami told me to?" Ryoko asked.

                "Nothing as extreme as that. Many years ago with when Washu first enlisted into the Science Academy she made a friend named Akara Naja. She studied with Washu and benefited from her wisdom. Naja had a taste of Washu's unlimited knowledge and she was instantly corrupted. However, she was only human and could not live long enough to reach Washu's level of intelligence. To circumvent death she cloned herself into an altered body, one that would withstand time. She became Kagato.

                "When Naja returned as Kagato Washu was still distraught from the loss of her child, and she sought comfort in her old friend's company. That is when she decided to conceive you. Washu didn't know of the corruption boiling inside of Kagato, she trusted him with too many secrets. The more he learned of our sisterhood the more he thirsted for power. Eventually he took advantage of Washu's trust and enslaved you both."

                Ryoko turned away from Tokimi. It was difficult to hear such painful memories simplified like text in a history book. Ryoko could spend months describing the suffering Kagato caused, but Tokimi managed to supply it in two breaths. "I know all of this, what's your point? Why would Mom be angry with Tsunami?"

                After a pause Tokimi continued, "I apologize for being inconsiderate to your experiences. I should have known better to speak lightly of such things. Washu made sure we both saw the result of our childish interventions. She forced images of your... life... into our minds, making us feel your pain almost as vividly as she did. We were fools to allow it to happen. My elder sister... I have so much to learn from her still.

                "Tsunami, however... I pity her for the shame she must feel. You see... Tsunami orchestrated Akara Naja's fate to meet with Washu's in that exact manner. She knew that her mind was capable of vast knowledge, but incapable of handling it. At the time Tsunami had no intention of using Naja the way she did, because Washu had not yet married Mikumo. Naja was there in case something was to happen. It did, and Tsunami panicked.

                "When Tsunami learned that Washu would be using her own daughter as her representative, she further orchestrated Naja's fate into Kagato's, and so on. The reason for this was to make you the kind of woman that would instantly love Tenchi. Tenchi is a kind man, who is reserved as well as charming. He would attract a woman who isn't accustomed to kindness, one who was never allowed to have a free mind..."

                Tokimi drew closer to Ryoko and saw her holding back tears. She rested her hand on Ryoko's shoulder. Ryoko was startled, not because her hand felt unworldly, but because she didn't expect her to be solid.

                Tokimi said, "I am sorry Ryoko. I'm sure Tsunami is sorry as well. When she has the courage to tell you so herself, I hope that you will forgive her."

                "Who are you? Why are you telling me this?" Ryoko said as stray tears escaped her eyes.

                Tokimi embraced Ryoko closely. "I am your Aunt, and I need your help."

                "I need to get a few things straight before you ask." Ryoko said into Tokimi's shoulder.

                "I will answer any question you have."

                Ryoko slowly released herself from her Aunt's arms whipped her eyes clear. "You said earlier that you and Tsunami and Mom love their... um... representatives. Is that different from the love I feel for Tenchi? I mean... why would Tsunami have me fall in love with Tenchi if she loved him?"

                Tokimi smiled and clasped her hand over Ryoko's cheek. "You're such a darling. For Tsunami and I, the love we feel for our representatives is mostly the love a mother has for her child. However, romantic love is not impossible. I am embarrassed as a Goddess to say this, but at times I feel jealousy for my Z's wife. When I have worked many cycles perfecting the form of my people, it is another woman who is allowed to love him.

                "But if he survives this next contest, I will be united with him and we shall become one. He will add his wisdom of life to my own, and the next cycle's species will be closer to utopian life. It is a deity's version of intimacy."

                Ryoko could see a blush threaten Tokimi's pale skin. She quickly continued with her explanation. "The situation is different with you and your Mother. Because you are her direct descendent it would be unlikely for her to love you as anything but a daughter. Being that she is my elder sister she is the first that Mother has allowed to live amongst humans and even bear children."

                "Why did she never tell me before?"

                "You'll have to ask her that yourself. This I do not know."

                Ryoko paced away holding her elbows timidly. "Then... my love for Tenchi, is it all the result of Tsunami's design? In reality would I have loved him at all?"

                "Ryoko, please do not think like that. We have a heavy burden to maintain mankind's free will and choice. You do love him, and it was your choice to love him. You are exactly who you're supposed to be, you're just... injured right now. Tenchi is the kind of man who can restore your true character. We can never change who people are, and we never steal one's free will. We are merely a guiding hand during this experiment.

                "You do love Tenchi, Ryoko, but Tsunami wanted you to love him at a certain time in a certain way."

                Ryoko glared bitterly at the galaxy below her. "For what? So I can fight along side Tenchi to beat a man I've never met before? From what you've told me I wouldn't even want to. You love him so much he must be a nice guy."

                Tokimi embraced Ryoko again and Ryoko gasped, "....Er.. wha?"

                "Washu was right when she said you were cute. The contest will not be so prudent as to take place in an arena with three contestants waiting to face off. It will be hidden, even to my sisters and I. If it were as simple as a battle of strength then all of our races would be war-mongering brutes by now. There have been contests in the past where each of our representatives never meet one another, and they are competing in their own unique ways. Mother has also allowed allies between two of us to form, and there have been cycles where alliances bring a joint victory.

                "That is partly why I am talking to you now... You and Tenchi are currently bound and threaten my Z."

                Ryoko stepped away from Tokimi. "You're not suggesting I... leave Tenchi or something, are you?"

                "Of course not. Even if I did I could never possibly make you do such a thing."

                Ryoko's shoulders relaxed and she lowered her head. "Oh... okay..."

                "The reason I am speaking to you now are because of the events that will take place in the next three days. Several years ago I sensed Tsunami working hard to make quick alterations to events leading up to a moment three days from now. But she knew as well as I that the most we can alter in a matter of years is causing a gust of wind suddenly changing direction. However, when I found out what she was trying to prevent I understood why she bothered with a vain attempt such as this."

                "What's going to happen?" Ryoko wondered aloud.

                Tokimi smiled and said, "Patience. As I said before, we cannot change who people are. The aspect of Tenchi that draws trouble to him will bring about a tremendous mistake, and there is nothing Tsunami can do to stop it. She can cushion it as much as she can, but it will happen... unless by some miracle Tenchi chooses not to, humans can be quite unpredictable sometimes. The event is something that will challenge your love for him. You will reconsider your need for him and by the end of the fourth day you will decide whether to forgive him, or turn him away as he most certainly will deserve."

                Unsatisfied, Ryoko asked, "But... but what's going to happen?"

                "If I were to tell you I could threaten your free will. That is something that Washu would never forgive me for, and I would never forgive myself. Mother would punish me severely... I may lose my right to consciousness. What I can tell you is that the result of this contest may be decided as early as the fifth day.

                "There will be a companion there with you for this trial, one you will not expect. I sense that they will offer you great strength when all will seem lost. It would also be wise to consider a love outside of Tenchi. It may sound difficult to do, but when you're in the moment it will seem reasonable. Your fate will not be so simple as to forgive Tenchi or live in loneliness. There will be another for you. "

                "So... someone I know might suddenly fall in love with me?"

                "In a way... this will be quite unexpected for them as well. You will know it when it happens, and your decision will be your own."

                Ryoko looked away and scratched her chin. "Will it? Even though you've told me so much already? What if I ponder on this for the next three days and decide differently?"

                "How absorbent you are. Yes, the choice will still be your own. The more extreme a choice is the less and less power we have to alter it. If you were to decide to sit in a chair in a certain moment on a certain day, it would take a decade of preparation for us to change your posture when you sit. That is how subtle our guiding hand will feel.

                "There are some choices you will make in the future so extreme that I could tell you what you will decide now, and you will still decide the same. For this choice there is no need to worry. We have a way of... measuring the risk. And I am well within my limit."

                "If it doesn't make a difference, why tell me at all?"

                Tokimi smiled deeply. "The answer to that is the very first thing you must learn before you become a Goddess. A lesson best taught by your mother."

                *Ryoko: Mom? Oh... that reminds me.*

                Ryoko smiled and said, "I just remembered, I promised Washu that I would—"

                Tokimi ran to Ryoko and shook her shoulders. "Wait! Don't think about her consciously!"

                They both heard a small grunt beside them. Half of Washu had squeezed into Tokimi's space while the other half was still stuck on Earth.

                "You spoiled little brat! You've lost, now let me through already!"

                "What's going on!?" Ryoko frantically asked.

                Tokimi retreated several steps. "You thought about Washu. Normally she can't reach me here but if you think about her, she can use your mind as an anchor to pull herself here."

                She pointed an accusing finger at Washu, who was trying to squeeze her left leg from the closing gap. "It was you! You reminded her to think of you!"

                "Of course it was me! I'm not going to let a bitter little girl like yourself have your way with my poor impressionable daughter." Washu was finally on her feet, and she marched over to Ryoko. "C'mon Ryoko, the big scary lady wont bother you any more."

                But before Washu could pull on Ryoko's arm she jerked it away. "Wait a second now. You have a few things to explain first!"

                Confused, Washu said, "Me... explain something...?" She wasn't sure of what she was supposed to elaborate on, but when she heard her sister's soft giggling she knew instantly what had occurred. She slowly turned her head towards Tokimi and said, "You... did not... just do... what I think you did."

                "I did."

                Washu fought to compose herself. She stood up straight and straightened her clothes. While taking in a deep breath she counted to ten and exhaled. "Alright Ryoko lets go."

                "What?! Wait, you haven't explained anything yet!" hollered Ryoko.

                Tokimi giggled again.

                Washu glanced at Ryoko out of the corner of her. "Want an explanation?" She said frigidly, "Everything she said was true. Was there something else you wanted to know?"

                "But, you don't even know what she said!"

                "I don't need to. She is a Goddess, she cannot lie. She can withhold truths or deny someone knowledge, but she cannot lie. Whatever she said... it was the truth."

                "Then that means... you... you knew everything. Always." Ryoko spun away from Washu and dropped her head. Her tears could be heard tapping against the invisible floor. "Just take me home."

                Washu waved her hand and Ryoko vanished. "Start explaining yourself right now before I intervene with some deity muscle."

                "In many ways I respect you, sister, but in many ways I do not. You carry that child's feelings like it is a rock to heavy to hold. You care for your neighbor's children more than you care for her."

                Washu raised her voice, "Yesterday she was happy, and today she is not. Who is the one here being careless with her feelings?"

                "I should have expected that from you. Your simplified and narrow scope on life makes you appear unloving to those you love the most. Do you know she still grieves Tsunami's task or are you blind to even that?"

                Washu turned away, in the same mannerism of her daughter minutes ago. "Of course I know that. I still haven't forgiven her for Mikumo. Tsunami... Tsunami, Tsunami, Tsunami... she was so frightened. She even came to me shortly after Mikumo left me. She asked for my help. I turned her away, maybe I was a bit harsh the way I said it. I told her that there is no force in the universe that could bring my Ryoko and her Tenchi together.

                "This whole thing with Kagato... it was a reminder that she's only younger than me, but just as powerful. I don't mind Ryoko loving Tenchi, but how it came to be is what enrages me. But what can I do? Strain every last brain cell I have to improve her eating habits one hundred years from now? I wanted to wait for this contest to be over before I told her we were Goddesses. She would have at least lived a few hundred years happy and free."

                "You always did like to see how close to lying Mother would allow."

                Washu's knuckles turned white from holstering her anger. "You would have done the same! You're too far away to know what it's been like for me... to know what it's like to risen from sleep because of someone else's dream. I always think the nightmares are my own at first, but I soon realize they were Ryoko's screaming into my mind. My sleep is light from all the times I have gone to her and cradled her to sleep. I feel like a new mother again, because my baby is afraid of the dark and will not sleep during the night. Everyone in that house teases her for taking naps during the day. Damn them all."

Tokimi felt the truth in her words and saw no reason to fight them. Disagreements are quickly diffused in their sisterhood due to their perfect communication with one another. She knelt next to her sister and spoke softly, "It seems my attempt to help only worsened the situation."

                "Is that really the only reason you are here?"

                "This isn't my contest anymore. I failed when I allowed Tsunami to steal Mikumo from you. Mother showed me my error and I am humbled. I was only watching from afar, but Mother told me if I wished to, I could try and help. She didn't say anything else." After a short pause Tokimi added, "I also came to see if I could somehow spare my Z's life."

                Washu sighed, "Mother always has her lessons, even if your role in the cycle diminishes. It's all right, Tokimi, maybe you have wisdom Mother wants me to learn from. I have my lessons too. As for saving Z's life, I sense that you might have been successful."

                Tokimi nodded. "I was hoping that planting the truth in her now would increase her wisdom when the time came. I may have been cutting it close... Z and Ryoko will face in combat as soon as four thousand years."

                They both needed the subject to change, and they waited until the silence between them was closure enough.

                Tokimi finally spoke. "Another reason I came is because of this event in three days... You wouldn't happen to know where it came from, do you? It would seem rather... convenient."

                Washu chuckled, "If you beat around the bush any more you'll tear it out of the ground. What did you say to Ryoko, by the way? She must have asked why you saw her tonight."

                "I only told her that her Mother should be teaching her the first lesson." Tokimi jabbed Washu in the side.

                "Oh jeeze thanks a lot! It took you most of your mortal lifespan to understand the concept of fate. Now I've got to answer her millions and millions circular questions!"

                Tokimi giggled. "Getting back to the subject... I must say you caught me off guard with this one. Once this cycle winds down you'll have to show me how you did it."

                "And reveal my best techniques?! Dream on." Washu laughed.

                A serious chord struck Washu, and she said, "I'm just a little worried... she'll know who the blame when it happens. She'll figure it out instantly; she's a very clever girl. She may even realize while it's happening. She won't forgive me for a long time. If I can't offer her comfort then who will she have?"

                Tokimi sighed and stood on her feet. "That is what I was hoping to inspire by telling her this. I know that talking to her has not altered her decision, but I was hoping it would add some comfort for her during this trial." 

                Washu smile and said, "Thank you. Now if only you cared for your people as much as you do for your kin." Washu glanced at Tokimi and saw her hiding a smile. "Well I guess I should be leaving now. I'll see you in five days!"

                "So confident?"

                "No I guess not... unless I cheated." Washu grinned.

                "Mother would slap your wrists so hard you'd wish you never had that physical body."

                With a smirk, Washu waved as she vanished and Tokimi followed shortly.