Fatal Fury Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Rifts ❯ Introduction ( Prologue )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Sailor Moon/Rifts Crossover (Revised Edition) By Simon Woodington


Foreward

--
"Am I really allowed to write my own foreward?"
--

Parental Warning: I do not consider this novel to be appropriate for
children... Stated plainly, some issues dealt with in the writ of this
fanfiction include abuse, slavery, rape, and mainly, violence. For
Sailor Moon, violence may not seem unusual. However, when you take
into consideration the brutal nature of the Rifts environment... It is
a worthy note. Keep in mind that while these issues are covered, they
are not written graphically, nor lacking in taste. While the reference
"lemon" (meaning sour, distasteful, etc.) may apply to many a
fanfiction, it does not to mine. It should also be noted that this
text contains some "colourful" language, meaning profanities. Please
exercise discretion for the benefit of your children.

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and the Bishojo Sailor Senshi (including all
likenesses thereof) are copyright to Naoko Takeuchi, and any other
involved parties (as stated in any legal documents of which I am not
aware). Rifts, and other concepts from the Palladium MegaVerse are
copyright Kevin Siemdieda. Need, and other characters from the
Valdemar Novels are copyright to Mercedes Lackey. Andy Bogard and Mai
Shirinaui are copyright to their respective parties. Any other
characters in this novel, including Akari, Yanei Hanlan, Randy,
Katrin, Cavell, Thomas, Zia, Nisika, Nasura, the Neo Senshi, Phate,
Canor and others are copyright Simon Woodington (a.k.a. Corwin
Sparrow), (c) 1997-2000 (please note these copyrights are law
enforceable, and legal action will be taken if these characters/places
are used without the express written permission of the author).

Comments, Concerns, and Questions: I may be reached via email @:
simonw@trideja.com or Corwin_Sparrow@hotmail.com, or at my newly
established address blitterjade@mac.com

... if you have any inquires regarding this work. Cursory flames will
be disregarded (though I have yet to receive even one). Only
reasonable (constructive criticism is always welcome) messages will be
replied to, plainly. Thank you.

Continuity Note: Just for you story line time-relativity buffs, this
novel takes place just after the end of season two; after the rebirth
of the "Doom Tree" when Allan (Ail) and Anne are given their second
chance. This is your classic "Alternate Universe" story line.

Special Thanks: To everyone who helped me out and ever wrote
fanfiction or participated in the OW! (Okatu Wars!) story mixes on the
"alt.fan.sailor-moon" newsgroup. Just a quick mention of some stories
that influenced this work: - Leyvar Boyer's "Innocence in A Minor" (a
disturbing but well written work) - Leifker's "Clothes Make the Woman"
(I know that's a Ranma 1/2 fic', but it is relevant) - Troy Silver
Stanton's "For The Love Of Mercury" (well, some of it) - James
Clavell's "Shogun" (simply outstanding novel. I recommend it highly!)
Also, a quick "Konnichi wa, Rumiko-san! Domo arigato!" to Rumiko
Takahashi, the daimyo of Ranma 1/2, who's work inspired Tenma, and her
twin sister Kai.

To Friends: I must thank Adam Goolevitch, Adam Mckeown, Darren
Dowsett, Jennifer Harder (foremost, these four), and Steve McTaggart
for their valued opinions and role playing over the three years I have
Game Mastered and role played with them. They have been integral in
providing me with plot material that I have been able to include in
this book. Without them, numerous events, not to mention complete
chapters, and the Neo Senshi would not have been accessible/possible.
Also a quick "thank you" note to Steve Ostir, who provided the plot
basis explanation behind Galaxia. A very, very important part, which
held me back from completing this book! There is a fair degree of work
in here that comes (filtered to fit, mind you) right out of early and
late campaigns I have run over the last few years. It is, however,
without regret (truly!) that I make a note of my end of role-playing.
I have completed this work merely because I couldn't stand to see it
unfinished. Anyway, I've said a fair sight too much for a "special
thanks." I just wanted you to know that I treasure every contribution
to this book, by word, deed, and company. To my friends and
supporters: Thank you! Or: Domo!

To Fans: To those who have emailed me to indicate how much they've
enjoyed this novel. Well, it's complete now, and I hope that fact
brings you further pleasure. Every single email I receive has helped
to push this thing to the point of completion, which has been a long,
four-year struggle. From point to finish, all of the support you have
provided has been absolutely essential! I have you to thank. So...

Thank you.

Now, here it is. I present to you my very first novel-length work!



Introduction

It would be a lie to say that this introduction was self inspired. It
comes, from a great degree, from the greetings (and on occasion,
lectures) and the banter of the oft' categorically misplaced Harlan
Ellison, to whom I ascribe a torrent of admiration. I know he would
hate to hear me write it or - heaven forbid - say it, but how can I
not do so? How can I ignore his wit, his courage, the acidic tongue,
which he does not seem to hesitate in the application to any who dare
cast their misangled gaze upon him?

Don't ask me, I am only a benign follower.

Of course, if you believe that then you haven't yet set foot upon the
world I have created here. I hardly think myself the pin upon the seat
that Harlan has blatantly admitted he is, or rather, admitted to the
usage of through his craft. However, I have come to the realization
that I do indeed write to shock. Please forgive the use of the
"Sci-Fi" alien, the flash of the leathery hide of a dragon upon the
your mind. Do not mistake those for the honest horror of the Beast:

The human fears.

For what better do we - as readers - ascribe to? We relate more easily
to that which we understand. For those of you still composing ideas
based around the "real oddities," or the inhuman, the honest writer of
horror knows that reality produces more terrific and scarring images
and events than we could possibly imagine.

But I'm not here to get into that. Not at length, anyway.

I'm here to discuss why. Only a horrible person such as myself could
join the innocents of the Japanese Anime; Sailor Moon and mix them
into the violent world of the Palladium Role Playing Game; Rifts.

Why? Because it is the nature of humankind to question. To wonder:
What if? What if Joey can read minds? What if Sister Yolen is
pregnant? What if there is hope for cancer ridden David?

Why? Because perhaps I am the only one with the nerve to do so. It
certainly appears that my literary jaunt is solitary. A race of it's
own. Perhaps even a genre anew? Anime Speculative Fiction? Science,
Speculative and Fantasy Fiction Manga/Anime? Perhaps not. So what?
Even if it is not entirely fresh, will there not be a point I
discovered that perchance-another author had not? Or perhaps they
cared not to speak of it - Times Being What They Are.

Why? The very idea of this particular fan fiction is a frightening
one. For those experienced in the realm of RPGs, the visitation of the
magical, alien, supernatural, and demonic are common. To take paper
outlined approximations of the characters from Sailor Moon and play
them in a highly controlled and unrealistic world (now tell me again
how close to life any Role Playing Game has ever come to reality, and
I'll tell you how long to spend away from it) where the players always
win, emotional and physical aberrations are either misplayed,
underplayed, or discarded entirely, and the GM (DM as the case may be)
is a self-reliant God (Author) of sorts.

Why? Because in North America we suffer from what is known as
Blindness of the Conglomerate through the Acquisition of Large Sums of
Funds Syndrome. Here, the small guy, the mass media, the
Don't-Forget-Us-Even-Though-We-Pay-For-Your-Television-Travesty,
experienced a dramatically altered version of the fruit of Japanese
Anime. Not to mention that the Anime itself had been trailed and erred
in many other countries with less firm morals than our own. It belongs
to another discussion why this is true.

Why? Because we fear our world. We start and flinch at every shock
that - Times Being What They Are - is unique from the last. What?
Sharon was served at a dinner party in the place of ground beef? How
horrifying! Or: Yes, yes, I heard about the serial killings. No, no,
she's fine... expected never to recover from the shock, though...

Why? Because the commonplace is merely that. It takes some
spit-shined-new nightmare-inducing event to draw the collected eyes
from the background. And in that light, we forget the true horror of
the Beast. In Sailor Moon, the attraction can be only partially
attributed to the artwork, to the enemies the Senshi (or Scouts)
defeat, to the beautiful and reality-pausing effects of the powers the
Senshi use. Like any drama, it is the feelings of the characters which
touch us, the viewers and the readership.

Sailor Rifts, a simple title, drawing both sects of fans from either
sides of the crossover (hopefully), was written to primarily prove (if
not just to myself) that such a concept could be written with a sign
of intelligence in North America.

It was written out of my annoyance with the corny dialogue pinned to a
pleasant series of events surrounding a number of interesting (if not
imbued with sexual innuendo ad nauseum, when one realizes the base of
the outfits for the Bishojo Sailor Senshi or "Pretty Sailor Soldier")
characters.

The Author brazenly admits that he enjoys Sailor Moon, and their
adventures, and was quite (like many others) irritated to discover the
disjointed (if not discontinued) supplication of the story line it was
said to be not only 200 episodes long, but complete, in Japan.

The characters and ideas presented in the whole of Sailor Moon
entertain me, like so many others through the age group of four to
forty years. So I set out to make them my own, like any bandit eying
an entrancing jewel, a lonely sliver of cash forgotten, or a bright
pink eraser.

So I wrote this. This convoluted warehouse of subplots, this bandy
collection of people, places, and events. Rather than elaborate any of
the ideas that spawned and took root in this work, I will fade back
and offer glimpses behind the scenes.

Simply, the question is as follows: "What would happen if the Sailor
Senshi (Sailor Scouts/Soldiers, whatever) had to survive in Rifts?"
The answer could have been the length of a short story, but through my
wiles, and pondering, it has achieved that of a novel. It is, at this
point, longer than 120,000 words. I was amazed to realize that I had
expended such energy in the development of this story.

I care deeply for the characters I have created here. No, not Carl, or
Hanlan, or Randy, or even Garen. I care for the Sailor Senshi I have
recreated in this work. Each of them is a creature with
characteristics unique from the original design of Naoko Takeuchi.
They have been altered slightly to fit my environment of their
existence. Not so much as how they change (that being what I see as
necessary for their survival), as - perhaps - how I have metamorphosed
them to fit into our Western culture, somewhat.

The story is real, as I perceive it. This is how I believe the lives
of the Sailors would have transpired, under my Game Mastering weaves,
as such, and under the writ of this text. The violence is true to
Rifts, the Sailors are true (largely, I hope) to their original
vision, their relationships are fixated as much out of my curiosity as
much as necessity.

In The End, however, the opinion as to the tastefulness of the events
within are yours, and the story also as you will interpret. I ask
however that you do not spend so much time reading into the story as
you do of it.

As a final note, I hope you enjoy the work, for that it the sole
purpose of it's existence.

- Simon Woodington, June 15th, 1998.

Author's Note: This novel was completed Wednesday, March 22nd, 2000.
Addendum: I have fleshed this novel out with an additional 20,000
words, and numerous detail refinements! Subsequently, I have entitled
this the revised edition. Enjoy!