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No Need for Destiny
Chapter 11
No Need for Preparations
Disclaimer: I don’t own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.
I would like to first personally thank all of those reviewing my stories. I enjoy reading your comments, and try to correct the grammatical errors I miss with my final read-through as well as my spell checkers. The suggestions you all make will help make this story better for everyone to enjoy, as well as allow my to fix some plot holes I may unintentionally leave. If you find any, let me know, and I will correct them and repost the chapters.
She could only fault them a little bit. It had been during the Great Fall that her planet had changed its orbit slightly, falling into Neptune’s path afterwards.
But then ... the IAU never had that information. How could they? They had finally sent a probe to her planet a few years ago, and it would be years still before it could be anywhere near to make measurements.
Still didn’t make it hurt any less.
“Never mind what those fools think,” said a female voice that Setsuna was very familiar with. “It is a planet as far as the rest of the galaxy is concerned.”
“That does little to settle my anger or pain, Lady Kuramitsu,” said Setsuna.
“Please, I have always asked you to call me Nabiki,” said the woman with long brown hair and an expensive ladies business suit, as she sat at the table, motioning for the waitress to come by.
Setsuna smirked at her attitude. “Well then, you could at least call me Setsuna. I go by that name in this life.”
Nabiki nodded, as the waitress arrived, ordering her food. As soon as the waitress left, she continued their talk. “So, I take it our information was accurate, you were reborn, rather quickly I might add.”
Setsuna nodded. “I was able to use my own powers to speed up the process after I used the Forbidden Technique.
Nabiki sighed. “Really, I would have assumed you would have asked for our help in such matters before you needed to do such a crazy move, or at the very least asked my husband’s help to deal with the consequences to using such a technique. You know he has a knack for doing impossible things like that.”
“I would prefer to limit your involvement in the timeline until the needed event occurred,” said Setsuna.
“You mean Ranma-kun and I getting sent back in time.”
“Correct,” said Setsuna, as the waitress arrived with their tea.
“That happened a few days ago,” said Nabiki. “Hard to believe I have lived this long.”
“But you have.”
“Did you know that we made arrangements earlier this eon to fix any shifts we might make in the history of our past?” asked Nabiki.
“You did?” inquired Setsuna, slightly startled. “I was unaware that anyone aside from I could manipulate time that way?”
“There are those above you, Setsuna-chan,” smirked Nabiki. “One of them came to us around 1000 AD, and offered us an alliance, with the insurance that whatever we did would not negate our own existence, nor would it remove the event that sent us to where we ended up. In the long run, we made a great deal, considering the price was of little concern, and the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. Sure, we were not allowed to change some things, but what we could change...”
Setsuna blinked. “That ... is impossible.”
“Not really,” smirked Nabiki. “We met people who eclipse your own power.”
“Such as?”
“Fishing for information?”
“I would be a fool to assume the Gates of Time can see all.”
“Very true,” remarked Nabiki.
“If you must know,” said Nabiki, “we were made an offer by the other side.”
“Demons?”
“So to speak,” answered Nabiki. “It is more the fact that both sides represent the two pinnacles of order and chaos rather than good or evil.”
“And you sided with chaos.”
“My husband was once accused of being the avatar of such,” said Nabiki. “In fact, did you not recently fight the Senshi of a star named Chaos?”
“She was anything but the pure form of Chaos,” said Setsuna. “If you believed her mind, she made all the enemies we faced until then.”
“Sad,” added Nabiki. “To think young Godlings try and usurp such positions in their own names.”
“You would know more about Gods and Demons than me.”
“Also true,” smirked Nabiki, as she enjoyed her tea.
“So then,” said Setsuna, “may I ask what the purpose is of having your daughter stay in Juuban and move in with Makoto?”
“You may,” smiled Nabiki.
Setsuna growled. She had to remind herself that this was the woman with whom she had patterned her interaction with the Inners with. “Then do explain.”
Nabiki set down her tea, making certain to remind the waitress she needed a refill. “It is quite simple; Ranma-kun and I are planning a family reunion ... a complete family reunion.”
Setsuna’s eyes widened. “The entire Kuramitsu clan ... on Earth!”
“Yes,” said Nabiki, as the waitress replaced her cup with a fresh one. “It has been a while, and considering that the Lost Ones have resurfaced, it seemed appropriate.”
“But they don’t even know!” pleaded Setsuna.
“I hope you aren’t stalling for that Crystal Tokyo idea,” murmured Nabiki. “I would have thought Queen Serenity’s actions would have taught you to avoid such a order-centered paradise,” smirked Nabiki
“I have done what I thought best,” commented Setsuna.
“And this Chibi-Usa we have heard about?”
“She ... she was sworn to secrecy.”
“And the Black Moon?”
“... I never said I was perfect.”
“So you haven’t told them what really happened?” asked Nabiki.
“... No.”
“And why not?”
“Could they handle the truth?”
“You would never know unless you try,” said Nabiki.
Setsuna sat there for a moment, contemplating Nabiki’s comments. “Should I assume my child will be there as well?”
“Would they not be?”
Setsuna sighed once again, as she looked up, to see Nabiki gone, a very generous tip left behind, as well as payment for her tea. “Must she disappear like that?”
“Can you not tell us the reason for such secrecy?” asked Ranma, as he, Queen Serenity, and his wife Nabiki, made their way through the passageways of Silver Tokyo Palace, towards the Royal chambers.
“I’m afraid what I wish to discuss can only be done so in my chambers,” said Queen Serenity, hiding her blush by continuing to stay before the two Kuramitsu clan members as they walked towards her throne room.
“I must say you aren’t putting us in a good frame of mind,” said Nabiki, as she looked out the windows of the corridor they were passing through, seeing the slightly massive form of PI sitting in the docking area, its wooden form gleaming in the sunlight. “To be honest, I feel as if I am being asked to attend a war council meeting.”
“Nothing quite that dark, I assure you, Lady Kuramitsu,” said Serenity.
“Well then please give us a hint,” said Ranma. “I love a surprise as much as the next person, but this is seriously starting to freak me out a bit.”
Queen Serenity paused before the doors to the chambers she wanted to discuss things in. “While what I have to discuss with you is of importance, it is more of a personal nature, than a public one.”
“Ranma-kun! Nabiki-chan!”
The trio paused, to see Queen Venus strutting down the corridor towards them. “I thought it was you!”
“Lady Venus,” smiled Ranma, as he exaggerated a bow. “We have missed your company.”
“How have you been?” asked Nabiki, hugging the girl slightly, before pulling back, her eyes focusing on the woman. “Something is different about you?”
“Well...” stumbled the Queen, trying to figure out how to explain her current ‘condition’ to the two before her.
Sadly, that was not to be needed, as the doors to the chamber opened as the group approached, allowing the sound of passionate sex to reach their ears, a sound all involved were very familiar with.
Serenity and Venus paled, the former because she hadn’t thought Sailor Pluto would actually watch it in there, let alone at that volume. The latter because she didn’t want to think how this would look to her lovers.
“How can that not hurt?” wondered Sailor Pluto aloud, her head tilted to the side, as she watched one particular scene that showed some of Ranma’s flexibility with the Venus Queen.
“Lots of practice,” said Ranma, smirking.
“EEK!” screamed Sailor Pluto, nearly reaching the high ceilings of the chambers, in her jump of shock.
“Great quality,” said Nabiki, looking at the image still. “Can we get a copy?”
The Queens could only blink. “You aren’t ... angry?” asked Venus.
“I used to do this to him all the time,” smiled Nabiki, remembering the past. “Well, it was usually photos of him in his forms. Those sold really well.”
“Even my male form?” asked Ranma, not taking his eyes off the scene, and not seeing the trio of Queens and Senshi mouth the word ‘sold’.
“What can I say, dear; you were a wanted item to both the guys and girls, and not just in the respective forms for a hetero relationship,” said Nabiki. “So that’s why my back hurt when I woke up. We did get rather intoxicated that night.”
Ranma nodded, his own memories of that night a little fuzzy, until they had remembered the Crab Star. “But why are we getting out of the hot tub? I mean, the only thing over there is that waterfall display and... Oh,” he said, seeing the change from male to female, shocking Pluto. “Well, that explains that.”
“He becomes a female?” squeaked Sailor Pluto.
“Jusenkyo curse,” said Ranma. “Don’t bother offering to cure it, it never works out, and I’m quite used to it by now.”
“Very used to it,” offered Nabiki, her face sporting a lecherous smirk. “So, your Highness, am I to assume that this porn staring me and my husband has something to do with the matters you wished to discuss.”
“A little,” Serenity chuckled weakly, her heart feeling the grip of fear and confusion, as the couple she had wanted to discuss her proposal with were currently critiquing their own sexual performance with the woman next to her.
Ranma nodded, turning his head back to look at the group, before something caught his eye. Narrowing them, he started to stare at Queen Venus, if to be more precise, her midsection. “Something you wanted to say first, Lady Venus?”
She could only giggle nervously a bit, playing with her hair. “Well ... um ... funny story.”
“Why does this stuff happen to me?” he asked aloud, ignoring her request. “When did I become the stud of the universe?”
“What can I say,” said Nabiki, “they want the best.”
“Not funny.”
“Wasn’t meant to be,” she said.
“So ... what do you want to do?” she asked, walking over to him, his head now resting against the column.
“Not sure,” he said. “I know I want to be there for my child,” he said.
“Might not be able to marry Venus,” Nabiki said, leaning against the column. “I don’t believe they practice polygamy in this system.”
“I know.”
“And Serenity did give a quick rundown why she wanted to have a child sired by you.”
“I know.”
“And Sailor Pluto did leave with a copy of the video, if my eyes weren’t missing her slight-of-hand.”
“Don’t remind me,” he said, preparing to start hitting the column again with his head, before Nabiki placed her hand between the target and his skull.
“Doing this won’t help.”
“Can’t hurt, either.”
“Ranma...”
“What am I to do?” he asked weakly, as if he had started to show his true age without any vitality.
“Up to you,” she said. “We can’t publicly claim the children, not with the possibility of it being seen as a way for Seniwa to gain influence or even control. I’m pretty sure some in the Jurai Senate might see this as a threat to Seniwa making a foothold in their territory.”
“We?”
“They will be family, Ranma-kun, our family.
“Would you expect any less of me?” she asked.
“... No.”
“They will have their own domains, we just can’t take any active role as a parent, well, not a large one.”
“I don’t want to be that type of Dad,” he said. “I still remember the hurt in Mikumo’s eyes ... when he asked about his mother.”
“I remember,” she said solemnly.
“Am I going to have to do that to my own children some day?” he asked.
“We won’t leave them, Ranma-kun,” said Nabiki. “They ... just won’t be company children,” she said. “We already have children and grandchildren like that.”
“Maybe...”
“And they can still receive their ships,” said Nabiki. When PI had reached its mature age, the two trees had begun to develop their own seeds, powerful seeds that lost none of the power as they developed. Seeds ... that would become the ships of the descendants of the Kuramitsu clan.
It was yet another secret they were forced to keep from the Imperial family of Jurai. After all, there would be some who would stop at nothing to acquire Space Trees with the ability to not lose any potential in succeeding generations.
“I swore,” Ranma started, sniffling a little. “I swore that I’d never leave my children like I had happen to me. I swore I wouldn’t force them in martial arts, I swore I’d never force them to marry anyone, I swore I’d never take needless and stupid risks with their lives, and I swore I’d never be a fleeting memory in their minds.”
He turned to her, eyes burning. “How can I be a parent to them if I can’t say ‘That is my child!’ with pride despite whoever is near me?”
“Nothing in this life is ever easy, Ranma-kun,” said Nabiki, her tone heavy. “But we continue, we grow. When we first came to this time, did you ever think you and I would be together?”
“...”
“Well, together and happy without me having some serious leverage over you?”
“No.”
“And yet here we are, happily married for over ten thousand years. Hell, we are running a corporation that spans a good bit of the galaxy. The old me would have never thought you’d have the brains to do that.”
“True.”
“We will adapt, we will persevere, and we will not let any of our family go.”
Ranma’s eyes clouded a bit. No, we have lost one too many as it is.
Washu... “So what does my wise and generous wife suggest?” he said, trying to smile.
“They need our help, if not for a child, then for hope. And if we are to be parents to these children, we need to know what we are allowed to do, and how far we can go to be a parent to them.”
“So ... you’re suggesting I knock up the ruler of this system?”
“Perhaps,” she said with a smile.
“... I really don’t understand you at times.”
“That is why our marriage still has its fire,” she said, kissing him lightly on the cheek. “Because if we knew everything about each other, then where would be the fun in continuing on?”
“Well, it is not everyday that the ruler of the Sol System asks him to give her a child,” said Venus with sarcasm.
“Ha-ha,” replied Serenity. “And I’m sure that you were just here by coincidence to tell him about your situation?”
“I have no knowledge of what you are implying,” said Venus.
“... Did you plan to come here, knowing what I might be asking?”
“Actually, I felt an itch and wanted it scratched. I didn’t know you’d be trying for the same thing,” Venus said, looking at her. “What happened to my friend who was upset that I was sleeping with two people?”
Serenity blushed.
“Oh? Did the video change your mind?” asked Venus, smirking with a huge smile.
“Oh, be quiet,” growled Serenity.
“My, my, become quite the girl of loose conviction, have we?”
“Quit teasing me,” said Serenity.
“I can understand, you know,” said the Venus Queen, as she turned to look out a window, seeing the scenery. “So much is expected of us, rulers of our domains, protectors of this realm. It is hard not to ... just want to cut loose, and live without living up to anyone’s expectations.”
“Venus...”
“What?” asked the Queen in question. “Do remember I was not always some flirty piece of fluff. I do have a mind, you know.”
“Then the attitude?”
“I enjoy the looks,” said Venus. “I mean, can you imagine the looks on the faces of everyone if they knew how deep I really was?”
Serenity giggled a bit at that, remembering a time when as Senshi, Venus had answered a question that had been stumping Mercury, and ended up with said girl passing out, followed by a weekend bender that the now-Queen of Mercury still refused to talk about.
“So you see, Serenity, I understand very well what you are going through,” said Venus. “More so, given the recent upswing in pressure we are all feeling.”
“Thank you,” she said, hugging her friend.
“Don’t think this means I plan to share a bed with you.”
“WHAT?” yelled Serenity, backing away from Venus. “I don’t like you like that!”
“I’m kidding,” said Venus, giggling. “That would be ... well, weird.”
“Well, that is nice to know.”
“Eep!” squeaked the Queens, as they turned, spotting Ranma and Nabiki inside the doorway, the door open.
Nabiki chuckled a bit, before she dragged her husband inside, his mind still trying to deal not only with the girls wanting or having his children, other than his wife; but he now had that image Venus had just planted into his mind.
“Is he ... okay?” asked Venus.
“Hmm?” said Nabiki, as she turned to her husband, seeing the vacant look. “Oh, he’s a bit overwhelmed. He’ll be back with us in a bit.
“However,” said Nabiki, “there are some things to talk about, such as the reasons for you wanting him to father a child with you,” she said, pointing to Serenity. “And what we need to deal with for the little bundle of joy you’re carrying,” she said, pointing to Venus.
“I know it does sound a little cold,” said Serenity. “And I will admit my motives are not what they should be for the favor I ask.
“But in a position such as mine, I must consider the needs of my people first and foremost. I can promise that our child will not be a weapon, nor will she be used for a power struggle. But I need someone to be my heir, strong enough to weather the coming storm, should she assume the throne in my ... absence,” she added.
“And you chose Ranma because of the tests on the child Venus is carrying,” said Nabiki.
Venus nodded. “Her magic potential is off the scale, even at her young age. She has a chance to be the most powerful ruler of Venus since our ancestors founded these kingdoms.”
Ranma sighed, finishing off his tea. “I still see this as all hasty,” he said. “I mean, we don’t even know if that potential will keep going after she’s born. For all we know, he powers could simply disappear after she’s born.”
Venus shook her head. “I would know, a connection to those that have the power of Venus. She has a lot of potential, the planet is singing of it. Hell, plant-life on Venus is literally in full bloom, even where they shouldn’t be. Her power is literally making the planet stronger.”
“You need strong heirs,” said Nabiki, finding this a little too close to the Amazon ideals for her liking.
“More than that,” said Serenity. “If we die during this coming storm, the children will survive. They can depend on you two to guide them, help them govern, learn, and continue to help our people until we reach your time, and then they can lead them back here.”
“You have a lot of faith in our abilities,” said Nabiki.
“There are some thing that cannot be changed,” said Venus. “If we were certain we could change what you know to be your past, then we wouldn’t be building Alpha Centauri, would we.”
Ranma solemnly nodded.
“They will not be told lies,” said Serenity. “They shall know their parents, know the truth, even if the kingdoms at large can be told nothing. As you have stated, we are on a very rocky slope here.”
“No shit,” said Nabiki. “If the people in Jurai hear about this...”
“The father of my child is none of their business,” said Venus.
“And the video?” asked Ranma.
“Not a public item,” said Serenity, blushing.
“Pluto ran off with a copy,” said Nabiki.
Venus chuckled a bit. “Told you she needed to get laid.”
“Oh hush.”
Ranma began to rub his forehead, not liking where this was going. He just wanted to be faithful to his wives ... wife. Was that so wrong?
So one portable viewer and a teleport to the Gates later, and she settled in to watch.
And now ... she could only smack her head against the side of the Gates, much like Ranma had been doing earlier to the pillar.
“Damn you, Serenity,” she mumbled, trying to pound certain images out of her head.
“She knew this was going to happen,” murmured Pluto. “She knew if I saw it, I’d get an itch.
“Bet my mother put her up to this...”
“And if I did?”
Pluto quickly turned around, her Garnet Staff at the ready, only to have it batted to the side by the Royal Garnet Staff.
“Sloppy, daughter,” said Queen Pluto. “If I had been an intruder, you would be dead.”
Sailor Pluto could only growl. “Did you put Serenity up to this ... this ... this farce?”
“Not at all,” said Queen Pluto, looking like a slightly older version of her daughter. The only difference was that her hair was a lighter green, closer to that of the current Sailor Neptune. “She asked me for my advice, I gave it. I only suggested that she show you the video to ... spark that heart of yours.”
“This had better not be another lame attempt at getting me married.”
“You need an heir, dear,” said Queen Pluto.
“There is a difference between helping me find a man and whoring me out like a piece of prized cattle.”
“Okay then, I will drop my ... suggestions ... if you can name the last date you had.”
“...”
“How about the last night out where you picked up a nice man.”
“...”
“Woman?”
“MOTHER!”
“Had to check dear,” said Queen Pluto. “Nothing wrong if you—”
“MOTHER!” Sailor Pluto growled out, nearly bending her staff within her grip.
“I’m just saying,” said Queen Pluto. Mentally, she was wiping her brow. The last thing she needed to deal with was the same troubles that Queen Neptune and Uranus were going to have to deal with, when certain ... issues ... came out to their ears. But those two Senshi were very careful, and far be it from her to spoil their love.
“Anyway, you aren’t getting any younger.”
“So that gives you the right to plan this debacle?”
“No dear,” she answered, her voice more somber. “The fact that we cannot take such chances does.
“We both know something very bad is coming along, and despite the best efforts of those two, it won’t save us. We are a doomed people.”
“We’ll survive!” cried Sailor Pluto. “Alpha Centauri—”
“Is a life boat,” said Queen Pluto. “And a life boat is only good when the ship is going down. No matter what, this system will suffer, and the survivors will have to flee, never to return until time catches up to where those two disappeared from.”
She turned to face her daughter, a sad look on her face. “Even if we can’t see it with this,” she said, pointing to the Gates, “we know this to be true.”
“So? Should we stop fighting it?”
“Never,” said Queen Pluto. “But neither should you deny yourself a life. In the end, it is the good times that will carry us forward.
“And if I can give my daughter a chance to enjoy life, and move beyond this wall of ice you seen to have carved around you, then it will do me well in my own last hours.”
“Mother...” said Sailor Pluto weakly. “We will survive.”
“It doesn’t matter if we do, dear, as long as the people do,” she said. “If you want to, go to that young man—”
“Mother, he’s older than you.”
“And if I didn’t have your father, I’d be there in a heartbeat,” said Queen Pluto.
“Like I needed that image in my head,” said Sailor Pluto.
“As I was saying,” said her mother, glaring at her. “Go to him, and ask for a night. If for nothing else, than to have the experience. Time is a luxury we are running out of. So live this life we have to the fullest.”
“If I do this, and I do mean if,” she said, glaring at her mother, “it will be because I want to.”
“I never said it wouldn’t be dear,” said Queen Pluto, hiding her own smirk, as she teleported away. The things a woman has to do for grandchildren. I swear, that girl is almost as cold sometimes as a Mercury Senshi attack.
“Kami-sama, it’s worse than Nerima,” he muttered. There, they fought over him, and he could get some peace and quiet when they knocked each other out.
Here, they were okay with sharing, and it was beginning to creep him out.
It made him consider a few things he had been avoiding since he had found out about the Crab Star; namely, the mess in Nerima that awaited him when time caught up.
Shampoo. She was bound to him by some honor, he could see that. If nothing else, there was probably something worse than Jusenkyo hanging over her head if she didn’t bring him back. And while he could send her anywhere to spare her that, the fact is she valued her own form of honor just as much as he did.
Ukyo. Now there was a problem waiting to be dealt with. He had tried treating her as ‘old Ucchan’, and that did nothing. She still saw him as some fantasy, and even now, he was a bit creeped out at how fast she went from kill to love. But her old man had screwed her life up almost as much as his did. Hell, he’d be surprised if Ukyo didn’t have a fiancé or two waiting for her, perhaps a fiancée as well—his own Pops had done something similar, even before Jusenkyo, and the panda ended up a pile of bruises for it when that little tidbit showed up.
Kodachi. Well ... maybe he had the stuff to cure a Kuno. Maybe then she’d wise up and leave him alone. She may have been cute, but he wasn’t about to play Russian Roulette with that gun.
Akane. Now there was a problem. Sure, he loved her ... then. But did he really know her. Hell, she wouldn’t know him when he returned. She would expect to see a brash, arrogant jock with the IQ equal to the number of stations offered on the Tendo’s cable or less.
She wouldn’t expect to see the bright mind of a company man, a warrior, and a father of children with her own sister. No, that was not what she would expect.
Could she love him? Did he even want to try? Hell, he was still unable to do anything on the anniversary of the day Washu had to seal her mind once again.
He was happy. But he could still feel the old ties of his former life on Earth pulling on him from ten thousand years in the future.
“Rough day?”
He turned, spotting Sailor Pluto standing off to the side. I must be out of it if I didn’t sense her getting here. “You could say my mind is a little torn at the moment, yes.”
“I understand,” she said, moving to stand beside him, as she too cast her eyes to the stars. “You are also contemplating the ties in the present that are developing.”
“It’d be easier if they just asked me if I had an available son,” muttered Ranma.
“They saw you, they liked you, and they chose you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered. “Story of my life.”
“These are strained times,” she said. “And they are seeking whatever happiness they can find before the storm finds us.”
Ranma slowly nodded.
“Care to talk?” she asked, looking at him.
Ranma nodded. “Yeah, talking would be good right about now.”
“May I ask where your wife is?” asked Sailor Pluto, as the two slowly made their way into his room.
“She wanted to use PI’s sensors to scan Venus,” said Ranma as he plopped down onto a comfortable chair. “She wants to ensure we ... I ... didn’t do anything harmful to them.”
“You’re human, why would you?”
“I’m also gifted by three Goddesses,” said Ranma, “perhaps the oldest ones out there. I’m not certain what that’ll mean.”
“I take it Nabiki was gifted as well.”
Ranma nodded. “It ... it’s a long story, something I can’t say, not until certain things are done. I can’t risk those things being disturbed anymore, no matter what harm it causes me.”
She nodded, understanding the depths such a duty entailed. “You are doing the right thing then, ensuring the unborn child will not be harmed.”
Ranma nodded. “To be honest, we’re still not sure about this power you seem to be able to tap into. I’ll probably have to take these readings to Tokimi. I figure she’ll be able to at least understand this.”
“Questioning magic?”
“You’re asking the guy with a magical curse?” Ranma asked with sarcasm.
“Point.”
“I just want to understand,” he said, “especially if my bloodline is involved in it.”
She nodded at that.
The two sat in silence for a moment, Ranma wondering if he should start drinking, before crushing that idea, remembering both how his old man acted, and what had happened the last time he allowed himself to become drunk.
Sailor Pluto was just watching him, as if she was trying to understand him, dissect him. “Will you do as my Queen has asked?” she started.
Ranma looked back out the window. “I don’t know yet.”
The silence returned for a bit, before he stood up, and walked over to her. He kneeled down, looking into her eyes, dissecting her as she had him.
And then he sighed. “You too?”
She blushed at that. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious...
“But I am not here to ask for a child.”
“Just a night?” he asked, his eyes almost pleading for her to admit that it was a night at worst.
“Just a night,” she admitted. For now.
Ranma sighed, as he stood up. Man, why is this happening to me? “We’ll need to talk to Nabiki about this.”
She nodded as she stood up, preparing to escort him to his ship, when he stopped. “What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he said, looking around. “I felt something ... off, for a moment.”
He looked around, as if trying to locate the source. “I felt it a moment ago, but it’s like it’s not there anymore.”
Pluto nodded. “I did not sense anything. Are you sure?”
Ranma nodded, still looking around. “It was weak, whatever it was.”
“Can you tell me what or where it might be?” she asked, slipping into her guardian role.
He shook his head slowly. “No, I can’t,” he said. “It was like a brief instant of killer intent, but then it just faded away, like it was never there.”
“Would it be asking too much to ask if it might have been your imagination?”
Ranma slowly began to focus onto her once more. “Never was before. I guess we’ll need to keep a better watch now. I think whatever is going to cause all of this to go to hell might just have noticed us.”
“That was close, my love. The Blessed One almost sensed our intent.”
The shadow turned to face the emerald mate. “Time is all we need. When our time comes, they too will fall before our might.
“There is no hope for those worlds, those systems, or the universe at large. When we rise, there shall be no salvation for them, other than the death we bring.”
“Of course, beloved,” said the green menace.
“GET THIS THING OUTTA ME!” yelled Queen Serenity, as her contractions continued.
Yes, even royalty itself must experience this, no matter how good the pain killers are that they take.
“I warned you that you had better take the pain killers,” said Venus, her attendants watching her own daughter as she held the hand of her friend. “I told you how bad it was. Hell, you watched that video.”
“Bet you wish you had drugs now, huh?” taunted Nabiki, wiping Serenity’s forehead.
“GIVE ME DRUGS!”
“Can’t,” mocked Venus. “You said ‘I won’t take any drugs for this. I want to experience childbirth in all its glory’, right before you banned us from giving you any in case we felt pity or sadness for your suffering.”
“I CHANGED MY MIND!”
“GIVE HER THE DRUGS!” pleaded Ranma, holding Serenity’s other hand, as she proceeded to prove that no matter how tough the father may be, he should never let his wife hold his hand during labor unless she is numbed.
“THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!” yelled Serenity.
“YOU ASKED FOR THIS—ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!” yelled Ranma, falling to his knees.
“Um ... you can heal that, right?” asked Venus, as his fingers began to turn a dark color.
Nabiki nodded. “Oh, a good meal and he’ll be fine. I just have to ask why she isn’t hurting you?”
Venus waited until Serenity was glaring at Ranma, before revealing that the hand that Serenity was holding was a fake hand. She was able to mouth the words ‘do I look stupid’ to Nabiki, before hiding the fake hand back up her medical sleeve.
“I can see the head,” said the physician. “Keep pushing,” he added calmly.
“YOU PUSH, YOU DOCTORED ASSHOLE!” yelled Serenity.
“Another patient coming in!” chimed the happy Queen of Pluto, as another medical bed was wheeled into the room.
“We’re a little busy at the moment, Puu,” said Venus.
“Oh, I just wanted my girl to have the father’s support during the labor,” said Queen Pluto, as the bed was placed on the other side of Ranma and Nabiki, as a panting green-haired Senshi was glaring at him.
“Oh shit,” he weakly said, looking at her stare.
“Gees, Saotome,” smirked Nabiki. “Remind me to never go off birth control again. Apparently you’ve developed great accuracy over the centuries.”
“THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!” screamed Sailor Pluto. “I didn’t want to be pregnant, you moron!”
“Now dear, this is a joyous time,” said Queen Pluto. “A child coming into the world is a thing of beauty. Why, your arrival took days.”
“Days?” squeaked the two girls in labor.
“I WANT DRUGS NOW!” yelled Sailor Pluto.
“Smart move,” said Venus.
“Would you like Ranma’s free hand?” asked Nabiki.
“GIVE ME THAT DAMNED THING SO HE CAN FEEL MY PAIN!” screamed Sailor Pluto, her voice almost demonic in tone.
A small cry was heard, not from the soon-to-be broken man in the room, but a small bundle.
The group slowly turned, as the doctor lifted the now clean newborn up, and handed her to her mother. “May I be the first to present, Princess Serenity.”
Serenity let go of Ranma, allowing him to collapse to the floor and try to heal his hand, as she held her bundle of joy. The tired child looked at her, blue eyes filled with kindness, and a small tuft of blond hair on her head. “She ... she’s beautiful,” she murmured.
The doctor made his way over to Sailor Pluto, and began her exam. “Well, looks like no time for drugs. This child is on its way.”
“WHAT?” yelled Sailor Pluto and Ranma, as he began to cry.
“So when were you going to tell us?” asked Nabiki, as she began to wipe Sailor Pluto’s brow.
“Excuse me?” said Queen Pluto. “She told me that she already told you.”
“First we heard about it,” said Nabiki.
“Stay awake, Serenity,” said Venus, pointing over to the next bed. “You’ll love the drama.”
“I ... I didn’t think it was NECESSARY!” she yelled, as a contraction hit.
“Dear, this is not good,” said Queen Pluto. “Sure, you could hide the progress with magic, but eventually people would notice that another member of the Royal Family of Pluto was running around.”
“That ... that wasn’t it at all,” said Sailor Pluto. “I ... I didn’t want to add to his plate anymore than there was. Besides, we just did it one time.”
Nabiki snorted at that. “Dear, unlike what most people would think, it barely takes one time to get knocked up, especially if you’re sleeping with sure-shot here without protection.”
“I see the head,” said the doctor. “My, the little one sure wants to meet the world.”
“Good,” sighed Sailor Pluto, wanting to end the pain, as she cursed whoever invented the Senshi power matrix for not giving them protection from such pain.
“I can’t wait to meet my new granddaughter,” smiled Queen Pluto.
“And here she co... Huh?”
“Huh?” said everyone.
“Doctor, you had best explain yourself, quickly,” said Queen Pluto. “One does not like to hear a doctor say ‘huh’ when it comes to a grandchild.”
“Well ... um ...” said the doctor, as he cleaned up the child. “I guess, well, this is unusual, but... I am glad to present the first ever ... Prince Pluto.”
“HUH?” yelled the members of Sol.
Sailor Pluto just glared at Ranma.
“What?” he asked weakly, trying to heal both hands. “Why is him being male bad?”
Nabiki sighed. “Somehow, I am not surprised.”
“Ranma,” said Venus, looking at the green-haired newborn prince with curiosity in her eyes, “the first born of any of the royal lines on any of the worlds except for Earth, is a girl.”
“So?”
“So it means that something may be wrong if Pluto’s firstborn was a boy.”
“I don’t care,” said Queen Pluto, as she looked at her grandson, who was currently resting against his mother. “I love my grandchild no matter what. Though I am surprised my daughter didn’t know about this. After all, one would have thought that would have been found out after a medical exam during the second trimester.”
“Um...”
“Great,” said Nabiki.
“So then,” said Venus, “any names for them aside from their royal names?”
“Well,” said Nabiki, “we thought about asking how you liked Minako for your daughter, Usagi for Serenity’s.” She paused for a bit. “I guess Setsuna wouldn’t work for a boy.”
“Enma,” said Ranma, flexing his now healed fingers. “How about Enma?”
“Enma?” asked Queen Pluto.
“Japanese deity who’s supposed to rule the underworld, sort of like the Romans with Pluto or the Greeks with Hades,” said Nabiki. “He’s also a pretty powerful character in some anime.”
“Enma,” said Sailor Pluto as she looked at her sleeping son. She nodded a bit. “I like it.”
“Can I go to sleep now?” asked Serenity, drained from the long labor of her daughter.
“We’ll watch them,” said Ranma, gently taking his daughter from a smiling Serenity.
“Don’t lose little Usagi,” she said, as she began to drift off. “She’ll need the energy of a rabbit for the future...”
“I want to hold ... him ... for a bit longer,” said Sailor Pluto. As she looked at her son, she didn’t wonder why he had been born a boy instead of a girl. No, she only wondered if he would be strong enough for the power of Pluto to join with, so that he could save his world.
But for the moment, she could only stare at her child ... and smile.
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