DISCLAIMER: I don't own Ranma ½ or any other property which might show up. What I do own is the idea for this story it's self. I make no money writing this, nor do I desire fame. It's purely for my own entertainment. If others enjoy this story too, that's all I could ask for.
Warning: This story is an Alternate Timeline. There will be out of character interactions. If everyone stayed in character, events would never have deviated from cannon. While I hope for humor, the story may take several serious and/or dark turns at times. Then again my sense of humor may not be yours
Wings of Returning
Sailor Eclipsed Moon smirked as she looked upon the once imposing Queen Beryl. It does prove difficult after all to intimidate others when one is tied in a pretzel. Oh sure, she could have used that weird crystal to completely destroy the evil woman. Except it refused to work properly for some reason. Every time Eclipsed Moon tried she got an error message of 'error 401 Lunar Royalty not found'. It was rather annoying.
Actually defeating the evil queen had been no problem. Convincing the other senshi not to waste their lives was the biggest trouble. Well, that and actually hitting things in that blasted fog Mercury kept creating. One would think a tactic that hinders one's self would be put to pasture, but nooo. Mercury kept having to use her freezing cold mists. Even Mars had stopped using attacks that hurt or hindered herself.
Of course it might have been due to being unable to actually touch the spirit wards. Either way they had finally defeated Queen Beryl. As Eclipsed Moon turned to walk away she felt power building up behind her. Turning slowly, she saw the sealed demon being released. Oh shit, Eclipsed Moon thought just before a beam of raw negaversal energy struck her. If she'd been able to use the crystal they might have stood a chance. As it was the blast tore through the soldier of lust and justice with ease.
Her vision faded quickly. Then when awareness returned the sensation of blankets and a soft bed welcomed Ranma Nightbane. She could feel a night slip on her body. Rolling over, the demoness felt her arm drape across another female. Her eyes opened and took in the entirely too familiar and too pink bedroom. As well as the bedroom's proper resident. A glance at the nearby framed photo indicated that Ranma had lived here since about five or six years of age.
At least, she must have since the picture showed child versions of her and Usagi at a birthday party. Wings and all. The exact nature of her residency was still a mystery. Of equal confusion was why she was here instead of back with her pop. Why Ranma was female she didn't question. She'd locked her curse in the last loop to avoid problems. It was probably still locked too. Although that was by no means certain. Usually Ranma preferred to keep the curse unlocked.
Doing so made things not so much easier, but amusing, when dealing with people in Nerima. What exactly the deal with that Ryoga person was Ranma still didn't know. To both her chi and mystic sight Usagi had changed a lot since they had last met. The darkness of her soul had strengthened. No longer was it eclipsed by her innate purity. In truth to her sight Usagi seemed more shadow then light. But not exactly evil either. It was like she balanced the two natures so perfectly they blended together.
"Who screwed up this time?" The blond girl grumbled as she awoke.
"It is a most amusing event," Ranma commented offhandedly. "While I have been accepted by the lunarian deity as a champion and granted what that feline calls a 'mana tap', I am unable to actually use the silver imperium crystal. It just tells me 'error 401 lunar royalty not found' every time I try. And without this tool I was unable to stop an attack from the master of that Beryl woman you mention on occasion."
Her red tresses were quickly tied in a long pony tail. After checking demonic magic levels, conjuring some cloths was right out. This time the disgustingly pink room had two dressers though. One was situated to the right of the one normally there. In it were plenty of backless dresses. Most were in dark reds and blacks. Not only that, but they were styles that Ranma was happy to wear. Finding proper undergarments was a pleasant surprise too. As was discovering two drawers with male clothing that was acceptable.
"You, a senshi?" The blond said incredulously. "Next you'll claim you were me in the last loop."
"Actually," Ranma started, "yes people did think that I was you. Did you not see any of the magazines or newspaper articles about 'Sailor Eclipsed Moon'?"
Usagi snorted. "And when would I do that? Between the nutjobs out for my head, the other lunatics trying to marry me, and having to save that gorilla girl I barely had time to eat and sleep." She then muttered something under her breath.
This caused the demon woman to blink a few times. If I had lived her life, could she have been living mine? And what does it mean that evidence exists to support events leading me to live here? Or leading me to be her in the last loop? Taking note of a second dresser and second school uniform set out, the demonic woman decided to get dressed. There would be time enough to figure things out later. But first there were more important things to discuss.
"I feel I must warn you of some startling developments, my student. There have been... complications. And two of them are no longer human. Which means they are equally in danger from our senshi magic as the lower demons we fight."
"How?" Usagi squeaked in surprise.
Wings of Abandonment
An overweight panda stood on one bamboo pole. It stood on only one leg, and somehow managed to maintain it's balance. It was wearing an ill fitting training gi, and had a pair of glasses hanging from one round ear. The panda had been a human just a few seconds ago. A human named Genma Saotome. Just moments ago his son had kicked the man into a pool of water they were sparring over. Now he wanted to return the favor.
There was only one problem to the plan. The boy was nowhere in sight. The few seconds between falling in the pool and jumping out couldn't account for it. The boy would still be visible running away. As not entirely intelligent eyes scanned the area he noticed a piece of parchment floating where his son had just been. This made the panda a little curious. After all, parchment doesn't normally float in the air unassisted. As he began to read the panda grunted.
Sorry 'pops', but I must decline continuing this most annoying farce. I have gone to visit my wife. Afterwords I shall meet you in a nearby village. The guide you so enjoy ignoring can guide you to them. If I do not see you there within one week, I shall be at Mother's home awaiting your return. And a word of advice that is freely given; I will not stand for you trying to force me into your retirement plan on the grounds of 'honor' so do not bother trying to press the issue. Since you have no honor, I shall not try to salvage it for you.
Nightbane 'saotome' Ranma
"This wont end well," the panda tried to say. It was only at this moment Genma realized he was no longer human.
Wings of Testing
Her name was Rei Hino, and she was not amused. The reason she wasn't amused was rather simple. She'd woken up traveling through the air, but not under her own power. Ever since she'd become a succubus Rei had grown to enjoy flying. Being thrown out a window however was an entirely new and disliked experience. After impacting a koi pond head first the demoness glared at the one who threw her. Or at least tried to.
Instead of seeing her attacker, Rei saw a long familiar redhead flying headlong towards her. That the girl in question was snoring softly indicated rather strongly that she was not doing so intentionally. Not that it mattered when the demonic projectile impacted her in the chest. As they both fell into the water Rei found herself fondling the other woman's chest. Damn feeding instincts, she thought. Not even really hungry but I can't help myself.
"Ooo, you do not have stop on my account."
When an overweight and balding man emerged from the window he blanched. Genma didn't know where the winged and horned woman had come from. She'd just appeared the day he was cursed. Nor did he understand why his son was sometimes his daughter. It had always been like that. In fact, if he didn't know better Genma would swear the boy had fallen into a spring at the pools of sorrow too. Yet he knew the boy had managed to avoid getting wet on that day.
XxXxX
"Of course you must realize that this establishment shall reflect poorly upon any scholastic endeavors in the future."
The speaker was a girl with crimson tresses. She leaned casually against a tree near the middle Tendo sister. Two days ago Nabiki's world was nice and predictable. Insane rich boys would lead daily assaults on her younger sister, and the betting pools would make her plenty of money to suppliment the family's finances. Then a chaotic element was introduced. An element by the name of Ranma Saotome, although the aquatransgender did insist that her clan name was Nightbane rather then Saotome.
Finally Nabiki asked the question that currently was bugging her. "What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly what my words do imply," Ranma stated in her overly formal manner. "High schools do not require attendance. Thus one need take an exam to achieve entrance. That this establishment has neither an entrance examination nor placement test indicates to me education is of low importance in this place."
That was another thing about the gender bending martial artist that confused Nabiki. How and where did the boy slash girl learn to talk like that if Genma Saotome was the only role model available. By all rights she should have an easy to manipulate jock on her hands. But instead it was this enigma. An enigma that raised a very good point. One which Nabiki hadn't considered before.
It was true that her school didn't have an entrance exam. And from what she knew of Ranma's schooling, there was no way the youth could possibly be in the tenth grade. Hell, 'his' graduating elementary school was doubtful. And yet 'he' had been admitted into a high school with no tests required, nor any fees charged. It didn't speak well for the quality of the school. If the one eyed man is king in the land of the blind, what happened when the barely educated emerged into a world requiring an education?
The teachers barely had control over their classrooms. And from what rumors said, the principle would likely ruin any chance of actually learning anything if he returned. As it was, Nabiki was mostly self taught. Both her limited martial arts skills and scholastic skills were worked on in her own time. Once again Nabiki felt glad she'd found that scroll when she was young. The knowledge contained was esoteric in the extreme and hard to learn. Yet it had helped keep the teen safe several times already.
Oddly such thoughts called to mind the other enigmatic guest at her home. A girl with a demonic tail, wings, and small horns on her forehead by the name of Rei Hino. And this was the reason why the previous night had offered little actual rest. Being told she is a disgrace to the Nightbane school of 'anything goes' and in need of retraining had been unexpected. It had been after that that Ranma had declared the winged girl's 'mastery' test to be the retraining of Nabiki.
I'm the ice queen, I don't blush. I don't get embarrassed. Telling herself this didn't make the situation any less discombobulating though. Just the memory of the previous night's training was enough to make her face go red. No, thinking about it wasn't a good idea. Instead the greedy teen tried to focus on ways to make quick yen. Surely the guests could be used for those ends without their knowledge. After all, how could they possibly know what would be coming?
Then the red haired girl spoke again. "If you try to take any pictures of either of us, I promise that you shall experience a hell unheard of in centuries. I would appreciate being provided with respite from the mental instability of the Kuno family for the next twenty or so years. Said respite however is not possible with you providing obsession fuel."
"Huh?" Nabiki's response was uncharacteristic of her. That could be excused however due to extenuating circumstances. Being still exhausted and mentally stunned tends to make it hard to be coherent.
"I am acquainted with the means by which you normally procure finances for your family. Subjectively I have been both a victim and willing participant at times in these endeavors of your manufacture for over a thousand years. In that period the amusement has faded to a great extent. For this part of the temporal mobius I desire peace and relaxation," Ranma casually told her companion.
Nabiki scowled due to her growing confusion. What's he talking about?How could he know of my plans already? I haven't even finished making them.
XxXxX
"You must decide!" A tall man with dark hair proclaimed.
The person he was talking to was about sixteen years old, physically at least. He was muscular, but not overly muscled. The teen had his hair tied back in a pigtail once more. He eyed the patriarch of the house with a little disdain. It was hard not to hate this man. For entirely too long Ranma Nightbane had been subjected to the idiocy of his 'father' and Soun Tendo. But how to break the news to him, that was the real question. A question that was hard to answer.
"Mister Tendo, I fail to understand why for you are so insistent upon this matter. The panda that claims to be my father is a known thief and con artist. He has sold my hand in marriage twenty six times to mortals for as little as a bowl of rice, two pickles, and a fish. If I was not already married he would also have created binding engagements to three demons, two goddesses, and a dragon as well. All in an attempt to feed his stomach."
Ranma started typing on a keyboard that had appeared out of no where. "The dragon was offered me as a wife in exchange for one barely cooked leg of lamb. Hmm, he may still pose a problem in the future. Bast was offered my hand in marriage in an attempt to placate her. Aphrodite was offered the same in exchange for three gold coins. Must I go on, or is this enough to convince you of how dishonorable Saotome is? And need I remind you yet again that I am not a Saotome. My clan is that of Nightbane."
It had actually been a shock to discover the switch in clans had been done a good ten years previous in this recursion. Almost as great as learning the world believed Ranma to be a gender changing succubus since birth. Just one more detail that retroactively fit in with the current situation. Something was happening. Whatever it was, it gave Ranma hope that these endless loops were nearing an end. From the dojo he could hear Rei putting the middle sister through her paces again.
"I will be staying for the time being. But that is only due to my student undergoing her mastery quest. Once the retraining of your middle daughter has been completed I shall judge her skills."
Inside the dojo Nabiki was not having much fun. Her unwanted sensei had decided the lesson was over, for the moment. As she donned the robe provided the middle Tendo couldn't help wonder why she was forbidden from wearing anything else while at home. The situation was embarrassing to say the least. At least she left the doors closed this time, Nabiki thought to herself. Between how sore she felt and the embarrassment, not to mention need to get clean, she didn't have the energy to try scheming.
It was alarming just how... creative Rei Hino could get with that tail of hers.
Wings of Mending
Minute by minute I grow stronger. Already I can feel the chains which bind weakening. Soon, very soon I shall be free once more. I who once offered balance was betrayed. They damned me, and in doing so damned themselves. Did they not see? Without darkness there can be no light. The brighter the illumination, the deeper the shadow that must be cast. This is basic, it's natural. Yet they saw not. They insisted on purifying the light, casting out all darkness.
Those fools, don't they realize that darkness is not the same as evil? A necromancer can be a positive force as easily as a negative one. The purifying fire can just as easily maim and kill. Disease too serves it's purpose. Where there's life, there must be death. This duality was the basis for my reign. Accept the good and the bad equally and unflinchingly while striving to remain just. For eight generations my line has turned it's back on maintaining the balance.
Is it any wonder then that they were destroyed in the end? And yet one lives again. Not only does a descendent live, but she has embraced the duality of light. She has given herself unto me, although she knows it not. It's through her that my freedom is at last at hand. I accept my fate, I no longer am a mortal. Haven't been one for many eons. I lost my humanity when I embraced the twilight and all it means. Because of my daughter I am considered a demon. It matters not, I am who I am.
The gates of Eternity
Eric Von Mason slumped into the couch in exhaustion. He'd decided to wear a flannel button up shirt and jeans on this day. His armor and costume were currently stored away, as was the rest of his belongings. Susan wanted him home for supper tonight but it was questionable if he'd make it. Tracking down who was manipulating time was proving difficult.
Considering time manipulation was what had initially created the problems requiring a recursive loop to fix, this alarmed him greatly. For a dozen loops he'd been trying to track the culpret down. A last ditch plan had been rejected by Kami-Sama, otherwise known as this dimension's Odin. Which had surprised Eric to no end. He'd met a few 'gods', and hadn't been impressed. Sure they had been powerful, but they weren't true deities. It wasn't until he'd been called upon to be the guardian of the gates for a while he met real deities.
It was also when he met the first demons not out to conquer all of creation. But then, the demons of this dimension looked nothing like the ones he'd seen before. Even Eric's wife was at a loss to explain it. If he understood correctly, in this dimension there were unique versions of both heaven and hell. Each plane existed alongside the regular one, yet out of synch with them. There were still plenty of 'traditional' demons and monsters for Susan to hunt, just what he had started to call 'class' demons too.
Things were coming to a head too. Soon the timeline would be fully repaired according to the gate. And when that happened he didn't know what the end result of the mystery agency's actions would be. An intruder in his domain brought the fairly ugly man to high alert. His tired state of body belied it though. The intruder was a blond, roughly six feet in height. She wore a gown that was half black, half white. Looking at the dress though, it was hard to tell where one color ended and the other began.
The division point kept moving as if her gown was alive. As he watched the black chased the white part across her body to the left, only to be chased in the same direction by white in return. Eric stood slowly. Once on his feet he extended serrated edged bionic claws from the backs of his hands. The originals had been plain strait blades. They had been upgraded to these vibro-claws so very long ago. The better to deal with things small arms fire and martial arts couldn't handle in overly magic saturated places.
"Lady, I don't know who you are. But I suggest you go back where you came from. I'm not in the mood to deal with any bullshit."
The woman looked at him and laughed. "Relax guardian, I'm not here to fight. Just talk. You may call me Serenity, the lady of twilight."
"Oh, is that all? Well I don't have any tea or crumpets," Eric snorted with a tone dripping with sarcasm.
The intruder merely shrugged. "That's all right. I'm not actually with you anyway. The chains haven't quite weakened enough for that. I suppose I should start off by saying that yes, I am the one who's been messing with time."
"Lady, you have to stop." He started, claws still bared. "One person caused enough damage to continuity with her using the timeline for amusement. What you're doing could destroy everything."
Serenity laughed once more. "You're funny. Do you think I would try helping my descendent and her allies without first making sure I do no lasting harm? And yes, you already met her. I think she goes by 'sailor moon' or some nonsense. I must say, I am rather proud of the girl. With no idea what she's doing, she's been the best priestess I've ever had."
Eric was scowling by this point. "Let me see if I understand this. You're claiming that blond mystic cannon is your descendent, as well as your priestess? And that your messing with time just to 'help' her? Why? What's in it for you?"
"Nothing actually," She told Mason. "Usagi has done everything I could have ever asked. Within a hundred years I'll finally be freed from my wrongful imprisonment. My line has been put back on the true path. And all this she's done entirely on her own. What more could I possibly want to gain?"
She rubbed her hands together before vanishing. Eric could swear he heard her say "And once I'm free, I think I'll call in some of those favors the demons owe me."
Author Notes:
Thank you for joining me for this little exercise. This is probably the end of Wings of Recursion. I've run out of ideas for one off story blurbs. And with the final one I give a conclusion to things, as well as explain a plot thread that has been throughout the Wings of Recursion tales. A few may eventually be taken aside and turned into a full blown multi-chapter story. Or maybe not, I'm undecided as yet. I hope you had as much fun reading this as I had writing it.
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