******

     Urd refused to speak more that two words to me as we
waited for the devil to return with his prisoners.  I gave up
trying to talk to her after the sixth or seventh time of being
ignored.  Then I noticed several poles sticking out of the
pools that dotted the area and remembered that Ranma mentioned
they used to be used for training.

     Walking over carefully I wondered who in their right mind
would risk being changed into an animal just because they
wanted to train.  I was contemplating one pool when I felt
someone shove me from behind.  I waggled my arms, trying to
keep my balance, I was just teetering towards falling, when a
firm pair of hands grabbed my shoulders, pulling me back from
the edge.

     "WHAT THE?!?!?!", I began, turning to see who'd pushed
me.

     "Scared you!", Urd said in a half-teasing voice.

     I looked at her dumbfounded, "Urd, that's gotta be the
stupidest stunt you've ever pulled!", I roared at her, "Are
you trying to give me a heat attack!!".

     Urd looked at me seriously, "Yes", she said, "Now you
know how *I* felt when you made that deal!".  With that she
turned and walked back to sit down and wait.

     I sat down on a rock, my heart still pounding.  My hands
were shaking slightly, I'd almost joined the 'cursed' club. 
Looking over at Urd, I noticed that she had her head bowed and
was idly watching the miniature TV that I'd handed her.  I
walked over and sat down opposite her, "I'm sorry Urd", I said
quietly, "I know you feel responsible for me...".

     Urd looked at me, her expression unreadable, "That's
right", she said resignedly, "I *am* responsible for you...
everything that's happened to you is a direct result of my
granting your wish".

     I shook my head, "Please don't feel that way", I urged
her, "I make my own mistakes.. it's not your fault".  She
shook her head and I smiled, "In fact you've been one of the
brightest spots since I got this wish".

     Urd gave me a curious glance and I laughed easily,
"You're the one person I can count on to make my life
interesting", I said.

     "I would have said 'complicated'", Urd replied sullenly.

     I grinned at her, "So would I", I replied, "But that
wouldn't have been polite".

     Urd smiled slightly, "You seem to have a talent for
making *my* life unusual", she said, "And that's something
I've found to be quite unique".

     That seemed to clear the air and the two of us waited in
companionable silence until the flapping of wings in the
distance alerted us to the devil's approach.  I stood and
whispered a quick clothes-change spell, replacing my outdoors
clothes with my uniform.  I dusted it off, trying to pull the
creases from it, "I keep forgetting to wash this bloody
thing", I complained.

     Urd stood beside me, "Good luck", she said softly,
placing a hand on my shoulder.  I was about to reply when she
reached up and kissed me firmly. I gave her a quick smile and
a hug and turned back to the approaching devil.

                                  ******

     Urd placed her hand on Brett's shoulder as the devil
landed, not sure if she was trying to reassure him or herself. 
A few moments later the hideous creature landed with a thump a
few meters in front of them.

     "Where are they?", Brett asked bluntly.

     Tupnixua grinned openly, "They will be along shortly", it
said pleasantly, "My minions are bringing them".  A moment the
echo of footsteps and creak of a cart filled the air.  From
behind a formation of rocks came Ranma, she was hauling an old
cart, on which rode a bound and gagged Ryouga, a leashed
Shampoo-cat, a caged Mousse-duck and there was also a Panda
that was chained to the back of the cart.   Ranma was puffing
heavily and she was walking with shaky steps.  A Demon was
walking behind her, cracking a whip around her heels.

     Brett and Urd ran forward, "Stop that you bastard!",
Brett shouted at the demon.

     Tupnixua stepped in front of Brett and Urd, blocking
their approach, "First, I want my payment", it said, smiling
evilly.

     Brett nodded, "Alright", he said, walking over to the
devil, "You've got me, now let my friends go".

     The devil smiled, "Put these on", it said, holding out a
pair of ornate handcuffs.  Brett took the handcuffs and
clipped them on, "There, are you happy now?", he asked.

     Tupnixua nodded, "Very", it said, striking Brett across
the face.  The young man was lifted off his feet and thrown to
the ground, "have more respect for your master!", it hissed.

     Urd turned towards the demon, anger in her eyes and a
spell on her lips.  "NO!", Brett shouted to her, from where he
was picking himself up off of the ground, "Take the others and
go".

     She lowered her gaze and stalked across the uneven ground
to where Ranma and the others stood.  She pulled out the small
TV that Brett had handed her earlier and began reciting a
transport spell, returning her and the others to the safety of
the temple.

                                  ******

     I watched as Urd and the others disappeared in a flash of
light, leaving behind the small, hand-held TV in their wake. 
I gingerly wiped the side of my jaw, noticing that the devil's
claws had done little damage.  I turned to face the smiling
devil, "Let's get this over with", I said quietly.

     "Get over what my dear boy?", the devil asked, "That was
just to put the goddess off".  It gestured to it's demon
companion, "Help him", it said, "and don't damage him".  With
that the devil jumped into the air and with a few beats of
it's wings it flew off over the mountains.

     The demon stepped forward and gestured with one sharp
claw, "Move", it said bluntly, "Tupnixua doesn't tolerate
tardiness in his slaves".

     I squared my shoulders, "I'm no one's slave", I replied.

     The demon nodded, "So many have thought before", it
replied, "But they all come around eventually".  It shoved me
and I started walking slowly in the direction it indicated. 
After about a fifteen minute walk I glanced back over my
shoulder, "So what's your boss got in store for me?", I asked.

     The demon looked disgruntled, "I don't know", it spat,
"He's being too nice to you!".

     I stopped, "What?", I asked, confused.

     The demon nudged me again, "I'm sure he won't mind a few
cuts", it suggested, waving a claw, "If you don't get moving". 

     After a few more minutes the demon stopped me, "We're
here", it said.  I looked around at the barren landscape, the
narrow pass that we were in looked pretty solid to me. 
Chanting in a language I didn't understand, the Demon did a
grotesque little dance and a door appeared on one side of the
canyon, "Get in", it ordered.

     I walked through a passageway that had been cut from the
heart of the mountain, it was even down both sides and I
noticed absently that it passed through some veins of precious
metals.  We walked for a few moments, before we came out into
a large chamber, I recognised it from my dream.  This was the
devil's lair.  Sitting on the throne-like chair at the other
end of the room was Tupnixua, "Come in!", it invited
cheerfully, "Sit down and make yourself comfortable".

     A smaller chair had been placed in the middle of the room
and I shuffled over to it and sat down, "What's going on?", I
asked suspiciously.  This devil wasn't acting anything like it
was suppose to, I had expected to find myself thrown in a
dungeon, or put on a rack.

     Tupnixua smiled grimly, "Ahhh", he said, "According to my
'contract' with the old pervert, I'm suppose to teach you a
lesson".

     I nodded, "So what?", I asked.

     Tupnixua lifted one claw, "Until this afternoon, I had
planned to simply teach you the futility of existence and
destroy you", it said off-handedly.

     I gulped nervously, "And now?", I asked.

     The devil gestured at my handcuffs and they disappeared,
"I'm going to teach you a much more important lesson.. about
power... my power and your power", it said quietly, "you are
unique amongst the gods.. because you once were a mortal..".

     I stood indignantly, "So You're going to corrupt me?", I
scoffed, "Do your worst!".

     The devil shook his head, "Oh no", it replied, "I don't
need to try to corrupt you.... someone's already done that job
for me".

     I shook my head, "I have no idea what You're talking
about!", I shouted, "You can't fool me with these mind
games!".

     "Alright then", Tupnixua said, standing, "Try this!".  He
gestured and I felt something clasp around my neck, "That's a
special bond You're wearing, You're god-given magical powers
are now useless".

     I tried a simple spell, but it failed.  I was totally
blocked from using magic.  "What is this going to prove?", I
demanded.

     Tupnixua shrugged, "It'll keep you from causing trouble",
it said, "When the sacrifice is made, you'll be powerless to
stop it".

     I felt a chill, "What sacrifice?", I asked in a sick
voice.

     A moment later, a struggling Ranma was dragged into the
room, by the lesser demon.  "You lying...", I began.

     Tupnixua held up a claw, "I didn't lie.. I kept my
promise and gave you five cursed ones...", it drawled.

                                  ******

     Skuld looked up as a flash of light filled the room and
her sister appeared, "What the??!?!?", she began.  An instant
later, five other figures filled the room, "You got them back
by yourself?", Skuld asked in disbelief.

     Urd wasn't happy, "No", she snapped, "Brett gave himself
up to get the devil to release them!".

     Skuld felt cold, "But how could...", she began.

     "How could I be that stupid?", Urd asked, "I've been
asking myself that same question..".

     The door to the living room was flung open and Akane
bounded into the room, followed by the rest of the Tendo
family and Belldandy.  "Ranma!", Akane asked anxiously,
shaking her by the shoulder, "What's wrong?!?!".

     Ranma groaned something incomprehensible and then shook
off her grip, "Leave me be!", she hissed, "I'm fine!".

     Akane stepped back at the anger in Ranma's voice,
"What?!?!", she began, feeling her own anger growing.

     "Cut it out!", Urd ordered sharply, "We don't have time
for another of your little lover's tiffs".  Akane blushed and
was about to respond angrily until she saw the look in Urd's
eyes.

     Urd stomped out of the room and made her way to her lab. 
She walked over to a bunsen burner and checked the mixture
against the light.  This was the cure for the honesty potion. 
She carefully poured it into a metal container, she then
placed the small container in a pouch on her belt.

     Gathering up her other potions, she walked back to the
main dining room.  Belldandy and Kasumi had served some dinner
to the ex-prisoners, everyone but Ranma was gobbling down the
offerings hungrily.  Akane looked at her strangely, "What's
wrong Ranma?", she asked, "Usually you'd be shovelling it down
and asking for more at the same time".

     Ranma stood angrily, "Maybe I'm not hungry", she said
curtly, turning and walking to the door, "I'm going to get
some air".

     Akane was about to rise and follow, when Dr Tofu placed a
hand on her shoulder, "Let me", he said quietly.  Tofu waited
a few minutes before following Ranma out into the courtyard.

     Looking across at Kasumi, Akane frowned, "Kasumi's here
and he's not dancing with the hat-rack?", she whispered to
Nabiki in amazement.

     Nabiki nodded, "I think it's something that Brett said to
him", she replied, "About providing comfort and help for us".

     Akane looked around, "That's right!", she said suddenly,
"Where *is* Brett?".

     Urd exchanged a long glance with her sisters, "He
surrendered himself in exchange for your friends", she said
angrily, "And didn't leave me any option but to bring them
back here!".

     Everyone shrunk away from the tone in her voice, "If I
were in Brett's shoes I'd stay with the Devil", Soun whispered
to Genma, looking pointedly at the angry goddess.  The giant
panda nodded and continued stuffing his face.

     "So when are we going to go and get him?", Skuld asked,
hefting her mallet suggestively.  Ryouga surged to his feet,
"Yes, we must rescue him, it is a debt of honour!", he roared.

     Shampoo-cat and Mousse-duck both meowed and quacked
respectively in agreement.  Belldandy nodded, "Yes", she said
firmly.

     Everyone looked at Urd, who was sitting gruffly in the
corner of the room, "OK", she said finally, "But when I get
through with Brett, he's gonna wish that the Devil had kept
him!".

     "I'll just go and get Dr Tofu and Ranma", Kasumi said,
walking into the courtyard.

                                  ******

     Dr Tofu caught up to Ranma as she was getting to the
front gate of the temple, "Hey Ranma!", he called, "I'd like
to talk to you!".

     Ranma stopped just under the doorway, "What do you want",
she asked bluntly.

     "This isn't like you Ranma", Dr Tofu said, in a concerned
tone, "Why are you walking away from the people that care
about you?".

     Ranma turned back to the Doctor, "What's it to you?", she
said.

     "Ranma!", Dr Tofu replied in a stern voice, "I'm your
doctor and your friend, if something is bothering you.. you
know I'm here to help".

     Ranma's face twisted in a cruel grin, "OH?", she asked.

     Dr Tofu ducked as Ranma suddenly spun and kicked out at
his head.  Jumping back a few feet, Dr Tofu crouched in a
fighting stance, "What are you doing?", he demanded.

     "Having some fun", Ranma replied, swinging a punch.

     Tofu blocked the punch easily, "Ranma", he said, "I don't
want to fight you".  Ranma followed up the punch with a leg
sweep.  Dr Tofu back-flipped and landed some distance from
Ranma.

     He raised his hand, "You are not Ranma, that isn't his
fighting style", he said firmly, "What have you done with
him?".

     The fake Ranma smiled, "Oh of course I'm not", she said
scornfully, "My master would never give up all his trump
cards... soon the energy within Ranma will be released and my
master will rule the mortal world....".

     Tofu's gave the fake Ranma a steely glare, "First you'll
have to get past me!", he said, pulling a ward from his
jacket.

     "Oh?", the imposter asked, "And how do you expect that to
effect me?".  It moved forward never flinching from the ward.

     Dr Tofu backed up slowly, "I don't understand!", he said,
"This should work on a creature of darkness like you!".

     The imposter nodded, "Ordinarily it would.. but I am
locked into this form by the curse! this body is not effected
by those charms!".

     A shower of hot tea suddenly rained down on the imposter
and it shrieked in pain.  "Doctor!", Kasumi called, from where
she'd tossed the tea, "Get away from that thing!".

     Tofu flung the ward directly at the convulsing creature's
face and rolled away.  He quickly ran over to where Kasumi was
standing, then seeing the look on her face he turned back, "Oh
my God!", he exclaimed.

     The transformed demon was shuddering and twitching on the
ground, a thin line of smoke was rising from where Tofu had
hit it with the ward.  After a moment it was still, then
carefully and deliberately it reached up and pulled off the
ward.  The demon looked liked the odd pieces of nearly two
dozen creatures, mixed together in one form, "Fool!", it
hissed/spoke/grunted from it's mouths, "You are now mine!".

     "RUN!", Tofu said to Kasumi, pushing her back towards the
temple, "I'll keep it busy!".

     Kasumi took a few steps back and stopped, "No", she said,
"I can't leave you...".

     "KASUMI!", Dr Tofu hissed, "You've got to go! I can keep
it busy for a little while....".

     A bolt of white lighting streaked across the temple,
impacting into the mutated creature's chest, and knocking it
from it's feet.  A second later, three bottles arced through
the air, landing in a perfect triangle, surrounding the demon. 

hen a whirling hammer spun across the distance, striking each
of the bottles, shattering them.  The dust the bottles carried
formed into lines and the lines curved into intricate
patterns. The demon screamed as the wards locked into place. 
It smashed it's arms against what appeared to be thin air, but
where it's arms touched the air above the lines, energy
crackled.

     Kasumi and Dr Tofu looked at the temple and saw the three
goddesses, Urd was still holding a bottle in one hand and
Skuld had just caught her whirling hammer.  Belldandy lowered
her hand, "BEGONE!", she intoned, "TROUBLE THIS WORLD NO
LONGER!".

     "BEGONE!", Urd and Skuld echoed, "THE NORNS COMMAND IT!".

     The mutated demon howled in defeat and whimpered as it
began to fade.  A gust of wind rose and the demon disappeared. 
A few seconds later Akane and the others ran up behind the
goddesses, "Are you two alright?", Genma asked, "Where did
that thing come from?".

                                  ******
     
     "So I see you didn't fair very well out of this either",
I remarked to Happosai.  I was leaning against the bars of my
rather well-appointed cell, looking at the little pervert, who
was sitting in something that resembled a birdcage.

     Happosai just grunted and refused to respond.  A demon
walked past and spun Happosai's cage causing it to rock back
and forth.  The old man's face was rather green.

     "So how are you going to get us out of here?", Ranma
whispered loudly from where she was sitting in a cage only
slightly bigger than Happosai's.

     I tested the strange necklace/collar that I was wearing,
"Unless I can remove this damn collar, we're not going
anywhere", I replied.

     "Why is he treating you so well?", Ranma asked (almost
suspiciously), "I mean that cell of your's looks more like a
penthouse apartment!".

     I glance around the room, it was quite nice (for a cell),
it had everything except a TV, mirror, clock and running water
(I guess Tupnixua wasn't taking any chances).   I shook my
head at Ranma's question, "I don't know, but it worries me", I
replied.

     Happosai, who had managed to get his stomach under
control glanced in my direction, "So the almighty god of
Destiny finds himself trapped", he said, "Now how could that
happen to someone so powerful?? Hmm.... maybe You're not as
good as you seem to think you are?".

     "Shut up old man", Ranma snapped, "If it wasn't for you
we wouldn't be in this mess!".

     Happosai glanced at Ranma, "Oh?", he asked.  With that he
pushed sharply on the bars of his cage and they broke with a
snap, "I am more resourceful than you give me credit for!".      
He jumped to the floor and scooted across to Ranma's cage. 
Pulling a hairpin from his clothing he began to work on the
lock.

     "What are you doing?", I asked, "I thought you were the
one that wanted revenge?".

     Happosai didn't even spare me a glance, "That's right",
he murmured, "But if this devil brings more if it's kind into
this world.. it's just to horrible to contemplate!".

     Ranma looked surprised, "OH?", she asked suspiciously.

     Happosai nodded, "Of course, being separated from
beautiful women for so long.... those devils will do
unspeakable things to the young women of the world", he
muttered, "*that* should be a right reserved for ME!!!!!".

     Ranma resisted the urge to pound the pervert into the
ground with great effort, "Keep the reasons to yourself", she
suggested, "And hurry up with that cage!".

     I began to pace nervously, the demon guard would be back
shortly.  Happosai accidentally broke the pin the lock and had
to begin again.  I was beginning to feel rather restricted,
"Hurry up!", I hissed, "The demon...".

     "Is here!", a voice finished.  The guard was advancing
towards Happosai, it's wicked claws extended menacingly.

     At that moment, Ranma's cell door snicked open.  Ranma
vaulted over Happosai and landed on the demon's head, knocking
it over, "Hurry up and release Brett", she said, "I'll take
care of this one!".

     Happosai scampered to my cell and began picking the lock. 
Ranma was dodging most of the demon's attacks, occasionally
punching or kicking when she saw an opening.  "Move it!", I
shouted at Happosai angrily.

     "I can't open this!", Happosai said reluctantly, "it's
not a lock that I'm familiar with".

     Irrationally I shook the bars as hard as I could.  And
felt something snap.  The door fell forward, barely missing a
stunned Happosai.  I looked at my hands and then at the door,
"Hmm.. they must have set it in the rock incorrectly", I said,
trying to find an explanation.

     Happosai shrugged and ran off to help Ranma, who had
taken a few small nicks from the demon.  I moved a little more
slowly, not having much experience at hand to hand (or hand to
claw) combat.  The two martial artists were holding their own
and even pushing the demon back step by step.  Feeling
frustrated and useless I picked up a small rock (hoping I
might be able to distract the demon), I pitched it as hard as
I could at the demon, releasing some of my anger.

     The little rock cracked into the demon's skull and kept
going.  Ranma and Happosai stepped back in amazement as the
demon fell dead at their feet and began to fade into smoke. 
"How the hell did you do that?", Ranma demanded, "I thought
you were cut off from your powers?".

     I was looking at the hand that had thrown the rock in
amazement, "I don't know", I said shakily, "it's like my anger
gives me some kind of strength...".

     "What are those marks on your face?", Happosai asked,
peering at me curiously.

     I frowned at him, "What marks?", I asked warily.

     "On your forehead", Ranma confirmed, "Some vertical
lines.. just outside that diamond marking...".

     I froze for a second, "You really see that?", I asked. 
Both of them nodded and I felt a surge of hatred fill me,
"THAT BASTARD IS TURNING ME INTO A DEMON!", I cursed.

     Happosai and Ranma exchanged worried looks, "Let's just
get out of here", Ranma suggested, "I'm sure your friends will
me able to help...".

     "NO!", I spat, "I'm going to rip that devil's black heart
out first!", a red haze descending on my vision.

                                  ******

     "Are you sure this is the right way?", Skuld whispered
urgently.

     Urd glanced back at her sister, "For the tenth time:
YES!", she replied shortly, "He's down this passageway!".

     The three goddesses were warily walking down a stone
passage, escorted by a BFG-toting Akane, Bonbouri-wielding
Shampoo and a pair of resolute-looking young men.

     Mousse bumped into the wall, "I recognise this passage",
he whispered, adjusting his glasses.

     "Yeah right!", snorted Ryouga, "Like you can see beyond
your own nose".

     Mousse was about to respond when they noticed Urd glaring
back at them.  He swallowed his retort and continued down the
passage.  They had managed to find this secret tunnel with
help from Urd.  She was following a magical trail, left by the
little ward she had placed on Brett's shoulder before the
demon had taken him away.  The little spell left a trail of
magical 'breadcrumbs' for them to follow.

     "TUPNIXUA!!!!!", a familiar voice bellowed from up ahead.

     Skuld and Belldandy exchanged a glance, "Was that
Brett?", Skuld wondered.

     "I'M GOING TO TEAR YOUR BLOODY HEAD OFF!!!!", Brett's
voice echoed through the corridor.

     The group moved more quickly down the corridor, coming
out into a large hall.  At one end of the hall, the devil was
sitting on a large throne, "Welcome", it said grandly, "I was
expecting you".

     A creaking noise filled the corridor and everyone jumped
forward into the room, it collapsed with a deafening noise,
filling the air with dust.

     "Akane!", Urd coughed, "Shoot him!".

     Akane blinked the dust from her eyes and raised the BFG,
aiming it directly at the horrid creature in front of her. 
Tupnixua looked on curiously as she pulled the trigger.  A
bolt of greenish energy leapt from the barrel, racing across
the chamber and impacting into the devil's chest.

     The devil exploded into millions of fragments.  "YES!",
Akane exclaimed in triumph.

     "Good shot", Tupnixua commented, from slightly behind the
throne, "You killed that illusion very efficiently!".

     Urd released a bolt of lightning at the devil, it
impacted into the throne, sending fragments of wood and stone
into the air.

     Tupnixua nodded, "Commendable", it observed, "Sacrificing
yourselves for a friend... a pity that it's too late".

     Urd's eyes narrowed, "What you do mean by that?", she
asked.

     Tupnixua raised his arms and an image of Brett, Ranma and
Happosai appeared.  Urd recoiled at the image, Brett was
ripping the arms off a demon.  The expression on his face was
something that she'd only seen once before, when she had so
angered him that he'd almost hit her.  "Observe closely",
Tupnixua encouraged, "You'll see the reason".

     It took Urd a few moments to notice the difference in
Brett's features, the twin stripes of a demon were visible on
his forehead.  "What did you do to him?", she demanded.

     Shampoo, Ryouga and Mousse picked that moment to begin
advancing towards the devil.

     "Shampoo no care about pervert or god-type", Shampoo
said, "But you no hurt Ranma!".

     Mousse glanced at Shampoo, a flicker of disappointment
crossing his face, "I will defend Shampoo against your evil",
he declared.

     Ryouga smacked his umbrella against his hand, "Let's get
on with it", he growled.

     Tupnixua smiled, "Of course", it said, "Let's begin".

     Three demons suddenly leapt out of the shadows, facing
off in front of the three young martial artists.  "Coward!",
Ryouga growled.

     Tupnixua nodded, "Of course I'm not going to bother with
the three of you", it replied, then it looked at it's minions,
"Kill them!", it ordered.  Tupnixua looked at the goddesses
and raised it's claws, "Shall we see how well you learned your
lessons?", it asked, chanting the beginnings of a spell.

     Akane looked at the three goddesses in frustration, "What
can I do?", she demanded, "This thing's not working!".

     Skuld hurried over and began tinkering with the BFG,
while her sisters began countering the devil's spells. 
Ryouga, Mousse and Shampoo were being forced backwards, barley
keeping from being impaled on the demon's claws and fangs.

     Belldandy and Urd began to cast their counter-spell and
Tupnixua flinched back, "So", it hissed, "You are more
powerful that you appear!".

     "That's correct", Belldandy said in calm voice, "You
cannot defeat us".

     "TUPNIXUA!", Brett's voice bellowed from a corridor, it
seemed to be getting closer.

     Tupnixua nodded, "Perhaps not", it allowed, "But someone
will soon be here who you won't be able to fight".

     Belldandy and Urd exchanged a glance and began weaving a
warding spell.  Tupnixua snarled and began another spell of
his own.  A moment later the dismembered corpse of a demon
flew into the room, landing in the middle of the throne room.

     Tupnixua smiled, "Right on time", it said.

     Brett stalked into the room, his face a mask of rage. 
"I've found you!", he snarled, advancing towards Tupnixua. 
One of the lesser-demons that was fighting Mousse, Ryouga and
Shampoo made the mistake of getting in Brett's way.  A sharp
crack echoed around the room and the unfortunate demon's head
was suddenly hanging from it's shoulders.

     Tupnixua spread his arms in greeting, "Brett my friend",
he said in what was probably a warm voice for a devil, "I'm
glad you could make it!".

     Urd and Belldandy moved forward, but were stopped by a
shimmering wall of energy, from which black flames spouted
occasionally.  Urd nearly screamed in frustration, hurling one
of her exploding potions against the wall.  It had no effect
other than a slight shimmering.

     Brett continued advancing and Tupnixua held up a hand. 
Brett was suddenly choking on the ground, fighting for air,
"None of that", Tupnixua said sharply, "You cannot attack your
master".

     "No one is my master", Brett gasped.

     "Oh no?", Tupnixua asked, "I'd reconsider that if I were
you.. I've gone to so much trouble getting that collar.. I'd
hate to see it go to waste, just because You're a little upset
with me".

     "Go to hell...", Brett whispered.

     Tupnixua smiled, "You first", it replied, causing the
collar to shrink even more, "You are my servant until the end
of time!".

     Unnoticed by Tupnixua, a small object, similar in size to
a bowling ball rolled into the chamber.  It rolled across the
room and came to a stop just behind the gloating devil. 
Tupnixua heard a sizzling noise and looked down just as the
fuse burnt down.

     A massive explosion rocked the room, throwing the devil
to it's knees.  The protective wall that the devil had
summoned, gave a last spurt of flames and then disappeared.

     That was what Skuld and Akane were waiting for, Skuld
held two wires in her hand, "Ready?", she asked Akane.  Akane
nodded and aimed the massive gun at the devil, who was slowing
getting back to it's feet.

     Skuld touched the wires together and the gun shuddered, a
thin beam of greenish energy lanced out and hit the devil in
the waist.  The devil screamed as the beam cut into it's
flesh.  It's flesh melted under the beam, forming a puddle of
black gore on the floor of the room.  Akane dropped the gun
just as it began to melt, a discharge of energy threw her and
Skuld a few meters away.

     Urd threw a trio of her potions at the devil's remains,
this time the bottles shattered, sprinkling the glittering
dust in a circle.  The two goddesses created a quick ward
around the devil's remains.  The two demons that were fighting
Ryouga, Mousse and Shampoo didn't hang around to see what
happened, they charged out of the chamber, heading deeper into
the mountain.

                                  ******

     Akane picked herself up from the ground and walked over
to where she had dropped BFG after it's final discharge.  It
was melted beyond recognition.  "Typical", a sarcastic voice
called, "The tomboy always breaks other people's toys!".

     Akane was about to retort angrily, till she noticed
Ranma-chan limping out of a passageway, carrying a badly hurt
Happosai.  Akane ran over to her, pausing a few steps away and
looking at the unconscious pervert, "Why are you helping
*him*?", she asked, "He's the cause of all this!".

     Happosai (who was barley conscious) held up a lit match
and one of his explosives, "You think you could have gotten
out of this without me?", he groaned.

     "AKANE!!", a voice bellowed, "HE WAS *MINE*!!!!!".

     Ranma and Akane looked across the room at an enraged
Brett, who was stalking towards them.  Akane blinked in
confusion and Ranma (who had seen the strength Brett had
displayed earlier) stepped protectively in front of Akane.

     Brett's face was a mask of rage and he clenched his fists
at his sides, "WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!?!?!", he roared.

     Urd stepped in front of Akane and Ranma, "Brett!", she
said sharply, "Stop this!".

     Brett's eyes examined her carefully, "Get out of my way",
he said coldly.

     Urd cowered back slightly at the image that Brett
presented.  The markings on his forehead were becoming more
solid, and seemed to be writhering on his skin.  The Devil, or
what was left of it, smouldered and sizzled, releasing plumes
of greenish smoke, "He's mine", it whispered.

     Belldandy and Skuld finished up the warding circles
around the remains of Tupnixua, "Finished!", Skuld said after
adding her own power to the ward.  Then she turned around and
saw Brett advancing on Urd.  She whipped out her mallet and
scooted over behind Brett, intending to knock him out before
he could hurt her sister.

     Unfortunately for Skuld, the impact of her mallet against
the back of Brett's head had very little effect.  He rubbed
the back of his head and turned around, "Skuld", he said, "You
will pay for that".

     Belldandy raised her hands and began a spell.  Skuld
picked up on it immediately and joined in.  The two goddesses'
voices filled the hall as the spell took shape.  As the last
echoes faded Brett was left standing in the middle of the
room, frozen in time.

     "What's going on??!?", Urd demanded, "What happened to
him?!?!".

     Ranma shrugged, "I don't know", she said, "All of a
sudden he became really strong... and angry.. he mentioned
something about that collar that Tupnixua put on him".

     Urd walked over and looked at Brett carefully, "It's an
unusual item", she said, "I don't think I've seen anything
quite like it".

     The other two goddesses gathered around, "You'll never
release him!", Tupnixua whispered, "He's one of us now!".

     Urd walked over to the edge of the ward, "What are you
talking about", she demanded, "What did you do to him?!?!".

     A mocking laughter filled the room, "It wasn't me",
Tupnixua said innocently, "It was you!".

     "Me?", Urd said, "What did I do?".

     "You gave him some of a demon's soul", Tupnixua replied.

     "What?", Belldandy asked, looking at Urd in amazement,
"How?".

     Urd threw a guilty glance at her sisters, "It was when
Nilthar had possessed his body", she admitted, "I couldn't
remember how much energy each of them had...".

     "..So you just divided it between them", Belldandy
finished.  Belldandy and Skuld looked at Brett carefully,
"He's had that energy in him for nearly six months", Belldandy
said quietly, "There's nothing we can do to remove it after
all this time...".

     Ranma, who had been listening to the conversation, looked
up, "So you mean he's stuck like this?", she demanded, "This
didn't happen till Tupnixua put that collar on him!".

     The three goddesses examined the collar more closely, "I
suppose if we remove it...", Skuld began.

     "You cannot!", Tupnixua said, his body was regenerating
quickly, and he had reformed his head and torso, "If you try,
he will kill you... the only way to remove it is for him to
take it off... and the collar won't let that happen!".

     "What are you talking about?", Urd asked angrily, "The
collar?".

     Tupnixua sighed, "Must I explain everything?", he asked
in a mournful voice, "The collar is feeding on his energy, by
provoking his anger... if you try to remove it, it will direct
all his anger at you!".

     Everyone was silent for a long moment, "Well what we
do?", Shampoo asked, "We rescue Ranma, leave crazy man here".

     Urd glared at Shampoo, "We can't just abandon him!", she
said angrily.

     Ranma and Akane both nodded, "Can we take him with us?",
Ryouga asked from where he was guarding the door nervously
(the mountain was making some unusual noises, shaking and
rumbling), "I don't think this mountain is the safest place to
be".

     Belldandy nodded, "We can move him", she said, "He's been
frozen in time.. not we do can effect him physically... but we
can move him around".

     "How long can you keep him like this?", Akane asked.

     Belldandy shrugged, "As long as we need to", she replied,
"Time is something that we have quite a bit of control over".

     "Not enough to prevent him from awaking eventually",
Tupnixua gloated, "And once he wakes, he will wreak havoc
across the world... he's not limited to the underworld.. and
he cannot be banished like other demons".  The devil had
reformed it's body and it was testing the wards that the
goddesses had set up around it.

     Urd gave the devil a furious look, "Do we have to put up
with that thing any longer?", she asked pointedly.

     Belldandy and Skuld smiled, "Not at all sister", Skuld
said, "If you would just aid us for a little while".  A few
moments later there was a terrible scream and the devil
disappeared with a flash of acrid smoke.

                                  ******


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            E-Mail: darkwnd@sv.net.au
   Web Page: http://www.ozanime.com/darkwind

  "Imagination is more important than knowledge"

                             -Albert Einstein
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