SKJAM!:  And one last thing...

On Sat, 19 Jul 1997, KOUMA RYODACHI wrote:

Okay everyone, here's the thing.

I had intended to write Chapter 13 tonight, which would be a little 
chapter where the Knights came back to the palace, and showed off the 
new armor and the new Mashin, and got ready for the next phase.

However, it's too short to stand alone as a chapter, IMHO.

So this is what I've done.

The following bit is to be added to the end of Chapter 12. Chapter 12 
rounds out Act Two, and sets up something to come beyond Act 3, which 
will deal with the Knights and the martial artists defeating the 
Blemish.

Just tack this on to the end of Chapter 12. 

Kira:  Got it.

--------------cut here---------------

SKJAM!:  *ZAP*

   "Alright, Akane, let's see it one more time," Clef said.
   Akane closed her eyes, then swung her mallet at the wooden dummy 
in front of her. Arcs of electricity surged along the mallet, and the 
block of wood exploded violently.
   Everyone applauded. "You're getting very good at that, Akane-san," 
Ryouga said.

SKJAM!:  And made a mental note to be far, far away the next time Ranma 
got her mad.

   "Thanks! What about that new trick of yours?" 
   Ryouga frowned. "It isn't really working right yet."
   Presea smiled gently in his direction. "Why don't you give it 
another shot."
   Ryouga shrugged, and concentrating, jabbed the ground with one 
finger. "Bakusai Quake!"
   At first, nothing happened. Then, about ten meters away, the 
ground surged violently and exploded upward. 
   "Yoshi!" Ryouga cried. "I did it!"
   Everyone cheered.

Kira:  After making sure Ryouga was not pointing in their direction.

   The group had been drilling in their weapons and magic in a large, 
open, deserted area a distance from the palace. So far they'd managed 
to lay waste to over half of the lot, and they'd only been there a 
couple of hours.
   Now, they were learning to combine their magic and weapon skills. 
Being martial artists, they weren't having any difficulties adapting 
to the new combat techniques. In fact, Clef and Presea were both 
extraordinarily impressed with their progress. Cologne had just 
chuckled at them. She knew that these young warriors could do 
anything they set their minds to.

SKJAM!:  Except get their love lifes fixed.

   As Ukyou was helping Shampoo test a Shadow Shield spell (by 
throwing razor-sharp mithril spatulas at her), a loud commotion drew 
the group's attention.
   Everyone looked up as the phoenix landed, and the three Knights 
disembarked. Mokona hopped down, and the bird vanished into its gem.
   The entire crowd gaped at the grinning Hikaru. "That's quite some 
armor," Presea commented.
   The other Knights giggled, and Hikaru grinned even more broadly. 
"We passed the test. We awakened Rayearth."
   "We?" Clef asked.
   Hikaru nodded. "Watch this," she said. Laughing, she raised her 
sword, and plunged it into the ground. A plume of flame erupted from 
beneath her feet, engulfing her.
   When the flame died down, Ranma, once again male, stood there, in 
a masculine version of Hikaru's armor. The sword, now pure flame, 
coiled like a serpent around his leg, traveling up his body, where it 
split into two and coursed down his arms. The flames covered his 
gauntlets, and a twin set of long crimson blades appeared on each 
handguard. 

SKJAM!:  Now *that's* a transformation sequence.

   Everyone stared, including the other two Magic Knights, who had no 
idea this was going to happen. "What the--?" Clef asked.
   Presea stared, then started to cackle. "What a trick!" she 
enthused. 
   Akane found herself searching for a breath. "R--ranma..."
   Shampoo was similarly speechless. "Aiyah..."
   Ranma chuckled. "Hi guys. How d'ya like this, eh?"

Kira:  The Romanian judge only gave it a 4.5, but everyone else seems 
impressed.

 >    Clef finally grinned. "Well, it looks like we have two Fire 

Knights now, and in the same body no less." Then, he looked 
thoughtful. "But...will you be able to wear the Mashin?"
   If Hikaru's fiery transformation into Ranma had shocked them, what 
came next would floor them.
   The gem on Ranma's chestplate flashed, emitting a fiery scarlet 
beam. An image of Rayearth appeared before him. 
   "This warrior will not be able to wear me," Rayearth said. 

SKJAM!:  Aww...

"However, he shall be able to wear the other Fire Mashin."

Kira:  Shouldn't that be a "Fire Engine"?

   Clef blinked. "There's another Mashin?"
   "There is, Guru Clef. However, it is not here on Cephiro."
   Clef looked puzzled. "Then where is it?"
   "My companion Mashin sleeps high in the mountains of a region of 
the world from which these warriors come."
   A sinking feeling befell the entire group from Nerima.
   "Don't tell me..." Ranma began.
   "Bayankala range..." Mousse continued.
   "Qinghai province?" Ryouga finished weakly.

SKJAM!:  Yes, it's back to China for everyone!

   "Thou art correct. There shalt thou find the second Fire Mashin, 
deep within the bowels of that which is known as Mount Phoenix."
   "I'll pass," Ranma said. 

Kira:  But if the "revealed to Mom" thing hasn't happened yet, then he 
shouldn't have met Saffron or the other Mt. Phoenix people.  Maybe in 
this timeline he can avoid that battle by being diplomatic?

   "He doesn't need to have the other Mashin, does he?" Akane asked.
   "Not at this time. However, a time of great peril may yet fall 
upon this world, the likes of which has not been seen."
   "One already has," Clef commented.
   "This is known to me," Rayearth said. "However, thou wouldst be 
wise to remember my advice...once this threat hath been overcome, 
thou should seek thine Mashin on thine world."

SKJAM!:  Oh wonderful, an even *worse* threat is yet to come...

   With that, Rayearth's image vanished.
   Everyone was silent for a moment. Finally, Ranma spoke.
   "Well this sucks."

Kira:  Them's the breaks, kids.

   ---end act two---

SKJAM!:  And we're out of here for now...



SKJAM!
"Say the name, feel the power!"