Ran paused as he looked around his room, memories assaulting him that had been suppressed by his rebirth. It all came down to one sentence.
“No chance in hell of saving those plants now,” he muttered, looking at the dusty pots that had once held beautiful examples of Saturn green roses, a gift from Queen Saturn VI to the Court of Pluto.
“I probably still have the seeds stored somewhere,” he muttered, wondering if he could grow them on Earth. They were a picky plant to be sure, and he had taken great pride that he could make them grow so well on Pluto.
But he had other issues, namely his usually absentee mother. He was relatively certain she was still around, a slight ... pull ... on his soul confirming she was still around, though there were now two pulls that seemed to denote that he had two mothers—one for Ranma and one of the royal line of Pluto.
“Did she even weep for me?” he asked himself. “Did she even feel pride as I died defending the kingdom, even when they ignored my warnings?”
“May I have a word with you, my Queen?”
Serenity looked up from her table, having been going over plans for her daughter’s ball, to see the often feared Prince of Pluto. “Of course, what may I do for you?” she asked.
“I know of your plans to introduce Prince Endymion to your daughter,” said the green haired boy. “I would advise against such an act.”
“Oh,” she said. “Why?”
“Earth is not a stable political unit,” said Ran. “It is also no hidden secret that the daughter of House Nova has eyes only for the Prince.”
“And she has made a claim on his heart already?”
“Not publicly, but then neither has Princess Serenity.”
Queen Serenity nodded. “You worry about the larger ramifications if my daughter falls in love with the prince.”
Ran nodded. “Earth is still not a united planet. As such, we are with a tenuous base with both House Endymion and Nova as things stand now. This is perhaps the best chance that has existed in the many years the Kingdoms have reigned in Sol that Earth may achieve unity. Should we not pursue that instead of a potential husband for your daughter?”
“Are you suggesting a replacement for the prince?” she asked.
“No,” said Ran. “I do not lay such claims. She may grow up to deserve the lineage she comes from, but I am not the one for her.”
Serenity nodded. “And would it surprise you if I told you that somehow, she is soul-bonded to young Endymion?” she said.
“It would,” said Ran. “But such a bond is only a chance, not a defining moment.”
He looked at her, putting as much conviction into his expression and his voice as he could. “My Lady, I know you want what is best for your daughter, but you are not always granted such a privilege to do so. Please consider your plans for Endymion carefully.”
Ran sighed. “And look what the bond got us; billions dead because of a jealous bitch,” he muttered.
He had to wonder if his mother knew. But even if she did, she would have been unable to say anything; rules laid down by an earlier Queen Serenity that said she could only warn them of impending natural disasters.
“I did my duty, even if those bastards on the Court thought I was scum,” he muttered. After all, they assumed he was evil because he was born male, and not female, as every other first born of the royal line was.
It hadn’t been easy, and he had been forced to fire more than a few tutors for carrying such stupid hatreds with them. Just because he was born male didn’t mean he was evil.
Okay, so ripping apart evil minions with his bare hands and often without the assist of magic was probably not the way to help them get past that fear.
But he wasn’t going to cower in some forgotten corner because they were scared.
Sighing, he passed his hand over a small flat crystal, activating it, as an image of his seventh birthday appeared.
His mother was holding him as he was sleeping. She had arrived late ... again ... and he had already fallen asleep.
“I love you, Ran. Never forget that, my Prince of Pluto.”
Taking a deep breath and letting it out in a slow sigh, he shut it off, before turning back to look at his room, to gather what he needed before returning to Earth. His old mother was there, he was certain of that. And hopefully, she would have both the time and the desire to see him now.
Ran began to lightly chuckle. “I wonder if I can change into a Senshi thanks to Jusenkyo now.”
Smirking, he went to the bath attached to his room. “Well, an answer is only a little bit of water away.
“Just hope that this place still has water.”
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(Posted Tue, 14 Nov 2006 12:53)
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