Dark Kingdom Renegades : Titanite's Bogus Journey
by Mark Latus

Epilogue
 
     The world is a dark and lonely place.  
     Okay so I'm exaggerating again.  I still think he overreacted.  It's
not like my trip didn't do any good.  We now know that dimension adjustment
is a fact.  Travel to another world and you change to fit in.  So if we leave
this world who knows what we'll become?
     That's valuable information.  "Completely irresponsible" is a bit 
extreme.  If you want my opinion Cal really overreacted.  We were all back to   
normal within about ten minutes of our return.  Cal teleported us all from the
park back home then told me what he thought of my borrowing the key.  He was
still doing it when Azure and Pyr finally got back.
     Anyway it was best to clear my mind and concentrate on what I'm doing.  I
heard my door open but ignored it.  I concentrated all my attention on trying
to feel a softball in my hand.  
     I felt something firm in my grasp and opened my eyes.  The ball was 
there!  Success!
     It looked real for five seconds then turned translucent and despite my 
frantic efforts was gone before ten seconds passed.  Back to square one.  At
least that's better than square zero.
     "Titanite making progress, yes?"  Margrave beams at me.
     "Well I can make small objects but they last ten seconds maximum."
     "Is start.  Better than nothing.  Ti work hard make progess Margrave
sure."  She was so bubbly I cheered up.  
     "You're right.  I'll bet big brother didn't start out doing those ornate
swords."
     "Margrave think that right attitude!"  After a moment she pauses then 
continues in her normal tone.  "So what do you think."
     "I like it.   It ... fits somehow"
     She nods.  "That's what I think too."
     "You know you haven't explained why you're talking like that half the
time."
     "Just experimenting.  I decided I've underestimated cute as a survival
factor."
     "Cute?"
     "Yes.  For example ..."  She extended her claws, flashed her fangs and
took a step towards me.  I backed away involuntarily.  Then the claws slid 
away, her lips cover her fangs and she gave me this bigeyed innocent look.
"Margrave happy to meet Sailor Senshi."  She shook her head and was back to 
normal.  "Now if you're Sailor Moon which one are you least likely to 
vaporize?"
     "That's a novel idea."
     "More of a last resort really.  I don't know how long I could keep it up
before freaking out."  She glanced around the bare walls.  "First time I've 
been able to tell what color the paint in here is."
     I scowled.  Big brother cleared all my anime and manga stuff (including
my posters) out of here the day after my little trip.  It's in a burn box in 
the basement.  Tamper with it and all the contents fry.  I get edgy whenever 
anyone goes near it.
     "You think he overdid it?"
     "Absolutely!  I'm more powerful than when I set out so the whole thing
was a bonus.  None of us got hurt and all the bad stuff in those worlds was
going to happen anyway. 
     She sighed.  "If that's what you think then you're a fool."
     "Margrave?!"
     "Quiet and listen.  You're only alive because you lucked out on the 
Overfiend world.  By your own account if that thing hadn't possessed you you'd
have died there.  Think about that!"
     "I ... I've been trying to forget that."
     "Don't.  Learn from your mistakes or you'll repeat them.  Getting a 
second chance is a lot rarer than you think.  Your life's too precious to
squander.  Too precious to you and too precious to us ... if you ever tell 
anyone I said that I'll hurt you badly!"
     "My lips are sealed."
     "Good.  That attitude will keep you healthy."  After a pause she said,
"You got off lightly.  You're lucky Calcite doesn't use Kingdom methods of 
discipline."
     I hadn't thought of that.  Cal, Margrave, Azure, Pyrite ... just how were
they punished when they were children?  "Margrave ..."
     "Just don't ask.  Some things are best left buried."
     We were silent for a minute then she grinned.  "Remember what he said.
Create anything that can last an hour and you get your junk back.  That's a
great incentive.  Besides don't you want be able to create mallets at will and
whack the badguys?"
     I have to smile at the mental picture of taking out Queen Beryl with a
Megamallet.  "You're right.  That's something worth working for."
     She smiles but there was something wrong.  I didn't know if I should pry 
but ... "Margrave, there's something on your mind."
     She looked surprised.  "You're sharper than I think.  Or I'm slipping 
more than I think."  She smiled ruefully.  "It may be nothing ..."
     "That's okay.  Tell me anyway."
     After a pause she nodded.  "All right.  You know I've got limited 
precognitive abilities?"
     "Yes."
     "They're very limited.  I didn't know about your trip in advance.  Of
course that may be perfectly natural.  Perhaps you can only forsee things in
the world you're in.  Except ... you remember that dead Tokyo?"
     I shivered slightly.  "How could I forget anything that spooky."
     "Right, stupid question.  There was something about that place  ... I
don't know what but ... but I have the feeling we aren't finished with it
yet."
     "Unlikely.  Cal's put the keys in the safe.  Which'll only open for him.  
I won't be travelling dimensions again anytime soon."
     "True.  So perhaps it'll have to come to us."
     My throat feels dry.  That's a very unpleasant thought.
     After a moment's silence Margrave brightens up.  "Anyway mind firing up
the computer?"  
     "Cal disconnected the modem.  Said there was too much anime on the 
internet to make his ban effective if it stayed."
     "I know.  I want to work on a little project of mine."
     "What?"
     "My own personal Doom WAD."
     "You're kidding?"
     "Not at all."
     "Wow.  What is it?"
     "Sailor Arcturus/Azurite Doom!  I've finished work on the imps now I
need to redesign the cacodemons."
     I stare at her and she grins.  "Hey without the real thing to pick on I
have to get rid of my tension somehow."
     We're both laughing as I boot up the computer.  I'll worry about the 
future when it comes.  With the right friends and family I'll bet you can 
handle anything.  I've got both.

The End

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brief Afterword

Credit where credit is due

Part 2-3 : Ryo Saeba/Cityhunter created by Tsukasa Hojo
Part 3-4 : Legend of the Overfiend created by Toshio Maeda
Part 4-5 : Ranma 1/2 created by Rumiko Takahashi
Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Kamen, Dark Kingdom etc created by Naoko Takeuchi
Titanite, Calcite, Margrave, Azurite & Pyrite created by yours truly
(yeah right like I can copyright minerals)
Ranma's remarks on Takahashi inspired by one of Sam Ashley's emails.

Hopefully a few folks out there were intrigued by the Dark Interlude material.
It'll be explored in the next DKR story "Thy Kingdom Come."  This will feature
the second meeting of the Sailor Senshi and the DKR members.  It'll be 
starting soon and run as a serial in alt.fan.sailor-moon.  When completed 
it'll be sent to r.a.a.c.

Comments, criticism, etc on this story should be sent to Mark.Latus@MSVU.CA

For a look at what the DKR will be doing later in life check out Andy Combs
"Crystal Renegades" currently appearing in alt.fan.sailor-moon and available
archived at Artemis & Luna's fanfic website http://www.nethosting.com/
~arteluna/archive2.htm




Time for a short break from writing.  Until next time

Mark Latus
Oct. 30 1996