Dark Chronicles:
Foreword V1.04.
This is the fourth revision to this foreword and will likely continue
to change with each revision and adition to the story itself. Just check the
version at the top for changes.
Well, it's been a little over eighteen months since DC's initial
release to RAAC and the archive (a little over two years since its first
appearance on the FFML) and much has happened since its original genesis. As
I said at the time, this thing is my first attempt at fan-fiction, although
certainly not my first writing project. The concept began with a discussion
between a friend (Iaen) and myself concerning how amusing it would be to cross
BGC and DP. The idea more or less flagged immediately as, on consideration, I
decided I hadn't the patience to try. Still, the talk got me pondering on
whether it might be possible to cross several Anime/Manga universes in a
fantasy fanfic as dark, serious and terrifying (without a trace of gratuitous
bloodshed) as I could possibly conceive. Thus was this thing born. Much has
changed since the first draft of what became the first prelude, not the least
being that cross-overs are far more prevalent now than they were when I began
DC; indeed I had no idea where I was going when I penned that first tiny
fragment, only that I had begun something I wished to see to its completion.
That enthusiasm has been tempered somewhat by myriad events over the past two
years, not to mention the fact that I've original work to consider, still, the
tale cannot now wholly be abandoned.
So far, I intend to include (in order of initial appearance) Ranma
1/2, Sailor Moon (both versions), Project A-ko, Bubblegum Crisis, Dirty Pair,
Mamono Hunter Yohko, Ah Megami-sama, Dr. Who and Blake's Seven, not to mention
several characters of my own creation (none of whom have much at all in common
with myself and at least two of whom are the very antithesis of the perfect
Anime interlopers able to save the multiverse). I would also have liked to
include at least some concepts (race names, history, nation relationships
etc.) from the UY-TSY canon (at best perhaps a stolen copy of the *Saikoo
Jinseijitsu*), the inclusion of such concepts perhaps precipitating in the
integration of a UY alternate however permission was not forthcoming so I
shall have to settle for the nasties already present in the mix. With that in
mind, fair warning now; the basis for this will *not* be comic, not in any
sense of the word and certain characters may therefore begin to act with a
little more forethought than may initially be expected of them as they are
changed by circumstances and their situation becomes ever more desperate.
That is not to say that there won't be the usual comic relief in the
appropriate universes together with moments of respite and happiness, but the
story itself will be *deadly serious* and most definitely *not* for those who
don't wish to see their favourite characters put through a multiverse of slowly
gathering darkness and growing evil. There is only one more condition I've set
for this. Not one of each included Anime universe's main characters will make
a cameo. If I can't manage an important role for each and every character,
that universe's participation in this is history. The same is not true for the DrWho and B7 universes, the second of which at least may have only a very small part to play and may be used simply as a convenient stage upon which to play out some of the more unpleasant scenarios, a purpose for which it should prove admirably suited.
Well, now that that's out of the way, just nine things.
1) First and foremost for those who have already read what exists of DC
and who wish to understand what on earth is going on; after careful
consideration I've decided that what was the third chapter has now become the
fourth or fifth (depending on whether the P: A-ko intro (yet to be properly
conceived) is placed before it). Although the negative comments were few, I
had finally to agree that there was simply too much complexity in the BGC
introduction to expect that the reader would grasp immediately its entireity
without spending time and effort far better spent in enjoying the tale. For
this reason I have decided to set the SM background immediately following
chapter 1 in the hope that the background to and the reason for the appearance
of certain individuals in the BGC reality will become simpler to comprehend.
Further, B-ko's fate as described by C-ko needs at the least to be hinted at
and some indication as to the A-koverse's place in the greater story to be
dealt with before that intro. To precipitate this, the second and third
chapters have also been swapped.
2) The main story consists of the three preludes followed by those files
simply identified as _Dark Chronicles_ and a chapter number. The DA manual
(which now includes as an appendix what was previously the technical specs)
and the side-story concerning Zhuranovsky, Fellini and the DA project's
development should not be read until after the BGC intro.
3) Dark Chronicles is *not* a self-insertion fic regardless of the
initial impression that may be given by Johnathan's inclusion. At most his
explicit literery and musical interests represent a small subset of my own
although his morality is a fair approximation (but with religious overtones I
do not possess). I would be *very* worried were I one tenth as obsessed as he
although admittedly I wouldn't mind a tenth of his wealth. ^_^
4) This hasn't a title as yet and I'd still be very interested in
suggestions. `Dark Chronicles', `Demon's Playground' and `Tether's End' sound
far too cliched to me (although the first will be used as a series title and
the last two might just make it as chapter or part titles).
5) These are alternate universes in the sense that all split from their
established canon in the moment this tale begins, thus don't expect that
things need to end pleasantly for all (or any) of them or that the `glitch'
this tale creates need iron itself out back into the original time-lines. It
most definitely need not. The split from canon for each begins after:
Ranma 1/2: Not exactly defined but after Nodoka
finds out about Ranma's curse and Akari appears.
Sailor Moon (Japanese): Immediately following the final SS
episode.
Sailor Moon (DIC): Likewise -- so far as DIC's SM
interpretation is concerned, I intend to include the Scout equivalent of
everything (including the outer senshi) so for all intents and purposes we can
accept that the DIC production team continued in recovery from what until very
recently appeared to be their long-standing severe mental disabilities and
managed to produce the rest of SMR, SMS, SMSS and SS more or less in
accordance with canon but with the changes interpolated from what has already
been altered in that reality (i.e. Alex(Haruka) and Michelle(Michiru) will be
sisters-cousins-long-lost childhood friends-... in accordance with what DIC
would be likely to do).
Project: A-ko: Not exactly defined as I want to see
everything and in the correct order first, but probably after a-ko 4. The
Blue/Grey series has no part in this since I'll be dealing only with a split
from the canonical A-koverse.
BubbleGum Crisis: BGC 8 (Scoop Chase). The events of
Crash would not have happened as they did in the canonical (according to some
interpretations (certainly not mine :( )) BGC reality because of the changes
brought about by the creation of the DA project although it is possible that
they might have come to pass in some altered form (namely one that actually
made some sense) were it not for the catastrophic shift brought about by the
events of this tale. Certainly some Crash equipment such as the KnightWing
exist in this reality.
Dirty Pair: Not defined although the DP reality of
DC will be an amalgamation of all three canonical DP universes and with a
Shasti based as much upon the character of Experiment 101E and Reunions as
upon anything Adam Warren created.
Mamono-Hunter Yohko: Probably 5.
Ah Megami-Sama: Not defined.
It is also important to remember that unlike some cross-overs, each
reality is at the time of this tale's beginning as fictional to the others as
to our own and each is an Anime in each of the others just as all are here.
6) With regard to SM Anime, I've only seen what DIC has translated (gods
but those things can be really *really* dreadful at times :) ) and as I intend
to use both it and the Japanese original, I've had to extrapolate the
differences (and indeed everything beyond the NA series) from fan-fiction,
advice, Hitoshi Doi's *excellent* summaries, the SM FAQ and my own
interpretation as to how the NA version would have continued had it been
possible to call the original Senshi from their universe and have them pay DIC
a little visit to express their *strong* disapproval for what until recently
appeared to be almost inconceivable incompetence. ^_^ Please correct even the
*smallest* fault (although of course that goes for any faults in any universe
or portrayal) unless I've specifically listed it as an intentional alteration.
7) I'm starting this alone but for additional ideas Iaen might come up
with, however, since the characters (apart from those specifically mentioned
below) are not my own, I would certainly be interested should anyone come up
with an idea they think might work. Naturally you would be given full credit
for any help.
8) I'm totally colour-blind and my abstract visual memory and integration
can only be compared to Ryoga's sense of direction. This is both a veritable
pain in the neck and means that I would very much appreciate a detailed
description from some generous soul of what the characters (in all forms where
appropriate) and important places in the above listed series look like colour-
wise and especially how they would immediately be identified by distinctive
colour traits in scheme/dress. Despite my visual shortcomings, I consider
such descriptive detail *very* important and don't want to make a total fool of
myself with clothing clashes, hair and eye colour, identifying characteristics
and the like. The above problems also mean that, although textually I may
manage a fair description of an original character, there will never be any
images for DC unless someone infinitely better at abstract visual integration
than myself (and that really wouldn't be hard, believe me) creates them. I do
plan however to release MIDI music to go with the series.
9) Remember that parts of this are still very much an initial draft.
There are going to be absolute wallopers of faults in this thing (particularly
as my knowledge of some of these universes is limited by what I can get here)
and I need to know about them. Anything but unmitigated flames will be
listened to. These last will be delivered to certain included characters
(whose penchant for unbridled mahem far outmatches my own) for consideration
and appropriate response. ^_^ For those reading the archived or RAAC posts
and who plan to post about this to RAAF, I would very much appreciate any C&C
being sent also directly to me here (I don't always have the time to wander
through RAAF). Regarding my responding; please don't think your comments are
being ignored if I don't answer them immediately. This is currently a UUCP
site (although it will be permanently connected as soon as I can arrange it)
so there could be up to 24 hours' delay between your sending e-mail and it
landing here and another 24 before its return. With regard to anyone actually
giving me a hand in the writing department; I've had no expressions of
interest and have more or less decided that it wouldn't have worked in any
case -- probably I'll be writing everything alone so far as the main story is
concerned but if anyone is interested in filling in blanks I haven't the time
to fill in myself or presenting a character/concept they think might work I'd
certainly be more than willing to consider it. Also, if anyone wishes to be
put on a pre-release list, please let me know as I will probably not post even
to the FFML unfinished chapters.
Well, that's about all for now. Enjoy (I hope).
Craig (8th of June 1998)
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Non-anime Copyrights.
This work is copyright and permission to distribute it on a non-
proffit basis is given by me so long as not a single byte of any file has been
tampered with (disregarding anything the designated RAAC moderator might have
to do of course ^_^ ) and it is distributed in its entirety. No unauthorised
copying, broadcasting, public performance or appropriation of characters and
concepts in full or in part is permitted without written permission from me
first. This work may *not* be distributed for profit or in or with a
commercial publication without written permision from myself. Jonathan Liam
O'Reilly, Joanna Marina O'Reilly, Alexei Ivanovitch Zhuranovsky, his Genom
team, the DA-series buma, Fellini, the DK and NV crew etc. are Copyright (C)
1996-98 by me (well Jonathan might claim Joanna is his but as I wrote him he's
going to have one hell of a problem doing anything about it ^_^ ). The
diminutive DA attack buma are Copyright (C) 1996-98 by myself and Iaen Cordell.
The Magna-class buma are Copyright (C) 1996-98 by Iaen Cordell. Everything
else not native to the canon of an included universe is Copyright (C) 1996-98
by me unless someone suggests ideas to me that I like and they're willing to
let me use. In that case, the ideas remain *entirely* their own and they may
insist that I remove *any* aspect of them at *any* time unless they
specifically tell me otherwise and the copyright for them is theirs so you'll
have to ask them if you can use them. :) A case in point is C-koH who will
have a cameo at some point. She is Copyright (C) 1996-98 David Outram aka Kent
Magami <kmagami@hsonline.net> and will probably pay you a visit to express her
creator's extreme displeasure should you use her without his consent.
Anime Copyrights:
Ah Megami-sama (Ah (Oh) My Goddess) is Copyright 1996 (C) Fujishima
Kosuke.
BubleGum Crisis & Crash & ADP Files are Copyright (C) Artmic / Youmex
/ Suzuki Toshimichi, Sonoda Kenichi, Gooda Hiroaki and Urushibara Satoshi.
Dirty Pair is Copyright (C) Takachiho Haruka / Sunrise / Adam Warren.
Mamono (Devil) Hunter Yohko is Copyright (C) 1990-1996 Mauyama Masao,
Japan Computer Systems / Toho, Inc.
Project A-ko is Copyright (C) Soeishinsha / Final-Nishijima / Central
Park Media.
Ranma 1/2 is Copyright (c) 1996, Takahashi Rumiko / Shogakukan Inc. /
Kitty / Fuji TV / Viz Video.
Sailor Moon is Copyright (c)1996, Takeuchi Naoko / Kodansha / Toei
Animation / DIC (even though there may be some question as to whether this
last deserves to retain it).
Acknowledgements.
I'd like to thank the following people for help and inspiration
(whether large or small) without which this fanfic would not have been
possible.
First and foremost I should thank the creators of the animes/Manga
themselves (if they'd not invented any of this I'd never have known about it
and of course this just wouldn't exist ^_^ ). Next Iaen Cordell, whom, soon
after we started talking by phone on a regular basis (he lives some 600 miles
from me and I've still not met him face to face after over three years of
regular phone-conversations) happened to mention one day that he'd found this
net FTP site that specialised in Anime fanfic and asked whether I knew what
this Anime was all about as the stories he'd read weren't half bad. I'd
already read bits of _Undocumented Features_ that had been posted to the prose
NGs (many moons ago when those NGs were worth reading) and was curious. I
took a look and neither of us have looked back since. ^_^
As for my introduction to each Anime itself, i'm perhaps in an almost
unique position in that I've not once seen an Anime before reading a fanfic
about it. For this reason, many additional thanks go to the UF crew for both
an excellent series in its own right and for introducing me to DP (I thought
Kei and Yuri were their own inventions until I stumbled on bits of _Reunions_
and so through a circuitous root to DP itself), Darren Stefler
<twister@ranma.net> for doing likewise (more or less) to Ranma and BGC (and
for writing what I still consider the best author-insertion 'fic I've read
thus far with BG-Zone and Legion's Quest running a neck-and-neck second) and
kmagami@hsonline.net (Kent Magami (David Outram)) without whose excellent
_Project S-boy_ (now grown to the series _Tales Of Graviton City_) fic I may
never have discovered the *excellent* _Project: A-ko_.
Regarding Dark Chronicles itself, I have to thank Iaen for giving me a
hand with the fine-tuning of many an idea and for his comments on the thing
itself and Kent (i'll probably always think of him by that name now ^_^ )
without whose invaluable help and suggestions regarding both the A-koverse and
DC itself and the hundreds of K of e-mail we've exchanged I may never have
continued this FF passed the first two chapters. Ok, the rest had better be
quicker. ^_^ In no particular order: g.feng@worldnet.att.net (Psyber) for his
help with BGC questions and his invaluable boomer specs, without which I'd
never have bothered thrashing out the DA series buma with such detail (indeed
they would probably have remained very secondary to the plot);
sfarin@mindspring.com (Salomon Farin) for reading this monster before it goes
to RAAC, for putting up with it getting to him in fits and starts and for his
help with many a BGC question; jhedge@waterw.com (Jeanne Hedge) for answering
BGC questions and for her excellent BGC/BGC!/ADPF synopses which have proven
invaluable reference material; Hitoshi Doi's SM synopses for the same reason;
Andy Skuse <askuse@execulink.com>, Stormwalker <pingley@post.cis.smu.edu> /
<stormwalker@airmail.net>, Bert Van Vliet <skyknght@sentex.net> and
taylorjb@vuse.vanderbilt.edu (Professional Nene Worshipper) for their
answering my idiot BGC questions ^_^ before I had my own copies of the tapes.
For answering SM questions and questions concerning Kanji: Ken Arromdee
<arromdee@blaze.cs.jhu.edu>, "Geoff Walker, THE TYRANT PAX" (Ifurita)
<walker@mail.accent.net>, Scott Johnson <zagyg@IO.COM>, Chocobo
<chocobo@cris.com>, databank@mindspring.com (Zen), "Ranma Al'Thor"
<ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu> and Marisa Price <marisa@value.net>; your help was
very much appreciated.