Tenchi Muyo: Honor and Glory

Part 3: Strengthened Bonds

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Tenchi Muyo. 
I do own any characters that are entirely of my own
design.  If you don't know who they are, I suggest that
you watch any Tenchi movies that you can, and read the
Tenchi comics.  Or contact Pioneer or AIC, since they
own the rights to Tenchi Muyo.

Learning the truth about yourself is a frightening
thing.  You may believe that you have nothing to hide
from yourself, but that is not true.  There are things
about you that you have hidden from yourself.  Once you
confront these horrors though, you become something
that no force can break.  Only after you confront
yourself, are you able to reach your full potential.
Teran ai Ki'Tarel en Habuki

	The group stared at where Tsunami stood.  Teran
couldn't help but view the approaching ordeal with
apprehension.  He knew that it was necessary, but
confronting his past was something he could live
without doing.
	Sasami noted the look on Teran's face.  She above
all, knew that what he would go through, would not be
easy.  She had the feeling that she was going to know
exactly what his past was like.  What Tsunami said,
almost entailed a type of bond.  Unlike the standard
type of bond, this was probably going to be somewhat
different.
	Azusa, Misaki, and Funaho kept quiet.  They knew
something was up, but also knew that it didn't need
them interfering.  They decided to retire to the palace
and, after telling the others, did so.
	The remaining just stayed there, silent.  It was
Teran who broke the silence.
	"Well, we can't delay." he said. "Tsunami is
waiting, so we better get moving."
	"Indeed," replied Sasami. "we'd best hurry."
	Tenchi, Ryoko, and Ayeka nodded in agreement. 
They all started to walk to the tree.  Yes, they'd best
hurry.  There was not much time left.  They were so
intent on their goal, that they did not notice the
bushes near them move.
	Washu had used the flash of light that Tsunami had
so conveniently produced, to hide herself.  Ever since
the Yuzuha incident, she has been gradually recovering
her lost memory.  At first, she didn't understand what
the hell was going on, but she figured it out.  Now,
she was reluctant to confront her sister.
She was simply not ready for it.  At least, she now
knew that Tsunami's goals were similar to her own.  It
won't be long, before Tokimi became an active player. 
Both sisters were preparing for it.
	"So Tsunami, you are preparing for the arrival of
our wayward sister." She said to herself.
	"Of course." came a voice from behind, "I can't
sit back idly and watch Tokimi destroy everything."
	Washu started at the voice of her sister.  She
turned to face Tsunami.  "Then tell me something.  Why
them?  I can understand the involvement of Tenchi an
the ladies, but my son is a different matter." Her look
spoke volumes.
	"Teran is becoming involved because he came at a
convenient time.  Besides, Tenchi would not have been
able to handle the strain that would be put on him. 
Teran will be able to help, because he and Sasami are
already falling in love."
	"Teran and Sasami?  That seems a bit far fetched
sister."  The tone of her voice said, louder than
words, that she did not believe her sister.
	"Trust me on this one, Washu.  It began after
Teran killed those soldiers.  It nearly broke him, as
you probably know.  Sasami couldn't sleep that night,
so she went to the kitchen.  She saw Teran, drunk as
anything.  He offered her some sake, which she took. 
After awhile, he lost control of his emotions.  Sasami
was there to comfort him.  He cried into her shoulder
for quite some time."
	"That still doesn't tell me much.  Tsunami, get to
the point dammit."
	"I might as well show you, since I saw it."  She
reached out and touched Washu's head at the temples. 
Washu could only watch, as she saw what Tsunami saw
through Sasami.

******

	It was late at night.  Sasami was having a hard
time sleeping after all the death that she saw today. 
She noticed that everyone was affected to some degree. 
She decided that she might as well get something to
help her sleep.
	In the kitchen, she saw Teran, still drinking. 
She came over to him.  When he saw her, he got a bottle
and handed it to her.
	"It is really fucked up to drink alone." He said,
"Especially, with what happened today."
	Sasami could not believe that this was the young
man who came to the house three weeks earlier. 
Thinking that she had nothing better to do, she downed
the bottle of sake.  She was about to leave when she
saw Teran again.  He appeared to be laughing.  Upon
closer examination, she saw that he was crying.  His
emotions have finally broken his willpower.  She came
to him and held him.  He took the offer and began to
cry into her shoulder.  He stayed there for ten
minutes, before exhaustion claimed him.
	She knew that he was going to feel like shit the
next morning.  She has seen Ryoko and her sister drunk
often enough to know that.  She went over to the
cabinet and took out several more bottles.  She downed
them all in less than five minutes.  She then dragged
Teran over to the couch and lay him on it.  Going to
the smaller one, she stretched and began to lay down. 
She figured that if he was going to fell terrible the
next day, then she might as well join him.  With that
thought still in her head, she fell asleep.

******

	Washu could not believe what she saw.  Sasami, it
seemed, was falling in love with him.
	"Now, you see." Tsunami told her, "I will tell you
this, though.  Their love truly began to flower the
next morning.  I should know.  I was there when it
fully manifested itself."
	"It doesn't explain everything, but I have noticed
that Sasami did have a restraining influence on Teran."
	"That is not all.  Washu, your son holds a past,
that is darker than the darkest night.  I have seen his
mind.  It holds more sadness that I have ever thought
possible.  You have to see it." Tsunami's face was tear
streaked at the memory.
	"Then, let us begin, sister."  Then, it began
again.

******

	The battlefield was strewn with bodies.  I could
not help but feel sadness at the death he has just
witnessed.  Victory was ours, but the price for it,
made it a hollow one.  Fifty-thousand men and women,
lay dead.  Men and women who had families, friends, and
loved ones.  Yes, victory was ours, but I did not
rejoice at it.  There were more battles to come.  More
death.
	"Hey, John." came a voice from behind, "Come back
to camp.  The rest of the platoon is beginning to get
restless."  The owner of the voice was a man of about
twenty.  He was tall, dark haired, with blue eyes.
	"Coming, James." I replied.

******

"Dear God." Washu said.
"It isn't over yet." Tsunami replied.

******

	The battle raged about me.  We have come up
against an army that is the result of three warring
nations that have united against a common threat.  Us,
the United States Army.
	I didn't think of it as a battle.  I thought that
it was more like a slaughter.  Thousands of Arab troops
were dying in relentless charges.  They were mowed down
in a hail of bullets.  Bombers, took their toll on the
enemy as well.  Thousands were killed in explosions, or
by flying debris.  Yes, slaughter is a better term for
it.
	We were outnumbered.  Seven enemy troops for each
one of us.  We were better trained, better equipped,
and our morale was high.  The Arabs, however, fought
with a courage borne of desperation.  Each minute the
battle dragged on, meant that more innocent people were
leaving the cities.  They died by the thousands.
	After an indeterminate time, we were ordered to
fall back.  We fell back, to those areas that were
designated safe.  The Arabs pressed the attack,
thinking that we were retreating.  The didn't realize
the truth until it was too late.  Within minutes, the
undefended cities were destroyed in flashes of light
brighter than the sun.  I met a man once, who saw the
destruction of a city by nuclear fire.  He said that he
would rather blind himself, than to see such a
beautiful, but terrible sight again.  I could only
agree with him.  The sight was beautiful, but it was a
beauty borne of horror.  In less than five minutes,
twenty million innocent people were dead.  The war was
over.

	Washu was stunned.  Her son had told her that he
was drafted into the army.  What he didn't say, was
what he saw.  All of the death and destruction.  Now
she understood why he didn't talk about his brief
military career.
	"You probably know this, but he saw all of this
shortly after his eighteenth birthday." Tsunami said.
	"I know." Washu replied, "I didn't know that he
saw all of this.  Nor did I realize that he has killed
more people than most will meet in their lifetimes."
	"He saw all of this.  He never liked killing
during the war.  He didn't change after it.  But the
war hardened him.  He now saw the truth behind it.  His
countrymen were fighting for the wrong reasons.  They
were fighting, because the politicians were frightened
at the prospect of a unified Middle-East.  They were
having trouble there, and moved troops in to get the
people of that region to conform to their wishes.  That
started a war that lasted five months.  Afterward, over
a hundred million people were dead." Tears were coming
down her face. "When he returned, the people welcomed
him as a hero.  This broke him, because he was there to
see millions die in an instant.  He killed more that
many of them will ever know.  And he remembered the
faces of each man and woman who was killed by him.  He
was no longer proud of the people he lived with for
most of his life.  He was ashamed of them.  When I saw
this, it broke me."  She could no longer handle it,
with her will broken, she broke down and cried.
	Washu held her sister.  Her own control was
breaking.  She decided to remain strong, for her
sister's sake.  She still shed one tear.  Tsunami soon
finished crying.  Without saying a word, she vanished. 
Washu looked around for a minute.  Upon seeing a place
that was out of the way, she teleported there. 
Finally, unable to contain it any longer, she wept.

******

	Teran and Sasami reached the Tsunami first.  They
stared in mute wonder at the ancient tree.  As they
stared, Tenchi, Ayeka, and Ryoko caught up.  The trio
also stared at the massive tree.  They all stood there
for five minutes in silent wonder.
	"Yes, I know that I'm impressive in this form, but
don't stare like that please." Came Tsunami's voice. 
They all looked a bit sheepish as she appeared in front
of them, she was no longer speaking telepathically.
"Now, Teran," her tone had that no nonsense point of
view that means something is up. "I know this is going
to be hard on you, but I want to get this out of the
way first.  You will have to confront your past.  What
you don't know is, that Sasami will be there with you. 
She will see what you have seen, feel what you have
felt.  That is what makes this even harder, because she
will see everything.  As will you." Her face betrayed
no emotion, but her eyes could not hide her sadness.
	Teran noticed this. She knows. he thought. She has
seen part of my past.  I would say it was the war. 
That would break the Devil's heart. "Then, let's get
this over with." he said, "Tsunami, I admit that I am
reluctant to do this, but I have to face myself.  But
why does Sasami have to do this with me?  There are
memories there that can break her.  I see that you know
part of it, and it seems to have broken you.  I don't
want to put her through that."  He didn't openly say
it, but his expression spoke for him.  He loved her. 
And he would die before anything would harm her.
	She went over to him and touched him.  "Teran,"
she said. "I know that you love her, but this is
necessary.  She has to know your past, just as you will
know hers.  But I need you to relive it.  You hold too
much grief inside of you.  It has made you a shell of
what you could be.  I need you to accept that, and
Sasami must know it and feel it, because only then,
will you no longer be haunted by the past."
	"At least give her a chance to decide."  his voice
was pleading, "She must be willing to accept the
responsibility of what you are asking.  I ask that and
no more."
	"I understand." she looked at Sasami, "It is your
choice now.  You decide if you want to take up this
burden."
	Sasami was listening to this quietly.  She
realized that Teran would not do this, unless she
consented.  In a flash of insight, she realized that he
loved her, and he did not want to do this to her.  But
she knew that he will if she accepted the
responsibility.  If she accepted the truth of what he
is.  It was this insight that made up her mind. "I
accept.  For good or ill, I accept the responsibility. 
The burden is mine to take." She took a deep breath.
"Let's begin."
	Teran looked at her.  His eyes showed that she
spoke the right words.  She has accepted the burden,
and he will be there for her. "Let's begin." He said. 
There was no more sadness in his voice.
	Tsunami nodded.  She came to them and reached out. 
She touched their foreheads, and before either knew
what was happening, memories flooded their minds.

	Teran was unprepared for what happened.  He knew
his memory, but he saw what he didn't know was there. 
He saw everything that he did.  Felt every emotion that
he felt in his life.  He saw what he remembered, and he
saw the truth of the lies he told himself.  In one
brutal instant, he saw his true self.  It was not what
he expected, but he knew, without a doubt, that this
was who he really was.  All the hatred, jealousy,
greed, envy, love, happiness, and grief.  Every memory,
every emotion was bared to him.  He saw what was
hidden; what was known; what was true about him.  And
every truth that replaced a lie; every emotion that he
recalled; made him stronger.
	"I am Teran!" he shouted out.
	Then, it was over.  He found that his mind was
completely open now.  Nothing blocked the truth about
himself.  He has accepted who he truly is, and now, he
knew who he truly was.  He turned to see Sasami, on her
knees, weeping.  He went to her and held the young girl
in his arms.  She stayed there, weeping.

	Sasami saw the truth about Teran.  And what she
saw, broke her.  She saw his entire life.  She felt
every emotion that he felt.  There was so much sadness
in his life.  The most prominent was, the end of the
war.  She saw thousands upon thousands of dead people. 
Men, women, children, none were excluded.  She could
not believe that he was there.  It broke him.  He then
became the man he was when they first met.  All of his
memories and emotions flowed past her.  And then, it
was over.
	She could not believe that what she saw, what she
felt, was Teran's life.  All that sadness.  She could
not believe that he could live with that.  Suddenly, it
became too much for her.  She fell down on her knees
and wept.  She felt strong arms wrap around her, and
she stayed there, weeping into Teran's shoulder.
	They stayed that way for ten minutes.  When they
finally got up, Teran released Sasami.  They looked
into each others eyes for a moment before turning
toward Tsunami.
	"It is done, Tsunami." Teran said.
	"This step is complete." Sasami finished.
	Tsunami nodded.  She stepped out and touched their
foreheads again.  This time it was Sasami's memories
that flooded their minds.
Teran and Sasami stood there, motionless, for five
minutes.  It ended shortly afterward.  They looked at
each other.  Their eyes shined with understanding and
love.  They quickly embraced each other and would have
probably stayed that way, if Tsunami didn't remind them
that there was more to be done.
"Now, we begin the assimilation.  Sasami, this is not
going to be easy, but you will be able to bear it."
Tsunami was able to keep her emotions in check, but she
was not sure she should do this.  Her doubts were
quickly gone though, replaced by a determination to
finish what has already begun.
There were no more words exchanged.  Tsunami became
incorporeal and flew toward Sasami.  When the two met,
there was a bright flash of light.  Teran held Sasami
as Tsunami's essence combined with her own.
	Pain wracked her body, as knowledge, and power
filled her.  She noticed that her body was changing as
well.  She no longer looked like a ten-year-old girl. 
She now looked like a young woman of about seventeen. 
As her body matured, she noticed feelings enter her,
that should not be there.  Lust, passion, and others
became increasingly harder to control.  An instant
later, it was over.
	"It is done." Tsunami said. "Now, you two have
seen the truth about yourselves, and each other.  There
is one more step to take.  I will tie you two together
by a bond that can only be broken through death.  Even
then, you two will still be tied."
	"How?" asked Sasami.  Her voice had a rich,
musical quality, although there were still traces of
the child they all knew.
	"I believe that you two already know.  You two
did, after all, begin the process." She smiled at their
embarrassed expressions.
	"Oh." Sasami said hurriedly.
	"I see." Teran finished.  He was beginning to
blush furiously.
	"I said you two know what to do." Tsunami did not
even try to hide her amusement.
	Tenchi had watched all of this.  What surprised
him was the fact that Teran only agreed to do this
after Sasami agreed.  He didn't realize it at first,
but he clearly saw that Teran loved her.  Sasami
returned that love.  He looked at his two lovers and
realized that he felt the same way for them, as Teran
did for Sasami.
	"Tsunami, what are we supposed to do?" he asked.
	"Huh?  Oh, Tenchi, sorry." She actually looked
embarrassed. "I will get to you three in a minute. I
have to finish what I started with these two."
	"All right."
	Tsunami turned back to Teran and Sasami. 
Wordlessly, she touched their foreheads again.  A
shimmering light surrounded them.  An instant later,
they vanished.  Tsunami reappeared a second later.  She
turned to look at Tenchi, Ryoko, and Ayeka.  A grin
began to spread itself across her face, and her eyes
had a mischievous twinkle to them.
	"I believe our friends may be awhile, so I think I
will take care of you three now." She said, amusement
prominent in her voice.
	Oh shit, here it comes. Tenchi thought.  He knew
that the look on the Tsunami's face meant something was
up.
	Tsunami must have read his mind, because the next
thing she said was, "Don't worry.  I am not going to do
anything dangerous."
	"For some reason, you sound like my mother." Ryoko
said, not quite realizing that Tsunami was staring
right at her.
	"Ryoko, be serious for a second, will you?" Ayeka
said.
	"Both of you, don't even think on starting."
Tsunami said, all traces of amusement gone from her
voice. "You three are going to be in a position that
many would accept, but few would envy.  You see, I am
going to bring each of you to your full power, and your
purpose will be to guide my children after I die."
	"Your children?" Tenchi asked.  He had a hard time
taking in what the goddess said.
	"The Juraians, Tenchi.  They are powerful, but
they are like children at times.  They are prejudiced
to their cousins on Earth, when the people of that
world are more powerful than any on this world."
	"Wait a second." Ayeka said. "If the people of
Earth are so powerful, then why don't they use it?"
	"Ayeka, don't let your blood cloud your judgment. 
The people of Earth don't use their power, because they
have feared it for so long, that they can't use it. 
Their fear is the result of an incident over ten
thousand years ago."
	"Atlantis, it has to be." Tenchi said to himself.
	"Yes, Atlantis, although it was known by a
different name then.  You see, their civilization was
remarkable in itself.  They combined science and nature
almost flawlessly.  In fact, they taught the Juraians
the technique.  They were also known for their
exceptional abilities.  Every one of them was able to
wield the Lighthawk Wings to some degree.  It was the
power that destroyed them.  They became so powerful
that they lost control of it.  The results destroyed a
continent and changed the weather patterns across the
world.  They have never forgotten that day.  For it
remains in their minds, subconsciously they will always
remember."
	"I see, but why us?" Tenchi asked.
	"First, you are capable of it; second, you are not
blindly prejudiced; and third, because you wont let it
go to your head.  And, two of you are members of the
royal family."
	"Then, what do we do?" Ryoko asked.  Her patience
was beginning to wear thin.
	"Simple," Tsunami said. "you are going to do
nothing.  I will be doing all of the work here."  Then,
obviously tiring of the conversation, she reached out
and touched Ryoko.  Searing pain filled the former
space pirate, as power coursed through her veins. 
Suddenly, she was wrapped in energy, as six Lighthawk
Wings surrounded her.  In a flash of light, they
coalesced.  When it was done, Ryoko was wearing a type
of body armor.  It looked like plate mail at the top,
with a gilded breastplate on her chest.  Her lower body
was protected by a series of interlocking metal plates,
forming something bordering on a second skin.  She
appeared older and wiser as well.  There was a hawk
holding a sword engraved on her breastplate.
	Tsunami turned to look Ayeka in the eyes. 
Wordlessly, she touched the princess.  Ayeka screamed
out in pain as the power coursed through her body.  She
stared at the six Lighthawk Wings surrounding her. 
Suddenly, they coalesced to form her armor.  It was a
form fitting chainmail like suit, with a gilded
breastplate at the chest   Her lower extremities were
protected by a form fitting plate mail.  She, like
Ryoko, looked more mature.  On the breastplate, was
engraved the symbol of a hawk in front of a rising sun.
	Tenchi came next.  His three Lighthawk wings
became seven.  The armor they formed was very much like
Teran's, except that the breastplate had a hawk flying
over a tree engraved on it.  There were other, minute
differences.  The color was a bright silver; the dark
appearance of Teran's armor was not there on Tenchi's. 
He had a more mature look as well.
	The three stared in shock at what they have
become.  They were geared for battle, and they had
enough power between them to shatter a planet, and then
some.  They were more than a little frightened at this.
	"Look at this!" exclaimed Tenchi. "I can feel the
power flow through me.  It's incredible!  I can't
believe that any one person can hold such power, but I
am holding it." His voice was full of awe, and a little
fear.
	"I know what you mean." Ayeka replied. "It is
remarkable indeed.  The power…" she could not finish,
as she couldn't put words to it.
	"Damn, this is…" Ryoko began to say, but couldn't
finish it.  The feeling of it coursing through her was
making it difficult to think coherently.
	"I'm glad you three appreciate it." came an amused
voice. "I felt the same way after I used my own
powers." Teran appeared with Sasami close behind.  Both
had wide grins on their faces.
	"Well, I thought you two would take longer than
you did." Tsunami commented. "I mean, with the method
you used, I would think you would have prolonged it. 
It is quite pleasant."
	Teran looked embarrassed, but he didn't blush. 
Sasami, on the other hand, blushed furiously.  Both
looked at Tsunami and began to laugh.  Tenchi and Ryoko
then began to laugh, understanding in their eyes.  It
took Ayeka a minute to get it, but she began to laugh
once she did.  Tsunami could not understand what they
were laughing about, but understanding soon shone in
her eyes.  The blush on her cheeks nearly outshone the
sun.
	"I see," she said, uncomfortably. "Well, now that
I've finished what had to be done, I can rest in
peace." Her tone now had a remorseful pitch. "I have
felt the touch of death for awhile.  Now it comes to
claim me."
	"Tsunami, no!" Sasami shouted. "Don't die! 
Please, don't die!"
	"Sasami," she said, her heart in her voice. "Don't
worry, I will always be with you.  In you heart, I will
live on.  As long as I am remembered, I will never
truly die."
	"Tsunami, no!  Don't die." Sasami was weeping
openly. "You can't die Tsunami, you just can't! 
Please, don't die."
	"Don't worry, Sasami.  I will be with you, always. 
I just wish for…"
	They never learned of what she wished for,
because, before she could finish, she died.  There was
a smile on her face and her eyes looked to be at peace. 
Teran was holding Sasami, his face grave.  Tenchi
watched as a single tear left his friend's eyes.  For
the rest of his life, Tenchi would never forget that
moment.
	They walked over to the dead goddess.  Teran,
having an idea, used his power to form a crystalline
matrix surrounding Tsunami.  The rest, seeing how he
did it, followed suit.  The concentrated power was not
enough until a new power came in.  Teran started when
he realized that the power was coming from his mother.
	Washu helped them finish creating the matrix. 
When it was done, Tsunami was encased in a block of
crystal, harder and stronger than any other substance
created.  She looked at her friends, stopping at last
on her son.  All were using the Lighthawk Wings.  When
she finally spoke, it was to utter these words:
"Goodbye, my sister.  Goodbye, Tsunami."
	The rest of the group stared in surprise at what
Washu said.  Tsunami was her sister? Teran thought.
Makes sense, considering what has been happening.  He
saw that similar thoughts were going through his
friends' minds.
	Washu looked at them a second time.  She then
noticed some differences in her son.  There was
something in his eyes.  Almost like understanding, but
not.  More like a wry acceptance of events.  "So, now
you know." She said.
	"We all knew to some degree, mom." Ryoko said.
"The gems I had were the key, but you are using your
powers without them.  How can this be?"
	"The gems were a focus, Ryoko.  Not to mention, my
powers have been coming back to me through the gems. 
It took awhile, but I am who I once was.  Now, tell me. 
What are we going to do with my sister?  I sure as hell
ain't going to leave her here, encased in crystal or
not."
	"Carry her to the palace." Teran said. "She has
guarded this world for thousands of years, it would be
best if we let her funeral be a matter for the royal
family.  They are all tied to her in one way or
another."
	"I agree." Sasami said. "My family should take
care of this."
	"Indeed Sasami, you are correct." Ayeka replied.
	"Let's get this over with, please?" Ryoko was
saying, "Funerals are depressing, and I am about to
break down and cry."
	"Let's go." Tenchi said.
	They all nodded in agreement with him.  Taking
positions around the crystal block, they picked it up. 
Tenchi and Teran were in front, with Ayeka and Ryoko
behind them.  Washu and Sasami took up the rear.  They
carried it into the palace proper, still in their
armor.  Washu, however, was garbed in a robe of
shimmering light, with a gold circlet around her
forehead.  Somewhere along the line, a group of people,
ranging from children to adults, began to follow them.
	The procession stopped at the entrance to the
throne room , as Ayeka talked to the guards.  They
gained entrance almost immediately once she was
recognized.  As the procession entered, the assembled
nobles, dignitaries, and petitioners, paused to look at
the spectacle before them.  There was a lot of
commotion as the nobles realized what was going on. 
When the group reached the throne, they stopped, put
down the block, and knelt before the throne.
	Azusa stared at the group kneeling before him. 
There was Teran, in his Lighthawk armor; Ayeka and
Ryoko, looking very alike in their armor; Tenchi, in
armor similar to Teran's; a young woman who seemed to
be Sasami, in fact it was Sasami, he realized; and
finally Washu, in her adult form and looking like a
goddess.  It was when he stared into the crystalline
block, that his blood went cold.  There rested Tsunami,   
at peace and smiling.
	"Lord Azusa," Teran said. "I bear sad news. 
Tsunami, your goddess, has died."
	"How?" he asked.
	"The results of a war thousands of years ago. 
When she confronted her sister, the Dark Goddess,
Tokimi." How he knew it, was a mystery. "She has
finished what she has started, as you see before you. 
Your daughter, Sasami is her successor.  The fruition
of your line, Tenchi, is now a guardian of Jurai. 
Ayeka and Ryoko are the guides of the people.  I, as
the protector, am given the task of guiding and
nurturing Sasami."
	"And, what is Washu's purpose?"
	"Her purpose is as it always was.  To guide and
protect the people, and to prepare for battle against
her sister, Tokimi.  Now, only one goddess stands
against Tokimi.  We are the weapons for which she will
confront her sister." his eyes turned white as he said
the next part. "The storm rises and breaks as the
warriors confront the Darkness.  The Guardian, whom the
Darkness desires; the Guides, whose light shall protect
the Guardian; the Protector, who loves the Risen; the
Risen Goddess, the product of an ultimate sacrifice;
and the Fallen Goddess, who confronted the Darkness. 
All go to confront the storm and its allies.  The Mad
One, who betrayed his family for power; the Betrayed
One, who dies to give way to the protector; the Damned,
who will take one of the Light; and the Lost, whose
path joins the Light in battle." Teran's eyes returned
to normal, as he knelt heaving for breath.
	Azusa stared in shock at Teran, who has just
recited the oldest prophecy in the universe, The
Tarellian Oracles.  He watched in silence as the hand
of fear touched his heart.  It was coming.  The
Goddess' Wars would continue.  Hopefully, this would be
the last.

Author's Note: Well, that turned out fairly well.  Things
are starting to come together, somewhat.  The next part will
begin the conflict, as Tokimi enters the picture, and the
battle begins.  Teran will be confronted by a delegation
from his own people as his birthright comes to pass.  Stay
tuned for Tenchi Muyo: Honor and Glory, Part4: Prelude to
Conflict.