Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ A New Future 1 - Things Change ❯ More Old Friends ( Chapter 9 )

This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor. It is labeled hentai for the opening scene only (no lemons), and X for that scene and possible graphic violence later.

This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling, punctuation and the occasional word choce. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!

I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi, Naoko Takeuchi, or Kosuke Fujishima, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.

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At a hilltop Shinto shrine, a seemingly old priest stood at the head of the stairs looking out contentedly at the long-known and loved view. After a time, a smile came to his face and without turning, he spoke to the empty air. “You can come out, Amaterasu.”

A mild curse came from the trees behind him, and an emerald-haired woman in a business suit stepped out and walked over to stand beside him as he chuckled. “You are in a good mood,” Yosho opined, “that curse was unusually mild.”

Setsuna laughed. “I suppose it was, but I did manage to get within fifteen feet before you noticed me this time, I think that's the best I've done.” She gazed out across the valley before them, and a pensive look came across her face. Yosho glanced her way, and sighed at the look.

“I see this isn't simply a friendly visit,” he said. “Would you care for some tea?”

“Always,” the Senshi of Time responded, and the two turned toward the shrine.

 

The formalities completed, Setsuna took a sip of tea and happily sighed. “Only the best, as always,” she said contentedly, and Yosho chuckled.

“Of course, he said offhandedly. “How else am I to tempt the world's busiest woman to relax and enjoy the moment every decade or so?” Then he tensed slightly as the smile ran away from his old friend's face to be replaced by ... he wasn't sure what — happiness, anger, sadness, resignation, he'd never seen such a mix of emotions on that oh-so-familiar young-old face before. Carefully, he set down his tea cup and leaned forward. “Something has happened, Setsuna; can you talk about it?”

The odd mix of emotions vanished as Setsuna wryly chuckled. “Some, at least,” she said. “There's good news and bad news. The good news is that the little princess has awakened, and the impact on the future will be ... magnificent, enough that I won't be taking that decades-long break I wasn't looking forward to.”

The happy smile on the old man's face at the news was genuine, but not unalloyed as he waited for her to continue. When she didn't, gazing thoughtfully into her tea cup, he prompted, “That is very good news, indeed, I know how much you've missed the little one. And the bad news?”

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, Setsuna sighed. “The bad news is that ... that ...” she fell silent, then visibly gathered her courage and finished in a rush, “I'm afraid the timetable for your long vacation has been moved up considerably. And extended to centuries — possibly permanently, except for visits.”

Yosho stiffened, then rose and slowly walked over to the doorway and out to gaze again across the valley. Setsuna set down her own tea cup, then walked out behind him and gently laid a hand on his shoulder. “I'm sorry, Yosho.”

He reached up and laid a hand across her own. “It's all right, Setsuna, I know you would not ask this of me if it wasn't necessary. How long do I have to get everything, and everyone, packed up?”

“A ... a few months,” she answered hesitantly, and he sucked in a breath.

“That fast — things must have changed drastically, indeed.” When the priest felt her hand on his shoulder tighten, he chuckled. “Don't worry, Amaterasu, I will maintain my blissful ignorance, and your people will be safe.”

“From your people, at least — better said, your other people, this is your home, as well,” she gently reminded him, and he nodded agreement.

“True, and thus the blissful ignorance. Funaho?”

“Another good thing about this change, now I can guarantee your tree's safety; it will be waiting for you when you return,” Setsuna assured him, and a broad smile blossomed on his face.

“Well, that is good news.” Then, sobering, “And will I see you again before we leave?”

“No, Yosho, you won't,” Setsuna said, dropping her gaze, voice so low he was barely able to hear the words.

He pulled his long-time friend into a hug, then after a few minutes releasing her and turning her to face him, said in a determinedly upbeat tone, “In that case, your workout clothing is in its usual place, do you have time for one last match? We can get each other cleaned up afterward,” he added with a lascivious leer so over-the top it startled a laugh from her.

“Of course,” she said with a tremulous smile, “I wouldn't miss a chance at your training in either Art for anything.”

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Hours later, a freshly cleaned and pleasantly tired Setsuna knocked on the door of a Buddhist temple, and a brown-haired girl with blue diamond tattoos on her forehead and each cheek answered the door. “Nimue!” Belldandy shouted joyfully as she threw herself forward and embraced the taller woman, and Setsuna felt something in her relax as she returned the hug.

A few minutes later, the two were kneeling at the dining table, nibbling on refreshments and catching up on gossip, the Senshi of Time shaking her head in amazement and laughing at the recent events in her friend's life. “Well, it looks like you beat me to it, after all — or will, whenever that paragon of virtue you've fallen in love with gets around to settling on a date.”

With an inscrutable smile that went oddly with her blushing cheeks, Belldandy said, “We shall see.” Then, turning serious, she asked, “But as good as it is to see you again, I'm sure catching up on the last few centuries isn't why you've dropped by. What can I do for the Lady of the Lake?”

Setsuna threw her oldest friend a sharp look. She knows I haven't used that title in fifteen hundred years, why is she using it? Maybe a warning about hubris? Or taking on too much? Or getting too involved? She chuckled inwardly to herself. No point in asking, her restrictions make mine look like wide-open permission, and are a lot more rigidly enforced. Aloud, she answered, “As wonderful as it is to see you again, you're right. I'm here on business. I know Yggdrasil is to the Time Gates what the Gates are to an abacus, and with a change this extreme the news is bound to have spread like wildfire. So you have heard about Princess Yasuko's awakening?”

A pensive look crossed Belldandy's face as she nodded. “Yes, you are right — news of what happened, and what it means, has spread very quickly.”

“So why the long face?” a suddenly worried Setsuna asked.

Belldandy hesitated, then responded, “Because of Happosai.” At Setsuna's incredulous stare, the goddess continued, “I know there was little chance that he would change his ways, but now that chance is gone and he is Hild's to play with.”

Setsuna shook her head, half-admiringly, half-reprovingly. “He's been Hild's for centuries, Belldandy, she just hadn't collected him yet. You can't save everyone, you know.”

“I know,” Belldandy said sorrowfully, “but if he had made just a few different decisions he could have been such a force for good — it's such a waste of potential, and he would have been a much happier man.”

“I suppose it reflects poorly on me that it feels like you're much too forgiving,” the emerald-haired woman said, frowning ruefully. “Anyway, I know you can't tell me anything definitive about the future that's now likely to come, but one question you probably can answer — how are the demons likely to feel about this turn of events, will they try to reverse it?”

“Oh, you don't need to worry about that, they'll be overjoyed,” Belldandy responded instantly. Then, at Setsuna's slightly doubtful expression, explained, “Remember, Niflheim is as much about guiding human souls as Asgard is, and the new future gives both sides greatly expanded opportunities. If anything, they'll help you out. And how about you? How to you feel about this?”

“Well, it isn't an unalloyed good, Ranma's been through hell and both she and her friends as well as most of the Senshi will have to give up or postpone some dreams to do things they would rather not, but — but at least I w-won't have to stand aside and d-do nothing while o-over six billion people ... die, and ... and Hotaru ...” she managed to say before her throat closed up, and Belldandy moved around the table and pulled her sobbing friend into a hug, Setsuna's head on her shoulder, tears of relief and joy soaking into Belldandy's blouse.