Thanks to my Pre readers David Johnston, Octavion, EricMcGinnis
Note: I am drawing elements from the OVAs, TV series, Manga and the Novel.
The characters of the Tenchi Muyo Universe is the sole creation Masaki Kajishma and property of AIC and Pioneer LDC, Inc. and is copyrighted to various companies. All materials save the environment and situations are being used without prior authorization. This is for entertainment purposes only and is not intented for material gains. If there has been an error in copyright, please email me. I wish not to be sued for expressing my interest in these series. Also please do not post ths story or change it in anyway without my permission.
Tenchi Muyo : AFWADD Prelude Created by Long Ngo Started November 30, 1998 Finished December 10, 1998 Revised December 15, 1998
Falling to her knees, "Why? I thought you loved me!" the girl asked the boy in front of her. Tear drops flowed down her face and started to collect onto the backside of both of her hands that were gripping the dress she wore today for him.
"Never doubt that," the boy replied, looking down at the weeping girl he loved, knowing that today he would destroy her heart but could not stop. "I knew your family was a little different. That I could understand, everyone is unique. What I can't handle is that your grandfather is over a thousand years old and that you are a princess of a planet that I've never heard of." Near the end, the boy had to stop to compose himself before continuing, *I can't cry, not now. Later, when I'm alone.* "Gomen, Achika. Please forgive me." with that he turned around and walked away, leaving behind a part of his heart.
"Ryo!" she cried after the boy but he never acknowledged her plea.
Appearing beside her, an elderly man started to comfort the girl. "I'm so sorry." *More than you can possible imagine,* he thought, sadness at the events that had just transpired. Mostly, he was angry with himself for pushing his destiny onto others. *I've learned from my mistakes. I will not force another of my line into a position for the throne. Over 1000 years later I have finally learned that family comes before duty.*
"Why can't I be a normal girl like everyone else?"
"Because it was your destiny," he replied. *A destiny that you nor any children you bear in the future will be responsible for. No one should pay for my failure.*
"What about yours?" she countered, wiping some of the tears away.
Clearing his throat, *I'm sorry, Achika.* he thought. "It was my destiny a very long time ago," was his vague answer. *I will not rule Jurai. I will not!*
"I want to live a normal live. I want to fall in love and raise a family. I don't care about some planet I've never seen or been to."
*So much like her mother,* Katsuhito reminisced. Placing his right hand on her brow, he started to glow. "Forget," he commanded. *I should have done this a long time ago after finding out she was not destined to rule Jurai.* He had done this many times in the past. He was sealing away all knowledge and power related to her birthright so that she could have her wish.
For a brief moment, Achika saw behind the shroud of mystery. She saw a young man where her grandfather used to be. *Will I ever live that long?* she thought, finally understanding a little more about the mysteries surrounding the man by the name of Katsuhito. A brief breeze seemed to past as Achika thought she heard someone whispering, "Only time will tell."
-----
Tenchi was deep in thought as he walked down the stairs. One week since his encounter with the entity known as Kain and he was still in mourning. *I finally realized that the reason my mom died early on was due to the vast amount of energy she had used to save me and dad. I still wondered why I couldn't call forth the Light Hawk Wings like the times I fought against Kagato and Yakage. Due to my inability, my mom passed away when I was four.* Lowering his head in shame, Tenchi started to head out when a door opened at the base of the stairs and a young lady with long red hair walked out.
"Tenchi!" Washu called out.
"Yes, Washu-chan?" Tenchi answered.
"I think I've finally figured out what happened. I know why you couldn't summon the Light Hawk Wings and by accident, I've also discovered the secret behind Jurai's Royal Family's powers." Washu explained.
Momentarily forgetting his depression, "You did? That's great. What is it?" Tenchi asked.
"Come inside my lab and I'll explain," Washu motioned before reentering herself.
Following Washu inside her sub-dimensional pocket she called home, Tenchi did not notice the door disappearing on both side of the transdimensional gateway.
-----
"Achika, wake up!" Katsuhito shouted.
*What a dream,* Achika thought. "Coming!" she answered.
Seeing his one of his descendant run down the stairs, he started to examined her. *Looks like the seal is holding,* he mused. "How do you feel?" he asked.
"I feel fine. Why did you ask?" Achika asked one of her own question.
Smiling, "Oh nothing important."
"Are you sure? You're getting too old, grandpa. You might have forgotten." Achika spoke.
"More than you can possibly imagine."
"I had the weirdest dream though," Achika said after a few moments, getting her thoughts together.
"Oh? Would you like to enlighten this old man?" Katsuhito smiled, playing along.
"I dreamt that I was a princess of this planet I've never been too. Strange huh?"
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," he answered.
"Well I'm off," she shouted.
"See you later, dear!" he shouted after her.
-----
Sitting down in a desk very similar to the ones at his school, Tenchi stared at the virtual projection in front of him.
"Have you ever heard the phrase, 'There are unlimited possibilities?', Tenchi?" Washu asked.
Nodding his head, "Yes. I don't understand where this is going though." Tenchi confessed.
"Patience. Kids these days." Washu muttered.
A sweat drop formed beside Tenchi's head. *This is from a scientist over 40 thousand years old who wants people to call her Washu-chan.* he thought.
"Well, if the theory of alternate universes work the way I think it does, then for every action that an individual makes, another universe is created, which is exactly the same as our but where the choices we did not make becomes reality and the one we did was but a passing thought. Simply put, imagine that you tripped on a crack and fell. In that instance, another universe was created where you did not. Understand?"
Nodding his head, Washu continued. "That was when I found out the source of Jurai's true power. Kagato summed it up best, 'The Master Key can't be copied.' It means that the power which creates an alternate universe around the choices we make does not apply to you and those you interact with. No matter what happens, the Wings of the Light Hawk and your powers will always be unique and singular, never a true duplicate."
Tenchi might not have been as smart as Washu but he was not as ignorant or naïve like he once was. Living with perhaps the greatest scientist of all time, two princesses from outer space, a pirate as well and not to mention various other people who decide to stop by from time to time had made it painfully clear to Tenchi that he had to have a better understanding of his surroundings or things could become very chaotic, more than the norm.
Seeing that he caught the basic principle behind her explanation, she continued. "It seems like Kain knew this somehow. So instead of facing you and the Light Hawk Wings, he went back into the past. Bending time and space, he appeared in the closest era where the Light Hawk Wings were not possessed by a single individual, that being Achika's time period, before you were born. He was trying to erase you from history. Though the universe can never copy or duplicate the Light Hawk Wings, it can prohibit you from using it. You did not exist and the power back then was never for you to use."
Seeing the confused look on Tenchi's face, she guessed at what he was thinking. "You asking why then did it effect you? Because that was the past. The future hadn't been written yet. So do you see? The power of Jurai draws its strength from a multitude of not worlds but universes and the ones that granted you the Light Hawk Wings was not in existence while Achika's were. That was why Achika had been able to kill Kain. She died later on because she could not contain that power but you can. For the first time in millennia, someone could call forth their true birth right and not die. You have a destiny Tenchi. The problem is that we don't know what it is."
To be continued