[FFML] [FIC][MEGACROSSOVER] Requiem

[Andrew Hubbard]

Just a little something I threw together for fun. This isn't a serious fanfiction attempt, so I am not going to bother revising or any of that. As such, I apologize in advance for any overlooked typos, misspellings, grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, or OOCness.  That said, I hope you guys get a kick out of it.

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DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters and do not claim to hold any rights to them. This is a work of fanfiction, created solely for enjoyment. I do not seek any compensation for this work. The characters contained within are the property of their respective creators and the companies that hold legal copyright claims to them. C&C and MSTs are always welcomed, flames will be laughed at then ignored. Happy reading!

REQUIEM

by

Akihiro

     Edogawa Conan, Hattori Heiji, and Mouri Kogoro stood before the tombstone with somber faces while Mouri Ran and Toyama Kazuha held each other's hands and wept silently behind them.
     “I'm sorry,” Heiji said in a voice choked with barely contained emotion.
     Conan bowed his head sadly in agreement. “We just couldn't solve the mystery fast enough to save you,” he added softly.
     “Even the great detective Mouri Kogoro couldn't figure it out in time,” Kogoro said sadly.
     “But can we really be sure?” Ran asked softly. “There was no body found. Maybe...”
     Conan slowly shook his head.
     After offering a final silent prayer for the deceased, Conan took Ran by the hand while Heiji took Kazuha and the five walked silently away as the next group of mourners approached from the crowd.
     “I can't believe you're really gone,” Tendou Akane said as she reached the grave.
     Saotome Ranma gritted his teeth in frustration. “We had so many great adventures because of you. It just won't be the same now.”
     Hiniki Ryouga removed a bandana and wiped his eyes, then silently bowed his head for a moment before turning to leave, Akane grabbing his arm to guide him as the three departed.
     Another group stepped toward the grave, standing quietly for a moment before any could find their voices.
     “Our strength wasn't enough to stop this enemy,” Son Goku said, sounding more defeated than ever.
     Krillin looked up to Goku with the faintest glimmer of hope trying to gain a foothold. “The dragon balls...?” he started.
     “No,” Piccolo said in a sad voice. “ They wouldn't work. Already been resurrected too many times.”
     “We'll miss you,” Chichi muttered softly.
     Once the four had departed, six more people emerged from the dwindling crowd of onlookers.
     “Even the powers of a spirit detective couldn't stop this,” Urameshi Yusuke said mournfully.
     “Isn't there anything you can do, Botan?” asked Yukimura Keiko desperately. “You were able to bring Yusuke back.”
     “I already petitioned Koenma asking permission,” Botan replied regretfully. “I was denied.”
     Kuwabara Kazuma shouted in frustration, “Why don't we just go to the spirit world and do it ourselves then?!”
     “I've been a fugitive from the spirit detectives once already,” replied Kurama. “I would rather not be one again.”
     Hiei looked over the others. “I would have no problem with that, then again, you have more to lose than I do.”
     As soon as they left, five teenage girls and two cats stepped forward.
     “These enemies were greater than all the other we have faced,” Luna said, resting a paw sadly against the tombstone.
     Artemis added, “Even with all the new allies you brought to our team, we were powerless against them.”
     Tsukino Usagi and Aino minako held each other and cried as Hino Rei offered a prayer to the deceased.
     “Through you we grew stronger,” Kino Makoto said in a voice fraught with emotion.
     Mizuno Ami added quietly, “I will keep looking ahead. Hopefully you might return to us again.”
     Upon the departure of the Sailor Senshi, only one person remained where the large crowd of mourners once stood. He was a man that has seemed out of place among the others gathered, but somehow his presence felt more appropriate now that he was alone to approach the silent grave. Where the others had appeared youthful and strong, though he was tall and slim, this man had gray hair and the air of a person who has lived far too long and seen far too much, to the point of weariness.
     “I have lost too many that I care about in my long life,” the man said, his words being delivered in a faint but smooth Scottish accent.  “I never expected to you to be one of them. You had too much life. You were love by so many.” He shook his head. “This was just a small group of the ones who mourn you. I will bring others as well.
     “I tried to save you, you know,” he said as he started to walk around the grave. “I tried to go back, and stop it from happening. But every way I tried, it was no use. At every point I could think of that would have made a difference, I was blocked because I crossed too strongly onto my own timeline.
     “But there are others who can still save you,” he concluded, coming to a stop beside the tombstone and resting a hand on it.  “I can't take them back to do it, but the secret is, they don't have to go back! It's not too late! All they have to do is try, and those people can do what this old Timelord could not.”  He sighed and patted the stone.  “I have seen a lot, but a lot of what I have seen has taught me to never give up hope. So I don't think I am going to say goodbye just yet.”
     With a final nod, the Doctor turned and walked back to the TARDIS. A moment later, the grinding of its engines engaged and the blue police call box faded away.  All that remained was the lonely tombstone, the letters on its face illuminated by the last rays of the setting sun:
A Great Friend and Companion
to Warriors, Adventurers, and Storytellers Alike
You Will Be Dearly Missed
FFML

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NOTES:  The first fanfic I have written in 16 years. I decided that, rather than jumping right in with the Detective Conan fic I am working on, I would do something a little less serious first. I realized that I couldn't include every series that has appeared throughout fanficdom, so I just picked some of the ones that are my personal favorites and or have the most fanfics out there (though there were a few I purposefully avoided for various reasons). Is this a commentary about the FFML being dead? Maybe a little bit. I remember when I was on the list back in the late '90s how I always got several posts each day, yet I have been back on here for a month and only gotten one other than my own posts and the automated ones, and no replies (public or private) to my call for creative assistance. So yeah, maybe there is a little bit of a jab there, but if so, it is only out of nostalgia for the FFML of my memories. No offense is intended. Anyways, I have written up a synopsis for chapter one of my Conan fic, and have a general plan for the next few chapters after that. Things have been a little crazy of late, so the work is going slow, but it WILL be posted sooner or later. As for my Conan/Saw crossover, I am still lacking on ideas for good Jigsaw traps/games, so even though I have the full plotline worked out, that fanfic has stalled.  Suggestions are still welcomed (I would prefer the replies be private if for no other reason than not giving away the ideas to potential readers, but if you must...and the list could stand to have SOMETHING stimulate some conversation). Anyways, let me know what you all think! Thanks for reading!

Akihiro
animeotakudrew at yandex.com