"Ya mean there were people on the moon once ? Yeah right..." snorted a disbelieving Ranma. Even he could have told this box had something to do with the Moon because of the crescent symbol engraved on the case. He may be a little ignorant on subjects not related to martial arts but he knew that the Moon was a dead rock where life was impossible.
Cologne frowned in concentration "I'm not saying this was the case. For all I know, this ancient kingdom's religion was centered around the Moon. The legends are fragmentary and vague at best. We amazons only know of it because it was supposedly ruled by women" When she said that, Genma and Soun harrumphed in derision. At least Soun seemed apologetic when Akane glared at him.
Nabiki smirked "Of course, since it is unheard of, your tribe would see it as an ideal to attain, am I right ?" She knew her history. Matriarchies had always been myths, present company excluded. All societies felt the need to refer to a glorious past one day, call it nostalgia or the first sign of decadence.
"So was it a nice kingdom ?" Kasumi liked stories. It sounded like something out of a shojo manga. She often read Nabiki's when she had free time and no one was around.
Cologne switched to 'storytelling elder' mode "It is said that this Moon Kingdom was a paradise under the rule of a benevolent queen. Her magic protected her subjects of age, hunger, disease, war and pain. Magic was common and had the role Science has in your society of today. No one knows why but one day, it disappeared. Something about a great shadow devouring it..."
Shampoo's eyes glittered. This was one of her favorite childhood tales. Kasumi did the same but more discreetly.
Genma, Soun and Ranma thought about it. Being always well fed and healthy was nice but no conflicts ? No need for martial arts ? That place must have been boring as hell... Worse if they were truly immortal as the legend made it sound !
Akane thought about it too. Sounded like a nice place. She figured that the world would be a better place if women took control anyway. Kind and wise men like doctor Tofu were so rare. And even then, they never got the positions of power.
Nabiki didn't place much stock into this. It seemed too much of a fairy tale to her. If the amazons wanted to believe that, fine. She was sure that a less biased analysis of this box by real historians and archeologists would give better results "So, what can you tell us besides that ?"
"I'm afraid I'll have to research this more. I can only make out a few words here and there. Look here" She pointed to faded but still readable characters around the crescent moon at the center of the box "This pictogram means 'legacy' and this other one 'future'. There is a reference to the Shadow and some kind of attack..."
"Let me see that !" Genma's patience had run out. All this nonsense about a kingdom of women, ah ! He had a more realistic use for that trinket, namely sell it. He lunged and got the box out of Cologne's hands (Say what you want but Genma Saotome is a pretty good thief among other things).
"OYAJI ! GIVE THAT BACK !" Ranma caught the box in his father's hands and the two began a tug of war. He was fed up with the way his father always tried to screw up his life and take what was his, be it food or money.
Nabiki panicked "Careful with it !" Those two idiots were going to break one of the greatest historical artifacts ever found. She couldn't sell it if it was destroyed, damn it !
Ranma was losing his temper. His battle aura flickered to life and he kicked his father away. Genma crashed into a table, his hands empty "Ha ! Suck on that, old man ! The box's mine and... What the...?"
Somehow, the ki of his battle aura had made the moon box react. The writings on the box were glowing now. It slowly opened with a hiss, revealing a spinning and singing crystal.
Ranma only had the time to say "It's beautiful..." before the crystal's glow intensified and a white beam of light struck him in the brow. Suddenly, the world was spinning and he felt himself collapse. He fell on the ground, paralized and unable to speak. He heard the others scream and saw their panicking faces surrounding him but his vision was blurring.
It lasted for a few seconds but the picture cleared. Only where his fiancees had been was now a smiling azure-haired girl he didn't know. She was dressed in some sort of white toga and was wearing jewelry that would have make Nabiki drool with envy. Sparkling amethyst eyes and a cute face completed the tableau. She was a real looker and could also give Shampoo a run for her money in the body department.
"Oh thank Serenity ! Are you feeling better now ?" Her hands cupped his face and he could not deny this girl seemed worried about him "Don't worry, Arion. I called the healer, he should be here soon. Everything is going to be all right, I promise" Her voice was sweet as honey and a part of him was ready to believe anything she said.
He blinked in confusion as the scene cleared more. Apparently, he was in some kind of bedroom. A luxurious one, truth be told. Prince Toma's palace at Togenkyo looked like a dump in comparison. His head turned to get a better view of the window.
Ranma gasped. In the clear blue sky, above crystalline towers, he could see... Earth !?!
Ranma spoke in a trembling voice "Where... Where am I !?"
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See other episodes by Jamil Nate
(Posted Sun, 01 Jun 2003 18:34)
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