Last time, after placing Flora in suspended animation, Washu determined that the only antidote that can save Flora is the Purple-Star Lotus; a near extinct flower that can only be found in Japan, planet Earth. Bloom remembered that she had a friend in Tokyo, Japan who might just have some Purple-Star Lotus to share. Meanwhile Icy, Darcy and Stormy report to The Shadow Riders on the failure of Bloom's assassination. Malaketh forgave them, this time. The three witches and Malaketh then set out for Earth to acquire the next Stone of Power. On with the show!

Chapter 12: Return to Earth

"So let me get this straight," said Stella to Sasami as The Night Rider traveled through hyperspace towards Earth, "After your half-brother Yosho defeated Ryoko 700 years ago, he was marooned on Earth." "Correct," said Sasami. "He then spent the next seven centuries living a quiet life in Japan," said Musa, "And he eventually fell in love with an Earth woman and had a daughter." "Also correct," said Sasami.

"That daughter of Yosho," said Sky, "Fell in love with an Earth man, and they had a son named Tenchi." "Yes," said Sasami, "He was named after Yosho's sword." "Now how is it that Ryoko and Ayeka are both in love with Tenchi?" asked Brandon.

"Here's how it happened," said Sasami, "Tenchi accidentally freed Ryoko, just as the statue of limitations set for her arrest by the Galaxy Police expired. Now, Ayeka had journeyed to Earth to find Yosho. She found him, as well as an unknown great-nephew. Tenchi is one-eighth Juraian and a member of the royal family, that's why he has the ability to use the sword he was named after."

"But how is it that Ayeka and Ryoko both fell in love with Tenchi?" asked Layla, "That's what we want to know." "Well," said Sasami, "They're not really in love with Tenchi. Ayeka does like him, but not the way you, Stella, love Brandon. Ryoko is the same; they're just trying to make each other jealous." "Makes sense to me," said Stella.

Meanwhile, Helia was standing over a large stasis pod where Flora appeared to be sleeping, yet was in a state of suspended animation. "Just hang on for a few more hours, Flora," said Helia to Flora through the transparent hatch on the pod, "We'll have the antidote soon." "Assuming this Kodatchi Kuno is willing to help," said Riven. "If she isn't," said Bloom, "I'd rather not think about that."

"Attention all passengers," said Beauregard over the ship's intercom, "We'll be arriving in the vicinity of the Sol system in about one minute, so please secure your seatbelts and return your tray tables to their upright positions, thank you."

With a sharp jolt The Night Rider exited hyperspace and entered orbit around Earth. Stella and the others crowded around the windows to admire the view. "It's so blue," said Layla, "I've never seen Earth from orbit." "It's not that much," said Bloom, "Earth has more that its fair share of problems, but it's home to me."

"Since Earth has yet to make official contact with another planet," said Lucinda, "We'll keep the ship in high orbit so they won't notice us. We'll beam some of you down to get the antidote." "We've got just under three days," said Washu, "So make it quick, the sooner Flora gets the antidote, the better." With that Bloom, Sky, Stella, Brandon and Helia entered the ship's transporter and were beamed down to Tokyo, Japan, according to the coordinates specified by Bloom.

"While they're getting the antidote," said Sasami, "Ryoko and I are gonna find Tenchi." She imputed new coordinates into the transporter computer. "Say hi to Tenchi for me," said Washu as she activated the transporter, "Tell him I can't wait to get another look at his DNA." "Yeah right," said Ryoko as she and Sasami were beamed down.

Meanwhile…

"So this is Tokyo," said Stella as she admired the diverse fashion styles that made up the capital of Japan, "This is my kind of town." They made their way to where Bloom remembered to be the residence of the Kuno family. "Before I forget," said Bloom, she handed a small device to Sky, Stella, Brandon and Helia, "These should help you understand the local language, translatus universalus." The devices glowed bright orange for a few seconds, then faded. "Just put them in your ear and you'll understand Japanese," said Bloom, "I'm already fluent in the language."

Bloom's memory was correct as she found and was shown inside the Kuno house. "In Japan," said Bloom as she removed her shoes before stepping inside the house proper, "It's customary to remove your shoes before going inside." With that Sky, Stella, Brandon and Helia removed their shoes as well.

They made their way to a large room where they saw a tall woman in her late teens practicing on a high balance beam. Kodatchi Kuno was about Stella's height, had long black hair in a pony tail on the left side of her face and light indigo eyes. She was dressed in a black leotard. As she walked down the balancing beam, Kodatchi turned around to see Bloom and co.

"I don't believe it," said Kodatchi as she leaped up from the balancing beam, did a triple flip in midair and landed right in front of Bloom, "You came back!" she embraced Bloom like a long lost sister, "I thought I'd never see you again, Bloom! I missed you so!" "I missed you too, Kodatchi," said Bloom in a slightly embarrassed tone.

Just then a tall boy in his late teens entered the room. He had brown hair and eyes the same shade as Kodatchi's. "Sister," he said to Kodatchi, "I am leaving for kendo practice, I should be back before nightfall." "That's nice, Tatewaki," said Kodatchi, "Oh, you remember Bloom from America. Bloom, you remember my brother, Tatewaki." "How could I forget?" said Bloom.

"Ah, yes," said Tatewaki, "Bloom from across the ocean. Thy beauty has increased thrice fold since we last spoke those many years ago. Alas, I sense thy heart now belongs to yon male standing beside thee." "Um…" said a confused Sky. "He said that he assumes that you're my boyfriend," said Bloom.

"And yon golden haired goddess," said Tatewaki, referring to Stella, "Methinks thy heart also belongs to another suitor. Alas, so many lost opportunities." "Don't you think you have enough women in your life, brother?" asked Kodatchi, "What about Akane Tendo and that pig-tailed girl you're always crooning over?"

"That's beside the point, dear sister," said Tatewaki, "Besides, has thou forgotten manners so effortlessly? Proper introductions are in order: I am The Blue Thunder; the Rising Star in the world of kendo sword fighting, Tatewaki Kuno, age 19."

"And I am The Black Rose," said Kodatchi, "The delicate flower of rhythmic gymnastic martial arts, Kodatchi Kuno, age 18." "Pleased to meet you both," said Sky in a slightly nervous tone. "With introductions completed," said Tatewaki, "I must anon traverse to kendo practice. Until we meet again!"

"And they say I'm mad," said Kodatchi as Tatewaki left the house. "He's just girl crazy," said Bloom, "He's always crooning over a pretty face, especially if the pretty face belongs to a girl who's single." "I wonder how he'd react to Layla?" Stella asked Brandon.

"Anyway," said Kodatchi, "I'm guessing you're here not just to say hello, are you." "You're right," said Bloom, "Kodatchi, I've come to you on a matter of life or death. A friend of mine has been poisoned and I believe you might know where we can find the antidote."

"Poisoned?" asked Kodatchi, "How?" "It's a long story," said Bloom, "And we don't have much time before it's to late, I'll try to keep it short. Remember when I wrote to you that I'd be starting high school in an 'exclusive' private school? Well…"

And so Bloom told Kodatchi everything that had happened to her since she first met Stella: from the discovery of her powers, her attending Alfea, the witches trying to steal the Dragonfire and so on, up to helping Sasami and ending with Flora being poisoned. Bloom finished her story in under and hour. Kodatchi was taking the whole thing rather well, considering that she just learned that her friend was a fairy princess from another planet. "I always figured that you were different," said Kodatchi, "Yet this is indeed a horse of a different color."

"You do believe me?" asked Bloom. "Of course I believe you," said Kodatchi, "Compared to all the weird and bizarre events that frequently occur in Tokyo, what you told me seems like a walk in the park." "Then you'll help us?" asked Sky. "I'll do what I can," said Kodatchi, "What flower is needed for the antidote?"

"The rare Purple-Star Lotus," said Bloom, "I was hoping that you'd have one, or at least know where we can find some." "There might be a problem with that," said Kodatchi, "If it were any other flower I could get one for you easily, but the Purple-Star Lotus is a rare blossom indeed."

"Please," said Helia, "The woman I love has less than three days to live. You have to help us. I'll do anything you ask of me." "I'm not the one you should be begging to," said Kodatchi, "You see, I did have a plant that grew Purple-Star Lotus blossoms, but I lost it in a bet. Yet I know exactly where the plant is and who has it. The flowers you seek are currently in the possession of Cologne of the Amazon tribe."

"Grand Master Cologne?" asked Bloom, "She's here in Tokyo?" "Yes," said a slightly startled Kodatchi, "She runs a ramen restaurant not to far from here with her great-granddaughter, Shampoo. You know her?" "And her great-granddaughter," said Bloom, "Another long story."

"Then I shall escort you where you need to go," said Kodatchi, "Meet me in the main entrance hall in ten minutes, I must first change into something more appropriate." She then skipped out of the room, a high-pitched laugh escaping from her lips. "You were right," said Sky to Bloom, "She is quite mad."

Meanwhile…

Sasami and Ryoko stood outside a familiar looking house situated by a lake against a large mountain not too far from Tokyo. "This sure brings back memories," said Ryoko, "I do wonder if Tenchi still thinks of me?" "He still thinks of all of us," said Sasami as they approached the house, "How could he forget after all we've been through?"

They stopped outside the front porch where a tall man in his early twenties was sweeping the doorway. He hand short black hair with a short braided pigtail in the back. He looked up to see the two approaching women. "Sasami!" he exclaimed in surprise, "Ryoko! What are you doing back on Earth?" "Hello Tenchi," said Sasami, "We need you, Ayeka needs you, all of Jurai needs you again."

The end of chapter 12. Next chapter we learn a bit more about Bloom's past when she was living on Earth. See you next time!