Re: [FFML] [FFML] Request

From: "The Eternal Lost Lurker" <EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net>

The Eternal Lost Lurker (EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net)

Author's Foreword:
This is the first of two stories which combined make up the rewrite of my
longest work ever, "Her". Note, this is a rewrite, not a revision, of
"Her", which means the story is completely changed. It has some of the same
elements but takes them in a completely different direction.

That having been said...
1) The two sections of "Onna" will not be related to one another. Red Side
is a crossover, Yellow Side will be a straight Ranma fic.
2) Red Side is a cross between Ranma 1/2 and an alternate reality of Magic
Knight RayEarth. The RayEarth material used contains drastic changes to the
original storyline. In this alternate timeline, the events of MKR1 change
about halfway through, MKR2 does not occur at all, and the timeline is two
years after the altered MKR1.
3) I'm using the anime continuum of Ranma 1/2, and the manga continuum of
RayEarth.
4) Warning: this tends to get DARK in some places.

   *hajime*

   The thin, cool mist he'd encountered at every step of his journey so far
suddenly thickened. He had to tread more carefully as visibility was
reduced to nil. Ahead of him, he heard the sound of water dripping. He
continued onward.
   A little farther down the trail, he heard faint voices. Straining to
hear, he could make out two: one was laughing cruelly. The other was...a
girl crying?
   Gritting his teeth, he strode into the mist, unmindful of the trail. The
mist began to part, and a spectacle from hell unfolded before him.
   Tied to a roughly hewn wooden stake was a young girl, with long, braided
red hair. She was filthy, naked, covered with welts and bruises, and
crying. Dark rings circled her watery crimson eyes.
   Her tormentor stood before her, his posture arrogant and his laughter
cold and mocking. Beside the tormentor sat a rack of torture
implements...all quite obviously recently used.
   Suddenly, he found himself no longer able to move. Rooted to his spot on
the trail, he could only watch in horror as the cruel man raped his young
prisoner. Her screams rent deep gashes in his soul. He struggled to no
avail against the paralysis which had taken him.
   Her tormentor then turned to face him. An arrogant sneer darkened the
all too familiar features...the ones he saw in the mirror every day.
   Saotome Ranma awoke screaming.

   Ranma 1/2
    "ONNA" Red Side vs. Yellow Side

       Red
       Side



Legal:
Ranma 1/2 property of Takahashi Rumiko, Shogakukan, Weekly Shonen, VIZ
Communications.
Magic Knight RayEarth property of CLAMP
Anything else used, I'll deal with in the author's notes at the end. ^_^

   ACT ONE: Honou no Onna

   Chapter 1: Zankoku no Yume

   Genma lazily whapped Ranma over the head with a sign that said "Shut up,
boy" before rolling over and going back to sleep. The Tendou family came
charging into the room, Akane at the head of the pack. "Ranma!"
   Ranma rubbed his head. His hand came away drenched in sweat. "Kuso..."
he gasped, breathing raggedly.
   "Ara! Ranma-kun, are you alright?" Kasumi knelt beside his futon. Akane
knelt on the other side.
   Ranma took a moment to compose himself, then softly said, "Yeah...I'm
okay. Just...just a bad dream." Assuming his usual cavalier demeanor, he
said, in a still somewhat shaky voice. "Ah, it ain't nothin'. I musta just
ate too much of your cookin' last night Akane."
   Akane's expression went from concerned, to embarrassed, to outraged.
"RANMA NO BAKA!" she screamed, and stalked out of the room.
   "Ara..." Kasumi said. Then she started. "Ara! I need to finish making
breakfast!" With that, she hurried daintily from the room.
   Nabiki clucked her tongue at Ranma. "Good one Saotome," she snickered,
and made her way back to her own room.
   Soun just bawled for a few minutes. Genma slept on unperturbed.

   A few minutes later, Ranma staggered into the bathroom. "Oh man...I feel
like hell..." Stepping in front of the mirror, he groaned. His reflection
revealed a respectable amount of stubble, bleary eyes, dissheveled hair,
and bags under his eyes. "Oh man...I look like hell too," he muttered.
Stripping off his tank top, but leaving his boxers on, he picked up a
washbucket, and filled it with cold water. Bracing himself, he dumped it
over his head. "BBbbrrrr....cold..." Shaking off the excess droplets, Ranma
was about to commence with the morning toilette, when her gaze locked on
her reflection.
   Slowly, the image in the mirror changed. No longer was she looking at
her drowsy, damp, bleary face. She was now staring into watery auburn eyes
which gazed back at her from a bleeding, tear-streaked, bruised face. The
girl in the mirror was covered in welts and bruises and grime. Her eyes
held a pleading in them. Ranma could do little more than stare back at her.
   Until the girl in the mirror spoke.
   <Help me. Please...help me. Rescue me. Set me free. Please. Help me.>
   With a shriek, Ranma leapt away from the mirror.
   Once again, the rest of the household tore into the room. Akane looked
worried again, but slightly annoyed. Kasumi looked genuinely concerned.
Soun was bawling again. Genma wore no expression. Nabiki smirked.
   "Really, Ranma. Twice in one morning?" Nabiki chided.
   "That...the mirror...girl...my dream..."
   Akane frowned. "Ranma...what are you talking about?"
   Ranma pointed at the mirror...and froze. All it revealed was her own
panicked visage.
   She blinked. "What in the...?"
   Kasumi prompted, "Ranma? Are you alright?"
   Ranma stepped back shakily from the mirror. "Ah...yeah. I think so.
Yeah."
   With that, the Tendous and Genma retreated from the bathroom. Akane
glanced back at Ranma with worry evident on her face, before closing the
door behind her.

   ***Interlude: China***

   :Be careful down there, daughter. It's dangerous.:
   :I'm alright, Father. Don't worry about me.:
   Plum searched the small crevice at the base of the cliff overlooking the
west side of Jyusenkyou. Her father had spotted something down there, and
she was the only one small enough to check it out.
   :There doesn't seem to be anything down here, Father...:
   Suddenly, a bright red light flared from the corner of the crevice. Plum
frowned, and made her way over to it.
   :How odd...:
   Wedged between two rocks was a slightly dingy white gauntlet with a red
jewel set into the back of the handguard. As she examined it, the jewel
begin pulsing brightly. With a shriek, Plum dropped it.
   :Daughter! Are you alright?:
   :Yes, Father. It just startled me. What is it?:
   :I don't know, Daughter. I have seen nothing of this sort before.:
   The jewel abruptly stopped flashing. Plum picked up the gauntlet and
examined it more closely, frowning. She could have sworn it was dirty a
minute ago; now, it was pristine white. It also seemed a slight bit larger.
:This thing is too strange,: Plum commented. Tucking it into the knapsack
slung over her shoulder, she made her way out of the crevice.

   Chapter 2: The Fiery Pigtailed One

   "Ranma? Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
   Ranma was walking, not on the fence as usual, but on the sidewalk. He
was gazing down at the ground. There seemed to be a tangible aura of
despair from him. "I'm fine Akane."
   "No, Ranma...you're not. Has it got something to do with that dream?"
   Ranma's head snapped up, and he glared at Akane. "Ah, what would YOU
know about it? Just...forget it. Don't bring it up again, alright?"
   Akane smirked. "Fine then, Ranma! See if I care!"
   Ranma sighed. After a moment, he murmured softly, "Akane...I'm sorry."
   Akane did a double take. Ranma? Apologizing? "Ranma...?"
   Ranma sighed, and began, "It's just....you got no idea..."
   Akane stopped walking, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ranma...tell
me."
   Ranma took a deep breath. As he was about to speak...
   ...Benshou-san, a local who had a bad habit of dumping water out of his
window, did exactly that. Right on Ranma's head.
   "Sorry about that!" he called, before shutting his window.
   Akane watched Ranma expectantly. She wasn't sure if the slight redhead
would continue her story or grumble about the unfairness of it all.
Instead, she just sighed, and said, "We're gonna be late to class."
   With the discussion effectively ended, the two girls continued toward
Fuurinkan.

   Ryouga grunted. This wasn't one of his worst days. Not one of the best,
but it could be worse. At least he was back in Nerima. He knew that for a
fact; he'd just seen Ukyou leave her shop, and was following her to the
school.
   Of course, things weren't incredibly good either. At the moment he was
stuck in pig form...and he'd somehow managed to misplace his favorite
bandana. How the thing came off, he had no idea. At least he had his spare,
the solid yellow one he'd worn the day IT happened.
   Up ahead, he saw Akane, and Ranma. Akane was a plus. Ranma was a
definite minus.
   Oh well, he'd come this far. Might as well reunite with his beloved...

   "Buii! Bukii!"
   Akane turned to the source of the sound, and her eyes lit up with joy.
"Look Ranma! It's P-chan! P-chan, c'mere baby!"
   P-chan trotted happily up to Akane. Ranma looked on with mild amusement.
As Akane swept P-chan into her arms, she noticed something different.
"Ranma, look! P-chan's got a new bandana! I wonder where he got it?"
   Ranma noticed this, and for a moment, her eyes lit up as well. "Oh,
kawaii!" she enthused in a rather bubbly voice. P-chan's eyes widened.
Akane glanced at Ranma in mild shock. "Uhh...Ranma? Are you sure you're
feeling okay?"
   Whatever it was, it had passed. "Yeah Akane, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
   "Well...it's just, you were acting kinda weird there for a second."
   Ranma blinked, then shrugged. "Eh, let's forget about it and get to
school. I don't wanna have another run-in with Hinako-sensei this mornin'."

   As the group approached the gates of Fuurinkan, they were greeted by
Kunou. As usual, he wielded his bokken. Upon seeing them, his eyes
sparkled, and he launched into one of his patented rants.
   "Ah, on this beautiful and clear day, fortune doth indeed favor the
noble scion of the house of Kunou..."
   "Well, y'know what they say...fortune favors the foolish," Ranma
interjected. Akane snickered.
   Kunou paused in his rant, and shot a somewhat amused glance at Ranma
before continuing. "And so the fiery pigtailed one indeed doth make jest at
her love. From the lips of any other, the taunt would garner a severe
thrashing. However, fair goddess, from thine lips it is not a barb, but an
invitation to do honorable battle for the honor of DATING with me!" With
that, Kunou launched himself at Ranma, bokken slicing the air before him.
   Ranma did a series of backflips, placing herself out of the range of
Kunou's striking pattern. Akane expected this to be the moment in which
Ranma downed Kunou with one kick. However, something most unexpected
happened.
   Ranma's eyes glazed over. When she came back into focus, her eyes
widened and she shrieked as Kunou's bokken almost tore her gut open. Diving
wildly to the side, she sprang back to her feet. She seemed to be
concentrating on something. Then, after a moment, she looked down at her
left hand, as if something were missing. As Kunou's sword began raking
towards her again, she rolled several feet to the side. Springing up once
again, she raised her right hand over her head, palm up.
   "What's that idiot doing?" Akane wondered quietly. P-chan, from his
vantage point in her arms, was wondering the same thing. As much as he
disliked Ranma, he knew this fight should have been over before it started.
   Suddenly, something FLARED above Ranma's right hand. Expression fierce,
she shouted, "HONOU NO.....YAAAAAAA!!!" and brought the raised arm down,
pointing straight at Kunou.
   Several narrow streaks of bright flame erupted from Ranma's hand.
Kunou's eyes widened, and he frantically tried to parry the fire with his
bokken. The wooden sword was immediately incinerated by the flaming
projectiles. One slammed into Kunou and knocked him across the courtyard,
into the wall of the building.
   Akane and P-chan stared at this spectacle with wide eyes. "What on
earth...?" Akane wondered aloud. P-chan bweed softly. If Ranma had a new
attack like that...
   Suddenly, Ranma began blinking rapidly. She stared at her hand, then at
the pile of smoldering ashes marking what once had been Kunou's bokken.
Then her gaze traveled to the slightly blackened Kunou himself.
   Akane rushed over to her. "Ranma?"
   Ranma blinked a few times, then said, in a somewhat hoarse voice,
"Yeah?"
   "What....what did you just do?"
   Ranma shook her head. "I...I don't know. I...can't remember."

   Nabiki grumbled irritably as she trailed Sasuke, who hauled Kunou's
carcass to Tofuu-sensei's clinic. "Idiot...both this one and Ranma...what
the hell was that all about anyway?"
   Kunou groaned once in response.
   Dragging Kunou through the entrance, the small group was greeted by a
rather concerned Tofuu. "What happened to him?" Tofuu-sensei asked, nodding
at the unconscious kendoist.
   "Ranma happened to him, what else?" Nabiki smirked. "But this was
different than usual."
   Tofuu-sensei raised an eyebrow. "How so?" As they talked, Sasuke lifted
Kunou onto an examination table, and quietly slipped out of the clinic.
   "Well," Nabiki frowned thoughtfully, "Ranma hit him with some kind of
fire blast."
   "You mean a ki-blast," Tofuu-sensei corrected as he examined the burns
on Kunou's chest.
   Nabiki shook her head. "No, sensei. I know a ki blast when I see
one...hey, living around here you sure see enough of them, right? This was
FIRE."
   Tofuu-sensei frowned, and began probing the burns. "Well, these burns
will heal...but you're right. A ki blast wouldn't leave burns like these."
Frowning, he picked up the phone.
   "Who are you calling, sensei?" Nabiki asked.
   Without responding, Tofuu began speaking into the phone. "Shampoo? This
is Ono Tofuu. Could you please send your great-grandmother down to my
clinic? It's urgent. Thanks."
   Nabiki stared incredulously at the doctor. "What on earth do you want
with that old Amazon?"
   Tofuu frowned, and sighed. "There's something about these burns...I'm
not sure what to make of them."
   That took Nabiki by surprise. "A problem you can't fix?"
   Tofuu slumped into a chair. "You have to remember, Nabiki...I may be
good at handling a lot of the more...unusual situations that show up around
here, but I'm still fairly young and inexperienced. Cologne is over five
times as old as I am...and experienced with magic."
   Nabiki's eyes widened. "You're saying that what happened to Kunou was
magic?"
   Tofuu frowned pensively. "I'm not sure. That's why I want to get her
opinion on it."

   Ranma was unusually quiet at lunch. Akane was worried. Ryouga was
too...he was watching Ranma closely.
   Ukyou walked over and sat down with them. "Ranchan? I heard about what
happened with Kunou this morning."
   "I don't want to talk about it," Ranma said.
   Ukyou shot a glance at Akane, who sighed. "He's been like this all day."
   Suddenly, water rained down on the group, and a lecherous old voice
called out, "Ranma-chan! Come let an old man comfort himself in your
bosom!"
   Happousai attempted to glomp Ranma, only to be flattened by a spatula.
"Leave Ranchan alone. He's had a rough day."
   "But...but I only wanted to comfort the sweet young thing!" Happousai
protested.
   Suddenly, Ranma stood. Hatred smouldered in her eyes. In a dead quiet
voice, she said, "Why can't you sick, evil people just leave me alone?"
   Everyone stared at her in shock. An intangible wind was stirring her
clothing and her pigtail. Akane and Ukyou backed away nervously. Happousai
examined her curiously.
   "But Ranma-chan...I only wanted..."
   "Who is Ranma?" she asked. "If that's some sick word for what you people
treat me like...tying me up....doing...doing..." she shuddered visibly.
Everyone was staring at her strangely now. With a scowl, and with
undisguised hatred smoldering in her eyes, which seemed to have turned a
dark shade of crimson, she snarled, "NO MORE! I'm not taking ANY MORE!" She
extended her cupped hands in front of her, and a small, angry red nexus of
energy formed between them.
   Ukyou gaped in shock. Akane yelled, "EVERYONE GET DOWN!"
   Happousai could only stare like a deer caught in the headlights.
<Masaka...what on earth is...this...power?>
   Sparks danced along Ranma's hands, fueling the energy between her palms,
expanding it, making it brighter. Then, without warning, she brought her
hands to her side, and with a shout of "SCARLET LIGHTNING!", she released a
white-hot ball of energy, surrounded by an angry red corona. It tore into
Happousai before the old pervert could react.
   Happousai was slammed across the courtyard and through the fence. He lay
out in the street, clothing and what little hair he had left on fire. A
long scorched gouge marked the passage of the fire blast, grass still
smoldering in places. Ranma trembled, then slumped to the ground. Ukyou and
Akane rushed over to her, while everyone else backed away nervously.
   "Ranma!"  "Ranchan!"
   Ranma was unconcious.

   ***Interlude: China***

   :It lasted much longer this time, Father.:
   The Guide and Plum were standing over a small table, on which rested the
white gauntlet. The gem in the handguard pulsed one last time, and then
went dark again.
   :What do you suppose this thing is, Father?:
   :I have no idea. I've asked one of the elder Niichieju to take a look at
it.:
   There was a knock on the door. Plum opened the door, and a tall,
leathery old woman with graying yet dark hair stepped into the cottage.
   :Show me this item.:
   The Guide presented the gauntlet to her. She examined it thoughtfully,
frowning.
   :This object...has tremendous magical power.:
   :Elder, what is it?:
   The woman shook her head. :I do not know.: After a pause, during which
she continued to examine the gauntlet, she nodded decisivly. :Keeper of the
cursed springs...I would ask of you to send this object to Japan.:
   :Japan?: The Guide was puzzled thoroughly.
   The elder nodded, her expression impatient, as though it should be
obvious. :I would have the eldest of our tribe, Khu Lon, examine this
artifact. She will more be able to discern its origin and its purpose than
I or any other in the village would.:
   The Guide nodded. :Very well then. It shall be done.:
   The elder removed a few gold coins from the sash around her waist. :Use
these coins to insure that the package will be delivered immediately. To
the modern world, they are worth enough to buy many luxuries. You will be
able to have the object delivered very swiftly.:
   The Guide nodded and took both the coins and the item. :As you wish,
Elder. Thank you for coming.:
   :It is I who would thank you for bringing this object to our attention.
Such powerful magic as this is not something I would care to have lying
around without knowing what its purpose is.:
   With that, the Elder departed for her village, and the Guide and Plum
departed for the nearest town with delivery services.

   Chapter 3: The Awakening

   Cologne studied Kunou's chest with curiosity. Kunou, who by now was
awake, frowned. "Honored old troll, might I ask what you find so
interesting upon my person?"
   Cologne whacked him with her staff. "Quiet, boy. I'm trying to figure
out what happened to you."
   "That is most obvious. The pigtailed goddess, in her anxious desire to
date with me, tore the bounds of nature themselves to produce heavenly fire
which she..."
   *THUNK*
   "That's more than enough out of you," Cologne muttered, as Kunou fell
unconscious again.
   Tofuu peeked into the room. "So, have you discovered anything yet?"
   Cologne shook her head, and rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "It's
definitely magic. I'd say whoever did this has at least medium-level skill
with fire spells."
   Tofuu shook his head, incredulous. "I know all the myths and legends of
black magic...attack spells and all that. But don't you find it
inconceivable that someone would actually be able to use it in this day and
age?"
   Cologne shrugged. "Anything's possible. At any rate, the question is
moot. This was definitely a mid-level fire spell."
   Tofuu grimaced.
   "Tell me, young healer. Who did this again?"
   "According to Nabiki, Ranma did it."
   Cologne shook her head. "Not possible." She pointed at the burns with
her staff. A magenta aura sprung up around them. Tofuu blinked.
"Surprised?" Cologne chuckled. "Relax, only healers such as you and I can
see that. I'll teach you how to do it if you like. Anyway, back to what I
was saying...see this aura?"
   Tofuu nodded. "What is that?"
   "That's the aura of the spellcaster. When a spell is cast, two forces
are released: magic and ki. This aura reflects the ki of the spellcaster."
   "Ah, I see," Tofuu said. "So, casting a spell is like performing a ki
technique but incorporating magic into it."
   "In a way, basically that sums it up," Cologne nodded. "This aura...is
definitely not Ranma's."
   Tofuu frowned. "Well, there aren't too many girls with red hair and
pigtails that could do something like this to Kunou."
   Suddenly, there was a call from the main room of the clinic.
"Tofuu-sensei! Come here quick!"
   Tofuu ran out to the main room. "What is it?"
   Daisuke and Hiroshi, two Fuurinkan students he recognized, carried a
small stretcher in between them. On it lay a blackened Happousai. Tofuu
blinked. "Happousai's injured? How did this happen?"
   Immediately Cologne was in the room. "Did you say Happi is injured?" She
took a look at the body the two youths had placed on an examination table,
and gasped. "Who on earth could..."
   As Tofuu watched, a red aura begin to shimmer around the burns on the
withered pervert's torso. Cologne frowned. "Whoever got Kunou this morning,
did this too." Turning to the two boys, she said, "Tell me, did you see who
did this?"
   Hiroshi nodded. "Yes ma'am. It was Ranma."
   Cologne shook her head. "Are you absolutely sure?"
   Daisuke nodded. "Yeah. The old lech splashed Ranma and tried to glomp
her. Then she stood up, and said a bunch of stuff that didn't make any
sense, then blasted him."
   Tofuu and Cologne exchanged a glance. "I think we need to talk to
Ranma," Tofuu said. Cologne nodded.

   At that particular moment, Akane, Ukyou, and Ryouga, now human, strode
into the clinic. Ranma was wrapped in a blanket, and Ryouga was carrying
her on his back. Cologne's eyes widened. Tofuu blinked.
   "Sorry about this, sensei." Ryouga placed Ranma on one of the two
remaining tables. "Ranma fainted on us..."
   Cologne's eyes narrowed as she studied Ranma. "There's an unfamiliar
aura about him...the same one on those burns..."
   At that moment, Ranma groaned, and awoke. Visible only to Cologne and
Tofuu, a flickering magenta shadow which had been swirling around Ranma's
bright yellow aura slowly faded away.
   Cologne pogoed over to the redhead. "Have you been studying black magic,
son-in-law?" Cologne asked.
   "Huh? Old ghoul? What're you talkin' about?"
   "What do you mean 'black magic', granny?" Ryouga asked.
   Cologne sighed. "Kunou and Happi are both here. We know all about what
happened to them, and we know Ranma did it."
   "Did...wha?" Ranma asked.
   "Apparently, you've been casting some fairly strong fire magic today,
Ranma," Tofuu-sensei commented. Everyone except Cologne turned to stare at
him.
   "Is that what happened?" Akane asked. "Both times...magic?'
   "You sure about that sensei?" Ukyou asked.
   Both Tofuu and Cologne nodded.
   Ranma sighed. "Oh man, what next?"

   A new day dawned bright and clear over the bustling city. The buzz of
laughter and conversation filled the air at the local high schools as
students rushed to prepare for their morning classes.
   At one school, Juuban, two girls with somber expressions stood off to
the side in one of the less crowded hallways, speaking quietly. One had
waist-length sky blue hair and was quite beautiful. The other girl, whose
simply cut light brown locks fell shoulder length, removed her glasses for
a moment, wiping at her eyes.
   "Have...have you talked to them?" the girl with blue hair asked.
   The sandy-haired girl nodded. "Hai, I spoke with Masaru-san yesterday."
Replacing her glasses, she continued, "They're not doing well. The
family...they've fallen apart. Masaru-san says he hasn't even seen either
of his brothers in several months. And...and Hikari...the poor thing just
isn't the same, he says."
   The blue-haired girl sighed sadly. "How horrible. I still...I still
can't believe it..." Growling, she slammed a fist into her open palm. "And
all for *nothing* too!"
   The brown-haired girl rested a hand on her friend's shoulder, and smiled
sadly. "It's alright. It was something she believed in. It doesn't matter
if things weren't what they seemed..."
   "Yes, it DOES matter! Dammit, Fuu..." Ryuuzaki Umi sighed, closing her
eyes.
   "Umi-chan..." Their discussion was interrupted by the approach of one of
Fuu's friends, a pretty girl with short bluish hair. "Ohayou, Fuu-chan,"
the girl greeted.
   Fuu smiled slightly. "Ohayou, Ami-chan," she returned the greeting.
   Ami picked up on her mood immediately. "Anou...what's wrong? You both
seem to be a little upset..."
   Before Umi could comment on just how upset she was, Fuu replied,
"Ami-chan...today is a very sad day for us. Two years ago we..." Her voice
caught in her throat, but she eventually continued, "...two years ago
today, a friend of ours was taken from us."
   Ami's expression paled. "Oh, no...gomen nasai...I had no idea..."
   "It's not something we like to talk about," Umi noted. "Not something we
like to talk about at all."
   Ami nodded. "I understand. I'll leave you to yourselves now. If you need
to talk, I'll be here to listen."
   "Thank you, Ami-chan." Fuu smiled briefly at her, and then moved to
stare out the window.

   Ranma had refused a request to stay home from school today. While he had
no particular desire to go to school, he didn't want to be coddled like
some sick little kid. He was disturbed by what had been happening to him
lately, but he didn't think it was serious enough to let it disrupt his
life--hell, his life was already disrupted enough as it was.
   As he and Akane walked to school, Ranma noticed a post delivery truck
moving at high speed toward the restaurant district. "Huh. Wonder what that
was all about," Ranma mused. "They don't usually run this early and they
ain't usually in that much of a hurry."
   Akane shrugged. "Probably somebody made some kind of rush overnight
order or something."
   The incident was promptly forgotten about and the walk to Fuurinkan
continued.

   Meanwhile, the same truck pulled up to the delivery entrance at
Nekohanten, and a rather frazzled-looking delivery boy pounded on the door,
holding a parcel beneath his arm.
   A groggy Shampoo opened the door and irritably snapped, "Make delivery
when note on door say make delivery. No wake up sleeping Amazon womans."
   The nervous delivery man bowed. "S--sorry...I had instructions that this
package had to get here as quickly as possible, and to ignore all
schedules, or I'd lose my job."
   Slighly less angry given the poor man was just doing what he'd been
told, and curious about what could be so important, Shampoo said, "Alright,
you make delivery now. This only time. Happen again, Shampoo make hood
ornament out of man parts."
   The gulped nervously. "I'll...remember that. This package is for
a...Cologne?"
   The elder Amazon pogoed up to the boy. "That would be me."
   The boy pulled out a clipboard. "Sign here, please." Cologne signed, and
took the package. The young man left as quickly as he arrived.
   "Great-grandmother, who package is from?"
   Cologne examined the parcel carefully. Something didn't feel right about
it. She read the return address, and frowned. "Well, whatever this is, it
came from Jyusenkyou," she mused.
   "Aiyah! What they send?"
   Cologne opened the box, and gasped. "Goddess..."
   Shampoo rushed to her side, and peered into the box. "Is funny glove.
What so important about funny glove?"
   Cologne carefully lifted the object from the box, and studied it.
Meanwhile, Shampoo dug a letter out of the box and began reading it.
:Eldest of the Niichieju, this object was found in the cliffs surrounding
the valley of cursed springs. The eldest available Niichieju was baffled by
the object, and requested I send it to you.:
   Cologne nodded. "Yes, yes, I can see why. This gauntlet...its magic
isn't the most powerful I've ever encountered, but it is very strong...very
alien magic. I've never experienced any force quite like what's coming from
this thing."
   Shampoo frowned. "So it not Amazon thing?"
   Cologne shook her head. "It's not anything from this world." <But its
aura is very familiar,> Cologne added mentally.
   Suddenly, the jewel on the gauntlet began to pulse with scarlet light...

   A bucket of water had made its way onto Ranma's head once again. Akane
watched the redhead worriedly. When Ranma had changed, she had dropped to
the ground. she was clutching at her head, groaning painfully. "Ranma?" she
questioned, kneeling beside the redhead.
   Ranma looked up, looked around, and blinked. "This...this is Tokyo..."
   Akane frowned. "Yeah, of course. Where else would it be."
   "It's...it's not Cephiro..."
   Akane blinked. "Huh?"
   "...not...not...China..."
   Akane was extremely confused. "Ranma...why would you think you're in
China?"
   Ranma grasped Akane's shoulders. "How? How...did I get here?"
   "You walked, baka," Akane snapped, trying to extract herself from the
girl's hold. Something was very wrong with Ranma's eyes...
   Suddenly, Ranma collapsed. Akane caught her before she could hit the
ground. "Ranma!!"
   Ranma blinked several times, and focused on Akane. "Akane? What...I
don't feel so great..."
   "Ranma, we're going home. You need rest."
   Ranma nodded. "Yeah...rest..." Then she shook her head. "No."
   Akane frowned. "Baka, you can't go to school like this!"
   Ranma shook her head. "Not school. Nekohanten."
   Akane's eyes narrowed. "I see. This is all a game so you can see that
Amazon bimbo..."
   Ranma groaned in frustration. "No, baka! I want to talk to the old
ghoul. See if she knows what's happening to me."
   "Oh," Akane replied quietly, and the two made their way off campus and
toward the restaurant district.

   "Ranma! You come to see Shampoo!" As usual, the lavender-haired Amazon
teen bounced towards her currently female marriage prospect. However, for
the first time anyone could remember, her progress was blocked by Cologne's
staff.
   "We don't have time for that right now, child," Cologne barked.
"Son-in-law, what seems to be the trouble?"
   Ranma sighed. "I'm not sure. I keep feeling weak, and blacking out..."
   "This morning after he got splashed near the school, he was asking where
he was. He said something about China."
   Cologne raised an eyebrow. "And you remember none of this, son-in-law?"
   Ranma shook her head. "Nuh-uh."
   "Hmmmm..." Cologne rubbed her chin. She examined Ranma's aura, and
found, alarmingly, that the pure yellow was beginning to tint red over a
large area. <I might as well find out what the connection with that glove
is,> Cologne decided. "Son-in-law. An item was sent to me this morning
which was found near Jyusenkyou. I want you to take a look at it. It might
have something to do with your current condition."
   "You ain't tryin' to pull nothin' funny, are ya old ghoul?" Ranma looked
skeptical.
   Cologne narrowed her eyes. "If you want my help, you'll look at this
object. Otherwise, there's nothing I can do for you."
   Ranma sighed. "Okay, okay."
   Just then, Ukyou entered the restaurant, followed by Ryouga. "Hey,
Ucchan, Ryouga...what're you guys doin' here?"
   "Well, I saw you two headed this way, and I wondered what was up," Ukyou
said. "And this idiot--" she jerked her thumb at Ryouga--"Somehow wound up
*IN* *MY* *BATHROOM* this morning...so I brought him along." Ryouga had the
good grace to look sheepish.
   Cologne snorted. "In any case, I'll go get the object."

   Cologne returned a few moments later, carrying what appeared to be a
white glove of some sort, with a crimson gem set into the handguard. She
handed it to Ranma.
   Ranma looked at it for a moment. "Well? Anything?" Cologne asked.
   Ranma shook her head. Then suddenly, her eyes went blank. Examining the
gauntlet with care and reverence, she slowly slid it onto her left hand.
   There was a bright pulse of crimson light. Everyone shielded their eyes.
When the light receded, they all gaped at Ranma. Her normally sapphire eyes
were now as red as rubies. Instead of her usual clothing, she wore
something resembling a red school uniform, with knee-length white boots,
some sort of white armor, white shoulderguards, a white bracer on her right
wrist, and the gauntlet on her left hand. She looked around the restaurant
in wonder, confusion, and a little bit of fright, then looked down at
herself, at her hands, then at the faces of the people around her. she
began to listen to them.
   "What in the--?"
   "What's going on here?"
   "Aiyah..."
   "R...Ranma?"
   Cologne hopped in front of the girl, eyes narrowed. "You...you're not
Ranma, are you?"
   The girl, confusion clear on her face, shook her head. "No," she said
shakily.
   "Who are you?" Cologne asked softly.
   The girl swallowed once, very nervous as she looked at the expectant
faces of the small crowd before her. "Atashi...atashi Shidou Hikaru," she
said.

   ***Interlude: Juuban***

   Standing at the memorial to their fallen friend, Umi and Fuu shared
silent tears of grief. "I still can't believe..." Umi said.
   Fuu nodded, reaching over to squeeze her friend's hand. "Hikaru-chan was
a unique girl. We were lucky to have known her."
   Suddenly, both felt a flash of *something*, and gasped.
   "What--what was that?" Umi asked.
   Fuu frowned. "I'm not sure. It didn't feel like the call to return to
Cephiro..."
   Umi shook her head. "No, it didn't. I don't understand...something is
odd here."

   Chapter 4: Hikaru-chan's Tragedy

   "Aiyah...Ranma, is you alright?"
   The girl standing before them blinked in confusion. Cologne sighed.
"Shampoo...pay attention. This..." she pointed at Hikaru, "Is not Ranma."
   Shampoo frowned. "Shampoo no understand. That Ranma. But why Ranma eyes
red all of sudden?"
   Ukyou groaned. "Stupid bimbo. She's trying to tell you that this person
just LOOKS like Ranma."
   "Who you call stupid bimbo, spatula girl?"
   "Ladies?"
   "You stay out this, stupid pig boy."
   "Hey! Watch it, you...!"
   "Excuse me...."
   The argument which almost turned nasty abruptly ground to a halt as the
confused pigtailed girl spoke. "Can someone please tell me what's going on
here?"
   Cologne frowned. "That, child, is a very good question." Gesturing for
everyone to sit down, Cologne asked, "Who's hungry? I can whip up some
ramen."
   Murmurs of assent rippled around the table, including from their "new"
guest. "Thank you, thank you! I can't remember the last time I ate and I'm
starving!"
   A few moments later, the entire group, plus Tofuu-sensei, Genma, Soun,
and Nabiki, who had shown up rather mysteriously, sat around a cluster of
pushed-together tables in the now closed for business Nekohanten, each
slurping noodles somberly. Everyone had been cautioned that Ranma was...not
quite himself.
   "So, child...Hikaru, you said?" The girl nodded, and Cologne continued.
"Can you tell us who you are?"
   Hikaru looked nervous. "I'm...well, I used to be just a schoolgirl from
Tokyo...a lot of terrible things have happened to me..."
   Nabiki was typing furiously on a laptop, when suddenly she stopped,
looked up at Hikaru, and frowned. "You said your name is...Shidou Hikaru?"
   Hikaru nodded. "Hai, that's right."
   Nabiki frowned, and typed a bit more, then announced, "You're deceased."
   Everyone blinked. "Huh?" Hikaru said.
   "According to this," she said, tapping her laptop, "You died two years
ago on this very day. At Tokyo Tower."
   Akane looked up. "Hey! I remember something about that..."
   Soun nodded. "So do I. There was some kind of occurence there. Everyone
saw a bright light, and when it was over there were two girls standing on
the observation deck crying."
   "And," added Nabiki, "One of the girls from one of the three schools
that had been on a field trip to the Tower that day...disappeared. She was
never found, and after several months she was presumed dead." Looking up,
Nabiki finished, "That girl...was you. Shidou Hikaru."
   Hikaru's crimson eyes widened. "You said...two other girls were there,
crying? After the flash of light?"
   Nabiki nodded, looking back down at her screen. "Yes. Umm...Ryuuzaki
Umi, and Hououji Fuu."
   Hikaru gasped. "They're...they made it back...they did it..."
   Everyone was looking at her strangely. She sighed. "But...they think I'm
dead."
   Cologne frowned. "I hate to say this, dear child, but if my suspicions
are right...you are."
   Everyone looked at the elder Amazon. She looked at Hikaru, and said,
"Why don't you tell us everything, starting with the bright light at Tokyo
Tower."

   Hikaru swallowed nervously, taking a sip of her tea, and began:
   "Well, my junior high school and two others were on field trip to the
Tower that day. There was this light, and then the three of us...me, Fuu,
and Umi, all from different schools, were falling, and we landed on this
fish..."

   Things were going well for the three young Magic Knights. They'd gotten
the Escudo, and Umi had received her Mashin, Selece. They'd been on their
way to the mountain in the sky, home of the Mashin Windam, when suddenly,
Zagato himself appeared in the sky before them.
   "My mistake has been allowing you to remain in this world," the priest
intoned. "So, now I must remove you from it."
   The Knights exchanged nervous glances, not sure if they were ready to
handle Zagato himself. Then, defiantly, Hikaru stood and shouted, "We will
not be defeated! We will rescue Princess Emeraude!"
   Zagato laughed. "Fools."
   Hikaru prepared her spell, and released it. "Scarlet Lightning!"
   Zagato raised a shield spell, harmlessly deflecting the blast. He
sneered at the redheaded Knight. "Foolish girl. You've sealed your fate.
You shall be the first to go..."
   With that, a black mist began swirling around Hikaru. She shrieked,
unable to clear it from her skin. Fuu used the Winds of Reprimand spell,
but it couldn't penetrate the mist. Umi attacked Zagato, to no avail.

   In her imprisonment, Emeraude sensed what Zagato was doing.
"Beloved...no," she whispered, and concentrated on changing the effect of
the dark spell he'd cast, but couldn't be sure if she succeeded...

   "Die, foolish Knight!" Zagato sneered. The black mist completely
engulfed Hikaru, and a blast of lightning erupted from it. When the mist
finally subsided, Hikaru was nowhere to be found.
   Zagato laughed triumphantly. "Without her, you'll never win. Give up
now." With that, he disappeared.

   Umi and Fuu stared in horror at the spot where Hikaru had been slain.
"Hikaru-san...no..." Fuu breathed. Umi gave a strangled cry of anguish, and
screamed into the sky, "HIKARU-CHAN!!!!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

   "But...I didn't die. Zagato's spell didn't kill me," Hikaru finished.
Sipping the broth from her ramen, she continued, "Instead, it sent
me...someplace else."
   Everyone stared at her, in varying degrees of incredulity. Nabiki, for
her part, looked like she was watching a shoujo anime that didn't interest
her very much. Akane's eyes were misting slightly. Shampoo looked confused.
Ryouga seemed to be paying rapt attention to the story. Ukyou appeared to
be shocked. Tofuu-sensei had a thoughtful expression on his face. Genma was
just staring at Hikaru. Soun appeared stern and stoic, as he often did when
listening to such tales. Cologne's expression was unreadable. "So," Cologne
said after a moment, "Where did you end up?"
   Hikaru looked down into her bowl, and her eyes shimmered. "Hell."

   Hikaru looked around, blinking. Her armor was gone, as was her sword.
She still felt her magic, but it felt somewhat weaker.
   She was surrounded by tall mountains. The air smelled sharp and clean.
Birds chirped in the sky, and small animals romped through the grass
nearby. Normal animals, the kind she was familiar with.
   "I'm...I'm not in Cephiro anymore," she mused. Brow furrowing, she
sighed, "I hope Umi-chan and Fuu-chan are alright. That Zagato...there's no
telling what he's done to them." Looking around, she became thoughtful. "I
wonder where I am?"
   A group of people passed on a trail near her. She walked near them, and
shouted, "Excuse me! I'm lost, can you tell me where I am?"
   A couple of them looked strangely at her. Then, they turned away and
resumed their journey. Hikaru sighed. "That wasn't nice," she decided.
   She figured following the group might help. Eventually, the road led to
a large palace, with many servants and performers and people milling around
in the courtyard. Some kind of festival was happening.
   Taking a closer look, she happened to overhear a conversation going on
near her. She didn't understand the language but she did recognize it.
<Chinese? Am I in China?>
   A strange, handsome man in silver armor, with a golden dragon emblazoned
on the breastplate, descended from the palace. His blue-white hair shone in
the afternoon sunlight. Hikaru watched for a bit, occassionally stopping
the odd passerby, trying to find someone who understood Japanese.
   "Excuse me...anou...can you help me?"
   After a while of this, two young men in animal hides approached her.
:You must leave. You do not belong here and you are disturbing the citizens
of the Musk Dynasty. Leave peacefully or we will remove you.:
   Hikaru frowned. "I'm sorry...I'm afraid I don't understand you..."
   The two young men exchanged a glance, and grasped her by the arms.
:You're coming with us.:
   "Hey! Ouch! That hurts! Let me go!"
   :Stop babbling in that foreign tongue.:
   :This is a young one. Do you think his Highness will let us...you know?:
asked the one dressed like a wolf.
   The one wearing tiger skins looked at her and grinned. :Maybe.:

   "They threw me in this cold, wet cell. They fed me badly, and what
little they did feed me, I ended up sharing with the rats. I was
occassionally beaten. They left me there for several weeks. Then, one
day..."

   Hikaru cried. She'd been crying a lot lately. She'd never dreamed human
beings could be this cruel. She was starving, and she stank, and she felt
somewhat ill.
   Suddenly, there was a loud noise, a lot of shouting. She thought she
heard the clashing of weapons.
   Then, suddenly, one wall of her cell became a pile of rubble. She looked
up, and a young woman with long, dark pink hair stepped through, holding a
pair of large spherical maces. "You, foreign girl. I come set you free. You
come with me to village Niichieju."

   As the two made their way hurriedly from the palace, Hikaru said, "Thank
you. Thank you for saving me from that horrible place."
   "You is welcome. Womans should not be locked up in cells. That for men
and animals."
   "Who...who are you? And where are we going?"
   "My name Xiar Min. We go now Niichieju, village of warrior womans."
   "My name is Hikaru."

   Cologne's eyes widened. "So you're the girl from the legend..."
   Hikaru blinked. "Excuse me?"
   Everyone else blinked as well. "Great-grandmother, what you talking?"
   Cologne closed her eyes. "For many centuries, the Niichieju and the Musk
Dynasty were enemies. Many skirmishes were fought, and sadly to say, the
Musk were gaining the upper hand. Hikaru...the people who held you prisoner
were the Musk."
   Hikaru nodded. "Hai, that's right. I found that out when I got to the
village..."
   Cologne held up a hand. "And the elders found out about your magic, and
you helped the Niichieju battle the Musk. You were very upset, and you
eliminated many of the best soldiers in the Musk army."
   Hikaru sighed, bowing her head. "I don't want to think about that. It
hurt to do that. It still hurts." Looking up with tears in her eyes, she
said, "I had to live with that from the day of the battle on..."

   Many months later, one of the Niichieju hunting parties found an odd
gauntlet on one of the mountain trails. Bringing it back to the village,
they had given it to the elder. Hikaru had seen it, and become excited. It
was *her* gauntlet, the one in which her sword was kept when not in use.
When she put it on, her armor suddenly flared back into existence, as did
her sword. It was the best thing to happen to her since she'd been rescued.
   "Hikaru." This was the village elder, Tso Pu. "Have you decided?"
   Hikaru sighed. "I don't know. I mean, I can fight, but...I don't like
hurting people."
   Tso Pu sighed. "Then how many more like yourself, innocents, in a
strange land, will be subjected to the cruelty of the Musk?"
   Hikaru blinked. "I...alright. I'll do it."

   "HONOU NO YAAAA!" Hikaru scattered another wave of Musk troops with her
magic, and charged in, cutting down the stragglers with her powerful Escudo
sword.
   :It's that girl! The one we caught a long time ago!:
   Hikaru knew the voice, if not the language. She turned, and saw the two
men who had grabbed her and thrown her in that awful dungeon. Something
snapped in her. She felt her rage building. With no preamble--they wouldn't
have understood her anyway--she prepared her spell. The two warriors stared
at her in fear.
   "SCARLET LIGHTNING!"
   The tiger man had the sense to dive out of the way. His partner wasn't
as lucky. Both were burned, although the tiger man fared better. One entire
side of the other's body was blackened.

   "I stared down at their charred bodies in horror. I...I couldn't deal
with what I'd done. So, I ran."

   Hikaru looked around. She was in a valley, with many springs, surrounded
by the mountains. She decided it was time to stop for a rest--she'd been
running for what seemed like forever. She curled up in a narrow crevice,
banished her sword and her armor back into the jewel on her glove, and
cried herself to sleep.

   :Well, look at what we have here. It's the little fire bitch.:
   :I think we deserve our revenge.:

   When Hikaru woke up, something was wrong. Her glove was gone--along with
the rest of her clothes. She couldn't move. She looked around, and
discovered she'd been tied up at one end of the valley. She saw two figures
lying in front of a makeshift tent nearby. She made a brief struggle
against her bonds.
   One of the two men looked up, and saw that she had awakened. :Well well,
the little bitch is awake. I hope you're happy with yourself, little whore.
I hope you got off on frying us. Because it's the last time you're gonna do
anything to anyone ever again.:
   And with that, he removed his trousers...

   Hikaru closed her eyes. "Gomen...I...I can't..."
   Cologne placed a withered hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, child.
It's alright."
   Genma looked solemn, while Soun wept. Tofuu wore an uncharacterstic
scowl. Akane looked outraged, while Ukyou looked at the girl with deep
sadness. Shampoo was crying softly. Ryouga looked like he was on the verge
of smashing something. "Those...bastards!" he snarled. "How could they do
something like that...?"
   "It's the way of the Musk, at least it used to be," Cologne sighed.
"That kind of thing doesn't happen anymore, thankfully, but that is why the
Amazons fought the Musk so viciously."
   Hikaru looked up, tears streaking her face. "I...I couldn't believe that
was happening to me. I mean, I never thought anything like that could
happen. I'd always had a good life, my family loved me, my brothers
protected me, I had the sweetest dog, and I had my friends...then that..."
She sobbed.
   Everyone offered her a bit of support. When her sobs subsided, Cologne
asked, "I know this is painful, but...do you remember what happened next?"
   Hikaru thought about it, then shook her head. "The next thing I remember
was seeing..." She frowned. "Someone. It felt like a mirror, or a
dream...it was a boy. About my age, with black hair, in a pigtail..."
   "Ranma," everyone in the room said at once.
   Hikaru looked around in confusion. "Who is this Ranma, anyway?
I've...I've heard that name several times..."
   Suddenly, Shampoo's head snapped up. "Aiyah! Great-grandmother...she no
remember what happen, but she say many spring there...you think she the one
that drown in Nyanniichuan?"
   Everyone gasped. Cologne considered this, and nodded. "It would make
sense. Everything she's described happened right around that time...and if
she is the one who drowned in that spring, then that would explain her
being here, now."
   Everyone turned to Cologne, confused. Hikaru said, "Anou...what spring?
What are you talking about?"
   Cologne closed her eyes. "The place where you were captured, is called
Jyusenkyou, the valley of cursed springs. Over the centuries, each spring
in Jyusenkyou has had someone or something drown in it. When this happens,
the spring becomes cursed, and whoever or whatever falls in it next takes
the body of whatever drowned there. It's a curse which is activated by cold
water, and reversed temporarily with hot water.
   "Saotome Ranma, the boy you saw when you awoke, was in China about a
year ago, with his father, Genma." She pointed at Genma. "Ranma and his
father trained at Jyusenkyou, despite the warnings of the tour guide. Genma
fell into Shonmaoniichuan, a spring in which a panda once drowned." Cologne
picked up a water glass and flung the contents at Genma, who promptly
transformed into a panda. Hikaru stared, wide-eyed, at the large beast as
it raised a sign reading "Was that really neccessary?"
   "Ranma himself fell into the spring known as Nyanniichuan, in which a
young girl drowned 1500 years earlier." Turning to Hikaru, she said, "Being
the girl from the Amazon legend of the battle in which we defeated most of
the Musk, that places you in that area, in the year in which Nyanniichuan
was formed."
   Hikaru blinked, brow furrowed. "So...what you're saying is...after
they..." Swallowing a lump in her throat, she continued, "...then I
drowned? In a spring?"
   Cologne nodded. "That's what I believe happened."
   "But great-grandmother, if that true, then why she here now?"
   "I have a theory about that," Tofuu said. "When Hikaru was...well, she'd
been in China for quite some time. That would make her about...sixteen when
she drowned?" Hikaru nodded.
   Cologne rubbed her chin. "And Ranma was sixteen when he fell into the
spring."
   "So if Hikaru's soul was still in the spring, possibly because of the
magic she possessed..."
   Cologne nodded. "Of course! It makes sense. Somehow, Hikaru's soul has
been preserved, dormant, in that spring, for fifteen centuries. And when
Ranma, the same age as Hikaru, and similar in appearance to her, fell into
the spring, not only did he take her body...he also freed her soul from the
spring."
   "So what you're saying," Genma said, "Is my son's carrying around the
soul of the girl who disappeared at Tokyo Tower two years ago?"
   Cologne nodded. "That's pretty much it."
   Hikaru stood. "Excuse me...I need to go for a walk." Without another
word, she left the restaurant.
   Akane, Ukyou, and Shampoo exchanged glances. "We should follow her,"
they decided.
   Cologne shook her head. "No, it's best to give her some space for now.
She can take care of herself, and if Ranma's spirit wakes up again, he can
take care of himself as well."
   Nobody was happy about that, but they decided it was best to go along
with it.

   ***Kyou wa dare da? Kyou wa Hikaru!***

   Chapter 5: Sadness, Joy, and Confusion

   Hikaru took in the city around her. She'd discovered she was in Nerima
district, and, finding enough yen in her pocket for bus fare, she decided
to go have a look at her home district, which was just outside of Juuban.
<Good thing Ranma-kun keeps change on him,> Hikaru mused. <I haven't seen a
yen since that day at Tokyo Tower.>
   As she sat waiting at the bus stop, something rubbed against her ankle
and made a very cute "buii" sound. She looked down, and giggled. "Oh, how
kawaii!" She picked up the small black piglet, which buii'd softly as she
cuddled it. "I wonder if you belong to someone?" she asked. The pig shook
its head. She giggled. "You're a smart one." The piglet said, "Bukii!"

   Ryouga had excused himself to go to the bathroom as soon as Hikaru had
left. He prayed just once he wouldn't get horribly lost as he splashed
himself and snuck out of the Nekohanten.
   It had taken him a few minutes, but finally he'd spotted Hikaru at a bus
stop. Concerned for the girl, he decided to comfort her, and to find out
where she was going. <I have a bad feeling she's going to try to go
home...that may not be a pleasant experience for her,> he reasoned.
<Especially if she turns back into Ranma...>

   Hugging the cute black piglet, Hikaru mused out loud, "Should I find
Umi-chan and Fuu-chan? Should I go home?" She sighed. "What do I tell them?
The truth? And what about Ranma-kun..." She frowned. "Ranma-kun...what if
he never wakes up? Oh, I hope he's alright, wherever he went to. I wouldn't
like it if my living again cost someone else their life."
   Sighing, she finally decided, "I guess the only thing I can do is go to
the cemetery and see if I have a grave."
   The piglet gave her a concerned look. <Uh oh,> he thought. <That's not
one of the best ideas...>
   The bus arrived, and Hikaru and her newfound friend boarded.

   Fuu started. "Ara...! Umi-chan...I think I forgot the incense."
   Umi frowned. "Mou....we'll have to go back to your place and get it.
That's special incense...it's the only thing that will do."
   Fuu nodded, and the two left the cemetery. "We'll be back in a few
moments, Hikaru-chan," Umi told the cold granite marker.

   A short while later, Hikaru and the piglet made their way through the
gates of a small cemetery that Hikaru remembered being in her district.
She'd never gone there herself, having no close dead relatives to pay her
respects to that were buried there. She didn't care much for graveyards, as
a rule. She cared for them even less now, but this was something she had to
do.
   Picking her way along the paths, she eventually came upon a simple
granite marker, atop which sat a miniature iron replica of the Tokyo Tower.
She knelt in front of the stone, and slowly traced the characters engraved
there with the fingers of her left hand.
   'Shidou Hikaru'
   A tear fell down her cheek as she read her name on the stone, thinking
of how much it must have grieved her family and her close friends to
believe she had died...how much it must have hurt Umi-chan and Fuu-chan,
believing their comrade had been murdered before their very eyes, and never
being able to tell a soul about what really happened...
   "Umi-chan...Fuu-chan...I wish you had known I was still alive..."

   Two solemn girls returned to the cemetery. Fuu bore a bundle of special
incense, wrapped in a special piece of cloth. These were their parting
gifts from Princess Emeraude, who made it possible for the items to cross
back to Earth with them. The incense was a popular wildflower fragrance in
Cephiro, and a personal favorite of Clef. It seemed fitting to light this
special incense to honor Hikaru. The cloth was a reminder of Hikaru's
strength, of how formidable she was...it was the slashed tablecloth she'd
thrown over the mud monster which had attacked them at Presea's house. With
that tablecloth she'd been able to confuse the monster long enough to shove
it into the pond, where it dissolved.
   As they approached the memorial, Umi started. There was someone kneeling
in front of the marker. A girl, with braided red hair, wearing a scarlet
school uniform, and some light white armor. "Masaka..." She blinked.
"Fuu-chan, I think I'm seeing things."
   "Hmm?" Fuu, who'd been lost in thought, looked up at her friend, who was
staring, face pale, ahead. Fuu looked to see what had upset her friend
so... and dropped the bundle.
   "Impossible..."
   Umi blinked. "You...see her too?"
   Fuu nodded. "Hai..."

   Hikaru had been snapped out of her reverie by the sounds of voices. She
stood and snapped her head around...and gasped, part with fear, part with
joy. They were a little older, much prettier and more well-developed, but
she'd recognize them no matter what. "Umi-chan...Fuu-chan..." she
whispered. Realizing they were staring at her, she walked nervously toward
them, tears streaming from her eyes and a beautiful smile lighting her
face, making her ruby eyes twinkle. "Umi-chan! Fuu-chan!"
   The girls took a step back involuntarily. This slightly saddened Hikaru.
   "Umi-chan...Fuu-chan...gomen nasai..."
   Finally, Umi managed to find her voice. "Hi--Hikaru-chan?" she gasped.
   Hikaru nodded, smiling. "Un!"
   Fuu breathed, "But...how? We saw...Zagato killed you..."
   Hikaru sighed, and looked at the ground. "It's a long story. Too long.
And to be honest, I don't understand a lot of it myself. But, Zagato didn't
kill me."
   "But...how? How did you survive...?"
   Hikaru suddenly ran towards her friends, setting the piglet down on the
ground, and grabbed them both into a hug. The three stood together, crying
tears of joy, marred slightly by confusion.
   After a moment, when they released each other, Fuu finally noticed
something. "Anou...Hikaru-chan..."
   "Hai, Fuu-chan?"
   Fuu grasped Hikaru's left hand. "How...how do you still have your
armor?"
   Hikaru laughed. "That's one we haven't figured out yet. Listen...I want
to tell you both the whole story..." She paused, and sighed. "Some of it
isn't very pleasant..." Recovering, she looked into their eyes. "It's a
long, and confusing story, and some of it is hard to explain. I'll tell you
everything, but I can't tell you here. Would you two come with me? If it's
not a bother."
   "Of course it's not a bother!" Umi half-snapped. Then, calmer, she said,
"Demo...where are we going?"
   Hikaru smiled, and scooped up her small black traveling companion. "Just
to Nerima."
   The other girls gasped. "Nerima? Why there?"
   "That's...that's where I woke up. And that's where the answers are."
   No hesitation was neccessary. Fuu and Umi, confused but glad to see
their long lost friend again, followed the redhead to the bus stop.

   ***Interlude***

   Ranma stirred. Everything was blackness.
   He tried to move, and realized he didn't have a body to move. He opened
his eyes, and gasped. Something was wrong here.
   He saw a bus stop, and he was approaching it. He tried to shift his
gaze, only to find it wasn't possible. As he tried to figure out what was
going on, the view shifted, to show two smiling faces, one framed with sky
blue hair, the other with light brown hair and glasses. The view also
showed a familiar piglet, and the object Cologne had shown him, which had
somehow gotten onto his arm.
   Ranma had no idea what was going on, but he intended to find out. And he
was going to start by regaining control of his body.

   Chapter 6: "Who the hell is Hikaru?"

   Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu got off the bus in Nerima. At Fuu's suggestion,
Hikaru had willed her armor to vanish. The other two girls blinked when it
was replaced by a red Chinese shirt and black trousers.
   "So, Hikaru-chan...where have you been these last two years?" Fuu asked.
   Hikaru sighed. "It's been even longer than that, they tell me."
   "Who are 'they' anyway?" Umi asked. "You've been awfully mysterious..."
   Hikaru blinked. "Anou...actually, I never got their names. I guess I was
still in shock at being alive again..."
   "Alive again?" Fuu and Umi chorused.
   "Then...you *did* die?" Fuu asked.
   Hikaru frowned. "Apparently I did."
   "But...you said..." Umi began.
   Hikaru laughed softly. "Confusing isn't it? I still haven't really dealt
with it myself. It's too much for me to think about. Well, the simplest
answer is that Zagato's spell sent me someplace else, I was there two
years, then I died. And now I'm back."
   The other two stared at her nervously. "You're...a ghost?"
   Hikaru giggled. "No, I'm alive." Then, sadly, she added, "In a
sense...I've sort of occupied someone else's body."
   Fuu and Umi looked *really* nervous about that one. Hikaru noticed, and
put on a sad half-smile. "It's a VERY long story, and a lot of it is going
to sound too strange."
   Umi smirked. "Hikaru-chan...we got zapped into Cephiro, learned magic,
fought monsters, met Mokona...saw you get blasted...and everything else
that happened after that...I don't think you can tell us anything too
strange."
   All three girls giggled at that one.
   Suddenly, Hikaru stopped. Fuu and Umi looked at her with concern.
"Hikaru-chan? Daijobu?"
   "I...I'm not sure," she said. She blinked rapidly.
"Something...happening..." Her eyes widened. "Oh...I think I understand."
With a sad sigh, she said, "Umi-chan, Fuu-chan...I have to go away for a
bit, I think. I hope I'll see you again soon."
   "Anou...what do you mean, 'go away'? What's going on?"
   Umi received no answer. Hikaru slumped to the ground, unconscious.

   Ranma slowly awoke, with a splitting headache. She opened her eyes, and
the blurred faces of two girls she'd never seen before (or had she?) slowly
came into focus.
   "Wha...where am I?"
   "Hikaru-chan! Are you alright?" the one with sandy-blond hair asked.
   Ranma frowned. "Huh? Who're you?"
   The blue-haired one frowned. "You haven't lost your memory, have you
Hikaru-chan?"
   Ranma blinked. "I think ya got me mixed up with someone else. My name
ain't Hikaru, it's Ranma. Saotome Ranma."
   Fuu noticed something strange. "Umi-chan...her eyes. Look."
   Umi gasped. "They're...blue. What's going on here?"
   Ranma sat up, and glanced around. "How'd I get here? Last I remember I
was at Nekohanten..."
   The two girls looked at her in confusion. "Anou...what's going on here?"
the blue-haired one asked.
   Ranma shrugged. "Don't ask me. I just woke up."
   The pig chose that moment to make its presence known. Ranma frowned.
"Ryouga? What the heck are you doin' here?" he whispered to the piglet.
   Ryouga was hopping up and down and squealing intently. "Do you know
what's goin' on, pig?" Ryouga nodded. Ranma thought for a moment. "Alright,
man. Let's getcha some hot water."
   Ranma scooped up the piglet, then said to the two girls, "Umm...wait
here a sec." Then as an afterthought, he said, "I didn't get your
names...?"
   The girls looked at each other, shrugged, and introduced themselves.
   "Ryuuzaki Umi."
   "Hououji Fuu."
   Ranma nodded. "Nice t' meetcha. Be right back." With that, Ranma entered
a nearby coffee shop, piglet in hand.

   A moment later, inside the coffee shop's restroom, Ranma splashed the
piglet with a cup of hot water. Ryouga mysteriously found clothes, and
Ranma asked, "So, pig, what's goin' on?"
   Ryouga grumbled, then said, "Ranma...you probably won't believe what I'm
about to tell you."
   Ranma smirked. "Think who you're talkin' to here, Ryouga. I seen so much
weird shit I'll believe just about anything."
   Ryouga shook his head. "You won't believe this..."
   "Man, just spit it out already! Sheesh."
   Ryouga proceeded to give Ranma the short version of what had taken place
that day. Ranma's eyes were wide at the end of the story. "You mean," said
the now-male Ranma, "Some girl that disappeared from Tokyo Tower two years
ago, went to some crazy magic world, got sent back to ancient China, and
drowned in the same spring I got cursed in...is still alive inside me?"
   "That's pretty much it, Ranma."
   Ranma shook his head. "You're right. That one's a stretch." Frowning, he
mused, "Although it'd explain a lot of stuff that's been goin' on
lately...hey man, you said the old ghoul can fill me in on all the
details?"
   Ryouga nodded.
   "Alright then, we'd best get goin'." Ranma made for the exit.
   "Ranma...you should go back out there as a girl, or they won't recognize
you."
   Ranma frowned. "Those two girls outside?"
   Ryouga nodded. "They're Hikaru-san's best friends. They need to know
what's going on."
   Ranma sighed. "Alright, but it's best if I wait till we're outside to
turn into a girl."
   With that, they left, snagging some cold water on the way.

   Fuu and Umi were waiting, talking quietly. "What's going on here?" Umi
wondered.
   Fuu shook her head, frowning thoughtfully. "Hikaru-chan said she's
'inside someone else's body'...maybe the girl we just talked to is that
person. In any case, that definitely wasn't Hikaru."
   Umi nodded. "Hai...I really want to find out what's up."
   Just then, two young men, about their age, emerged from the coffee shop.
One had black hair in a pigtail and wore similar clothes to what Hikaru and
the other girl had been wearing. The other wore a yellow bandana much like
the one the piglet had worn, and a yellow tunic and black trousers.
   The two boys approached them. "Sorry about the wait," the pigtailed one
said.
   Umi frowned. "Anou...who are you?"
   The boy smiled. "This is gonna seem odd, but considering what my friend
here told me, you girls are probably used to this kind of thing." With
that, he poured the cup of water over his head. Umi and Fuu stared,
wide-eyed.
   "What in the...?" Umi asked.
   Fuu commented, "You're the girl from before, right?"
   Ranma nodded. "Yeah, but I'm really a guy. It's a long story. I have a
curse, that turns me into a girl when I get splashed with cold water."
Gesturing down the street, she said, "I can explain some of it on the way
to the Nekohanten. Then we'll all find out about what's going on here."
   The girls looked dubious, but the other boy said, "If I'm right about
Hikaru-san, she'd probably want you to know what's going on. And if you
want to find out, you need to trust us, because he--" He pointed at Ranma--
"is carrying Hikaru-san's soul around with him."
   Umi and Fuu blinked at that. Finally, Fuu said, "Well, if that's true,
then we won't find out what's going on without trusting you."
   Umi sighed. "We don't have a choice. Alright, Ranma. Lead on."
   "By the way," the other boy added, "My name is Hibiki Ryouga."
   The foursome began the short journey to the Nekohanten.

   When the group arrived at Nekohanten, everyone was still sitting around
talking about this recent turn of events. They looked up, surprised to see
the two new visitors.
   Shampoo blinked. "Great-grandmother, that Ranma and not Hikaru right?"
   Cologne nodded. "Yes, child."
   Shampoo squealed with joy and promptly glomped Ranma. Akane and Ukyou
scowled. Akane reached for her mallet. "RANMA..." Ukyou hefted her spatula
and warned Shampoo, "Get off Ranchan you hussy."
   Fuu and Umi blinked. Ranma sighed. "Shampoo, please get off of me."
   "Shampoo no let go Ranma! Ranma no turn into Hikaru again, yes? Ranma
alright now, take Shampoo to date?"
   To everyone's (well, everyone who knew Ranma) surprise, Ranma pushed
Shampoo off of her. "I'm not in the mood for you right now, Shampoo."
   Shampoo looked hurt, then angry. Turning to the other two girls, she
said, "Who you? What you do here? Restaurant closed."
   "They're with me, Shampoo," Ranma said.
   Akane raised her mallet. "Two MORE fiancees? Ranma, you PERVERT!"
   Umi and Fuu blinked. "Fiancees?" Fuu asked.
   "TWO MORE!?" Umi wondered incredulously.
   Ryouga raised a hand. "Umm...guys? Can I say something?"
   EVERYONE blinked. Ryouga was the last person anyone ever expected to
come to Ranma's defense.
   "Well, Ryouga?" Akane prompted.
   Ryouga looked nervous and sheepish, but pressed on. "Akane-san, you're
wrong this time. These girls don't even *know* Ranma."
   Akane scowled. "I didn't know him either until I found out I was already
engaged to the baka."
   Ranma groaned. "Jeez, you stupid tomboy, it ain't like that! Wouldja
just listen for once instead of blaming me?"
   Suddenly, Nabiki interrupted. "You..." she said, pointing to the
blue-haired girl, "are Ryuuzaki Umi. And you," she continued, indicating
the girl with glasses, "are Hououji Fuu."
   The two blinked. "That's right. How did you...?" Fuu asked.
   Nabiki tapped the laptop in front of her.
   Akane blinked, and lowered her mallet. "You're...those two girls. The
ones who were with Hikaru..."
   The two nodded. Akane sighed. "Ranma...I'm sorry."
   Ranma didn't comment. Cologne sighed. "I think everyone needs to calm
down so we can straighten everything out."
   As the gathering became even more crowded, Cologne filled Ranma in on
the details about Hikaru's tragedy, tactfully leaving out what the two Musk
warriors had done to her. She then filled Umi and Fuu in on Ranma's curse,
and how it was related to Hikaru.
   When she was finished, everyone finally had, more or less, an
understanding of what was going on.
   "So," Umi said, looking at Ranma, "You're a boy, but because you fell in
a spring in China, you turn into a girl when you get hit with cold water."
   Ranma nodded. "Yeah."
   "And," Fuu interjected, "Because of Zagato's spell, Hikaru-chan is the
girl who drowned in that spring 1500 years ago. So, because of your
similarities to her, you freed her soul from the spring when you fell in."
   "That pretty much sums it up," Tofuu said.
   Ranma groaned. "As if life wasn't complicated enough already. At least
this Hikaru girl is a fighter. As often as weird things happen around here,
it'd be too dangerous if she was weaker."
   Cologne nodded. "I think if it had been a weaker girl who had drowned
there, her soul would have been lost. It's Hikaru's magic and the strength
of her spirit that kept her in that spring. And that's why she was able to
reawaken."
   Akane frowned. "So, how will we know when it's Ranma and when it's
Hikaru?"
   Cologne chuckled. "That should be obvious. Not only by their behavior,
but in case you forgot, when Hikaru was in control her eyes were red, and
Ranma's are blue."
   "Oh yeah..." Ukyou said. "She's right."
   Fuu smiled. "At least that's one thing we don't have to worry
about...telling them apart."

   As the discussion continued, Hikaru stirred. She could hear, and see,
what was going on, but it was like watching a movie. She realized what had
happened--Ranma had taken back his body. She wasn't upset. He had a right;
after all, she was the intruder here and not him. But, she was still
disappointed.
   And bored. There really wasn't much to do in here.
   Idly, she wondered what kind of person Ranma was. How he lived, what he
liked, what he did...
   An idea hit her. <I wonder...can I look at his thoughts?> She briefly
debated whether or not she should try. <It would be impolite,> she thought.
<Disrespectful of Ranma-kun. I wouldn't like it if someone poked around in
my head without my consent.>
   But ultimately, curiosity and boredom got the better of Hikaru.
Tentatively, she reached out with her consciousness, and brushed against
Ranma's. Surface thoughts unfolded:
   <This sucks. How much worse are things gonna get?>
   <But that girl, that Hikaru...guess I can't blame her. It ain't her
fault.>
   <It's sad, that somethin' like that happened. Sounds like she was a
really nice girl.>
   <But this is gonna suck. The tomboy's gonna find more to get angry with
me about, and who knows what else is gonna happen? And I gotta hope this
girl can take care of herself if she's gonna keep waking up. Not everyone's
gonna go easy on her if they see her eyes are red and not blue.>
   <I hope she ain't gonna fall for some guy and start wantin' to date
and....and...eeew.>
   At that, Hikaru mentally blushed. In the process, something slipped.
<Hey!> she thought. <That's mean!>
   <Huh? What the...?>
   Hikaru froze. <Uh oh.>

   Without warning, Ranma's eyes glazed over, and he slumped forward onto
the table. Everyone crowded around him.

   Nervously, Hikaru thought, <Umm..guess you can hear me in here, huh?>
   Ranma tried to shake off his confusion. <Hey, what the hell's goin' on?>
   Hikaru decided she might as well see how far this communication could
go. Concentrating, she pushed further up against the walls of Ranma's mind.
   Ranma felt something pushing against him, and recoiled. Then, curious,
he pushed back.
   Suddenly, both found themselves sprawled, tangled up in one another, in
a boundless, misty grey space.
   Untangling, and blinking, they stared at each other in shock.
   <What the hell's this? Who...> Ranma thought. He stared at the girl
before him. She had waist-length red hair, in a braid. Her eyes were
crimson, and she wore some sort of school uniform, with some type of armor
placed on and around it.
   Hikaru blinked. <Oops. Sorry about that. I didn't know that was going to
happen.> She took in the appearance of the boy in front of her. She had to
admit, he was pretty handsome. She flushed at that thought.
   Ranma was also flushing, thinking about how cute this girl was.
   Then they noticed each other flushing, and simultaneously realized
*why*. Both flushed brighter and laughed nervously.
   <Ummm...I guess you're Hikaru, then?> Ranma asked.
   Hikaru nodded. <Hai, and you'd be Ranma.>
   Ranma nodded. <Umm...I'm confused. What is this? How can we see each
other?>
   Hikaru frowned. <I'm not sure. I believe this is all going on in our
mind.> She blushed. <I kinda woke up, and I got bored in here, and I got
curious about you, so I tried to get a peek at your thoughts.>
   Ranma blinked. <So...that's what that was? What I heard? Was you?>
   Hikaru nodded, blushing. <Hai. I'm sorry. I was trying not to alarm
you.>
   Ranma shrugged. <Hey, it's okay. Actually, this is pretty cool. Weird,
but cool.>
   Hikaru giggled. <Yeah, it is. And it means we can talk to each other
like this.>
   Ranma nodded. <Seems like it.> A nervous silence ensued.
   Finally, Hikaru said, <Ranma-kun...I'm sorry. About all this.>
   Ranma blinked. <Huh?>
   Hikaru sighed. <About your curse, about me being in here, disrupting
your life...>
   Ranma took a step closer and put his hands on her shoulders. <Hey, don't
be. It ain't your fault or nothin'. Besides, even without the curse I ain't
exactly got a normal life, y'know?>
   Hikaru looked down. <No, I don't know. That's why I was trying to find
out about you. I just wanted to know who it was I had become part of...>
   Ranma instinctively drew the smaller girl into a hug. She returned the
hug, looking up at him. Ranma smiled. <Well, looks like this is our chance
to get acquainted.>
   Hikaru smiled, and they began to exchange life stories.

   "He's been out for a long time," Genma noted.
   Tofuu nodded. "He seems to be in a trance."
   "What kind of trance?" Ukyou wondered.
   Cologne examined Ranma more closely, inspecting his aura. "Well, this is
interesting," she chuckled dryly. Where earlier she'd seen a red aura
surrounding Ranma's yellow aura, now there was a solid orange aura.
   "What's interesting?" Umi asked.
   "Well, if my guess is right, Ranma's in a trance because he and Hikaru
are communicating."
   Everyone blinked. "WHAT?" they all shouted.

   <So,> Ranma said, <Whatcha wanna know?>
   <I dunno,> Hikaru shrugged. <Just, whatever. Like, who are you? What do
you do? That kind of thing.>
   Ranma nodded. <Well, you probably already know my name. I'm a martial
artist.>
   <Really? What school?> Hikaru asked.
   <Saotome-ryuu Musabetsu-Kakutou,> Ranma said proudly.
   Hikaru frowned. <I don't think I've ever heard of it.>
   <Not many have,> Ranma told her. <It's a pretty limited school now. Only
two families even practice it, the Saotomes and the Tendous.>
   <Oh.> Hikaru pondered that.
   <Anyways, that's where one of my problems is. See, my pop and Tendou-san
kinda agreed to engage their children, to carry on the school.>
   Hikaru's eyes widened. <So you're engaged then?>
   Ranma nodded. <Yeah. Remember the girl with the short hair?> Somehow,
Ranma managed to will up an image of her, which stood between them. Ranma
blinked at that. Hikaru just nodded.
   <I remember her,> she said.
   <That's Tendou Akane, my fiancee.>
   <She's cute. You're lucky,> Hikaru offered. Ranma snorted.
   <Cute ain't the word. She's violent, she's a horrible cook, she's a lead
weight in water, she's got a horrible temper...>
   Suddenly, the image of Akane came to life, weilding an enormous mallet.
<RANMA NO BAKA!> the image cried, and smashed Ranma into the mist. Hikaru
stared.
   <See what I mean?> Ranma groaned, as the image gave a "hmph" and
vanished.
   <It can't be that bad,> Hikaru said.
   <It's worse,> Ranma replied. <Anyways, as if that ain't bad enough, she
ain't the only one I gotta worry about.>
   <What do you mean, Ranma-kun?>
   <Well, there's that purple-haired girl, Shampoo.> An image of Shampoo
appeared and promptly glomped Ranma, gushing in broken Japanese. The image
promptly vanished as Ranma told Hikaru the story of how he'd met Shampoo.
Then an image of Ukyou appeared, followed by Kodachi, and explanations of
each. Then Ranma went on to expound about some of the other problems he
had, Hikaru's eyes widening more and more as he continued.
   <So then there's Kunou. He's a real idiot, and has a crush on my girl
side.> An image of Kunou appeared, and Hikaru gasped.
   <I saw him! When I woke up the first time! He was trying to kill me!>
   Ranma blinked. Then he remembered the previous day at the clinic. <So
that was you who did that,> he mused.
   Hikaru nodded. <Yeah. Him, and then this horrible little old man...> She
shuddered at the memory.
   Ranma nodded grimly. <Happousai,> he said. <Everyone hates him.>
   Hikaru shivered again.
   <And then there's Ryouga,> Ranma continued. An image of an
umbrella-weilding teenager with a leopard-print bandana, and a black piglet
with a similar bandana, appeared.
   <KAWAII!> Hikaru gushed at seeing the piglet. <That's the piggy I met at
the bus stop today!>
   Ranma smirked. <Don't get too attached. That's Ryouga, in his cursed
form.>
   Hikaru deflated. <Oh.>
   Ranma proceeded to tell Hikaru all about "P-chan" and his activities
with Akane. By the end of the tale, Hikaru looked quite upset.
   <That's so wrong of him. He's abusing both you and Akane.>
   <Tell me about it. And there ain't a thing I can do about it until the
tomboy gets a clue.>
   Hikaru silently vowed to have a little talk with Ryouga.
   Finally, Ranma's tales wound down, and Hikaru spoke of her family and
her friends and her adventures in Cephiro. Then she told Ranma about what
happened to her in China, weeping as she finished her tale.
   Ranma looked grim. <If I ever see Herb again, I'm gonna pound him just
on general principles.> Then, he again hugged Hikaru, and said,
<Hey...they're probably getting scared spitless out there. I mean, neither
of us is awake, right?>
   Wiping her eyes, Hikaru nodded.
   With a smile, Ranma said, <Why don't you go ahead and take over for a
while.>
   <Are you sure?> Hikaru asked, worry evident on her face. <I don't mean
to put you out...I mean, I don't even have a right to be in here...>
   Ranma shrugged. <Nah, it's cool. Your friends miss ya, and I don't feel
like puttin' up with Shampoo and Akane and all them right now. I'll letcha
know when I'm ready to wake up again.>
   Hikaru smiled, and kissed Ranma on the cheek, causing him to flush
bright red. <Arigatou, Ranma-kun.>
   With that, Hikaru vanished, leaving Ranma alone in the grey mist.

   Cologne closed her eyes. "Their auras are overlapping so perfectly as to
form one. The only explanation is that they're both awake, and talking to
each other inside their mind. Since that kind of thing takes a lot of
effort, the rest of the body had to shut down."
   "Aiyah! Great-grandmother, Ranma be alright, yes?"
   Cologne nodded. "Of course. Sooner or later they'll quit talking, and
one of them will wake up."
   Almost as if on cue, the redhead groaned, and sleepily opened her red
eyes. Hikaru sat up, and smiled at everyone. "Hi," she said.

   Chapter 7, Section A: A World Away

   A kind, weary woman trod exhaustedly into a beautifully styled and
decorated chamber in what was probably the most exquisite palace to ever
exist, and tiredly slumped into a plush, thronelike chair, leaning forward
onto the richly lacquered dark wood table. She brushed locks of her golden
hair out of her face, heaving a sigh. Despite her exhaustion, she wore a
smile as she glanced around the room.
   Decorating the walls were various sketches and painings of a young
woman, with sandy blond hair, and lively green eyes. In some, she wore
flowing, exquisite green dresses, and seemed to be dancing in the painting.
In others, she wore an unusual, yet beautiful green and white armor, and
carried an extremely long sword. In one painting, only a thin layer of
silken gauze clung to her body, as an unknowable wind stirred her hair and
rippled the fabric.
   "I just finished that one this morning," said a deep, gentle voice from
behind her. She turned, and smiled at the young man who had spoken. As
usual, his long, greenish hair created a somewhat wild frame around his
weathered face. His face always saddened her a bit--nobody as young as he
was should have a face like that. The man's visage had been darkened and
chapped by the weather, and small scars spoke of battles he had narrowly
survived. The scar on the bridge of his nose especially bothered her.
   But, he never spoke of it, so she never felt the need to ask. She was
just thankful that he still lived, and was vibrant and strong...and
creative...
   The young man dropped into another chair, and laid a pad on the table.
Selecting a charcoal pencil, he began carefully constructing another of the
myriad pieces of art he had been filling the palace with ever since his
return.
   "So," he asked as he brushed the charcoal across the rough paper,
"Another exhausting day, sister?"
   She nodded. "Yes, very exhausting. But worthwhile." With a bright
twinkle in her eyes, she said, "You won't believe what we got done today,
Ferio."
   Ferio grinned. His sister was always happy when she returned to the
palace. "And what did the Pillar of Cephiro do today, hmm?"
   Emeraude smiled happily. "We finally purged all the darkness from the
Forest of Silence."
   Ferio's head snapped up, and he gave his sister an incredulous look.
"You're joking, right?"
   Emeraude giggled and shook her head. "It's finally done. There is no
more Silence in that forest."
   Ferio chuckled. "Unbelievable. You're sure it's really over this time?
We thought the forest was tamed when that stupid rock was destroyed..."
   Emeraude sighed. "Yes, I remember. We were all disappointed when the
Forest became just as dangerous again. But, thanks to my beloved, we found
a new home for the darkness of Cephiro."
   Ferio blinked. "Oh?"
   Emeraude nodded. "You know the Intangible Mountains? Well, it took some
doing, but we managed to transfer all the darkness from the Forest of
Silence into those mountains."
   Ferio grunted an approval. "And since nobody could go into those
mountains even if they wanted to..."
   "Nobody will ever be bothered by the monsters again."
   Ferio laughed. "Sounds good."
   "Yes, it will make many people very happy..." Suddenly, Emeraude pitched
forward onto the table, gasping. Ferio was immediately at her side.
"Emeraude! What's wrong?"
   "I..." Tears of pain streamed from her eyes. "I'm not sure...I feel
so..." Emeraude became limp, her breathing shallow and ragged.
   "NO!" Ferio shouted. Raising his head, he bellowed, "SOMEONE GET A
HEALER IN HERE, NOW!!!" Clasping his sister's hand, he whispered, "You'll
be alright, sister, I promise...you'll be just fine..."

   Chapter 7, Section B: Pointless Loss: The Tale of the Magic Knights

   Once more, the group in the Nekohanten had all settled in a circle,
sipping tea. "So," Hikaru said finally, "Umi-chan, Fuu-chan...what happened
in Cephiro after Zagato sent me away?"
   Umi and Fuu exchanged a nervous glance. "We'd best tell her. She
deserves to know," Fuu said.
   Umi sighed. "Alright. Here goes..."

   Two bitter, somewhat depressed Magic Knights recovered the Mashin
Windam, and battled more of Zagato's minions. Umi had become slightly
overzealous. Fuu had been very upset over how she'd changed.
   The first apparent change was during the battle with Caldina, the
illusionist. Caldina's spell had ensorcelled Fuu, but somehow Umi had
resisted it. The surprised and enraged Caldina had fought visciously, her
daggers weaving around and between Umi's attacks, but the Magic Knight
distracted her with the Mizu no Ryuu spell, and while Caldina made a wild
dodge, Umi struck.
   Caldina screamed as the blade of Umi's rapier pierced her through the
eye. Her spell immediately dissipated, and Fuu blinked herself awake, then
gasped as she saw what had happened.
   Umi stood there, snarling at Caldina's twitching corpse. Her rapier had
pierced through the back of the illusionist's cranium, and the body was
slowly sliding down the blade.

   Sadly, Fuu said, "I'll never forget that day. I still see in my
nightmares that woman's death throes..."
   Hikaru gasped. Umi sighed.
   "When we finally got to Zagato," Fuu continued...

   The battle was not going well. Zagato had his own Mashin, and the
Knights were wearing down trying to defend themselves.
   "Fuu, I have an idea," Umi said as they fell back a bit. "Let's try to
combine our magic."
   Fuu, inside Windam, was doubtful. "I don't know...my attack magic isn't
very powerful..."
   "It's worth a shot, right?" Umi asked.
   Concentrating, Umi and Fuu released their powerful Wind and Water magic,
creating a Tidal Wave, which slammed Zagato into the wall. While the priest
was down, Umi lunged forward with her sword. Zagato managed to roll to the
side, but the blow pierced his shoulder.
   Suddenly, Emeraude's voice filled the chamber. "NO!!!!" Zagato's
shoulder began to glow with a bright light. When the light faded, he was
healed, although he still grimaced as if in pain.
   Umi and Fuu looked up incredulously. "That was the Princess...why did
she just do that?"
   Suddenly, Emeraude, resplendent in her white dress, golden hair spilling
down to the floor, appeared between Umi and Zagato.
   "Do not harm him. Please."
   The two Magic Knights emerged from their Mashins, and Umi frowned.
"Princess, how else are we to rescue you?"
   The Princess shook her head sadly. "You don't understand. I imprisoned
myself. I called you here because I can not serve Cephiro as I am now. My
life must be ended."
   Fuu and Umi gasped. Fuu said, "I don't understand. What is wrong?"
   Zagato stood, emerging from his own Mashin, and said, "She's in love,
and she thinks it's bad for Cephiro."
   The two Knights looked at the princess, who bowed her head. "It is true.
I love Zagato. But I also love Cephiro. It is my will that holds this world
together. If I cannot devote my entire being to this world, then what will
become of it?"
   Umi scowled. "Wait a second. You're saying you want to die because
you're in love and you think you can't be a good Princess to these people,
to this world, because of that?"
   Emeraude nodded.
   Umi snapped. "That's the STUPIDEST thing I have ever heard in my life!"
   Fuu nodded. "She's right. Princess Emeraude...do you deny your love for
Zagato? Are you ashamed of it?"
   Emeraude shook her head sadly. "I cannot deny what is in my heart."
   "Then," Fuu continued, "Do you deny your love for Cephiro?"
   Emeraude gasped as if struck. "Never!"
   Umi knew where this was going. "Then why? Why do you think you have to
die?"
   "Because...because I cannot be the Pillar this world needs, if my heart
yearns for one man..."
   "You're wrong," Umi told her. "If you can't accept your love for one
man, if you can't say, 'Yes, I love this man,' then how can you say, 'Yes,
I love this world'?"
   Fuu nodded. "Exactly. In our world, people who millions of lives depend
on fall in love, marry, and have children all the time. It doesn't make you
a weaker leader, and it doesn't mean you care less for your people."
   "If anything, it makes you stronger," Umi added.
   "They are right, my love," Zagato said quietly. "You are being foolish,
to deny either myself or this world your beautiful spirit."
   Emeraude fell to her knees and began to sob. "What--what have I done?
What...I almost did grave harm to this world...I've been foolish..."
   Zagato knelt beside her and embraced her. "It is alright, my love."
   "So, it's over?" Umi asked.
   Emeraude looked up, and nodded. "Thank you, Magic Knights. Thank you.
You have truly saved Cephiro."
   Umi frowned. "Then send us back to our world."
   Emeraude was saddened. "Yes, of course...I apologize for everything I
have put you through..."
   Umi didn't answer, except to scowl. Fuu did not look particularly
pleased either.
   Emeraude straightened up, and closed her eyes. A bundle appeared in her
arms, which she handed to Fuu. "Take these gifts with you as you return to
your world. Farewell, Magic Knights."
   And then, just like that, they found themselves back on Tokyo Tower.

   Hikaru sat, stunned. "Emeraude...and Zagato..."
   Soun closed his eyes. "Such hardships as are faced, all for one person's
fear of commitment..."
   "Sounds like someone we all know," grumbled Akane, though less
spiritedly than usual.
   Cologne closed her eyes. "It is, indeed, a sad tale. That a young life
be ruined, for such a silly thing."
   Umi nodded. "I still can't get over it. All the things that happened,
everything we went through, everything Hikaru-chan went through, all for
nothing."
   Hikaru smiled sadly. "Not true, Umi-chan. It wasn't all for nothing.
After all, you did save Cephiro..."
   And with that, Hikaru moved apart from the group, slumped into the
corner, and began to cry.

   Chapter 7, Section C: A Call For Help

   Ferio, Zagato, Clef, Presea, Ascot, Mokona, and various attendants and
healers gathered around the bed upon which the comatose Emeraude lay. A
large, ugly purplish blemish had appeared upon her left arm.
   One of the healers sighed, and shook his head. "I do not know the cause
of this."
   Clef observed the blemish, and frowned. "Something very dark is causing
this illness. But what...?"
   A courtier suddenly ran into the room, and knelt before Ferio. "Forgive
me, Prince Ferio, I know this is a terrible time, but something dreadful
has happened in one of the outlying towns."
   Ferio, knowing that Emeraude was in the best possible hands, addressed
the messenger. "Alright, what's going on?"
   "It's Bima. Everyone in the town has become very weak, the plants and
animals are dying, and the buildings are decaying. The sun no longer
touches that town."
   Ferio rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Only that town?"
   The courtier nodded. "Yes, your Highness, but the darkness seems to be
slowly spreading."
   Just then, the comatose princess groaned, and the blemish on her arm
expanded alarmingly.
   As Ferio returned his attention to his sister, another courtier entered
the chamber and said, "Your Highness! The area of darkness has spread into
the outlying villages around Bima. It's getting worse."
   At that, Clef looked up, and caught Ferio's gaze. "That darkness...with
people falling ill and things decaying..."
   "It's like a blemish on Cephiro," Ferio finished.
   The two of them stared at the slowly growing blemish on Emeraude's arm.
"A Blemish," they said as one.
   "We need to find a cure, and soon," Ferio said. "If this continues, it's
more than her life that's at stake. It's this entire world."
   With a loud "puu", Mokona suddenly vanished.
   "Where's Mokona off to?" Presea wondered.
   Nobody had an answer.

   On a street in the heart of Tokyo, there was a sudden flash of light,
and a fat, white, rabbit-like creature with a jewel on its forehead
suddenly dropped to the pavement. Making a loud "puu" sound, it bounced
frenetically down the street, as if in search of something...

   -end of act one-

--
-------Zankoku na tenshi no you ni, shounen yo shinwa ni nare-------
The Eternal Lost Lurker
EtLostLurker@hotmail.com
EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net
Ittai boku no peiju wa doko nan da!?

From: "The Eternal Lost Lurker" <EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net>

   ACT TWO: Tomaranai mirai o mezashite...

   Chapter 8: Mahou no usagi da? Arrive Mokona!

   Everyone watched Hikaru worriedly as she cried herself to sleep in the
corner of the Nekohanten. As much as everyone wanted to comfort her,
Cologne suggested that with what she'd endured, Hikaru needed to be left
alone for a few moments, to release her agony. Quietly, she summed up for
the other two Magic Knights just exactly what had happened to Hikaru in
China.
   Needless to say, Umi and Fuu were *very* angry when the tale was
finished.
   "Too bad she didn't get a chance to barbecue the bastards," Umi
commented, scowling.
   Fuu nodded. "Yes, if they were still around, I would not be opposed to
extracting a bit of payback."
   Murmurs of assent ringed the cafe.

   Hikaru finally cried herself to sleep, and almost immediately, the
redhead rose from the corner, blinking and rubbing at her now blue eyes,
which were nevertheless red from crying.
   Everyone turned to her, saw that it was Ranma, and made room for her in
the group.
   Ranma frowned thoughtfully. He'd been privy to Hikaru's tale, and to her
anguish, as well as the tale of the other Knights. He wasn't in a
particularly pleasant mood after all that. This girl, who he'd barely even
realized existed, already felt like a sister, or...or something else to
him. He wished he could *do* something, find some reimbursement for her
pain.
   "Old ghoul," Ranma mused, after receiving some hot water, "Those guys
who did that to Hikaru...do you know if they're really the ancestors of
Herb and his two boneheaded flunkies?"
   Cologne rubbed her chin thoughtfully, and pogoed over to a cabinet in
the back of the restaurant. She produced an ancient scroll, and examined it
for a moment. "Yes," she said. "It shows it right here in this scroll. The
Musk prince of that time was Rhi Fa," she said, tapping the scroll, "And
all rulers of the Musk are produced from the same lineage, given their
draconic blood."
   Ranma made a small noise of comprehension. "I had forgotten about that."
He then frowned. "Hey, hold up. I thought they didn't start with that
dragon stuff until *after* Nyanniichuan was formed."
   Cologne frowned. "You're right. I'll have to look into that, and find an
explanation. In any case," she continued, "It seems the same two families
have been producing warriors to serve the rulers personally for hundreds of
years. One family adopts the mantle of the wolf, the other of the tiger.
Rhi Fa's warriors were..." She paused to examine the slightly faded
writing, and then continued, frowning slightly, "Kho Kain and Ghun Xia."
Blinking at that, she muttered, "Where on earth did they come up with names
like that?"
   Ranma frowned. "So, Lime and Mint are their descendants?"
   Cologne nodded.
   Ranma slammed his fist into his open palm. "It's settled then. If I see
any of them again, when I get through with 'em, they'll make roadkill look
pretty."
   That sentiment was heartily echoed by many of those present.
   Fuu frowned. "I don't mind the idea of vengeance, but is it really fair
to take something that happened fifteen centuries ago out on the
descendants of the people who did it?"
   Shampoo nodded. "It too too fair. Is warrior code."
   "Yeah," Umi nodded. "It's one of those samurai things."

   The group continued to talk for a while, Umi and Fuu getting to know
everyone, and vice versa.
   "Well," Umi said, "I'm afraid Fuu and I probably need to be getting home
now."
   Fuu nodded. "It is getting rather late."
   The girls said their goodbyes, and left Nekohanten, promising to return
after school the next day and check in on Hikaru.

   On the bus ride home, Umi was staring out the window, and thought she
saw something familiar on the sidewalk. She did a double-take, but it was
gone. "Nah," she thought, "Couldn't be...could it?"
   She decided to dismiss the thought that she'd seen a fat white rabbit
creature bouncing along the sidewalk as a product of her excitement over
seeing Hikaru again.

   The Nekohanten began to clear out, as the Tendous, Ranma, Genma, Tofuu,
Ukyou, and Ryouga all went their separate ways.
   On the walk home, Ranma suddenly froze, and stumbled slightly. Akane,
concerned, rushed up to him. She stopped in shock when she saw his eyes
were red.
   Hikaru blinked, and looked down at...himself? "What the--?"
   Akane stared. "Hikaru? How--?"
   Hikaru frowned. "I don't know. I'm...this is Ranma's real form, isn't
it?" Akane nodded. Hikaru looked upset. "How did I wake up in this body? If
what Cologne-san said is right, this shouldn't happen..."
   A thoughtful, troublesome silence ensued. After a moment, it was
shattered by a frantic and insistent sound, which was coming closer.
   Akane frowned. As the sound drew nearer, she could distinctly make it
out. It sounded like, 'puu-puu-puu'. "What on earth is that sound?"
   Hikaru's head snapped up, and he looked around. "It can't be..."
   Suddenly, a fat, white rabbit with a jewel on its forehead bounced
around the corner, headed right for them. Akane looked at it, and smiled.
"How kawaii! I wonder who it belongs to?"
   Hikaru's reaction was completely different. At first he was shocked,
then he grinned happily. "Mokona!"
   Mokona bounced in front of them. "Puu?" it asked.
   Hikaru frowned. "You don't recognize me, do you, Mokona?"
   "Puu..."
   Akane blinked. "THAT...is Mokona?"
   Hikaru nodded. "Hai."
   "What's it doing here in Tokyo?"
   Hikaru shrugged. "I dunno. Why don't we ask it?"
   Mokona looked back and forth between them, puzzled. "Puu puu?"
   Hikaru grinned. "Mokona, it's me! Hikaru!"
   "PUU!?"
   At that moment, as if by some grand design, someone's sprinklers went
off, spraying Hikaru. Mokona hopped backwards a couple paces, and shook
itself.
   Hikaru smiled, and willed her armor into existence.
   Mokona bounced up high in surprise, then bounced toward Hikaru
excitedly. "PUU! PUUPUUPUU!!!!"
   Hikaru giggled. "I'm happy to see you too, Mokona!"
   Akane smiled at the happy scene.
   "So, Mokona, what are you doing here in Tokyo, hmm?"
   "Puu! Puupuupuu! Puu..."
   Akane frowned. "Doesn't make much sense, does it."
   "Puu!" Mokona told Akane crossly. Akane backed up a step involuntarily,
and scowled at it.
   "I think it's upset about something. Maybe there's trouble in Cephiro?"
Hikaru mused.
   "Puu!" Mokona hopped out of Hikaru's arms. "Puu, puu! Puu puu!" The gem
on its forehead flared, and began tracing a pentagram in the air. The
pentagram shimmered, and became an image of clouds, and mountains, with a
large fish *flying* in circles in the air. Akane gasped.
   "I think Mokona wants us to go back to Cephiro with it," Hikaru said.
   "Puuuuuuuu," Mokona announced satisfactorily.
   "Alright...it must be pretty important, if you came all the way here,
but everyone is very tired. Can we find the others in the morning? And
maybe we can get our new friends to help out," Hikaru offered. While she
was concerned, she was a bit apprehensive about going back to Cephiro.
   Mokona considered this for a moment, then finally bounced once in a
bizarre approximation of a solemn nod. "Puu," it agreed.
   "Okay then," Hikaru said. "Come on with us, and in the morning we'll get
the others and go back to Cephiro."
   "Puu!" Mokona bounced into Hikaru's arms, and the trio continued on to
the Tendou dojo. Akane silently shook her head, wondering if things were
destined to get stranger than they'd ever been...

   Chapter 9: Departure

   The next morning, Mokona bounced out of the room where Hikaru and a
giant panda had been sleeping, and bounced down the stairs. It was
fascinated by this household, so different from what it knew.
   Mokona saw a tall girl with short brown hair in the hall. The girl was
eyeing it warily. "Now who are you?" she asked it.
   "Puu!" Mokona said. It smiled up at her. "Puu, puu!"
   "Yeah, well if you do, you have to clean it up yourself, because I sure
won't," the teenager mumbled.
   "Puu?" Mokona wondered what this girl's problem was. She seemed even
grumpier than Umi!
   The grumpy girl padded off to the bathroom. Akane came out of her room,
and smiled at Mokona. "Good morning, Mokona!"
   Mokona recognized Akane from the previous evening, and bounced a couple
times. "Puu, puu!" it said. Akane giggled, and scooped the fat creature up
in her arms. Mokona decided it didn't mind being carried, and the two
headed downstairs.
   A soothing voice called from the kitchen, "Breakfast will be ready soon
everyone!"

   Ranma emerged from the stairs, in male form. Mokona saw him, and
inquired, "Puu?"
   Ranma blinked, then said, "Oh, you're Mokona." Mokona looked confused.
   Akane explained, "Mokona, this is Ranma."
   "Puu?" Mokona asked. It leaped to stand before Ranma. Its jewel
flickered, and a beam shot forth, connecting to Ranma's forehead. Akane
gasped, but Ranma smiled. "It's okay, Akane," Ranma said. "Hikaru said to
expect this." He closed his eyes.
   Mokona held the beam for a moment, then it cut off. "Puuuuuuu," Mokona
said.
   Ranma's eyes saddened. "I'm sorry, Mokona," Ranma said. "I know you're
not too happy about this." Brightening, he said, "But, she's still alive in
here, and you'll get to see her again pretty soon."
   "Puu!" Mokona said. Then, it bounced back over to Akane, who scooped it
up again, as breakfast was served and the rest of the household gathered.
   A "buii" was heard as a bleary-looking piglet trudged into the dojo.
"P-chan!" Akane called.
   P-chan looked up at the sound of Akane's voice...and scowled. "Bukii!"
he remarked, glaring accusingly at Mokona.
   "Puu?" Mokona asked.
   "P-chan, this is Mokona!" Akane called.
   "Puu," Mokona offered. It sensed something unusual about this piglet.
Something which reminded it a lot of a particularly irritating fairy it
knew...
   P-chan didn't like the fact that an intruder was taking his place in
Akane's arms. Although in the back of his mind the name "Mokona" registered
as being something important, he ignored it for the time being, and made a
flying leap at the creature, hoping to scare it away.
   Mokona opened its mouth wide, and swallowed P-chan in one gulp.
   Akane gasped, mortified. "Mokona!!"
   Kasumi covered her mouth with one hand. "Ara..."
   Ranma snickered, and Nabiki raised an eyebrow.
   "Puuuuuuuuu," Mokona said smugly.
   "Mokona! That was bad!" Akane scowled.
   Mokona opened its mouth again, and P-chan tumbled out. He backed off
warily, and glared at the white creature. Mokona, for its part, continued
looking smug.
   Ranma was laughing like crazy at this point. Akane glared at him. "And
just WHAT is so funny?" she demanded.
   "Oh come on Akane, you gotta admit that was good," Ranma said.
   "Oh yeah? Well so is THIS!" Akane shouted, retrieving her mallet. Ranma
was knocked outside, and landed in the pond.
   "Puu?" Mokona wondered. It certainly hadn't seen any magical jewel on
Akane's clothes. Maybe she kept it hidden?
   The redhead which re-entered the house was Hikaru, and she didn't look
particularly happy. "Akane-chan, please don't do that again," Hikaru said.
"You're sort of denting two people now, remember?"
   Akane had the grace to look sheepish as Hikaru ignored her and smiled at
Mokona. "Mokona! I'll play with you in a minute, as soon as I get dried
off, alright?"
   "Puu, puu!" Mokona was just happy to have Hikaru back again. It had been
so sad when she'd...it didn't want to remember that right now.

   A few minutes later, Hikaru sat, with Mokona beside her, at the table,
eating breakfast. P-chan was being fed by Akane. Hikaru kept casting
glances at P-chan, making the pig feel slightly nervous.
   "Puu," Mokona commented, nudging Hikaru with its head.
   "Hmm? Oh yeah!" Hikaru wiped her mouth, and cleared her throat.
"Everyone, I have to tell you something." She paused, swallowing nervously.
   "Mokona came here because there's trouble in Cephiro again. I think it
wants the Magic Knights to go back with it to Cephiro."
   Everyone gasped. "You can't be serious? After what happened last time?"
Akane said.
   "Puuuuuuuu...." Mokona replied.
   "I don't think it would have come here if that was going to happen
again. It's got to be something different this time. Isn't it, Mokona?"
   "Puu, puu!" Mokona bounced in its approximation of a nod. Hikaru idly
wondered about that...when she'd seen it last, Mokona could seemingly nod
like a normal person. It must have gotten fatter, she decided.
   Akane frowned. "Are you sure this is a good idea? It's not just you this
time, it's Ranma too. What would he have to say about this?"
   Hikaru closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were blue.
Everyone stared.
   "You're getting really good at that," Nabiki commented.
   "Puu," Mokona observed, slightly unsettled by the way the two teens
interchanged the body like that.
   "Akane...people are in trouble again over there. We saw a little bit of
that when Mokona did that light thing a few minutes ago. I don't think it's
the same thing all over again." He sighed. "If people are in trouble, I
gotta help. I can't be selfish, not anymore."
   "Well, if you're going," Akane decided, "then I'm going too."
   "Indeed," said a new voice, "It would be a good idea if many of us
went."
   Everyone looked up to see Cologne standing in the doorway. She pogoed
over to Mokona, and sketched a small bow to it.
   "Puu!" Mokona said, and smiled at the old woman. Everyone blinked.
   She looked up, and said, "You have no idea what this creature is, do
you?"
   Everyone shook their heads. Cologne chuckled dryly. "You'll find out."
Then she became serious again. "In any case, for now, suffice it to say
that if this creature wants us to accompany it to another world, we must go
as quickly as possible."
   "Puu," Mokona agreed.
   Everyone considered this.

   Later that morning, Cologne, Mokona, Hikaru, Akane, Shampoo, Ukyou,
Mousse, and Ryouga were gathered at the bus stop. A bus pulled up, and Umi
and Fuu stepped off. The second Umi saw Mokona, she scowled. "MOKONA!? What
the hell are YOU doing here?"
   "Puu!" Mokona offered, smiling cutely at the blue-haired girl. Umi
glared at it.
   "Mokona-san, how did you come to be in this world?" Fuu asked.
   "Guys, Cephiro needs us again," Hikaru said.
   Umi snorted. Fuu looked displeased. "Suuuure, so we can fight a
pointless battle again? No way," Umi said.
   "It would be wise not to take this lightly," Cologne advised.
   Hikaru nodded. "Mokona showed me a little bit of what's going on.
There's a lot of people sick and dying over there. We're not being asked to
go after the Pillar again."
   Mokona bounced. "Puu."
   Umi frowned. "How can we be sure of that?"
   "My child," Cologne said, "You were summoned last time by the Pillar of
Cephiro. This time, you are being summoned by this creature. That's a very
big difference."
   "Yeah? Well the way I remember it, this baka bunny also led us into a
nest of monsters shortly after we met it, AND managed to hide itself while
WE did all the hard work!" Umi snapped.
   "Puuu...." Mokona said dangerously.
   "Trust me, child. I know exactly what Mokona is. When it guides someone
in a particular direction, it has a good reason. And if it wants all of us
to go to Cephiro, then we should all go."
   "Just how do you know so much about Mokona anyway?" Akane asked.
   Cologne closed her eyes. "I cannot reveal that right now. When the time
is right for you to know, Mokona will show you."
   "Puu!" Mokona confirmed.
   Umi sighed. "Okay, okay, we'll go." She fixed Mokona with a stern gaze.
"But if you're dragging us all over there for something stupid, I promise
I'm gonna serve up some rabbit stew, got it?"
   "Puu?" Mokona said, backing up a bit and trying to look cute. Umi just
scowled at it, and it wilted slightly.
   "Is everyone ready?" Cologne asked.
   "Sure," Ryouga said.
   "Ready as I'll ever be," Akane answered.
   "Same here, sugar," Ukyou chimed in.
   "Shampoo ready go!"
   "As am I," Mousse said.
   "I'm ready!" Hikaru chirped.
   "I suppose I am also ready," Fuu said.
   Reluctantly, Umi sighed and said, "Okay, I'm ready too."
   Mokona bounced three times. Its gem flared yellow.
   The next thing the group knew, they were in freefall.

   Chapter 10: Preparations

   The Magic Knights found themselves bouncing slightly on the back of a
familiar flying fish. "Fyula!" Hikaru beamed.
   Mokona cried out, "Puu! Puu puu, puuuuu!" Its jewel flashed yellow
again. A snow-white falcon swooped out of nowhere, just big enough for
Mokona to perch on. Once it settled in place on the falcon's back, it cried
out, "Puuuuuuu! Puu puu, puuuuuu!"
   Two creatures which could only be described as giant flying squirrels
glided into view. One caught Shampoo, Mousse, and Cologne; the other caught
Ukyou, Ryouga, and Akane.
   Fuu blinked. "Is it just me, or does it seem that Mokona summoned those
spirit creatures?"
   Hikaru nodded. "Yeah," she said softly. "Never knew it could do that."
   With Mokona's falcon in the lead, the group flew across Cephiro.
Everyone marveled at the beauty of the land, and the palace, grand and
magnificent, loomed before them.
   However, off to their right, it was obvious to the entire group that
something was amiss in this world.
   "What's *that*?" Umi asked.
   Hikaru looked, and gasped. "An area of darkness..."
   Fuu frowned. "It doesn't seem to be natural. Something is definitely not
right in that area."
   "Hmmm...maybe that's why we were called back here," Umi mused.

   Soon, the entire group was deposited at the foot of a grand marble
walkway which lead to the gates of a majestic palace.
   "Seijyu raikai!" bellowed a short figure from the entrance to the
palace. Fyula became slightly transparent, and stretched into an indistinct
grey blur, which vanished into the staff the short figure held.
   Mokona issued several of its trademark sounds, and the falcon and flying
squirrels vanished into the jewel on its forehead.
   The people unfamiliar with this world stared at the small person
standing in the gates. He appeared to be a very young child, wearing
voluminous white and grey robes which swallowed his body. Lavender hair
framed his youthful face, and a large blue stone adorned his forehead.
Various rings adorned his small fingers, all appearing much too extravagant
for someone his size. In one hand, he held a staff twice his height, the
top of which contained various gemstones and appeared to be covered with an
animal hide.
   As the small man approached the party, he started. He blinked rapidly
several times.
   Hikaru rushed forward. "Guru Clef!" she yelled.
   Guru Clef stepped backward in shock, almost dropping his staff.
"Hi--Hikaru? How?"
   Hikaru stopped a few feet away. "I wasn't killed! Zagato's spell just
sent me away. I'll explain everything, later. Right now I think we have
something more important to worry about."
   Clef blinked, then nodded. "Of course." Then he looked at the assembled
group. "And these are--?"
   "Puu, puu puu puu!" Mokona offered.
   "They're new friends of ours, from our world," Hikaru said. "They're all
highly skilled warriors." She bowed her head. "There's a particular reason
they're here, I'll admit. It's because of me." Brightening, she continued,
"But they'll be able to help out! They're very strong."
   "Puu! Puu!" Mokona agreed, bouncing up and down excitedly.
   "Hmm. Well, all of you, welcome to Cephiro. I am Guru Clef. Please,
follow me inside." As he gestured towards the gates with one hand, his
expression turned grim. "There is much to discuss, and much you should
know." Brightening slightly, he turned to Fuu and said, "And there is
someone who will be very excited to see you again."
   Fuu blushed. Umi and Hikaru giggled.

   As the group entered the palace, a small troupe of its occupants headed
their way. As they drew near enough to distinguish, Fuu let out a small
gasp.
   Leading the party approaching them was a young man, with green hair and
a rather battered face, dressed in a gleaming white armor, trimmed in
green. A large emerald scabbard hung at his side, with an ornate sword hilt
visible. A flowing white cape, with green trim, draped from his shoulders.
   "What's the commotion here?" he demanded, in a tone that brooked no
foolishness. Then he caught sight of Fuu, and inhaled sharply, before
running to her.
   "Ferio?" Fuu asked, staring openly at him.
   Ferio grinned and took Fuu's hand, kissing it. "Fuu," he said. "I've
missed you so much."
   Fuu blushed.
   "Hi Ferio," Hikaru said. "Nice armor."
   Ferio looked up...and did a double-take. "Hikaru? You're alive?"
   Hikaru smiled. "It's a long story. I'll tell it to everyone later."
   Ferio nodded, and greeted Umi as well. He then noticed the remaining six
people, and asked, "And these are?"
   "Friends from our world," Fuu said. "They've come to help."
   Ferio smiled, and gestured expansively. "Welcome, then, friends from the
other world, to Cephiro. It is good of you to come here. Our world is in
grave peril." Bowing, he continued, "Allow me to introduce myself. I am
Prince Ferio, brother of Princess Emeraude, who is the Pillar of this
land."
   Fuu, Umi, and Hikaru gaped at each other. "PRINCE Ferio?" they chorused.
   Clef interjected, with a chuckle, "It's true. Ferio here is Emeraude's
brother. He chose not to reveal the fact during your last encounter because
he was concerned for the fate of his sister."
   "So," Fuu said to Ferio, "You're really royalty."
   Ferio nodded, and grinned. Then, he said, "I'm very glad to see you
again, Fuu."
   Fuu blushed, but smiled. "It is good to see you as well, your highness."
   Ferio faked a hurt look. "Come on now, none of that! I never liked
titles."
   Everyone laughed.

   A pretty woman with dark blond hair in a topknot stepped forward. She
smiled, and said, "Welcome back, Magic Knights." Looking at Hikaru, she
smirked. "You could warn us next time you plan to rise from the grave,
young lady." Then, turning on Mokona, she continued, "And YOU, you should
warn us next time you plan to go world-hopping like that." Putting her
hands on her chin, she mused, "How shall I punish the both of you? Shall I
pull your nose to see if it comes off? Maybe I should take a pair of
tweezers and pluck you bald one hair at a time." She laughed somewhat
insanely, causing everyone to stare at her nervously, sweatdrops forming on
their heads.
   "Puu," Mokona told her derisively.
   "Same old Presea," Hikaru said, shaking her head and smiling.
   "Anyway," she continued, ignoring the creature, "Welcome back to
Cephiro. I wish I could say things were peaceful here."
   "We'll help out any way we can, Presea-san," Hikaru vowed.
   Introductions were made between the Cephiro natives and the new group of
warriors from Earth. Finally, Umi got down to business. "So, what's going
on now?" she asked Clef bluntly.
   Clef sighed. "Please follow me," he said, gesturing down one
particularly foreboding hallway.
   They arrived at a large doorway, which Clef opened ominously. The group
stepped inside, being careful not to make much noise.
   Inside, Emeraude lay on a bed, by all appearances sleeping peacefully.
Zagato hovered nearby. He looked up in surprise.
   "Zagato," Clef intoned, "The Magic Knights have returned, and brought
warriors from the other world with them."
   Zagato nodded. He blinked when he saw Hikaru. "So, you survived?" he
asked her.
   She nodded, frowning. "If you can call it that," she said tersely. Clef
shot her a glance. He'd never heard Hikaru use that tone of voice before.
Judging from the reactions of the others, neither had they.
   Zagato bowed his head. "I cannot hope to atone for my actions. But I
trust you understand why I have done these things."
   Hikaru nodded once, and said nothing more.
   The entire group moved over to Emeraude's bed. Despite themselves, they
gasped when they saw her.
   While she appeared to only be asleep, her entire left arm was covered
with an ugly, dark purple *splotch*, for lack of a better word to describe
it. The mass fairly radiated a menacing aura.
   "What's wrong with her?" Hikaru asked.
   Clef sighed. "We are uncertain as to what's causing it. All we know is
that this...Blemish, is affecting both the Princess and the land itself."
   "That area of darkness," Fuu said. Clef nodded. "The darkness is
spreading at the same alarming rate as this Blemish. If we do not find a
way to stop it, to cure it...the Princess will die, and so will Cephiro."
   "Okay, let's be clear about something. We're really here to save her
this time, right?" Umi asked.
   Clef nodded emphatically. "That is the intention this time. There will
be no repeat of the folly which occured on your last visit to this world."
   "Good," Umi said. Everyone else nodded agreement with her.
   "Well," Clef said, "I suggest for now we all gather in the banquet hall.
We can discuss matters of importance over a fine meal."
   This agreed with the rest of the group, so they all headed for the
dining hall. Only Zagato remained behind. Clef explained that Zagato was
forcing all of his Will into slowing the spread of the Blemish. This
explanation confused the bunch from Nerima, but they decided to find out
what that meant during the meal.

   In the banquet hall, Hikaru told her story, which shocked the ones who
had not yet heard it. It even stunned Mokona, who already knew the tale
from having looked into Hikaru's mind.
   "That is truly horrible," Clef said. "I cannot apologize enough for what
has happened to you."
   "It's not your fault, Guru Clef," Hikaru said. "None of you could have
known that this would happen."
   Ferio shook his head. "All things considered, it's a miracle you agreed
to come back at all."
   Hikaru looked hurt. "I don't hold grudges," she said. "Despite what
happened to me, I have made many friends here. I would hate to see harm
come to any of you."
   Umi and Fuu shared the sentiment.
   "So," Clef said, at length, "You are occupying the body of a boy from
your world, who fell into the same spring you drowned in." Hikaru nodded.
Clef rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If it isn't too much to ask, might we
be allowed to meet him as well now? I have to admit curiosity."
   Ferio shared that sentiment, as did Presea.
   Hikaru nodded, and closed her eyes. A moment later, a pair of bright
blue eyes blinked at the assembled crowd. "Ummm, hi," Ranma said, slightly
nervous.
   Clef smiled. "You are Ranma, then?"
   Ranma nodded. "You must be Clef," she said. Clef nodded. Ranma looked
around. "Hmmm...Presea...Ferio...I already know Mokona..."
   "Puu!"
   Clef chuckled. "So Ranma, you have no objection to being here in
Cephiro?"
   Ranma shook her head. "Nope. So long as it ain't bogus this time."
   "We've already assured Hikaru and the others that the danger is very
real this time," Clef commented.
   Ranma nodded. "Okay then."
   The meal progressed, and small talk was made. Clef spoke of Lafarga,
Ascot, and the others who remained in Cephiro. It seemed they had all gone
to defend the weakened people in the towns covered by the Blemish. They'd
been given special protection against the Blemish, and their own strong
Will was enough to ensure their ability to fight the monsters which had
begun to appear in the darkened lands.
   After the meal, Ferio urged the Knights and the warriors to rest. Presea
promised to upgrade and return the Knights' armors, including Hikaru's
armor, and to create armor and weapons for the others.
   "Tomorrow," Clef observed, "While the new warriors from the other world
remain here to receive special training to prepare them for Cephiro, the
Knights must journey to the Shrine of Fire...after all, you have one more
Mashin to awaken."
   The Knights (including a reawakened Hikaru) looked at each other
meaningfully.
   The day's discussions were wrapped up, and everyone went off to rest and
prepare for what would definitely be a very busy day.

   ***interlude: pillow talk***

   <So, we're goin' to a volcano tomorrow?> Ranma asked.
   Hikaru nodded. <Yeah. It's time to wake up my Mashin.>
   Ranma smiled. <You must be excited.>
   <Yeah. Fuu-chan and Umi-chan are so happy with their Mashins. It must be
nice, to have that kind of power to help people with...>
   <Are you nervous?>
   <A little. We have to go through some kind of test of heart for the
Mashin to accept us.>
   <You'll pass. You've got a good heart.>
   Hikaru blushed. <Thank you, Ranma-kun.>
   <So,> Ranma said, <just remember to keep us in one piece.>
   <I will, Ranma-kun!> Hikaru giggled.

   Chapter 11: Gearing Up

   Hikaru yawned loudly as she awoke. She padded out of the room she'd
slept in, and sought out signs of activity in the palace.
   She passed by the door to Emeraude's bedchamber, and scowled slightly.
She'd not by any means forgiven either her or Zagato for the hell she'd
been put through, but she did care about the rest of Cephiro, so she'd help
out any way she could.
   She found Umi and Fuu just leaving the chamber they'd slept in. "Ohayou,
Umi-chan! Ohayou, Fuu-chan!"
   They smiled back at her. "Ohayou, Hikaru-chan," they chorused.
   "Are you ready to awaken your Mashin, Hikaru?" Umi asked.
   Hikaru nodded. "More than ready! This'll be great!"
   "I have to warn you," Fuu said, "The tests aren't exactly easy."
   Umi nodded. "That's right. You were there when I got Selece, remember?"
   Hikaru nodded, frowning slightly. "I remember." She'd never felt like
*slapping* anyone as much as she had little Ascot, when he claimed the
monsters he was sending after them were his dear friends that he cared for
very much. Smiling, she said, "I think I can handle it though."
   "You seem awfully confident," Fuu commented.
   Hikaru thought about that. "Yeah, I guess I am." <Could that be a result
of my contact with Ranma-kun? It's definitely one of his biggest traits...>
   Grinning inwardly, she headed for the armory. The others followed her.

   It's said that some artisans, when possessed of the skill and the
technology to ply their trade in a faster, more efficient, and less painful
way, often prefer to step away from their conveniences, and get their hands
dirty, doing their work in the time-honored way their ancestors did.
   Inside the armory, Presea was hammering away at Hikaru's armor on a
crystal anvil. "Damn stubborn...what the hell happened to this thing in the
other world?" she groused. While she was up to a challenge, whatever magic
existed in the other world had really done a number on the magical armor
Clef had given the fiery girl.
   The Magic Knights entered. Presea looked up, and smiled, brushing a lock
of damp hair out of her face. "Good morning, girls," she said. "Hikaru, I
almost have your armor ready. It's taking a little bit longer than I
expected. The other world did something to it."
   Hikaru nodded, and smiled. "Okay, we can wait a bit."
   "I'll give you all your armors after I finish," she said.
   The Magic Knights thanked her and left.
   Presea returned to her anvil. As she grumbled and pounded, she managed
to hit herself on the thumb with the magical mallet she was using. "Gah!
Dammit that hurt!" She hopped around the room like an insane woman for a
few minutes, then calmly returned to her work.

   Clef briefed everyone over breakfast. "Alright, this is the agenda for
today. Magic Knights, you will go to the Shrine of Fire, in a volcano,
where you will find the last Mashin."
   The Knights nodded.
   "The rest of the warriors from the other world will train with Presea
and myself this morning. I'm assuming none of you know much magic, so I'll
be teaching you a few things, and Presea will provide you with armor and
weapons of this world."
   The warriors nodded.
   Presea commented, "Keep in mind, that the weapons are only on loan to
you..."
   The Knights groaned.
   "You're not going to send THEM after Escudo too, are you Presea-san?"
Fuu asked.
   Presea smiled brightly. "Of course!"
   "Aiyah! What Escudo?" Shampoo asked.
   "It's a mineral of this world that makes powerful weapons which grow
according to your experience," Ferio said.
   Hikaru frowned. "Why do they need Escudo weapons? They aren't going to
have to awaken Mashins..."
   Presea grinned. "Because Escudo weapons are so much COOLER, don't you
think?"
   Everyone facefaulted.

   After breakfast, Presea presented each of the Magic Knights with a
felt-wrapped package, in their respective colors. "I upgraded your armor
slightly," she noted. "The altered state of Hikaru's armor gave me the idea
for it."
   The girls unwrapped their packages, retrieving the jeweled gauntlets for
their left hands. "All you have to do is put those on," Presea noted, "And
your armor will appear when you will it to. Remove the gauntlets, and your
armor will return to them."
   "Arigatou, Presea-san!" the girls chorused.
   "And, of course, your weapons are inside the gems, as always," the
master armorer finished.
   The Nerima bunch entered the vast foyer of the palace at this moment, to
bid the Knights farewell and good luck. The Knights slid their gauntlets
onto their arms.
   A pale green body armor with a flowing green cloak, short white boots
trimmed in green, and enormous white-trimmed green shoulderguards appeared
on Fuu, with a soft breeze rippling her hair and cape. A shimmering green
gem flickered into existence on her chestplate, and an obscenely long sabre
appeared in her hands.
   With a watery ripple, a gleaming sapphire armor with dark blue
shoulderguards and full-length sky blue boots formed on Umi. A blue gem
rippled onto her chestplate, and a jet of water formed in her hand,
solidifying into a slim rapier.
   A bright red flame engulfed Hikaru. When it settled, she was encased in
a light scarlet chain mail, with white shoulderguards, and knee-length
white boots. An elegant broadsword with golden accents flared into her
hands.
   "Your armor will upgrade to a full plate when you awaken your Mashin,
Hikaru," Presea informed her.
   "Sugoi..." she said.
   The other Knights were no less impressed with their own armor.
   The bunch from Nerima was simply astonished.
   "Aiyah...is magic armor..."
   "Indeed, child. Isn't it wonderful?"
   "Wow..."
   "Ditto on that, sugar."
   "It's incredible."
   "Wish I could see it better."
   After a moment, Clef approached the Knights. "Good luck, Magic Knights.
Remember that the will is the strongest force in Cephiro, and let your will
guide and protect you."
   The three Knights nodded. Mokona hopped into the room, and said "Puuuu"
appreciatively. Then its gem flared yellow, and a large crimson bird
appeared outside the chamber.
   "Clef-san, when did Mokona learn to use spirit beasts?" Fuu wondered.
   Clef chuckled. "I don't know. Mokona is still a bit of an enigma to us,
to tell the truth."
   "Puu, puu!" Mokona hopped on the spirit bird. "Puu!" it said
insistently.
   Clef clucked his tongue appreciatively. "I have to admit, this is a
great choice of beast. What better way to enter a volcano than riding a
Phoenix?"
   Everyone gasped. "That's a real phoenix?" Umi asked.
   Clef nodded. Mokona said, "Puu!"
   "Sugoi!" the three Knights chorused. They hopped on the phoenix, and
took off for the shrine of Fire.

   The warriors from Nerima stood around, in a loose semicircle, in
Presea's new armory.
   "I've developed new and advanced methods of creating armor in the days
since the Magic Knights arrived here, and I'm going to test my prototype
armor on you guys, okay?" the armorer of Cephiro said.
   They looked at each other, shrugged, and nodded.
   Presea smiled and produced a container, which held six fist-sized
crystal globes.
   "Each of you take one of these, and concentrate on it. Think about what
you like to wear to fight in, what works best for you in a battle
situation. Focus on that image and hold it."
   The six each took a crystal, and closed their eyes, concentrating.
   After a few minutes, Presea closed her eyes as well, concentrating on
the six orbs. Each began to glow as Presea was surrounded with a barely
perceptible aura.
   The first to be affected was Cologne. Her orb flared dark green, and
disappeared into her chest. Her usual green robes were replaced by a dark
green chainmail cloak which shrouded her body. A shoulderguard appeared on
her left shoulder, trimmed in green. The emblem which had adorned her old
robes was still present, but it was encrusted in small gems. Her staff
disappeared, and reappeared in an empty rack along one wall.
   Mousse was next. His robes became white chainmail, again with a
shoulderguard on his left shoulder, the same design on the front of the
robe, and a gauntlet on his left hand, which had a pair of gleaming white
blades protruding from the handguard, surrounding a white crystal. Once the
new armor formed, a veritable shower of weapons skitted out of his robes
and even from his hair, and flew into the rack next to Cologne's staff.
   Akane followed. She now wore a variation of her yellow karate gi, with
armor replacing the top of the gi, and midcalf white boots. A white bracer
appeared on her right wrist, a white shoulderguard appeared on her left
shoulder, and a gauntlet with a yellow gem formed on her left arm. Her
usual headband was replaced with a small gold circlet resembling the one
Presea wore. A large mallet appeared out of nowhere, and flew into the rack
with the others' weapons.
   Ukyou went next. Her bandolier with all of her spatulas flew away and
landed in the weapons rack. Her tunic became a light vest of blue armor.
Her leggings remained unchanged, but white knee-length boots formed on her
legs. The obligatory shoulderguard formed, as well as a bracer and a
gauntlet with a dark blue gem. She also gained a metallic weapons harness,
where her old bandolier would be.
   Shampoo's armor formed next: an open-skirted, short purple Chinese
dress, with tight white armor on her torso. She also sported knee-high
boots; the shoulderguard, bracer, and guantlet formed as well, with a
purple gem. A pair of bonbori floated away from her and landed in the
weapons rack.
   Finally, Ryouga had his turn. His yellow tunic was replaced by a light
vest of yellow armor, while his trousers remained unchanged. His leather
ties and shoes became ankle-length white boots, with leather ties up to the
knee. The obligatory shoulderguard, bracer, and gauntlet appeared, with a
bright green gem on the gauntlet. His umbrella flew into the weapons rack,
and his bandana transformed, becoming a metal band around his head, yellow
with black studs.
   They looked down at themselves and around at each other, and made
murmurs of approval.
   Presea examined their weapons, and blinked. "Pardon me for saying, but a
couple of you use some very strange weapons." Clearing her throat, she
said, "Alright now. You must choose a weapon to use here in Cephiro."
   "Why can't we just use our own?" Ukyou asked.
   Presea closed her eyes. "All weapons and armor in Cephiro are enhanced
with magic, and are much stronger than simple weapons. Your weapons, no
matter how skilled you are with them, would be destroyed the second you
struck anyone's armor here." She smiled. "Don't worry. Your own weapons
will be safe here, and when you retrieve the Escudo, I will forge weapons
matching the ones you're accustomed to. But for now, close your eyes, and
concentrate. Weapons suited to you from my armory will come to you."
   The six closed their eyes.
   Cologne chose a shiny staff, three times as tall as she was.
   A large, extraordinarily heavy cudgel became Ryouga's weapon. He took a
few practice swings with it, and grinned.
   Shampoo selected a pair of studded metal maces. "Aiyah! Is almost like
bonbori! Shampoo like!"
   A gigantic metal mallet flew into Akane's eager grasp. Presea shot a
concerned glance at the girl upon seeing her reaction. <If she was any more
excited, there'd be a mess on my floor,> she thought. The thought gave her
a brief, strange mental image, and she had to shake it off before she made
a mess herself.
   Ukyou received a large battleaxe, and looked at it curiously. "Well, I
guess I can spatula someone with it," she remarked. She also selected
several impressive-looking shuriken, and loaded them into her harness.
   Finally, Mousse made his selections. Everyone hit the deck in alarm as a
swarm of weapons of all shapes and sizes flew towards him and disappeared
into his voluminous armored robe. Presea scowled. "What the hell was that?"
   "Mousse is master of hidden weapons. See big pile of chains and stuff in
case? Almost every weapon there is Mousse weapon," Shampoo explained.
   Presea blinked. <This guy really likes weapons,> she thought. Then she
grinned inwardly. <I really like this guy!>
   With the warriors geared up and ready to go, they left the armory and
sought out Guru Clef.

   Chapter 12: Trials and Tribulations

   "That must be it, up ahead," Fuu said, pointing. The Magic Knights gaped
in awe as the phoenix descended towards a gaping maw of rock, from which
smoke and steam belched forth.
   "Guess I'm ready," Hikaru said. The bird circled around the volcano, and
landed near its base. The Shrine of Fire loomed before them.
   "Are you sure you're ready, Hikaru?" Umi asked.
   Hikaru gulped nervously, and nodded. Within seconds, she began to slip
into a trance...

   <This is truly remarkable. It also greatly disturbs me,> a voice rumbled
in their minds.
   Ranma and Hikaru rose from where they'd slumped to the 'floor' of their
shared mind, and blinked at each other. <What th' heck's goin' on?> Ranma
asked. Hikaru shrugged.
   <The Fire Knight hath summoned. I have responded.>
   Ranma and Hikaru looked around for the source of the voice, and gasped.
Something very large, its features and form indistinguishable through a
shimmering wall of heat, occupied the boundless void in which Hikaru and
Ranma often communed.
   <Who, or what, are you?> Hikaru asked.
   <I am Rayearth,> it responded. <I am that which you seek.>
   <Th--THAT'S the Mashin?> Ranma asked.
   A great, hot force bored into Ranma. Hikaru felt it too. Although they
could not see Rayearth's eyes, they both somehow knew the Mashin was
*glaring* at Ranma.
   <Your presence within is not tolerated,> Rayearth informed him.
   Hikaru stepped forward. <Excuse me, Rayearth-san...but his presence *is*
tolerated.>
   <Preposterous.>
   <This body belongs to him.>
   <Absurd.>
   <Rayearth-san...did you know that the other two Mashin were awakened a
long time ago?>
   A pause.
   <This...this was not known to me.>
   Hikaru pressed on. <It's been a very long time since the Knights were
summoned here. Much happened-->
   She was cut off by a bright crimson beam from Rayearth. Ranma moved to
intervene, but was also pinned by a beam.
   They felt memories, thoughts, emotions being torn away from them,
consumed in some eager, hungry flame, processed down to the ash of truth.
Then, they were released.
   Rayearth seemed truly astonished when finally he spoke. <Truly, much has
befallen you, young Fire Knight. And you as well, brave young warrior.>
   Another pause.
   <Truly, I cannot claim to know what course of action must be followed
under these circumstances,> Rayearth said. <However, for now, Fire Knight,
thine trial doth commence.>
   Hikaru was engulfed in a bright flame, and vanished.
   <Hey!> Ranma shouted. <What'd you do with her?>
   <Fear not for the young Fire Knight, warrior. Her lot is to face the
test of courage and of Heart.> A pause. <As is thine.>
   Ranma felt searing flames cover his mental 'body'. Then, he too
vanished, leaving only Rayearth to occupy the vast greyness.

   Ryouga cursed himself. He'd gotten separated from the rest of the group,
and was now wandering the majestic corridors of the palace, utterly lost.
   As he rounded one corner, he collided head-on with Ferio, who happened
to be carrying a glass of juice. The juice spilled onto Ryouga, and in an
instant, a small black piglet looked balefully up at the prince. Instead of
the usual spotted bandana, he wore a studded yellow collar, with an emerald
tag hanging from it.
   Ferio smirked. "So you're one of the ones who's cursed?" The entire tale
of Jyusenkyou had been spelled out to the Cephirans at the banquet dinner.
None of them reacted with much surprise, being used to all sorts of magic.
   "Bukii."
   Ferio nodded. "Hot water reverses it, right?"
   Ryouga nodded.
   Ferio grinned. "Too bad," he said, and walked off.
   "BUII! BUKII!" Ryouga squealed as he chased the prince. Ferio laughed as
he broke into a run.
   <Man, when I get hold of you...> thought Ryouga. <Soon as I'm back to
normal I'll...>
   Suddenly, the gem flared. Ryouga felt himself expanding, and armor
covering his body.
   Ferio looked back, and stopped running, grinning. "Well, looks like
you're the very first one to figure it out! Congratulations!"
   Ryouga, now human and fully armored, skidded to a halt and blinked.
"Huh? What--?"
   Ferio chuckled. "Cephiro is dominated by the will. Your will is far
stronger than your curse. Therefore--"
   Ryouga gasped, eyes wide. "Wait...you mean, here in Cephiro, the curses
don't work?"
   Ferio shook his head. "They work, but only if you let them work. You got
mad when I took off like that, and I bet you thought about what you were
gonna do to me when you turned human again."
   Ryouga blinked. "Yeah...and then I *did* turn human?"
   Ferio nodded, grinning. "You got it! As long as you want to be human,
you'll be human. If you want to be that pig, you'll be that pig. Even
without getting splashed. Go on, try it."
   Ryouga didn't particularly care for being a pig at the moment, but
curiosity won out. He concentrated. <I wish to be a pig right now,> he told
himself. Gradually, his body reduced to porcine proportions, and his armor
collapsed into his gem.
   Ferio grinned. "See? Nothing to it."
   Ryouga grunted, and changed back to normal. "Too bad I can't cure my
sense of direction like that," he groused.
   Ferio chuckled, and let him to where the others were gathering.

   Hikaru blinked, and looked around. "No...NO!" she cried. "NO!"
   Around her rose the all-too-familiar peaks of Qinghai. She recognized
the trail leading into Niichieju, and the trail that led to...the Musk
Dynasty.
   She fell to her knees, and sobbed in anguish. "Not again..."
   "Do not despair, young one," said a kindly old voice. She looked up, to
see Tso Pu standing before her. She wore a scarlet robe unlike her
traditional garments.
   "How...why...I'm..."
   "You have been given a second chance. A chance to get even with those
who tormented you. Who hurt you. My God, child, the men who *raped* you."
   "How...do you know about all that?" Hikaru gasped.
   "I know all," Tso Pu said. Something was different about her. She seemed
much wiser than usual.
   Tso Pu pointed at the trail to the Musk. Kho Kain and Ghun Xia stood,
sneering at the two women. Hikaru shuddered, disgust, hatred, rage building
within her.
   "Kill them," Tso Pu said in a soft whisper. "They violated you. They
deserve to die."
   Hikaru raised her hand above her head. The magic gathered there, anxious
to be released.
   Zagato appeared on the trail also.
   "Kill him," Tso Pu suggested. "He sent you here to begin with. It's all
his fault."
   The energy burned brighter.
   Emeraude appeared on the trail.
   "Kill her," Tso Pu demanded. "She brought you and Umi and Fuu to Cephiro
in the first place. To kill her, because she didn't think she could love
Zagato and her world both. Her ignorance caused your suffering. Get your
revenge."
   Hikaru faltered. The magic faded somewhat.
   "Kill all of them!" Tso Pu hissed.
   Kho Kain stepped forward. "Kill me now, or I'll rape you again."
   Ghun Xia stood at his side. "Better do it. We liked you the first time
around, we'll like you even more this time."
   Zagato chuckled evilly. "If you're too weak to take our lives, you
deserve what you get."
   Emeraude snickered. "Weak girl. I can't believe you are one of the Magic
Knights. You couldn't kill a fly, much less the Pillar of Cephiro. Why did
I even bother with you?"
   Tears streamed down Hikaru's face, but the magic continued to falter.
"No," she whispered hoarsely. "No," she repeated more clearly. "Revenge is
wrong. The Princess could not have known what would happen to any of us.
Zagato...can't be forgiven, but he can be understood. I respect his
reasons, if not his actions."
   "But the two Musk?" Tso Pu asked.
   Hikaru considered that, then scowled. She dissipated her spell. "They're
not *worth* killing," she hissed.
   The four people on the trail vanished like smoke. Tso Pu chuckled dryly.
"Very good, child," she commented. Her features blurred and shifted. Now it
was Cologne standing before Hikaru. "But you have yet to face your true
tormentor."

   The Nerima warriors stood in a loose semicircle, weapons in hand,
waiting patiently for whatever wisdom they were about to receive.
   Clef cleared his throat, and smiled at them. "Well, I believe--" he
paused abruptly, and cast a glance at Cologne's staff. "That staff looks
very familiar," he noted. Then, he continued, "Anyway. If you wish to help
save this world, you must learn some magic first." He closed his eyes, and
raised his staff. In an echoing voice, he thundered, "MAHOU DENSHOU!"
   Brilliant light flared from the ornaments on his staff, engulfing the
six martial artists.
   However, something even Clef could not have prepared for happened then.
A broad beam of white light slammed forcefully down onto Cologne, striking
the staff she held. Even as the teenagers received their magic, Cologne
became a living light show. Clef couldn't see into the whirling cone of
light which engulfed her. The light show quickly attracted Ferio and
Presea, who watched in awe.
   Meanwhile, the others received their Magic...
   A dark, crackling stormcloud descended upon Akane, penetrating into her
body. She opened her eyes as the last of the vapor seeped into her, with a
crackle of electricity. She felt a power within her. She waved her hand,
and a fog bank appeared off to the side. Concentrating, she caused a
lightning bolt to strike in the center of it. She laughed megalomaniacally.
   Mousse was lifted off the ground. He blinked, and opened his eyes, just
as a searing light tore into his optic nerves. He felt a strange tingling
in his eye sockets, as if something was adjusting itself. When he could see
again--he could actually *see*. He remained hovering in the air, watching
the others receive their Magic.
   A wave of silver light descended over Ukyou, and she felt as though she
had become one with a steel refinery. She felt the metal of her weapons
with every fiber of her being, and discovered she could will them to do
whatever she wanted. Trying a small spell, she transformed the dull
battleaxe into a giant gleaming spatula, charged with magical energy. She
cast a similar spell on her shurikens. "Feels like old home week," she
grinned.
   Presea wasn't too impressed. "She'd better change them back when she
returns them," she muttered under her breath.
   Ryouga felt as if he was encased in stone. Then, it seemed to shatter,
but instead of breaking off of his body, it was breaking *into* him. He was
keenly aware of the ground beneath him. Not really knowing what he was
supposed to do, he tried mentally commanding the earth at his feet to
tremble. To his surprise, it did.
   A darkness descended upon Shampoo. Her body became a living,
three-dimensional shadow. She was frightened by the intensity of this
magic, but at the same time excited by it. She felt herself become
invisible, melting into and even concealing her shadow. She emerged from
the darkness, with a gleeful expression on her face.
   As the new magic users finished discovering what they had been given,
they all turned to see the white pillar of light surrounding Cologne.
   Finally, the whirlwind around the elder Amazon died down. Everyone
gasped in shock.
   Where moments before a withered old woman had stood, now stood a very
small, very young-looking woman. About Clef's height, and with the same
childlike appearance, and flowing blue hair. Her body was swallowed by her
voluminous green robes. She held a thin silver staff, three times her
height, in one hand. She looked around, blinking rapidly, then down at
herself.
   "Aiyah!" Shampoo said.
   "What in the world--?" Akane wondered.
   Everyone else stared. Then Clef raised a hand, pointing at her. "You..."
   The now-youthful Cologne blinked, then whispered in awe, "Incredible."
Then, assuming her usual dry humor, she chuckled, "Well, this is certainly
interesting."
   Everyone crowded around her. "Great-grandmother, what happen?"
   "Is this even Cologne?" Ukyou wondered.
   "Yes, I am Cologne," the small woman said. Then, she flashed a grin at
Clef. "It would seem," she informed him, "That we are related."
   Clef blinked at her. "In...what way?"
   Cologne chuckled. "Well, it appears that you are my great-great-great
uncle."
   Everyone fell over.

   "M--mom..."
   Ranma gaped in shock. His mother stood before him, in front of the
Shrine of Fire. She was scowling at him, and held her naked katana in one
hand, and a paper-wrapped tanto in the other.
   "My son. You are not manly. You must commit seppuku."
   Ranma gasped. "Mom? How can you say that...?"
   "You turn into a girl. You are pursued by four women and reject each of
them. You are a coward, an opportunist, and a liar. You have no honor."
   As much as it hurt Ranma to hear these things from his mother, something
nagged at his mind. Why would his mother say these things? How could she be
here on...
   Wait.
   That's what this was. It's not real. It's the test. <I'm being tested.
Something about courage and heart...I guess I have to prove myself to the
Mashin...>
   "Mother. The things you say are not true," Ranma said, taking care to
use formal speech.
   Nodoka struck him. He didn't flinch.
   "You dare to call your mother a liar when it is you who have no honor?"
   "I have honor. A hell of a lot more than Pop has."
   "That isn't saying much, Ranma."
   Ranma sighed.
   Nodoka's expression became pleading. "Ranma...you can prove to me you're
a manly man. Marry one of your fiancees. Take the rest in as concubines."
   Ranma scowled. "No way. I'm not gonna have four women. I'm gonna marry
one, *if* I marry any of them."
   "Then choose."
   "I need time."
   "You've had time. Choose."
   Ranma sighed. "I'm not even out of high school yet. I'm too young for
marriage. Heck, I ain't even gotten to know any of them real well yet. I
need to have more time, to decide who I want to be with."
   "I see. So you intend to string them along?"
   "It ain't like that! It ain't my fault they're so persistent! I
just...need to be sure, that's all."
   "Or maybe," Nodoka's eyes narrowed, "You'd prefer to be with another
man. Unmanly," she pronounced.
   "Now cut that out!" Ranma was getting *angry* now. "I ain't gay. Even if
I was, that wouldn't make me any less manly. Bein' manly ain't got nothin'
to do with how many people you take to bed with you and who they are."
   "Oh?" Nodoka raised an eyebrow. "Then what does it involve, Ranma? Since
you're the expert."
   Ranma faltered a bit. "I--I dunno. Keepin' your promises. Bein' faithful
to your friends. Lookin' out for people who can't look out for themselves.
Helpin' people that are in trouble."
   "I see," Nodoka said. "And your bedmates, your spouse, none of that
makes a difference then?"
   "Not a damn bit," Ranma pronounced confidently. "I'd be ten times the
man Pop is if I spent *all* my time as a girl, and slept with three
different men."
   Nodoka flinched as if struck, then composed herself. "And will you ever
make up your mind about who you want to spend your life with?"
   Ranma nodded. "Yeah. I will. Let me finish high school first, and then
I'll make my decision and stick with it."
   Nodoka sheathed her katana, and smiled. "Manly."
   Ranma heaved a sigh of relief.
   "But you're not through yet, son. You have one more obstacle to
overcome."

   "You're my WHAT?" Clef shouted.
   Cologne grinned. "That little light show was the spirit of your sister."
   Everyone looked totally confused, except for the smiling Cologne and the
pensive Clef. "My sister...she disappeared when I was very young..."
   "She, much the same way as young Hikaru, was sent to Earth. And landed
in the same place. Qinghai province, China."
   Clef blinked. Cologne continued, "I saw it all, in the light. She was
taken into the village of the Niichieju, and adapted to their ways. She
married, and bore strong, healthy children." Cologne closed her eyes. "Five
generations of her offspring led our people. Then, I was born, and I too
grew to lead." She smiled. "Now, that one of her descendants has returned
to Cephiro, your sister's spirit has awoken, to show her descendant her
true legacy."
   Clef chuckled. "This is...remarkable."
   The teenagers discussed this quietly amongst themselves.
   "Aiyah...Great-grandmother...and Shampoo...both descendant of woman from
Cephiro?"
   "Well," Ukyou commented, "It'd explain how she's lived three hundred
years. Seems to run in the family," she jerked a thumb at Clef.
   "That's right!" Ryouga said. "He's seven hundred years old, right?"
   "That's what he told us," Akane said.
   Mousse chuckled. "I've always said that old fossil wasn't human."
   Shampoo whacked him upside the head with one of her maces. "Stupid."

   Hikaru was led to a swirling portal, through which she could see the
Shrine of Fire, as well as Ranma and another lady. Tendou Nabiki waited by
the portal, arms crossed. "About time you got here," the older teen
smirked.
   "What--?"
   Nabiki grabbed her arm and led her through the portal. "We're going to
face the one who truly torments you," she explained.
   "Huh?"

   "What do you mean, 'one more obstacle'?" Ranma asked.
   Nodoka pointed off to the side. "That," she said flatly.
   Ranma looked, and gasped. "Hikaru!" he said, starting to rush towards
her. He found he couldn't move. His mother was restraining him.
   Hikaru rushed over, followed by Nabiki. "Ranma-kun! Are you alright?"
   "Yeah, I'm fine," Ranma said. "How about you?"
   Hikaru nodded. "I'm fine."
   "Ranma," Nodoka prompted. "She doesn't belong here." She thrust the
tanto at Ranma. "Take this. Kill her. You'll never become a girl again, and
her soul will be out of your body."
   Ranma gasped. "What the HELL are you talkin' about? No way!"
   Hikaru looked worried. "Ranma? Who's this?"
   "It's my mom," Ranma said.
   Hikaru nodded. "Ummm...why does she want me dead?"
   "Because you compromise my son's manliness and his honor," Nodoka
sneered.
   "Stop that, Mom! She does not!"
   "Ranma, she doesn't have any right to be here."
   "Hey, now! Okay, so my falling in that spring was an accident. But
what's done is done. I gotta accept it and move on, and so do you."
   "Then move on. Get rid of her, and move on."
   Ranma shook his head. "No way. She's got rights too."
   Hikaru watched the two of them a bit nervously.
   "She's dead, Ranma. The dead have no place haunting the living."
   Ranma looked at Hikaru, then back at his mother. "Don't look too dead to
me," he remarked.
   "She drowned, over a thousand years ago. Even after that, she
disappeared from Tokyo Tower only two years ago. That makes her twice
dead."
   Ranma shook his head. "I wouldn't call being stuck in a spring fifteen
hundred years dead. I'd call that suffering."
   "End her suffering now."
   "I already did," Ranma shot back.
   "She DROWNED, Ranma. Drowning means dying."
   Ranma shook his head. "Not in her case. She just misplaced her body, is
all."
   Hikaru had to stifle a giggle at that one.
   "So she stole yours, and that makes it okay?"
   "She did no such thing!"
   "No. Not only did she steal it, she...she....*PERVERTED* it! I'm
ashamed!"
   "Nobody asked you," Ranma growled. He was getting fed up with this
illusion of his mother. He idly wondered if he'd snap at his real mother
this way in the same situation.
   Nodoka unsheathed her sword dangerously. "Ranma, you are treading
dangerous ground. Dispose of her now, or I will dispose of you."
   Ranma shook his head. "I won't do it."
   Nodoka suddenly sneered. "Why not? Killing a girl is unmanly?"
   Ranma shook his head. "Killing *anyone* is wrong. It's murder. I won't
be a murderer."
   "Even at the cost of your manliness."
   Ranma smirked. "I ain't lost that. I won't ever lose that. Just 'cuz I
change into a girl sometimes, it don't change who *I* *AM*."
   Nodoka smiled, and nodded. "Very well said." She vanished.
   "Well, so much for that," Nabiki said. "Okay Hikaru, nothing's standing
in your way now."
   "Huh?" Hikaru looked confused.
   Nabiki grinned, and leaned closer. "Will is everything in Cephiro. You
have a strong enough will...you could drive Ranma out, and lock this body
in female form. You'd be completely alive again."
   Hikaru gasped in shock. "No!" she said. "I'm not a killer either! I
already proved that!"
   "That's right. And now you're letting another oppressive male walk all
over you."
   Hikaru slapped Nabiki.
   "No, I am *not*. I have hope that somehow we'll find a way to become two
separate people. Even if we don't, we get along well. Sharing one body
isn't a problem."
   "She's right," Ranma nodded affirmatively.
   "It incoveniences you both. Surely one of you would like to remedy
that?"
   "NO," they said in unison.
   Nabiki smirked, nodded, and vanished.
   There was a blinding red flare, and Hikaru came out of her trance.

   Fuu and Umi watched Hikaru blink rapidly. "Hikaru-chan?" Fuu asked.
   Before Hikaru could reply, an explosion thundered from the volcano. A
plume of liquid fire shot skyward, and a large red shape streaked towards
the ground.
   As the girls scrambled for distance, a large red lion, with a violet
horn, landed on the ground before them. It drew itself up, and announced,
"Thine courage is great, thine Heart is pure and strong. Thou art truly a
Magic Knight, and thou art worthy to wear me." Rayearth paused. "Thine
companion in spirit hath also proven himself worthy. I shall upgrade thine
armor and weapon, that both of you may weild them. When thou needst my
power, I will appear to thee." Rayearth disappeared into the gem on
Hikaru's armor.
   The armor began to change. The shoulderguards became wider, now with
bands of white and scarlet, and gold trim. Light headgear formed on all
three Magic Knights, in their respective colors, as their armor and weapons
achieved their strongest form.
   Then, Hikaru's armor continued to change.
   The chest gem shimmered, and became half-red, and half-white. Insets of
the opposite color appeared in each side, and a rim of golden trim
seperated the gem in the center. The design twisted, altering the gem
itself further, until it became the symbol of Yin and Yang.
   The jewel on Hikaru's left gauntlet remained red, but with an inset
white gem at the very center. A full gauntlet formed on her right hand, and
its gem was white with a red inset.
   The other Knights gasped in awe. Hikaru looked down at herself, and
grinned.
   "Puuuuuu," Mokona said appreciatively.
   "Let's get back to the palace and tell everyone the good news!" Hikaru
suggested. With a triumphant shout, the Knights, Mokona, and the phoenix
spirit beast made haste back to the palace.

   "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.
   "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.
   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.
   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.
   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?"
   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. "However, he
shall be able to wear the other Fire Mashin."
   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.
   "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.
   "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."
   With that, Rayearth's image vanished.
   Everyone was silent for a moment. Finally, Ranma spoke.
   "Well this sucks."

   ---end act two---

--
-------Zankoku na tenshi no you ni, shounen yo shinwa ni nare-------
The Eternal Lost Lurker
EtLostLurker@hotmail.com
EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net
Ittai boku no peiju wa doko nan da!?

From: "The Eternal Lost Lurker" <EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net>


Quick notes: When I wrote the end of this act, I was not entirely aware of
the bridge layout of the NSX, so I used a layout I'm more comfortable with.
Although I'm now aware of the appropriate layout, I decided I'd stick with
my altered version. (Gotta love the dramatic license granted in alternate
universe fics...)

   ****************

   Mists of black roiled, as a girl with ankle-length hair the color of
dried blood smirked at a hazy image in a dark crystal globe.
   "Well," she said, "The spell I cast on Her Royal Bitchness appears to
have taken complete hold. Now," she continued with a grin, "I can start on
that bastard." Raising a clenched fist encased in a black glove, she swore
quietly, "I will show you two the hell you've shown me. I'll show this
entire fucking world what it's like to exist in endless purgatory..."
   She began gathering dark magical energy, laughing megalomaniacally.

   ****************

   Act Three: Dark Dawn

   Chapter 13: Blackest Waters

   Mokona bounced through the Silent Forest, the Magic Knights and the
martial artists following it.
   "You know," Ukyou mused, "We need a name."
   "Huh?" Ryouga asked.
   "Y'know, a name. For the five of us." She pointed at the Magic Knights.
"Those four (this got her a few odd glances, and a couple of chuckles) are
the Magic Knights...we need something to call ourselves too."
   "That not too bad idea, spatula girl," Shampoo said.
   "Hmmm....a name," Mousse drawled.
   "How about, Magic Rangers?" Ryouga suggested.
   Everyone scowled at him. He shrugged.
   "Well, if we're the Magic Knights, maybe you guys can be the Magic
Squires," Umi mused.
   The five considered that, then shook their heads. "Sound stupid,"
Shampoo said.
   "What about Nerima Rangers?" Ryouga offered. Everyone *glared* at him.
   "Get off stupid Ranger idea, stubborn lost boy!"
   Before Ryouga or any of the others could say anything else, Mokona
suddenly came bouncing frantically towards them. "Puu! Puu!
Puuuuuuuuuuuuu!" it said. It shook frightfully and bounced into Hikaru's
arms.
   "What's wrong, Mokona?" Hikaru wondered. "Is it a monster?"
   "Puu, puu! Puu puu puupuu puu puuuuu! Puuuuuuuuuuuuuu........"
   They warily continued forward, soon coming upon a large, table-like
tree. "Here's Eterna," Fuu commented.
   "Huh? Where?" Akane asked.
   Suddenly, a bolt of dark lightning shot out of thin air above the tree.
Everyone took a step back. Mokona shuddered. "Puuuuuu...."
   "What the hell was that?" Ryouga asked.
   "Is that supposed to happen, sugar?" Ukyou asked.
   "No," Hikaru said worriedly.
   "I think we'd best tell Clef and Cologne about this," Fuu advised.
Agreeing, the group turned around, and began the journey back to the
palace.

   When the group returned to the palace, they found the entry path flooded
with Cephirans, all looking agitated and worried. Off to the east, the
Blemish was encroaching upon more of Cephiro at an alarming rate.
   "What the--?" Umi wondered.
   A thunderclap scattered everyone from the entryway, as Clef and Cologne
emerged from the palace, Ferio behind them. All looked solemn.
   "Guru Clef, Guru Cologne...what is going on?" Hikaru asked.
   "A most terrible fate, child," Cologne said. Gesturing at the gates, she
invited the warriors in. The palace guards quickly sealed the entrance,
encouraging the crowd to scatter.

   The two gurus led the warriors into the chamber where Emeraude lay. They
all gasped.
   A large portion of the princess's body had been claimed by the Blemish,
it seemed. Of what was visible of her body, her entire left arm, leg, and
the left side of her neck were blackened.
   "I thought Zagato had it contained," Umi said, frowning.
   "He did," Clef said sadly. Then he gestured to the other side of the
chamber.
   Zagato lay on the velvet-cushioned window bench. His face and neck were
black.
   Everyone gasped. "No..." Hikaru said.
   Cologne nodded solemnly. "The high priest has been afflicted by the
Blemish as well."
   "So this thing is contagious?" Ryouga asked.
   Clef shook his head. "It's a spell. A powerful dark spell. We learned
that moments ago."
   "Both the Princess and Zagato are enshrouded in a black haze, which
creeps along their own auras as the Blemish claims their bodies," Cologne
said. "It is a horrible, evil spell. One that we cannot counter."
   "So...they'll..." Fuu began.
   "Not if we can find whoever's doing this and stop them," Clef said. "If
the spellcaster can be found, and stopped, we can reverse the spell."
   "The spell is incomplete," Cologne continued. "The spell on Emeraude is
the first step in the process, which is complete. The spell on Zagato was
just cast less than two hours ago. It will take at least eighteen hours for
the process to completely take effect."
   "Aiyah...then what happen?"
   Cologne closed her eyes. "Oblivion."
   "Not if we can help it! We're gonna find that sorcerer!" Ryouga said.
   "You'll need to be careful," Ferio advised. "This person is very
powerful, and you will not have time to retrieve the Escudo."
   Hikaru bowed her head. "We can't get to it anyway. Something is wrong
with Eterna."
   The Gurus and Ferio looked up sharply. Hikaru continued, "Mokona was
frightened away by something. When we got to Eterna, a dark bolt shot out
of it."
   Clef gasped, and turned to Cologne. Cologne considered that, and nodded
sagely. "I believe you have inadvertently found our adversary," she mused.
   "You mean...the person doing this got into Eterna?" Umi asked. "How?"
   Clef shook his head. "We won't know that until we know who is
responsible."
   Hikaru looked down at the two Blemished people, and her expression trned
grim. "Do you think we have a chance of stopping whoever did this?"
   "With me along, you will," intoned a deep voice from the doorway.
Everyone turned.
   Standing in the doorway was a tower of a man, with short dark hair and a
striking resemblance to Zagato. His jet black, grey-trimmed armor and
fluttering black cape served to make him appear very imposing, and the
golden ring around his head gave him a somewhat majestic look. At his side
hung what appeared to be a nautilus shell, with a blue gem inset into it,
and a sword grip protruding from its beak. Something small fluttered in
rather tight circles around him.
   Everyone stared. Finally, the man spoke again. "Would anyone care to
tell me why my brother lies so still, obviously suffering from an evil
spell, while you all stand and gawk at me?"
   Clef finally spoke up. "Lantis..."
   Lantis nodded gravely. "I sensed something terrible here. I returned as
quickly as I could." After a pause, he said, "Well? Would anyone care to
fill me in?"

   Several moments later, Lantis' already grim expression was even more so
as the two gurus wrapped up their summary. During the conversation, his
companion, a cute yet annoying fairy named Primera, had managed to
thoroughly antagonize every female in the group, and Mokona had already
swallowed her twice.
   Just as Mokona was getting ready to open wide again, Lantis rose, and
nodded toward the warriors. "I shall accompany you to Eterna. I think I can
get us into the lake. We need to take out this sorcerer, so that we can
heal the Princess and my brother before it's too late."
   Clef nodded. "If Lantis is with you, there will be a much better chance
of success."
   After a moment, Hikaru stood as well. "Alright then, we should get
going."
   The group wasted no time in returning to the legendary lake.

   The entrance to the two-dimensional lake Eterna was usually tranquil and
difficult to locate. Today, thick black clouds roiled around the portal,
forming a spinning vortex from which dark lightning crackled and ominous
thunder rumbled. Everyone except Lantis glanced at it nervously.
   The swordsman stepped up to the portal, and cautiously pressed against
it with his hand. Sparks crackled around his hand, and repelled it.
Undaunted, he removed the nautilus shell from his belt. A blinding beam of
white light erupted from the shell, solidifying into a long blade of pure
energy. He struck at the portal with the weapon, to no avail.
   "So, we can't get in?" Hikaru said sadly.
   Lantis frowned ever so slightly. "It's going to be difficult. I believe
this portal will only respond to one type of magic. If we find the right
type of magic to use, we might be able to get through this thing."
   Everyone took turns with their weapons and magic, trying to breach the
portal. Nobody had any luck. Then, Hikaru tried.
   "Honou no yaaaa!"
   When the flame arrows struck the portal, it flickered wildly for a
second, then became stable again.
   Lantis nodded. "Fire. Fire will crack it."
   Hikaru sighed. "Mine doesn't seem to be powerful enough."
   Lantis shook his head. "You just need to hit it repeatedly. If it takes
enough fire hits without restoring itself like it did just now, it should
open."
   Hikaru nodded, and braced herself. Suddenly, Akane spoke up.
"Hikaru...maybe you'd better let Ranma take this one."
   Hikaru blinked, then nodded. Lantis looked mildly puzzled. "Who's
Ranma?"
   "I'll explain later," Hikaru said, as she plunged her sword into the
ground, letting the flames engulf her. The inferno died to reveal Ranma, as
the sword of flame split and became his gauntlet claws. Lantis gaped.
Primera gave Ranma a funny glance.
   Ranma approached the portal, and tensed himself. The claws on his wrists
gleamed menacingly as he concentrated on what he was about to do.
   With a cry of "Tenshin Amaguriken!", Ranma released a flurry of punches
at the cloud-covered portal. Each time the claws connected, the gate
flickered. After a few seconds, it collapsed altogether, and a surprised
Ranma tumbled inside. Shrugging, the others entered as well.
   "Now to find our spellcaster," Lantis said. His expression was neutral,
but his voice made it very clear that whoever had done this was about to
know pain.

   Chapter 14: Lake Purgata

   Everyone stared around at the swirling black mists within the legendary
lake. "So, this is Eterna," Akane mused.
   Fuu frowned, and shook her head. "It wasn't like this before. Something
terrible must have gone wrong here."
   A shrill, maniacal cackle boomed through the blackness. "Aha! Visitors!
Welcome to my abode...Lake Purgata! I'm sure I'll be more than happy to
receive you...if you LIVE LONG ENOUGH!"
   Everyone glanced at each other nervously, a dread feeling overcoming
them. Ranma scowled. "This is gonna be rough," he said warily.
   Without warning, a black fireball zoomed out of the mists and slammed
into Ranma. He staggered, as the dark flame engulfed him, then vanished.
Everyone looked at him with concern.
   Ranma rubbed his head. "Agh." He blinked. "Somethin' ain't right here."
   "What's wrong, Ranma-san?" Fuu asked.
   Ranma shook his head, frowning. "I can't sense Hikaru anymore. I usually
feel her buzzin' around in there when I'm in control. It's like she went to
sleep or somethin'."
   "She's alright isn't she?" Umi asked.
   "I don't know," Ranma replied.
   While this statement sunk in, two foggy whirlwinds slowly formed in the
large cavern. Before anyone could react, one had surrounded the group from
Nerima. The other enveloped the Magic Knights, including Ranma, and Lantis.

   Akane was the first to regain consciousness, blinking rapidly. Her head
ached horribly. She looked around. Unlike the entry cavern, this place was
full of clear water, yet still felt ominous, malignant, evil.
   Ukyou lay sprawled on the rocky floor about a meter away. Shampoo, in
cat form with a jeweled collar around her neck, curled on her side. A duck
with a white stone on a short chain around its neck snored softly near the
cat. Akane frowned; where was Ryouga?
   Then she saw the pig.
   Cowering in one corner of the watery cavern was P-chan, with a studded
yellow collar around his neck, from which hung a glowing green gem. He
glanced at her, and bowed his head shamefully.
   Akane blinked. "P-chan? How the..." Then she thought for a moment. That
collar wasn't his usual cute little bandana. And he never had a gem before.

   A horrible realization washed over Akane, as she stared at the piglet.
Part of her wondered how she'd managed to miss the connection for so long.
   "Ry--Ryouga!?" she gasped.
   "Buuuiiiiii...." the piglet offered.
   "Akane-chan? Where are we?" Ukyou mumbled groggily. "Why does it feel so
wet here?"
   Akane didn't respond. She was still in shock.
   The cat and duck stirred. *Aiyah*, mewled a voice inside everyone's
mind. *where this place?*
   Everyone stared at Shampoo, who arched her back, and blinked at them.
*What wrong?* the voice said again.
   "Sh--shampoo?" Ukyou asked.
   *Of course it Shampoo. You know Shampoo turn to...* Shampoo trailed off.
*Aiyah.*
   "How are you doing that?" Akane wondered.
   */The soul speaks clearly in the place where souls exist without form/*,
intoned a new, haunting voice. */Every second, an infinite agony. You
scream out for nonexistence, as an end to the torment, and nobody heeds
your call. This is Purgata, the Lake of the Damned./*
   Everyone blinked. Hesitantly, Mousse spoke up in their heads, *So those
of us with curses are trapped like this.*
   A pig sighed. *Perfect.*
   Akane whirled on the pig. "You." Ryouga shrank back into his corner
reflexively. "All this time..."
   "Akane..." Ukyou warned. "We don't have time for this right now."
   "Butt out, Ukyou," Akane snapped. Returning her full-force glare to the
piglet, she continued, "Just how long were you going to keep doing this,
huh?"
   *Akane-san...gomen nasai...*
   Ryouga's crystal flared green. The water around him boiled as a green
aura expanded from his small shape.
   */Ahhh...such delicious agony. You belong in Purgata, porcine one.
You've got a lifetime's worth of experience with living damnation./*
   *I don't know who you are, but SHUT UP!* Ryouga shouted in his porcine
soul-voice. *You couldn't possibly know about my pain! My suffering, my
living personal hell! You don't know anything about damnation!*
   */Oh, I don't, do I?/*
   Suddenly, a wave of pure, undistilled agony washed over them.
   Pain.
   Awareness.
   Trapped.
   Alone.
   Despair.
   Suffering.
   Anger. Bitterness.
   Betrayal.
   Sadness.
   Depression.
   Longing. Longing for an end.
   And end to the damnation.
   They were floored by the depth of the horrible emotions. As wave upon
wave of the agony of purgatory slammed into them, Ryouga's aura filled the
chamber, causing the waters to glow green.

   Umi, Fuu, Lantis, and Ranma found themselves sprawled on a dirt
footpath, which led into a misty valley.
   "Where are we?" Umi asked.
   "This place casts a foreboding aura, wherever it is," Lantis said.
   "No...." Ranma whimpered.
   Everyone turned to him. He had become ghostly pale, and trembled
slightly, staring into the mist with undisguised horror. "Why here? Again?"
Turning his head to shout at the gods, he bellowed, "WHY ALWAYS HERE, DAMN
YOU!? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!?????"
   The others stared at him. After a moment, he settled down, now looking
more angry than scared.
   "Ranma-san?" Fuu questioned. "You know where we are?"
   Ranma nodded. "That voice back there called this Purgata...that's not
the right name for it, but it's damn close."
   Lantis looked at the trail which led downward into the mist-shrouded
valley appraisingly. "Perhaps this merits closer inspection."
   "No," Ranma said. "Don't go in there. You'll regret it for the rest of
your life if you do."
   "What's down there that has you so spooked, Ranma?" Umi asked.
   Ranma swallowed, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke the hated name,
carrying all the bitterness of a mouthful of bile. "Jyusenkyou."

   Hikaru awoke. She blinked--something was wrong. <Ranma?> she asked. She
received no answer.
   She tried to open her eyes, and found she had none. She tried to see
through Ranma's eyes, but they no longer existed.
   She felt an air of depression around her, and became aware that she was
suspended in liquid. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe...all she could do
was be aware.
   She sensed others nearby. Concentrating, she discovered they were Ukyou,
Mousse, Akane, Shampoo, and Ryouga. They all radiated despair, so much so
that the water around her was hot and heavy with it.
   She began to hear them speaking, although it seemed to be voiceless
communication.
   *The agony...worse than dying...*
   *Shampoo no think she can take this anymore...*
   *Never felt such...horror before.*
   *Is this...is this what it's like...to be dead? Or worse?*
   *The world...is a dark...and lonely...place...*
   */Beyond hope, beyond care,/* intoned a strange and yet hauntingly
familiar voice. */In this eternal, hellish existence, what is there to hope
for but an end to the pain?/*
   *An end...to the pain...*
   *Shampoo want nothing but end.*
   *Anything to stop this torture.*
   *....but....why....why is this happening to us?*
   *Pain...I've known nothing but pain, my entire life...I'm ready to end
it...gods, let it stop...*
   */Yes...you understand what it's like./*
   *Please, end our pain.*
   */No. Your pain will continue, and you will never know anything else but
pain./*
   *Why? What are you doing this for?*
   */Because I had to endure this pain for an endless eternity. So everyone
should know what it's like./*
   **{No.}**
   *Huh?*
   *What?*
   */Who's there!?/*
   **{Don't give in to this pain, everyone. There is hope.}**
   */Hope!? HA! There's no such thing as hope./*
   **{There is always hope, if you do not give in.}**
   */You don't know what you're talking about./*
   **{Yes, I do. Don't give in to the pain. Overcome it. Hold hope in your
hearts.}**
   */SHUT UP!!!/*
   *Who are you?*
   **{Your friend. Always, no matter what, your friend. Let me help you.}**
   *Yes, please, help us. End our suffering.*
   */There is no end.../*
   **{The suffering can end. Keep hoping.}**
   *Hope...what good is hope? We're trapped here...*
   */That's right, for all eternity!/*
   **{No, you're not. Don't let this beat you. You're stronger than this.
Think positive thoughts. Keep the hope alive.}**
   *There's no hope for us.*
   **{There IS hope!}** Concentrating harder, and not sure if she could
keep this up, Hikaru continued, **{I know there is hope because I've seen
hell, and I survived.}** She began feeding them images.
   Zagato's spell.
   The dungeon of the palace.
   Fighting the Musk.
   Being raped.
   Blackness, despair.
   Then, light. Peace.
   Happiness.
   Warmth, caring.
   Her bond with Ranma.
   Rayearth.
   *I...I see...*
   */NO! IT'S ALL A LIE!/*
   *But there's nothing for me to hope for...*
   **{You have nothing to complain about! Snap out of it! You can break
free of this! Just like I broke free...}**
   *Hikaru...thank you...we needed to know there is hope...*
   */THERE IS NO HOPE!/*
   *Shut up! There's always hope! You just give up too easily!*
   */DAMN YOU!!!!!!!!/*

   The group had finally convinced Ranma to enter the valley.
   The mist clung to them as they stood at the threshold of Jyusenkyou. Umi
and Fuu gasped. Lantis made a slight impressed sound.
   "It's...beautiful..." Umi gasped.
   "Yeah, until you know what it can do to you," Ranma said sourly. Then he
noticed something strange. "Hey, what the hell?"
   He made his way carefully over to one side of the valley. Near the edge
of the training ground, one spring was glowing bright green. The others
stood near him.
   "Why is that spring glowing?" Fuu wondered.
   "Just what is this place?" Lantis asked.
   "These are the Pools of Sorrow," Ranma said solemnly. "They end and ruin
lives."
   Umi frowned. "Are the springs supposed to glow like that?"
   Ranma shook his head. "No, they don't glow. That's what I can't..." then
he gasped, and turned pale.
   "Ranma-san? What's wrong?"
   Ranma stepped backward from the spring. "That spring--the one that's
glowing..."
   "What about it?" Umi asked.
   "It's...it's Nyanniichuan. I'm sure of it."
   "Nyanniichuan?" Lantis said, uncertainly.
   Fuu drew a breath. "Isn't that...the spring...."
   Ranma nodded. "Yes, it is."
   The four stared at the glowing water.

   *I can feel hope again. The pain is going away.*
   *Shampoo not depressed now.*
   *There's no reason to brood over sorrow.*
   *Have to move on with life.*
   *I...suppose I can find something else to live for...*
   **{Yes, that's it...just a little more...}**
   */CURSE YOU ALL TO HELL!/*
   **{Already been there. Didn't care for it.}**

   "What the--?" Umi shouted.
   Nyanniichuan began to shift from a green glow, to a pure red glow. Its
waters begin to churn.
   "Everyone get back!" Ranma yelled, and rolled away from the spring. The
others did the same.
   Suddenly, several shapes burst out of the spring. Ranma gasped, as did
Umi and Fuu.
   Ryouga, Shampoo, and Mousse, restored to human form, landed first,
followed by Akane, and Ukyou.
   And lastly, Hikaru erupted from the spring like a blazing phoenix. An
aura of fire surrounded her as she glided to the ground in front of Ranma,
and grinned at him.
   "Hikaru?" Ranma, Umi, and Fuu gasped. Hikaru giggled.
   "Looks like for now we get to fight side-by-side, Ranma-kun," Hikaru
said. Ranma chuckled, grinning, and hugged her.
   As the others rose from the ground, Nyanniichuan disappeared. In its
place, a glowing blue portal hovered, beckoning to them.
   Looking around at each other, the group mutually decided to check it
out, and the ten warriors made their way into the portal.

   Chapter 15: Trial of Terror

   Once again the group discovered they'd been split up.
   The Nerima warriors found themselves staring at a bizarre construct
which looked like a conglomeration of the fortress of the Seven Lucky Gods,
and the enormous tree-palace of Togenkyou, balanced on a floating island,
with the airship of Kirin beached to the east, where a blood red sun was
rising.
   "What the hell's this?" Ryouga wondered.
   Akane sighed. "I think this stupid lake is having fun with us."
   "Aiyah. We keep getting split up here."
   Suddenly, they were surrounded by armed warriors.

   Umi, Fuu, and Lantis blinked, and looked around. They seemed to be
floating in the sky, without any effort.
   "What trick is this now?" Lantis wondered. He then gasped as a spectacle
of horror unfolded before the three of them.
   Umi stared, complexion ashen. "No....not again..."
   Fuu began to cry softly.
   Before them, they saw a great flying chariot. Hikaru stood there, sword
at the ready, expression defiant as she faced off against...
   ...High Priest Zagato.
   Zagato, smirking evilly, wielded an enormous black sword. He snarled,
and attacked Hikaru, who parried. She countered, and her blow was dodged.
Slash, thrust, strike, dodge, parry, block...then spells. Bolt after bolt
of magical energy whizzed from the pair as they continued to try to kill
one another.
   "We have to help her!" Umi shouted.
   Lantis stared at the spectacle, uncertain as to what was going on.
   Fuu frowned. "It is highly unlikely that this is a vision of reality.
Zagato is at the palace, ill from the Blemish."
   "Nevermind if *he's* real! What about Hikaru? She could get killed!"
   Lantis frowned. "Where is everyone else? And that Ranma fellow?"
   "It appears they have been taken away again."
   Suddenly, a dark mist begin to swirl around the two combatants. Umi's
stomach sank. "Not again..."
   "We've got to help Hikaru-san," Fuu announced, then blinked. She hadn't
called Hikaru that since she'd been taken away last time in Cephiro. After
the spirited redhead apparently died, Fuu felt that honoring her memory
would be to call her "Hikaru-chan" instead, as she knew the girl would
probably like to be called.
   Umi dashed forward, but was brought short by something.
   Lantis stared at the Wind Knight, as she closed her eyes and said
softly, "Imashime no kaze."
   A strong, binding wind wrapped itself around Umi. She gasped as she
realized what it was, and glared at Fuu hotly. "Fuu! How could you!
Hikaru..."
   "...is not the real Hikaru," Fuu interrupted.
   The dark mists stopped swirling around the dueling pair, as a strangled
cry rang out. The Winds of Reprimand spell died out.
   And Hikaru's severed head rolled to a stop at Umi's feet.
   The Water Knight shrieked.

   Hikaru and Ranma blinked, and stared at each other.
   "Where the heck are we, Hikaru?" Ranma asked.
   Hikaru shook her head. "I don't know, Ranma-kun. This place isn't
familiar."
   Out of the void, stepped Hikaru's three brothers and the three Tendou
sisters. All of them were dressed, oddly, in black suits, and wearing
completely black glasses.
   "Kakeru-niisama...Masaru-niisama...Satoru-niisama..." Hikaru gasped.
   The three boys smirked. "Hikaru," Kakeru said. "Do you realize what
you've put us through?"
   "We all thought you were dead," Masaru said, scowling.
   "Gomen nasai," Hikaru said, eyes dewing.
   "Ranma-kun...we're getting sick of you," Kasumi said.
   "You eat us out of house and home, your hot baths run our water bills
through the roof--a roof which, by the way, you shatter on a regular
basis," Nabiki commented.
   "And you're a baka," Akane said.
   "Hikaru...we'd be happy to see you again if you hadn't gone to Cephiro,
and made us all think you were dead," Satoru said.
   "It wasn't my fault!" Hikaru cried.
   "Guys...I don't do it on purpose, honest!" Ranma said.
   The six facing them became stone-faced.
   "Hikaru, you have a grave, you know. You belong in it."
   "Ranma-kun, I'm afraid you're more useful to us dead."
   And the six of them produced Uzis out of nowhere.

   The martial artists fought off hordes of warriors, but more continued to
come. Prince Kirin and Prince Touma apppeared at the top of the fortress,
snickering.
   "Why? Why are you doing this?" Akane screamed. "I thought we were
friends!"
   "You spurned us, Tendou Akane," Touma said.
   "You led us to believe you cared for us, then turned your back on us."
   "That's not true! You know that you'll always have my friendship!"
   "Your friendship isn't what we want," Touma said. "We want your blood."
   Ukyou blinked. "This ain't right. Other than that crazy guy Mousse and
Shampoo fought, nobody working for Touma was a killer."
   Ryouga frowned. "You're right. That monkey of his didn't try to hurt me
physically...just emotionally."
   "Yeah? Well these guys are trying to kill us physically!" Akane shouted.
   Shampoo blinked. "Aiyah...Akane, they right. Touma is no killer, even
though he try kill Ranma. He good boy when fighting over. Not think of
revenge."
   Mousse nodded. "And Kirin respects Ranma, and the rest of us. This isn't
like him either."
   Akane frowned. The warriors continued coming, but none of them had any
chances against the group. "You're right...this doesn't fit. And what would
they be doing here anyway?"
   Ryouga shook his head. "They shouldn't be here."
   Ukyou nodded. "He's right, sugar."
   Akane looked up at the two sneering princes, and scowled, hefting her
enormous steel mallet. "Alright then, let's find out who you really are."
   Dark clouds began to gather, and lightning crackled, striking the raised
hammer. Everyone backed off a bit nervously. A swirling vortex formed in
the center of the clouds above. One final lightning bolt struck the mallet,
and Akane pounded the ground with it, shouting "EYE OF THE STORM!"
   A blinding ray of light emerged from the vortex in the clouds, striking
the two princes. Their features blurred and melted, as did those of the
attacking warriors.
   When the light stopped and the clouds cleared, all that surrounded them
were monsters made of pure water.
   Everyone looked at Akane in awe. "Good spell, sugar," Ukyou offered.
   Akane grinned. "Let's trash these things!"
   "Yoshi!" Ryouga shouted. Then, an idea struck him. "Alright, my turn!"
He rammed his fist into the ground, and held it there as the creatures
began advancing once again. After a moment, he shouted, "HOT PRESSURE
BREAKING POINT!"
   The ground trembled slightly, and numerous small cracks began to form in
the surface of the 'island'. There was a loud hissing sound, and great
plumes of steam began to issue forth from the gaps, directly beneath the
monsters. In seconds, every water monster had evaporated. An ominous blood
red portal appeared in the center of the island.
   Everyone looked at it nervously. "I hope that's the last one," Ukyou
said.

   "Umi-chan. Don't scream so."
   Umi glared at Fuu with undisguised hatred. "Fuu! How could you? Look at
what happened because..."
   Fuu raised a hand, her expression hard. She gestured at the severed
head, and once again uttered her spell. As the winds bound the head,
something happened to it.
   The eyes turned to pure flame, steam hissing from the empty sockets as
the organs burst and sizzled. The long red hair blackened to a crisp, and
the Winds of Reprimand carried its ashes away. The skin along the top of
the now bare scalp began to bubble, and cracked open, peeling down.
   Umi stared. Lantis frowned. Fuu watched, her expression unreadable.
   The skin peeled completely away from the skull, and the top of the
cranium cracked open slightly. A frothing mass of liquified brain oozed
from the fissure, as flames erupted from the brainpan. The jaw dropped
open, and a gout of flame issued from the mouth. The Winds of Reprimand
were dashed.
   "What--what the hell IS that?" Umi asked.
   The thing hissed. "I am Conniption. My massster sssent me here to
dessstroy you."
   A searing heat scathed the Knights, who dove wildly to the sides.
   "See, Umi-chan? That wasn't Hikaru. It was just another monster-san."
   Umi glared at the thing, which glared back with its empty sockets. Umi
scowled. "How dare you take the form of the beautiful face of my dear
friend?" She gathered her magic about her. "BLUE TORRENT!"
   A powerful swirling jet of water gushed forth, enveloping Conniption. It
roared as its flames were quenched. As the torrent died down, the lifeless
skull dropped to the ground and shattered. A red mist rose from its
fragments, and became a swirling, blood red portal.
   The two Knights and Lantis stared at it ponderously.

   Ranma and Hikaru were in shock. People they cared about, depended on,
were training lethal weapons on them, ready to fire.
   "Kasumi? Nabiki? Akane? Why?"
   "Be quiet please, Ranma-kun. It really is for the best."
   "I'm sorry, Hikaru dear, but you belong in the cemetery and we're
putting you there," Kakeru said soothingly.
   Hikaru frowned, and remembered something...

      "Hikari...why?"
      //Girl from the other
      world.//
      "Nani? Who...?"
      //This creature is someone
      you care about, isn't it?//
      "Yes! Hikari is my dear
      friend. We have been together
      since we were very small.
      Whenever I'm lonely or hurt,
      he always takes care of me,
      and I do the same for him."
      //Then you must ask yourself,
      if your dear friend would
      ever harm you.//
      "No! Never! Hikari would
      never try to hurt me!"

   Hikaru's eyes widened. "Ranma-kun...this is an illusion. A trick. These
aren't real people."
   Ranma blinked. "Huh?"
   Hikaru turned to him. "You care about Kasumi, Nabiki, and Akane, right?"
   "I guess so."
   "And they care about you?"
   Ranma nodded. "Yeah..."
   "Do you think they'd ever seriously try to hurt you?"
   Ranma thought about that for a minute.
   Hikaru pressed on, "My brothers would never do anything to me. They love
me, and they care for me, and they treat me very kindly. Do you think
they'd be trying to kill me?"
   Ranma shook his head. "If what you told me is right, they'd be so happy
to see you they'd cry."
   Hikaru nodded. "That's right. This is all a trick. The lake Eterna did
this to us when we came for the Escudo last time."
   "Oooh, I get it," Ranma said.
   Suddenly, the six began firing.
   Ranma and Hikaru wildly dived to the floor and rolled to avoid sprays of
nine-millimeter rounds. Their armor managed to protect them from the few
rounds that hit, but it still stung.
   Finally, Ranma rose to his feet, glaring. "I've had enough." A fiery
aura sprung up around him, and he began punching into the air at high
speed, shouting, "You want firepower? I'll give it to you! HONOU TENSHIN
AMAGURIKEN!"
   Hundreds of small bursts of flame spewed from Ranma's blurring fists,
streaking towards the three black-clad girls. With anguished, demonic
cries, the illusions were banished as the flames struck them. The machine
guns and sunglasses clattered to the ground as their bodies evaporated to
ashy smoke.
   Hikaru cheered, then prepared her own spell. "HONOU NO....YAAAAA!" Her
arrows of flame tore into the false brothers, who screamed evilly and
vanished in the same manner as the other three.
   "Yoshi!" Ranma called. "We did it!"
   Hikaru grinned. "And you just learned your first spell, Ranma-kun!"
   Ranma blinked. "I did..." A slow grin spread across his face. "I learned
a spell! Alright!"
   A blood red portal swirled into existence before them. Glancing at each
other, and shrugging, they stepped through.

   The martial artists finally summoned the courage and the will to see
what lay beyond, and breached the portal.

   Desiring to know the fate of their friends, Umi, Fuu, and Lantis entered
the portal before them.

   The three parties blinked as they faced each other in the center of a
vast chamber. The walls and floor here were carved from black stone, and
the ceiling was obscured by roiling black mist. The only light source here
was provided by dark red gems set into the stone walls, which shed an eery,
blood-hued glow.
   "We're all together again," Fuu observed.
   "I'm glad to see you're all okay," Hikaru said.
   Lantis looked around. "This chamber is...foreboding," he decided.
   "I wonder...is this the end of it?" Akane mused.
   A strangely familiar, yet raspy and cold voice intruded. "Yes, it's the
end. For you."
   Everyone looked to the center of the room. A large, ebony throne sat
there, containing a decidedly feminine figure, whose features were obscured
in shadow. She appeared to be leaning to one side, head resting on one hand
in an expression of boredom.
   "I'm not particularly impressed with you," she told them. "So you beat
all my traps...big fuckin' deal. You're nothing but an annoyance for me, so
you might as well give up and die now. Save yourselves the painful death
I'll give you."
   Ranma glared at her. "Who the hell are you anyway? Show your face!"
   She shrugged. "Okay, if you want." She stood, and stepped forward.
Everyone gasped.
   She appeared to be about sixteen, with scarred, tanned skin. She wore a
jet black body armor similar to the original armor of the Magic Knights,
with a blood red gem set in the back of the left glove. The clothing
beneath her armor was the color of dried blood, as was her ankle-length
braided hair.
   Her second most disturbing feature was her eyes. The outer rims of her
eyes were black, soulless, while her irises were red, and glowed slightly.
   But her most disturbing feature was her face...it looked exactly like
Hikaru's.
   She grinned at them evilly.
   "Who...what..." Hikaru paled.
   "Who are you?" Umi asked.
   The girl laughed softly. The sound of her laugh sent chills up all their
spines.
   "My name is Skylark," she said. "And I'm about to kill all of you."

   Chapter 16: Face/Half-Off

   "Who the hell is this girl?" Umi asked.
   "She certainly resembles Hikaru," Fuu commented.
   Skylark smiled ruefully. "I suppose you would like to hear my story
before I destroy you?"
   Hikaru finally spoke up. "Talk."
   Skylark raised an amused eyebrow at her, then drew herself up to her
full, less than impressive height.
   "I came into being one thousand, five hundred, and two years ago,"
Skylark began, "at the exact moment when Shidou Hikaru's last spark of life
fled from her body.
   "Do you know how the magic of Jyusenkyou truly works?" she asked them,
raising her arms dramatically. "Truly remarkable...truly sadistic.
Jyusenkyou springs trap the soul of whatever drowns in them, until someone
or something releases them.
   "Oh, but there's more. There are...factors involved, which determine how
peaceful the eternal damnation to those waters will be. Kind creatures,
with pure hearts, are not aware of their imprisonment, becoming unconscious
for the entire duration of their torture in Jyusenkyou.
   "And then," she continued, "There are the dark souls. The shadowy
spirits. The ones with demons haunting them, with vengeful and impure
thoughts. Those," she snarled, "are PAINFULLY aware of their new existence.
An eternity for every second spent there."
   Everyone in the room gasped. Skylark smirked cruelly, and continued.
"Little miss Fire Knight here, was a goody-goody," she sneered
contemptously at Hikaru. "Always looking out for others before herself,
kind and helpful and..." Skylark made a gagging noise, and doubled over,
heaving a few times sarcastically. "In short, she's a disgustingly pure
little shit.
   "But she had demons in her heart, because of what happened to her in
Cephiro, and what those Musk bastards did to her," she continued, taking on
a false sorrowful tone. "Pooooooor little innocent and sweet Hikaru, naive
little Hikaru...turned into an object of scorn, a toy for the amusement of
hormone-driven Chinese warriors in a place she had no business being to
begin with..."
   Hikaru scowled. Ranma began to growl in his throat.
   "Well, when she drowned..." Skylark said, shrugging.
   Fuu frowned. "I'm confused. That doesn't really explain anything."
   Skylark laughed harshly. "Well you see, Hikaru here had been exposed to
the magic of Cephiro. If she'd actually *been* in Cephiro when she died,
her little Will was so strong that I'd have sprung up right then.
   "But, y'see, she also had the magic of Jyusenkyou to deal with. As it
turns out, her experiences in Cephiro caused the two conflicting parts of
her soul to split apart as she died. The pure, noble little Shidou Hikaru
who EVERYONE just LOVES..." She paused to hock and spit at Hikaru, who
calmly dodged, earning a glare from Skylark. "This little BITCH, cast out
her darkness and the demons within her, and her soul slept peacefully in
that fucking spring for all those centuries.
   "But the castoffs, her anger, her frustration, her sadness, her
suffering...still held a portion of her strong Will, and with her exposure
to Cephiro, this was enough to create *my* soul, which was stuck, AWAKE,
for all that time, and not able to do a *damned* thing about it."
   "But...how did you get here?" Akane asked.
   "Well, y'see, the forces that created both Jyusenkyou and Eterna came
from the same source. When the conditions are right, things cross over
between the two.
   "When I was spawned, the magic of Jyusenkyou decided that my origin was
in Cephiro, and cast me into Eterna. But I was still linked to goody-girl
over here.
   "So, I remained, trapped, AWAKE, for fifteen centuries, until the day
the dipshit here took a dunk in Hikaru's spring. When she got released, so
did I. I couldn't leave Eterna, but I was free to gather power.
   "So, I've been gathering power for a year now, to get revenge on the
people who caused all this to happen in the first place."
   Hikaru frowned. Fuu still looked confused. "But...there's no curse here
as there is at Jyusenkyou, and nobody fell into this spring for you to
possess...how is it that you have a body?"
   Skylark stared at her increduously, then laughed bitterly. "You don't
get it, do you? Stupid little bitch. NONE OF US HAVE BODIES IN HERE!!!! All
your bodies were left at the surface of the lake!" Everyone gaped at her.
She smirked. "What? Did you think these two shitbrains over here," she
gestured at Ranma and Hikaru, "were separated just like that, and she got
her body back? WRONG! None of your souls are in your bodies right now."
   Everyone blinked. She cackled. "That's right! In here, your form is the
form of your soul!"
   Ranma and Hikaru suddenly made a sound of understanding. "I get it,"
Ranma said. "It's like when me 'n Hikaru talk when our body's asleep."
   "No shit, dickhead," Skylark said.
   Ranma scowled. "Someone needs to clean your mouth out, little girl."
   Skylark laughed hysterically. "Oh, that's GOOD. That's REAL good." Her
eyes began to glow brighter, and a dark ball of energy formed in her hands.
"Okay then, if you want some, come get some!"
   Umi, Fuu, and Lantis charged the demon girl. Skylark summoned a vortex,
into which they vanished, the girls shrieking. Everyone gaped. "What did
you do to them?" Hikaru asked.
   Skylark laughed. "I just sent them back to their bodies. They can't get
back into this chamber without facing the tests again...assuming I would
let them back into Purgata at all." She cackled. "Who's next?"
   Ranma didn't need any more encouragement than that. He threw himself
forward, charging fire magic in his claws. Skylark smirked, and threw her
energy ball. The sphere slammed into Ranma and threw him against the back
wall of the cave.
   Akane cried out, and raised her mallet. A bolt of lightning arced around
it. With a yell, she released the lightning at Skylark. The evil sorceress
yawned, and the bolt entered her mouth. She glared at Akane, and two
streams of red lightning shot from her eyes, enveloping the Tendou girl,
and slamming her into the ground.
   "Akane-chan!" Hikaru shouted. "Alright, Skylark, you won't get away with
that. HONOU NO...YAAAA!"
   Skylark scowled, and raised her hand in a similar motion. "DARK FLARE
SPEAR!"
   Streaks of black fire matching Hikaru's red flames flew from her
fingertips, and the two spells clashed, cancelling each other. Hikaru
glared at Skylark, and prepared to charge.
   Just then, Ryouga, Mousse, Ukyou, and Shampoo decided to quadruple-team
the dark girl, and charged in unison. Skylark stared at them incredulously,
and as they approached, she cupped her hands.
   Hikaru's eyes went wide. "NOOO!!"
   A ball of blackness, with a glaring red spark at the core, formed in
Skylark's hands. She reared back, and threw it at the incoming martial
artists. "BLACK SOUL BOMB!"
   The four warriors screamed in agony as bands of tight darkness enveloped
them, and they became affixed to the back wall, in crucification poses.
Their eyes were closed, and their auras were dim.
   Akane was similarly out of it. Hikaru prepared to charge, and was
blasted by a similar bomb.
   Skylark laughed maniacally as she gazed around at her fallen
adversaries. They would never leave here intact. But that one vortex spell
had taken a lot out of her...she smirked. "Shouldn't have done that,
idiot," she rebuked herself. "Waste of energy."

   Hikaru groggily awoke. Her head felt like an elephant had been tap
dancing on it.
   She looked around. The group from Nerima were all still unconscious,
Akane on the ground and the rest pinned to the wall. Umi, Fuu, and Lantis
were gone.
   Ranma was...awake, and staring into her eyes with concern.
   "Oi, Hikaru...how are you feeling?"
   Hikaru shook her head. "Horrible. That sick girl really did a number on
me."
   Ranma nodded. "Me too." He sighed. "I don't think the others are gonna
wake up, Hikaru. I think it's just you and me."
   Hikaru shook her head. "It's no good, Ranma. We can't fight her. We're
not powerful enough...and the Mashin are all outside the spring."
   Ranma nodded, frowning. The two rested for a few moments, and stared at
Skylark. For her part, the evil girl was ignoring them.
   After a moment, Ranma began musing, "You know...rushing her is
pointless, and she's an even match magically for all of us."
   Hikaru nodded. "Yeah. And odds are she's good with a sword, too."
   "And fast," Ranma added. He rubbed his chin. "If the two of us attacked
her, she'd be able to pick one of us off before the other could get close,
and still have time to stop the other one too."
   Hikaru nodded. "And since none of us are powerful enough individually,
it'd be pointless anyway."
   Ranma thought about that for a minute. "Strong enough individually..."
He looked at Hikaru speculatively for a moment, which began to make her
uncomfortable. "What?" she asked.
   Ranma frowned. "I'm having an idea, but it's too insane to possibly
work." Absently, as he thought, his form began to shift to that of his
female half. Hikaru blinked.
   "Ranma...you just turned into a girl."
   Ranma looked down at herself, and blinked...then grinned. "This is a
good sign."
   Hikaru's brow furrowed in confusion. Ranma grinned, and put an arm
around her shoulder, leaning in conspiratorially.
   "Hikaru...would you say that of everyone here, you and me are the only
two real matches for this girl?"
   Hikaru nodded. "Yeah, but she beat both of us."
   Ranma nodded. "Working separately."
   Hikaru frowned. "Ranma, we just covered this. She could beat us if we
worked as a team, as well."
   Ranma chuckled, his grin widening. "Not if we work *as one*."
   Hikaru blinked, and shook her head. "I just said that won't work."
   Ranma pulled her in closer. "No, I don't mean teaming up on her. I mean,
*as* *one*. Get it?"
   Hikaru frowned. "No, I don't."
   Ranma gestured at himself. "I just turned into a girl, right?" Hikaru
nodded. "Okay, Cephiro is a place where Will is the strongest force, isn't
it? And didn't Skylark say that none of us even have bodies here?"
   Hikaru nodded, slowly, uncertaintly.
   "Well," Ranma said, "Here's what I figure. Separately, we don't have the
power to take her down. But, combined, we could do it. We've got practice
sharing a body..." He trailed off, eyes twinkling.
   Hikaru blinked, then it hit her. Her eyes widened. "You're not talking
about..."
   Ranma shrugged. "Couldn't hurt to try."
   "As...as ONE?" Hikaru asked. Ranma nodded.
   Hikaru thought about that for a minute, then shrugged. "What have we got
to lose," she said. "Okay, I guess we just...just need to concentrate,
right?"
   Ranma nodded, and closed his eyes. Hikaru also closed hers, and began to
focus on Ranma's aura, his power, his spirit. Ranma concentrated on
Hikaru's strong will, her kind heart, her determination, her strength.
   Within moments, something of the connection they'd established inside
their shared body began to form. Then it became stronger, grew. Beyond
surface thoughts and consciousness now, they could see memories,
experiences, emotions, dreams and hopes, sorrows, fears, anxieties...
   The connection continued to deepen. Each of them began seeing the other
through the eyes of the soul, through the eyes of the self. Deeper, more
resonant...

   Akane shook herself as she got to her knees. She looked up, to see the
others from her group slowly awakening in their pinned positions. She
looked around for Ranma...
   ...and saw him in the corner, with Hikaru.
   Both were melting.

   This is my pain. This is our pain. These are our dreams and hopes. My
memories are your memories, your thoughts are my thoughts. I am you, you
are me. Our power is one. We will do what we have to do.

   As Akane and the others watched, Ranma and Hikaru blurred, and drew
together. A bright orange glow flared around them, as they continued to
dissolve into one another...

   ...A matter of moments later, in the midst of a brightly pulsing orange
aura, one girl with a medium-length red pigtail rose to her feet.
   Her armor was tight on her body, accentuating her trim, athletic figure.
Fingerless gauntlets covered her slender hands. Large shoulderguards, with
golden phoenix designs, looked like great wings against her small frame,
and a flowing red chainmail cloak draped behind her. A gold tiara encircled
her head, fronted with a large white, red, and gold crest resembling a
firebird in flight. A red and white yin-yang symbol on her chestplate spun
until it became a solid pink disc.
   In each hand, she held a glowing red katana, one having a dragon-shaped
hilt, the other having a lion-shaped hilt.
   Her eyes were bright purple, and she was scowling.

   Skylark sensed...something wrong behind her. She expected the warriors
to awaken eventually, but what was this...power? She began to turn
around...

   Akane, Ryouga, Ukyou, Mousse, and Shampoo gaped at the girl before them.
None of them knew quite what to think.

   "Skylark. Face us now. We shall defeat you," resonated a pair of voices
in perfect unison.

   Skylark stared in shock. This was Hikaru...and yet not Hikaru. And she
felt the power of the boy radiating from this one...
   "Who...who are you?" she asked.

   The girl with the purple eyes spoke in what should have been two voices,
but somehow had become one, and had an imposing resonance. "We are Karuma.
We will make you pay for what you've done."

   Everyone blinked at that pronouncement. "Akane-chan...what's goin' on
here?" Ukyou asked.
   Akane shook her head. "I don't know," she breathed.

   Skylark smirked. "Fine, 'Karuma'. I don't care who or...or WHAT you are.
You want a fight, I'll be happy to put you on the floor."

   Karuma laughed softly. The sound made everyone tremble in awe. "We are
not impressed by you. In this battle, we will put you on the floor." Her
aura flared even brighter, and Karuma charged.

   Skylark prepared her Black Soul Bomb, and flung it. Karuma smirked, and
brought her swords together. An orange shield flared from them, absorbing
the blast with no damage. Skylark gasped, then recovered, and snarled,
drawing a black broadsword from the gem on her glove.

   The two female warriors locked in fierce combat. Despite Karuma's two
weapons, and her skill and speed, Skylark was managing to block every
attack, though none of her own were getting through. She became
increasingly frustrated, and angrier.

   Akane and the others gaped in awe. As the battle continued, Skylark
began to slip, while Karuma seemed to be getting a second wind.
   Suddenly, Karuma's aura flared, and she threw herself backwards, away
from Skylark. Skylark panted for a second, then began to prepare her spell.
   She shouldn't have let her guard down.
   Karuma's swords vanished, and a bright orange energy ball gathered
between her hands. As Skylark began to cast her Black Soul Bomb, the ball
of light began to blaze, and doubled in size.
   Karuma thrust her hands forward. "HONOU TAKABISHA!!!!!!!!!"
   Skylark threw her bomb as a column of blazing orange fire erupted from
the hands of the girl with the purple eyes. The image of a growling tiger
was visible in the stream of flames for an instant, and it also seemed that
a roaring red lion was running alongside it. Then, the blast slammed into
the dark sorceress.
   She was blasted across the chamber, into her spellcasting area, which
burst into bright flames. She screamed in agony as her soul was consumed by
Karuma's attack. Within seconds, nothing remained of the evil Skylark.

   The black world around them shifted, blurred...and vanished.

   The warriors blinked, heads all feeling as if they had been split open.
Umi, Fuu, and Lantis hovered nervously over them, as did Mokona. They
looked around, and blinked...they were outside Eterna. The blackness had
vanished, and the spring appeared as it always had.

   Akane immediately snapped awake at seeing the redheaded girl in the red
armor, who was still out cold. "Ranma! Hikaru!" She frowned. "Karuma?"
   Ryouga and Ukyou walked over to stand beside her, as Umi asked, "What
happened in there?"
   Akane and the others blinked, and shot questioning glances at one
another. As they were about to answer, a resonant voice groaned, "'S a long
story. We'll tell you...later. Right now...we're tired. We need...a
nap...."
   Everyone stared at the redhead, as she sleepily closed her purple eyes.
   "She's right," Akane said. "It's a LOOOONG story. We'll tell you when we
get back to the palace."
   Lantis and Ryouga gently hefted the sleeping redhead between them, as
Mokona created a stretcher to lay her on. With the girl safely in tow, the
group began the long walk back to the palace.

   Chapter 17: Victories, Setbacks

   Sounds of celebration rang out through the halls of the palace as the
group of warriors entered.
   "Sounds like a party," Ukyou commented. Clef and Ferio came rushing out
to greet them.
   "You did it! Thank you so very much!" Ferio said.
   Clef smiled. "The Blemish on Zagato has vanished, and our spells are
slowly reversing the damage to the Princess. We are in your debt." He
noticed the stretcher upon which lay...he couldn't tell. "What happened?"
he asked, motioning at her with his staff.
   Everyone looked at each other nervously. "Umm...we're still not sure. It
was strange," Akane said.
   "The whole thing is a very long story," Mousse said. "We should tell it
when we have had a chance to rest up."
   Clef nodded. "Very well. Let us adjourn to the banquet room. You can
rest and relax there, and I'm sure you wouldn't mind a good meal."
   There was laughter and hearty agreement with that statement, and the
party proceeded to the dining hall.

   In the greyness of the sleeping mind, a single girl with a fiery orange
aura began to shimmer, her aura fading. With a great tearing sound, she
split into two halves.
   <Oh MAN, do I have a headache,> Ranma said, groggily rising to his
knees. He saw Hikaru, lying on the floor, nearby. <Oi, Hikaru! Are you
okay?>
   Hikaru stirred, groaning. <Oohhhhh....what happened?> She began to sit
up, and Ranma staggered over to sit beside her. <I...I can barely remember
anything...>
   Ranma nodded. <I know whatcha mean, Hikaru. It's all kinda foggy.>
   Hikaru rubbed her head, and frowned. <I...I think we did it...>
   Ranma blinked. <Skylark?>
   Hikaru nodded. <We beat her. I...I think...>
   They both tried to remember for a minute. As they concentrated, a
ghostly image formed before them, of a third girl, who could be their twin,
but had purple eyes, and was surrounded by an orange glow.
   Ranma blinked. <Th...that's us.>
   Hikaru nodded. <I...remember more now. We...we....> She gasped.
<Ranma-kun! We did it! We joined!>
   Ranma grinned. <It worked? Cool!>
   The image before them wavered, and vanished. Hikaru sighed. <That was a
rough experience though.>
   Ranma nodded. <Yeah, pretty intense. I hope we don't need to do that
again anytime soon.>
   Hikaru yawned. <I'm completely drained.> She hugged Ranma. <I'm gonna
rest a little while, Ranma-kun.>
   Ranma nodded, returning the hug. <Alright.>
   And after a moment of gathering his thoughts, Ranma woke up.

   "Oi, Torin...can you take care of that collapsed roof?"
   In one of the small villages of Cephiro, a small boy standing on a
floating rock hovered in the air above a mostly caved-in dwelling, before
which stood a large creature resembling a minotaur. The boy had a thick mop
of dark orange hair which hung over his eyes, completely obscuring them. He
wore large, bell-shaped green and white robes, and a ridiculously large
beret.
   "Please help us if you can, Bal Ascot," a weary-looking man said,
holding on tightly to a woman who appeared to be quite pregnant and on the
virge of collapse.
   The boy nodded, and shouted, "Oi, Torin, can you do it, or do you need
help?"
   The minotaur looked up, snorted a bit of steam, then lumbered closer to
the house. Reaching in, it grabbed the remains of a thatched roof, and
lifted them carefully out of the house, tossing them onto a pile of similar
debris behind the structure. Ascot smiled at the beast, and flew in closer,
lowering himself into the house. A moment later, he emerged, with a
frightened-looking young child clinging to his floating stone. Ascot gently
eased his mount to the ground, and the child scampered towards the man and
woman.
   "Oi, Torin! Good work! Please see if you can tend to some of the other
damaged buildings while I help the people, alright?"
   Torin nodded, and lumbered off towards the center of town. The man and
woman smiled gratefully at Ascot as he approached them. "Thank you so much,
Bal Ascot," the man said.
   Ascot smiled gently. "It's no problem, really, and you should thank
Torin...he's the one who lifted that roof."
   The woman smiled, and nodded. "Yes, your friend is very kind, despite
his unusual appearance. I'm sorry any of us ever thought of your friends as
monsters."
   Ascot shrugged. "It's understandable, I suppose." He sighed. "Well, we
need to get you to a healer. There's one in Grem, which hasn't been hit by
the darkness." He floated up into the sky, and began tracing a glowing
pentagram in the air. "Come forth, please, Fal! These people need an air
transport to the healer in Grem!"
   A large green falcon-like bird emerged from the pentagram, and swooped
to the ground with a shriek. Ascot lowered himself to the ground and patted
the large bird on the head. "Fal, please take these gentle people to the
next town, and deposit them at the healer. Will you do this for me, my
friend?"
   The bird bobbed its head, and lowered its body so the family could board
it. They did so, expressing their gratitude to the young Summoner, and Fal
took flight, disappearing quickly into the distance.
   Ascot smiled sadly as he made his way towards the village square. "It
would be wrong for any of these people to have to suffer any more than they
already have," he commented as he surveyed the damaged town. "How could we
have been so terrible to these people?" he wondered. He spotted Torin
gently deposting a group of frightened-looking merchants on the ground next
to the husk of a market building, and Ascot headed over to them. "Oi, how
many wounded among your party?" he asked as he approached.
   Before anyone could answer, something permeated the air. A sense of
malice, of cruelty. Ascot and Torin looked up nervously. "Torin," Ascot
hissed, knowing the creature could hear him no matter how softly he spoke,
"Protect these people. Something evil is around." The minotaur snuffed an
affirmative.
   "My, what a kind boy you are," a light voice rang through the dark air.
It was a female voice, definitely, and it seemed to have an odd, metallic
ring to it.
   The voice also, unmistakably, spoke in an Osaka dialect.
   Ascot went pale. "How...what--?"
   A tinny, light giggle echoed through the village. "Such a *dear*,
*sweet*, *kind* boy you've become. I taught you better, you know. You make
me sick, Ascot..."
   Suddenly, a black, malicious beam of light cut through the air, striking
the young Bal, who spun wildly out of the air, slamming hard into the
ground. The people screamed, and Torin gave a bellow of anger and surprise.

   That tinny laugh rang out again, chilling everyone to the bone. The
laugh was followed by echoes of a bell jingling.
   Ascot remained unconscious.

   Ranma shuffled into the dining hall of the palace, where a celebration
was heartily taking place. Everyone smiled kindly at the boy as he dropped
himself into a plush chair at the grand table. "Welcome, Ranma," Clef said.
"Are you alright?"
   Ranma nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Hikaru's fine too, but she's worn out
from what we did to Skylark." At the questioning glances, Ranma told the
tale of his and Hikaru's decision to merge, and the results, as well as he
remembered them.
   "So that's what that was all about," Akane said. Clef and Cologne stared
at the boy with astonishment and a new level of respect. "That was quite a
feat, for both of you," Cologne said.
   Just then, there was a commotion outside in the hallway. Everyone looked
up to see what was going on.
   A haggard-looking merchant staggered into the dining hall, accompanied
by a palace guard. "Forgive...intrusion, Highness,
Guru...trouble...Bima..." His eyes rolled up into his head, and he passed
out. Everyone gasped.
   The guard said, "Something is going on in Bima. I couldn't get the full
story, but apparently something terrible has happened to Bal Ascot."
   Clef frowned. "Ascot? We must look into this."
   Umi blinked. "That little brat with the monsters? The one we slapped
some sense into around the time Hikaru got blasted?"
   Clef nodded. "The Summoner, Ascot. He's been doing much good work since
you girls departed from this world. He's been involved heavily in the
rebuilding, along with his creatures. We'd have been lost without him."
Clef sighed, closing his eyes. "The thought of something bad happening to
Ascot..."
   Cologne rose, perching on her staff, and gestured to the door. "I
suggest, then, that we call the celebration to a halt until we can find out
what is going on." With that, she bounded for the door. Clef and Ferio
followed her, eventually accompanied by the others.

   As the group emerged from the palace gates, they were treated to yet
another unusual sight.
   Approaching the palace was a large minotaur-like creature, cradling
something in its hands as it lumbered close. A green falcon circled warily
above its head, shrieking mournfully. The fighters in the group tensed, but
Clef waved his staff in their direction, shaking his head. They backed down
slightly.
   Ferio, Clef, and Cologne approached the beast as it lumbered to a halt.
It knelt before the young Prince and the two Gurus, and carefully laid a
small, still form on the ground before it. The falcon perched on the
minotaur's head, crying out pitifully.
   Clef gasped. The boy before him was severely burned. A dark force
crackled along the wounds.
   Cologne grimaced. "Whatever attacked him, was evil, and had no soul."
   Everyone crowded forward. Umi gasped. While Ascot had been a nuisance,
she knew he wasn't a bad kid. To see him in this shape...
   Ascot groaned, and slightly opened his one good eye, the other having
swollen shut. "Guru...Clef..."
   "Ascot...what happened?"
   "In Bima...attacked..." he groaned, struggling to prop himself up on his
elbows. "...illusionist...evil...stop her...please..." He dropped back to
the ground, his eyes closing, his breathing shallow.
   "Sentries!" snapped Ferio. "Bring a stretcher, and no fewer than four
healers." Several guards moved to comply.
   Clef frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Evil illusionist..."
   Umi scowled. "They usually are." This earned her a sharp glare from
Cologne, which surprisingly silenced her.
   Clef shook his head. "It doesn't make any sense. There are no more
illusionists in Cephiro. The only one who existed in the world was killed
two years ago, by the Water Knight..."
   Everyone looked at Umi, who shuffled her feet.
   Ferio frowned. "Well, apparently there is one around. And we need to
find out what's going on before..."
   The prince was cut off by the sound of an incredible explosion in the
distance. Everyone gasped, as a great plume of black fire erupted in the
distance, spraying charred rubble, earth, and probably bodies in all
directions.
   Clef's eyes were wide in shock. "That...that's Bima," he said.
   Cologne shook her head. "*Was* Bima. I doubt there is anything left of
the town now."
   Ferio scowled, and barked an order at the sentries who had returned. "I
*will* know what is going on, and the sooner I have an answer, the better,"
he said. "I demand to know who is responsible for this."
   "Yes, your Highness," the sentries chorused, and began snapping commands
at their underlings, ordering horses readied for the ride to Bima.
   Clef turned to the assembled warriors. "I would ask you to remain and
help us, but this isn't your battle. If you wish to return to your world, I
will see to it."
   Ranma shook his head. "We ain't goin' nowhere." He turned to his
comrades. "I dunno about the rest of you, but I'm kinda gettin' attached to
this place. I don't wanna see any more bullshit happen here."
   Ryouga, Ukyou, Shampoo, Mousse, and Akane nodded solemnly. "It's a
martial artist's duty to protect the innocent and the defenseless," Ryouga
said.
   "Shampoo no like see town blow up like that. Remind of bad legend from
old days of Amazons. Shampoo stay fight."
   "Count me in too," Mousse said.
   "Hey, I got nothin' better to do," Ukyou said. "This world's kinda
growin' on me too."
   Akane nodded. "If what Umi and Fuu told us about the last time is true,
no time is passing in our world, so we've got nothing to lose by staying to
help out."
   Umi and Fuu stepped forward. "And we're staying as well," Fuu said.
   Umi nodded, a fierce scowl on her face. "Regardless of the past, we have
a duty to this world, as its Legendary Magic Knights. We'll do our best,
for Cephiro."
   Clef smiled. "You are truly remarkable young people. The people of this
world are very lucky, to have your group on our side."
   Umi looked towards the palace. "While the sentries are investigating, we
need to see to Ascot. If he wakes up, he may be able to tell us more."
   Clef nodded. "Yes. Also, the rest of you can give Presea the Escudo you
got at the spring."
   Everyone looked around nervously. "Anou..." Ryouga said. "We, um...there
wasn't any."
   Clef blinked. "No Escudo?"
   At this point, Presea joined the group. Where she'd been, was anyone's
guess. "They're right, Guru Clef. I've been doing some work with the newer
surveys. We made a mistake sending them to Eterna for the mineral. But,"
she said, "I think I know where there is a large supply of it..."
   "We'll discuss this as we wait for information," Ferio announced,
striding towards the palace briskly.
   Clef smiled after him. "That youth has become a very dutiful leader to
his people," he said. "Even before Emeraude fell ill."
   "Cephiro is lucky to have such a great prince," Fuu said. Umi nudged her
playfully, and she blushed.
   "Well," Presea said, "I think we should adjourn to the war room." At the
collective nods of the young warriors, the group returned to the palace.
Torin and Fal stood stoically before its gates, apparently keeping guard.

   Various machines thrummed and whirred, and panels flashed lights and
chirped merrily in a spacious, sterile room with machines on every surface.
Technicians and the like scurried about, and the activity and excitement
level in the room was high. Amidst it all, in a central seat, sat a
handsome, somewhat amused-looking youth, with short blond hair and
twinkling eyes. He had a white cloak wrapped about him, and was staring
intently at a large screen.
   A door hissed open, and much of the rapid chatter hushed, becoming muted
whispers of awe. The youth in the chair looked up, and smiled.
   A strange figure stepped into the chamber. The figure was very obviously
female, with tight black metal-and-leather armor which encased her entire
body, hugging her curves, leaving virtually nothing to the imagination. Her
head was encased in a shell of black leather, with an effeminate mask
artfully etched into the leather. She also wore a broad helmet, which
provided one of the few traces of color about her person, being detailed
with thin streaks of pink down the center, and bearing a large, pink,
fibrous ornament on top. Inset in the left eye of her mask was a round pink
crystal, with a small, simple, perfect blood-red chip of ruby embedded
beneath its smooth surface.
   The only thing which contrasted with the ornate and elegant appearance
of her costume were the various wires and coils of tubing which snaked
along her body, much of it emerging from or entering her helmet. A small
bank of lighted indicators was artfully contoured to the curve her her
chest, functional without distorting the spectacular image of her graceful
curves. A black cloak flowed from her shoulders, pooling at her
black-booted feet. A hiss of mechanized air intake and outflow steadily
issued from her, and as she walked, a faint jingling sound, like soft
bells, could be heard, even above the whirring sound of servo motors.
   She strode purposefully across the floor of the chamber, stopping before
the chair. The youth in the chair respectfully inclined his head. "Welcome
back, Lady Mirage. I assume your trip was successful?"
   "Thank you, Commander. Yes, it was very successful. I do not think
this...expedition will fail. Cephiro seems to be rather short on defenses."
   The young man grinned. "Excellent. I feel much more confident about this
mission with you present, Lady Mirage."
   "You should, Commander. You should." With that, she strode out of the
room, cape swishing, air hissing, servos whirring, and bells jingling.
Activity resumed normal levels with her departure.
   "Alright everyone," the man in the center seat said, "It's time. Geo!"
   "Ready, Commander," a tall man with short black hair and a headband
answered crisply.
   The commander chuckled. "Set course to Cephiro. And lose the formality."
   "Okay...we're underway, Eagle."
   Eagle Vision smiled. This was a good day.

   ---end act three---

--
-------Zankoku na tenshi no you ni, shounen yo shinwa ni nare-------
The Eternal Lost Lurker
EtLostLurker@hotmail.com
EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net
Ittai boku no peiju wa doko nan da!?