Comments: This is an AU Tenchi Muyo series. It's also the first series that actually takes the meaning of that name into account, heheheheh. "No Need for Tenchi"? Well, hell, if there's no need for him, why the hell is he in there? My answer... he ain't. ^_^ So, no Tenchi in this universe, and you probably won't even see a single male for at least four parts. So, without further ado, I bring you Tenchi Muyo: Alliance, Chapter One. ------------------------------------------------------------ It was a time of great peril for the Jurai Empire. Their star-spanning influence was beginning to wane, collapsing under its own farspread weight and a lack of certain essential resources. Advisors have informed the Emperor that the Empire will fall in a matter of decades if alliances are not made and new resources found. So it is that the Juraian Emperor has sent his wives, Misaki and Funaho, and his daughters Ayeka and Sasami, on a diplomatic mission to the Hyurodan Alliance, a grouping of allied systems on the border of Juraian space. The Emperor has confided in his wives that they must secure the Hyurodan's full cooperation at any cost, for if they do not, the Empire may very well be doomed... ------------------------------------------------------------ "How dull," the Princess Ayeka sighed heavily, gazing boredly out at the starscape sliding past the huge viewport that didn't even seem to be there, merely an opening into the vast, cold expanse of space. She sat straight and tall, of course, for a Juraian Princess would never slouch or slump, no matter how bored she was. Her lady-in-waiting was brushing her long purple hair, which had been taken out of its customary twin ponytails for that purpose. "Going to meet yet another race for yet more long negotiations." "Perhaps it won't be dull this time, my lady," her servant replied in a light tone. "I've heard interesting things about the Hyurodan." "Oh?" Ayeka's tone gave away her interest, though it was improper for a princess to listen to gossip and tall tales. However, it was perfectly acceptable to gather new information from reliable sources. The princess turned interested pink eyes toward her attendant. "And what have you heard, Kiyone?" The green-haired woman leaned back slightly, seeming to consider. Both women were attired in Juraian kimonos, though Kiyone's was a very simple white affair, and Ayeka's was a more elaborate one with a high neck and an intricate manner of being tied, and resplendant in royal purple and rose. "Quite a lot, actually, my lady. For one thing, they're often called 'cat people', because many of them have yellow, slit-pupiled eyes and sharp teeth, and some even have tails!" Ayeka lifted one sculpted purple eyebrow. "Tails, you say? Well, they wouldn't be the only species, but it sounds a little odd." "That's not all, my lady." Kiyone's indigo eyes were glittering now, obviously rather enthused with the subject. "It's said that many of them are very powerful, able to lift amazing amounts, fly, and throw beams of energy. They're also able to utilize any sort of crystallized energy, and I've heard that some can even teleport!" "Utilize any sort of crystallized energy?" Ayeka seemed to be becoming interested at last, leaning forward a little. "If what you say is true, then they could indeed be valuable allies to the Empire. Do you know anything about the royal family we're going to meet with?" "It's said that they used to be space pirates, and that even the youngest daughter is over 2,000 years old, though I think, compared to Juraians, that would make her about your age, my lady." "My age?" Ayeka replied, looking a little offended, putting one hand to her chest. "But I am barely 800! And space pirates don't sound like the sort of people we should be associating with at all." "Well, apparently, my lady, the royal family of the Hyurodan banded all their peoples' worlds together to repell an invasion about 200 years ago, and ever since then, they've settled down to be respectable rulers. ... Respectable for Hyurodan, anyway." Ayeka opened her mouth to reply, only to be interrupted by a great crashing sound from the main room of her quarters, followed by a loud, rather unmistakable yelp. The princess's eye twitched in what she feared was becoming a nervous tick, and waved a hand at Kiyone to indicate that she should refasten her ponytails quickly. In the time that took, there were several more crashes and yelps, as well as another, younger voice trying to call out warnings and advice. The minute her ponytails were finished, Ayeka shot to her feet and strode to the large double doors, flinging them open with a resounding boom, like thunder from atop the mountain. "MIIIIIIIIIIIHOOOOOOOOOOSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" The dark-skinned servant looked up from the floor where she lay amidst uncountable shards of pottery and statuary, tears gathered in her baby-blue eyes and blonde hair in disarray. She had also somehow managed to get the belt of her white kimono entangled in one of the display pedestals, making it sway and bump around every time she moved, no doubt the cause of the numerous other crashes. Ayeka's little sister, Sasami, stood nearby, gazing at her elder sister sheepishly. "Heheh... sorry, Ayeka," the young girl murmured, lowering her head, long, arcing blue ponytails drooping like a chastised puppy's ears. "I'm so sorry, Princess Ayeka," sniffled Mihoshi, looking ready to burst into a flood of tears at any moment. At the dual display of cuteness, Ayeka found her fury fast ebbing, against her wishes. Her eye twitched several more times, before she simply turned her head away and attempted to compose herself. "Kiyone, help Mihoshi to right herself. And please try to keep her from destroying any more priceless works of art today." "Hai, my lady," Kiyone replied quickly, giving an equally quick bow to hide her bemused expression, before moving to help her coworker unentangle herself. Ayeka, trying to regain some of her good nature, tucked her hands inside her sleeves and moved carefully around the shards of ceramic and stone, to stand in front of her sister and smile down at her. "Well, Sasami, are you ready to meet the Hyurodan royal family?" "Uh-huh!" the girl piped, her own smile returning readily as she bobbed her head. "Mihoshi's been telling me all sorts of great stories, about how the Hyurodan can lift entire cities above their heads and steal planets away in the night without anyone noticing and how they all have fur and purr if you scratch them behind the ears!" "... She has, has she?" Ayeka murmured, turning a rather acidic look in the direction of the ladies-in-waiting. Mihoshi was retying her kimono and remained oblivious, while Kiyone merely returned a sheepish 'I'm not her keeper' look. "I'm sure such tales are exaggerated somewhat, Sasami." "Oh, and she said a whole lot about their tails!" The elder princess heaved a silent sigh. They were almost to the Hyurodan homeworld, and it was STILL going to be a very long trip. ------------------------------------------------------------ The princesses, their attendants following at a respectful distance, crossed the great arboretum that occupied the midline of the ship, coming to stand beside their mother and her co-wife. All four Juraian women were dressed in the more full, ceremonial versions of their traditional kimonos, layers upon layers of exotic, otherworldy cloth defining each of their status and roles in fine detail for anyone that knew how to read them. "You two look wonderful!" Misaki cried, her eyes sparkling, obviously dearly longing to sieze her daughters up in a hug that would surely lift them both off their feet, and barely being restrained from doing so by Funaho lightly placing two fingers on the back of the other woman's hand, a subtle, but physical reminder that there was a time and place for everything. "Thank you, mother," Ayeka replied, smiling and fighting the urge to let her eye twitch again. She sometimes had occassion to wonder if her sister's servant was not Misaki's secret firstborn, as the two were sometimes so alike it was uncanny. After a moment, Ayeka turned her gaze to the world they were fast approaching, most of it shrouded in clouds and dappled blue. "Will we be landing soon?" "Yes," Funaho replied, moving to stand slightly ahead of the rest of them. Ayeka smiled slightly at her co-mother's back; in many ways, she felt closer to the woman than her own mother, finding the brown-haired Empress' calm demeanor a worthy goal to emulate. "We shall soon be meeting with the Queen and Princess of the Hyurodan." "Is their king busy with trade route discussions, too?" Sasami piped up curiously, her thoughts apparently on her father. Funaho smiled softly, turning and laying a hand lightly on Sasami's head. "No, Sasami, there is no King of the Hyurodan. The entire Hyurodan race is female." "Wow, all of them?" Sasami asked, her bright pink eyes widening. "All of them?" Ayeka parroted, her own eyes showing a good deal of the whites around them. Misaki giggled in the background, Funaho tossing an indulgent smile in the other Empress' direction, before turning back to the princesses and their equally amazed attendants. "Yes. There are no male Hyurodan. They also have shown no desire to come forward and explain how this is so, so I will expect you both to contain your curiosity indefinitely, as it might offend them." "Of course," Ayeka replied, having regained her composure. "Okay!" chirped Sasami. "Good. Now, the Hyurodan royal family is also not quite so..." Funaho paused seeming to search for a fitting adjective. "Proper?" Misaki offered, bending down to fuss with Sasami's ponytails, despite them needing no fussing with whatsoever. "Mmm, I was trying to find something a little more complimentary. Perhaps it's better to say that they're somewhat less restrained in their actions and mannerisms than either of you may be used to." "I am a Princess of Jurai, and my composure shall not flag for an instant. I shall comport myself in a manner that shall do honor to the Empire during these negotiations," Ayeka replied immediately, tones level, chin lifted slightly with pride. "What she said!" Sasami replied, voice laced with giggles since her mother was sneaking in a few tickles. Funaho delivered an exceedingly light slap to the back of one of Misaki's hands, and the other Empress pouted momentarily before moving back to her position in the procession. After a few moments, the familiar brilliance of atmospheric entry began to wash over the viewport, dimmed somewhat so that the bright white and red flames wouldn't damage anyone's eyes. They landed in what seemed to Ayeka to be a rather small city near a rather small castle, though she granted that she was used to the absolutely vast capital city and palace of Jurai. The escort that came to meet them was composed, as they had been told to expect, entirely of women. As Kiyone had said, Ayeka noticed one or two with rather yellowish eyes, though she thought they were closer to a shade of green, and didn't have slit pupils. None of them had tails. But they all had somewhat longer, more squared-off ears than any of the Juraians, and their hair seemed to spike back strangely. Ayeka was also not prepared for the processional guard was wearing, and had to fight to keep from being rather scandalized. Each woman (all of them exceedingly good-looking) was wearing a golden breastplate that went over the shoulders and back and left the midriff bare, and a thick golden belt that ran just under each woman's navel, attached to which was a very long white loincloth embroidered with yellow designs in elaborate Galactic Standard that read simply "Royal Guard". Save for golden gauntlets, tall white boots, and the golden spears they carried, the women wore nothing else, and Ayeka thought it a rather inappropriate design for doing battle... or anything else. The head guard, apparently distinguished by silver shoulder plates (and a navel ring, Ayeka noticed, though that caused her to flush across the bridge of her nose), stepped forward and bowed to the Juraians... providing a view down her chestplate, which Ayeka valiantly tried to ignore. "Greetings, Highnesses. We're honored to have you here," the head guard said once she had straightened up, in what had to be the shortest diplomatic greeting Ayeka had yet heard. "And we are equally honored to be here," Funaho replied, apparently deciding it was appropriate to reply in kind. "If you'll follow us, we'll take you to see Queen Washu." And, as simple as that, the guard turned around, showing that the loincloth's back strap was not any thicker than the front. She called out a command that wasn't in Standard, and the other guards moved to positions around the Juraians, making Ayeka feel uncomfortably as if she were a prisoner rather than a diplomat. It was a short walk to the castle, and they were immediately shown into the throne room. The throne itself immediately drew one's eye, set against the back wall, large and obviously made out of pricey metals and expensive, soft material. Upon it sat who Ayeka assumed to be Queen Washu, a rather small Hyurodan woman with the trademark spikey hair and slightly yellowish green eyes that Ayeka had observed in the guards, though her own hair was a bright pink, and styled in such a manner that she rather looked like she had a crab sprouting from her face. She was dressed in what looked like a derivative of a more casual Juraian kimono, with the lower part open to reveal black tights hugging her legs; the design also seemed more harsh, somehow, as if it had been made more spikey to accomodate the Hyurodan people. Lounging on the arm of the throne as if it were a couch was a woman who Ayeka could only assume to be the Queen's daughter, and she was indeed rather striking. Her own spiky hair was cyan, let to arch back in long, elegant waves, two long shanks of it falling past her ears. Unlike Queen Washu, she seemed to be tall and slender, like the guards, and very well-proportioned under what she was wearing... which seemed to be a much shorter, tighter version of her mother's kimono. Only her crossed legs prevented Ayeka from being able to see right up the miniskirt-style garment, and she quickly looked up when she realized where her gaze had wandered (the outfit seemed designed to make your gaze wander there, regardless of your preferences). She had her eyes closed and her hands behind her head, for all appearances napping. "Well, Empress Funaho, Empress Misaki!" Queen Washu's voice seemed rather pleasant, somehow seeming to fit her small frame, and she hopped to her feet, long pink hair swaying behind her. "And the Princesses Ayeka and Sasami. The Emperor has favored me with his entire family, it seems like!" "It's a pleasure to finally meet with you, Queen Washu," Funaho replied, bowing. "I bring you greetings and goodwill from my husband and my people, in the hopes that we might have long and pleasant relations between us." Washu smiled at that, and Ayeka thought it almost... predatory. After a moment, the slight woman waved a hand, and the guards knocked the ends of their spears against the ground once before turning to depart. The elder Princess looked straight at the Hyurodan Queen and not at her servants, as was appropriate, but jumped slightly and looked over her shoulder at a pair of surprised exclamations from behind her. She found the ladies-in-waiting both rubbing their rears rather ruefully, Kiyone blushing angrily, while Mihoshi merely looked confused, while some of the exiting guards snickered among themselves. Once the guards had closed the doors behind them, the Juraians were alone with the Hyurodan royalty. Ayeka, feeling rather nervous, turned her gaze towards the Hyurodan princess, and almost gasped aloud. The other woman's eyes were open, and they were exactly as Kiyone had described, though that vague reference to a cat's eyes had not done them justice. They were a bright golden color, hard like amber, their slitted pupils seeming to strike into Ayeka's eyes like a physical force. The other princess smiled slowly, a lazy, tigerish smile, showing off one pointed fang. "My daughter, Princess Ryoko," Queen Washu spoke up, seeming amused by the way that Ayeka couldn't seem to look away from Ryoko's eyes, like a mouse hypnotized by a snake. "Now, Empress Funaho, if you don't mind, I'd like to get down to the facts. I was a scientist and worked for a living before I was royalty, and that suits me better than empty words." "Just what facts are you speaking of, Queen Washu?" Funaho replied evenly, trying to ignore Misaki's rather distressed expression as she waved a hand in front of Ayeka's eyes, causing the princess to step back and try to subtly shoo her mother back into place. "The fact is, the Juraian Empire is tumbling down around your ears!" Washu exclaimed, smiling as if she'd just discovered gold. Misaki winced visibly, and even Funaho looked discomfited. "What are you talking about?!" Ayeka cried, forgetting herself in her surprise and anger. Sasami looked back and forth from one to another, seeming confused, as did Mihoshi. Kiyone simply looked shocked and vaguely pale. Washu smiled, as did Ryoko, both seeming to share the feeling of a lion circling in on a wounded prey animal. "You've built yourselves a pretty little house of cards with your amazing tree-ships," Washu continued, her hands on her hips as she gazed directly at the Juraians, as if she were twenty feet tall and could squash them all easily. "And amazing they are. But you all can't survive by your trees alone! Nor can your trees survive indefinitely on THEIR own! Juraian trees rarely grow well on colony worlds, and they're running out of essential minerals on the homeworld! Your people are also becoming dependant on food sources and other imports from colony and associated worlds!" The diminutive ruler began walking back and forth, her gaze always focused predominently on Funaho, though she could see the rest of the progressively paler Juraians. Only Mihoshi seemed unaffected, still looking confused. "You can't stretch your exploration any further without taxing your already thin resources, and you can't demand more from colony worlds that are becoming so far-flung they're starting to wonder why they're a part of the Empire at all!" "You would seem to have us at a disadvantage," Funaho replied slowly and evenly. "Though it is hardly as dire as you make it sound." "Sister, if anything, it's worse!" Washu crowed, pointing at Funaho. "You can't pull the wool over my eyes like you have your subjects, I've looked at all the data, and I know it to be true!" "You're so theatrical, mom," Ryoko spoke up for the first time, languidly sitting up and stretching, and thereby gaining everyone's attention at once for her sudden speech. "Calm down a little. Can't you see you're scaring the poor cute little princess?" The wicked smile that the Hyurodan woman turned Ayeka's way assured the purple-haired Juraian that Ryoko was NOT talking about Sasami. "Maybe you're right, Ryoko," Washu mused, moving back to her throne and settling in, giving her daughter a pat on the thigh. "I suppose it's rude to make them show ALL their cards right away." Funaho, as calm as ever, seemed at something of a loss. She let her eyes slide to one side, and noticed that Misaki seemed to be almost shaking, as was Sasami. Ayeka seemed to be more composed, but seemed... lost. After a moment, the brown-haired woman moved, whispering a few comforting words in her co-wife's ear, then gently guiding Sasami into her mother's embrace. "I think it is a little late for that," Funaho replied after a moment, voice still proud and dignified, if perhaps defeated. "I would have appreciated it, Queen Washu, if you had not made your case in such a way. You have badly upset my family." "I'm sorry," Washu replied, and after a moment, her eyes softened, seeming to be genuinely contrite. "The help of the Hyurodan Alliance is indeed needed, but there are other viable sources for the resources we need." Funaho now seemed mildly angry, making it quite clear that if Washu did not comport herself with more restraint, the offer would be gone. "Yes, but none with the amount of both natural and technological resources we can offer," the Hyurodan queen replied, rising to the challenge. "Though we don't often care to show it to outsiders, we're a technologically advanced people, mostly due to my own inventions. What's the average Juraian lifespan, hm? 5,000? Maybe 4,000 for colonials and offshoot races? We could make it ten times that." Ayeka's head swam. The Empire on the verge of collapse? The possibility of living to be... 50,000? The very concept of both seemed to be beyond the realm of comprehension, and the princess very much feared she would faint. She saw her mother actually wobble a little, only to be supported by Sasami. "We've got technology that would allow you to harness crystallized energy in vastly more efficient ways, not to MENTION all the genetic engineering techniques we have!" Washu leaned back, looking smug, and continued. "Let's not quibble, what I want is pretty simple. I want to be united with the Empire as a full equal." Ayeka flushed in anger and amazement. A paltry little grouping of systems would DARE to hold itself equal to the mighty Juraian empire? Her attitude deflated somewhat as she remembered what she'd just been told. The Juraian empire might not be mighty for much longer, without help. "I think that can be easily accomplished," Funaho allowed, seeming relieved. "Goooood. The thing is, I want to make SURE of it. It's really only one small demand, really a sort of proof that the Hyurodan Alliance's interests will always be represented in the Empire." "... And that would be?" Washu leaned forward, smiling like some satyr out of mythology. "I want my daughter Ryoko to marry your eldest, Ayeka." "W-WHAT?!" Ayeka cried, choking on the word, diplomacy forgotten for a moment. Desperate to calm her, both Misaki and Kiyone moved in close, ready to physically restrain her if possible. "That's right!" Washu chirped, while Ryoko merely sat on the arm of the throne and looked vastly amused. "An infusion of new blood can only do good things for the royal family anyway! And if my daughter someday shares the throne with yours, I can be assured that my people will always be done right for by the Empire!" Funaho looked aside, at where Ayeka was standing, red-faced, seeming caught between shock and indignation, flanked by her mother and her lady-in-waiting, both of whom were trying their best to placate her. She resisted the urge to bite her bottom lip at the difficulty of the situation. Funaho loved Ayeka as dearly as if the girl were her own, and she almost was, having been raised by both mothers as much as one or the other. She also knew that the princess was haughty, her pride and exuberance not yet having been tempered by wisdom or experience. Definitely a lack of experience. But Washu's proposition, in all honesty, was a fair one. It had been many generations since a Juraian royal family member had married outside the species, but it was certainly not unheard of, especially in forming political alliances. Funaho knew that Ayeka would be very angry with her if she made this decision for her... perhaps even hate her. But the Empress knew, just as Ayeka would learn, that the will of an individual, be it commoner or Princess, must sometimes be sacrificed for the betterment of billions. "... We will have to discuss details," Funaho spoke up after long minutes. "But unless you have unreasonable expectations of our coming alliance, then let it be so. Princess Ayeka will wed Princess Ryoko." Ayeka's mouth fell open. She looked to Funaho, her gaze holding a deep wound of surprise and hurt. After a moment, the Empress looked away, unable to meet the Princess' eyes. Ayeka looked to her mother for support, only to see Misaki giving her a rather shaky smile, as if to say 'You must accept it, try to be happy.' Faltering, she looked to her sister, who was simply staring at her, as was Kiyone, though the servant girl seemed pale, as she had before, as if she were going to be ill. Finally, almost afraid, Ayeka turned her head towards the smirking Ryoko. "Oh, don't worry, cupcake," the Hyurodan princess purred, almost licking her lips. "I'll be gentle the first time or two." "Oh wow, a royal wedding!" Mihoshi burst out, apparently unable to contain her excitement any more. "It'll be so amazing! So many people will come, and there'll be parties and celebration and-" The blonde woman blinked, her excited banter trailing off as she saw Kiyone sag slightly. "Ano... Kiyone, why did Princess Ayeka faint?"
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