29Author's Note: The 365 Project is an experimental project to write and post at least one short every day for the next year, not including my semi-regular bi-weekly updates. Whether or not that goal can be reached, we'll see... This is The 365 Project, 27 February.
Sorry if today's project story is crap; one of my cats died today and it's got me in a bit of an emotional turmoil.
Disclaimer: I'm not Ken Akamatsu, I don't own Love Hina and the characters and locations are used without permission for non-profit entertainment purposes. Green Lantern is the property of DC Comics and is used for entertainment purposes without permission or intent to profit.
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"Where There's A Will, There's A Lantern..."
By J.T. Magnus, 'Turbo'
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Keitaro was flying though the air on another trip courtesy of Shinmeiryuu Airlines when it happened. He reached the apex of his flight and began to prepare himself for descent and impact when he found himself engulfed by a green glow and floating in mid-air.
"Okay," Keitaro looked down at the ground and blinked, "This is new."
Then he suddenly felt himself reliving every memory of his life replaying it as though looking for something that he didn't know what it was, some trace, some slightest hint of whatever the green glow was searching for in him. The green glow pulsed bright when the memories caught up to the moment.
'Urashima Keitaro, you have been chosen,' a disembodied voice announced.
As the glow began to move him through the air, Keitaro began stammering, "Wait, chosen for what? Why? How? Where are you taking me?"
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When the green glow finally put him on the ground, Keitaro looked around and froze, his jaw dropping open at the sight before him.
"I'm sure I didn't leave Earth, but that looks like an alien spaceship crashed," Keitaro muttered, "That or one of Su's experiments got away again... but it doesn't look like a turtle, so I'm not sure..."
"Inside, Urashima Keitaro... Hurry... there is little time," a voice seemed to sound in Keitaro's head.
"Aah!" Keitaro clapped his hands over his eyes, "I'm being mind-read by space aliens!"
The green glow suddenly reappeared around Keitaro and picked him up, moving him towards a hole in the spaceship before putting him back down. Hazarding a look into the ship, Keitaro saw an occupant; almost human in appearance if not for the vibrant pink-purple tone of his skin, clad in a form-fitting green and black outfit, sitting, leaning against one of the walls as though it took all of his energy to do so.
"I am Abin Sur... I am not of Earth - but of a far distant planet - and I am... dying," he said slowly, forcing out each word despite immense pain.
Keitaro took a step forward into the ship and knelt down by Abin Sur, "What can I... How can I help?"
"It is... too late for me," Abin Sur gasped out, "No, there is... a more important matter."
"More important than your life?" Keitaro asked, unsure if he could believe anything could be that important.
"Yes..." Abin Sur reached over and pulled something close to him, "You see... this?"
"It looks like an old train lantern... but it's green.." Keitaro actually picked it up to look at it, then suddenly sat it down as he realised what he had done, "Ah! I'm sorry!"
"No, it is... right," Abin Sur told him, "As you say, a 'green lantern' in form... In fact, a Power Battery... given only to selected space-patrolmen in the super-galactic system... to be used as a weapon agaisnt forces of evil and injustice..."
Abin Sur was interrupted as pain wracked his body and caused him to fall to the floor. Keitaro moved to help him sit back up, but the alien waved him back.
"It is our duty... when disaster strikes..." Abin Sur managed to continue, "To pass on the Power Battery... to another who is fearless... and honest! Come closer to me, Urashima Keitaro..."
Keitaro moved closer and Abin Sur lifted his right hand, the green glow that had brought Keitaro there came from a ring on Abin Sur's hand and passed over him.
"Yes..." Abin Sur said, his strength fading, "By the green beam of my ring... I see that you are honest! And the Battery has already selected you as one born without fear! So you pass both tests, Urashima Keitaro..."
Shaking his head furiously, Keitaro argued, "I can't have! I'm not without fear - I'm terrified, I have people wanting to kill me just for being a guy and I'm always afraid they're gonna succeed..."
"But you have never allowed that to stop you; that is true courage, Urashima Keitaro," Abin Sur countered, stopping to cough up pink blood, "Only seconds left, I can feel it... so much to tell... Once you have the Battery, you will have power over everything - except what is yellow. There is a necessary impurity in the Battery, if it is removed the Battery loses its power! It is this impurity which will make you powerless over anything yellow."
"I..." Keitaro gulped, "I understand."
"Now take my ring... let me put it on you..." With his left hand, Abin Sur slid the ring off of his right and slid it onto Keitaro's own right hand when the young man held it out, "With this ring you will drain power from the Battery... effective for 24 hours..."
"Now... I've told you all... do not fail me..." Almost as though it were only the need to pass on his Power Battery and ring keeping him alive, as soon as he took his hand away from Keitaro's and was no longer touching the ring, Abin Sur died.
"Gone..." Keitaro whispered, "He's passed away."
He looked down at the ring he now wore, a look of dawning horror on his face, "I don't know how to be a space cop!"
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Author's Note: I got this finished around eight-thirty, nine, plenty of time to post it in before midnight... but of course Fanfiction had to have another flippin' brain-fart and go down... and then it almost didn't come up in time for me to get this posted in time...
