[Episode 201580] [Episode 201580]"I... you are forgiven, Terra... all of you," Ran said, finally returning Terra's hug, "No matter how much I want to, I can't bring myself to hold this against all of you. After all, it's not like you have any more choice in the matter then I... less, even, since at least I have a warning. Thank you for that, by the way."
"It was the least we can do, Prince Ran. After all, though it should have never existed in the first place, it is still your kingdom that we must destroy," Eris said, giving him a small smile, "Your ancestor wronged us, yes, but... well, she is human, and it is only human to obtain what is wanted without thinking of the consequences."
"Yeah..." Ran sighed, then released Terra and stood up. The green-haired girl (greenette?) followed him up, now blushing a bright, neon red that would have struck Ran as cute if he weren't distracted. "so... what now?" he asked.
"Now, we discuss your options."
Ran blinked in confusion, then scowled. "I am NOT leaving my kingdom- my family!- to hang!" he stated vehemently, much like his eventual reincarnation would.
"But there is a very, VERY good chance that you will die," Lulu said.
"It doesn't matter! I may not be able to do anything to stop this, but I WILL NOT abandon them. I will defend it, and my family, to the end!"
"I see..." Eris said, giving him an unreadable look. "In that case, allow us to offer you some aid, at least."
It took a while for that to register in Ran's mind, but when it did, he couldn't help but blink once more. "Say what? I thought you guys had to destroy my kingdom?"
Eris gave him a smirk, her eyes twinkling in mischief. "Actually, I'll be doing most of the fixing, since it is Chaos that has been wronged. The others only have a small role in this, and so can give you... let's say... tips, and still not have crossed any of their boundaries."
Ran gapped, not quite believing what he was hearing. "Seriously?" he asked.
"Yes. Heck, I might just 'accidentally' leave Discordia here when I leave, leaving you a chance to pick it up." Her grin was just evil now. Ran couldn't help but match it, but soon grew serious.
"...why? Why are you doing this?"
Eris' smile softened. "To be honest? Because—and I can speak for all of us—we like you. I can sense a good and noble heart within you, Ran Serenity, and if our gifts make sure you survive this coming disaster, then all the better for us. It would be such a waste seeing one such as you die."
Ran blushed at the praise. "Oh... I... thank you. All of you."
"No problem. Now," Eris turned somber, "I must begin preparing. I hope we meet again, Prince Ran."
Ran gave her his most confident smirk. "Heh. We will, I promise you that. And Ran Serenity never breaks a promise!"
Eris gave him one last smile before vanishing in a flash of light. Discordia dropped to the floor, where Ran immediately picked it up. He put it into a subspace pocket (an extension of the tenets of the temporal warrior's guild) and looked to the other six.
"So... shall we begin?"
The six Scions of Order smiled.
He had learned more special techniques and long-lost styles in the following two months than he had in the proceeding eight. He had also discovered some of Discordia's magic, most notable of those abilities was being able to shift into seven other forms, and being able to return to an designated place if dropped. By the time they parted company (the Scions wanted to go out and explore the universe a bit before their next job came), Ran had been able to access six of those forms, as long as program it to return to his subspace pocket whenever not in use. Unfortunately, try as he might, he couldn't access the seventh, and most powerful, form.
...Not that it mattered, really. Some time between the two months, he had decided that he wouldn't use Discordia, or any of the more advanced techniques that he had acquired from them, in the coming battle. The Scions had helped him even when it was counterproductive to what they were trying to do, and he felt it would be against his honor to use those gifts to fight them. They expected him to use his new knowledge in the aid of the Moon Kingdom, yes, but it would feel too much like betraying them to him.
And so, time passed. Ran fought each of the Sailor Senshi under his Onyx persona and managed to beat them like a drum. He had returned to his mother seeking to be little Serenity's guard, but was turned down. He became the First Prince of the Moon Kingdom again, and hated every moment of it.
Then the fateful ball came. He defeated a sizable portion of Beryl's army before facing the Seven Shadows on his own. He was victorious, but had been dealt a mortal wound. With fading sight he could only watch as Endymion was killed defending his little sister, and her subsequent suicide afterward.
His last memory of his mother's kingdom was its flaming ruins.
Ranma snapped back to reality to see Pluto still in his room, looking distressed as she fretted about something on her mind. A quick glance at his alarm clock (not really sure why he had one; his 'father' [even mentally Ranma spat the word with more venom then he previously would have; having another lifetime of memories that contained a competent parental figure did wonders for one's world view] would throw him out the window everyday at the exact same time. It was so much more reliable then a pathetic collection of screws and wheels) told him his flashback had only taken two minutes, thus answering the question of why his 'fiance' (there was no way in HELL he was going to keep that gorilla as his fiance!) hadn't walked in on them yet.
Ran cleared his throat, catching the other woman's attention.
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(Posted Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:37)
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