The Final Chaos 1/2
by Rarstarr
Final Fantasy 7 and all characters and idea connected to it are the
property of Square Co. Ltd.
Ranma 1/2 and all characters and ideas connected to it are the property
of Rumiko Takahashi.
Both are used here without permission for the purposes of Fan Fiction.
Readers are warned that this fanfic contains material that may spoil the
plot of the computer game Final Fantasy VII. I apologise to any reader
still playing the game. This part contains spoilers.
*****
Author's Note
Not much to say, except thank you for the C&C. Yes other Ranma characters
will appear (most of them) but not for a long while. To say more would
reveal my plot.
Thanks for all the info on Ranma and Ryoga's special attacks.
*****
The Final Chaos 1/2
Part 3: History repeats.
Ranma bent over, opened the cage and pulled out Mr Bwee. "Well pig, fancy
meeting you here!" And with that P-Chan bit his hand.
Cloud looked surprised. "You knows this animal?"
"Yeah, he tries to kill me every so often." Ranma replied, prying open
P-Chan's jaws. "Now you stop that or I won't find you some hot water,"
Ranma told the pig.
"This should be a fascinating tale."
"Bwee!" complained P-Chan.
"Hmm, oh, yeah, sorry pig." Ranma looked down at Priscilla. "I don't
suppose I could get a kettle of hot water and some privacy could I."
Priscilla shrugged. "Okay," and skipped off.
Ranma turned to Cloud. "If I tell you this, you must promise not to reveal
it to anyone especially Akane."
"Bwee!" added P-Chan for emphasis, then bit Ranma's hand again.
"Keeping secrets from your fiancee? Okay I'll agree."
"Okay, my sometimes friend, mostly enemy Ryoga is cursed to change into a
pig when doused with cold water, but reverts back with hot water."
Cloud gave him a strange look. "So what do you change into?"
"Me!" Ranma said too quickly. "Who said I change into anything?!"
P-Chan bit into Ranma's hand even harder.
*****
"Come Shampoo, if we are to reach the Gold Saucer on time we must leave."
Nanaki, Red XIII to his friends, paced at the gates. He had planned to run
all the way to the Avalanche reunion, but with Shampoo along it would take
longer, and even now they would probably be late.
"Shampoo ready!" the purple haired Amazon announced, dropping to the
ground, twirling her bonbori. "Nanaki ready to go?"
Red XIII stared at the strange weapons. "Where did you find those?"
Shampoo looked at the bonbori. "Weapon lady say she's never seen then
before, so Shampoo could have them."
For a few seconds the warrior gazed at the Amazon. 'That was unusually
lucky,' he thought darkly. "Come then, lets go!"
*****
"I notice you didn't tell him anything about your curse," Ryoga whispered
over the table.
Ranma shrugged, then turned to smile at Tifa as she set out dinner. The
meal looked and smelled delicious.
"Eat up, enjoy," Tifa said smiling. The group immediately dug in. "Akane
helped, so I'm sure it'll help."
Ranma stopped his spoon just as he put it in his mouth. Cloud, Barrett and
Ryoga weren't so lucky.
"Water," the two Avalanche members croaked, and ran for the kitchen. Tifa
stared at the reactions of the three and at the tears running down Ryoga's
face as he took his third spoonful, then took a taste herself. Akane was
fuming.
"Akane, what did you put in that sauce?" Tifa croaked.
"Fine, if you don't like my cooking!" Akane declared, threw her chair at
Ranma to remove the relieved look off his face, and stormed out.
"Sorry about that, I suppose I should have warned you." Ranma shrugged. "I
guess I'm used to everyone knowing. Akane has a habit of, ah, substituting
ingredients." He looked out the door. "I'd better go after her, just in
case."
*****
Shampoo and Red XIII stood watching the golden bird. They had seen it at a
distance, heading straight towards them. Red XIII had suggested fighting
it for practise and to cut down on the local monsters.
"A Cockolis, though I've never seen one that colour before. This may not
be as easy as I thought."
Shampoo grunted as the bird approached, then leapt away as it charged
straight through her position. As the Cockolis skidded to a stop as Red
XIII jumped forward to clamp onto its ankle in an attempt to hamstring it.
Shampoo's leap ended with her bringing both bonbori down on the creature's
head. The monster blinked a few times, then slashed at her with its beak.
Shampoo dodged, receiving a cut down her arm. Twirling around the creature
shock off Red XIII, sending him flying into Shampoo.
Pushing Red XIII off her, Shampoo stood and faced the creature. She let
out a quite growl as the red energy swirled around her. "Terra
Percussion!" Shampoo yelled, smashing her bonbori onto the ground. A wave
of dirt expanded out from Shampoo, smashing into the creature, sending it
flying into the air. Smashing into the ground the creature faded into the
customary red flare.
Shampoo twirled her bonbori like a pair of batons while Red XIII reared up
roaring.
"Interesting move Shampoo, I must introduce you to Yuffie and her
landscaper."
*****
Ranma came up on deck to find Cloud leaning against the rail, looking
unsettled. He walked over to his friend.
"What's up?" Ranma asked.
"Motion sickness, and dinner last night didn't help."
Ranma chuckled. "Notice Ryoga went back to bed when he came aboard."
"I can't believe he ate an entire helping!"
"Obsessive love can make you do stupid things."
"He's in love with Akane! By Holy, your life just gets more and more
complicated doesn't it?"
"Yeah, I just can't wait to see what comes next," Ranma replied
sarcastically.
Barrett stepped out of the bridge further along the ship. "Hey Cloud,
there's a fight going on in engineering, go take a look will you!"
Cloud rolled his eye. "Not again!" And dashed towards the access ladder.
Ranma ran along behind him.
"Not again?"
Cloud vaulted over the railing and down the stairs. "Last time we made
this trip Sephiroth tried to destroy the ship with us and the then Shinra
president on it. We ended up fighting Jenova Birth."
The pair arrived at the door to engineering and they could hear the fight.
Stepping through they saw a number of sailors lying around, before the
large engines Ryoga tussled with a back robed figure.
"What's going on here?!" demanded Cloud.
The figure picked up Ryoga and threw the martial artist towards the door.
Cloud ducked under Ryoga, who collected Ranma, and they both collided with
the crates behind them.
Cloud rushed forward grabbing the man's robes. "What are you doing?"
"Kill Cloud Strife!" he hissed, then grabbed Cloud by the neck and lifted
him. The sleeve of his robe fell, revealing a badly scared arm. Despite
the disfigurement Cloud could see the tattooed number.
"You're a Jenova!" he croaked, grabbing the creatures hands, trying to pry
them off his throat. The creature threw Cloud across the room, where he
slammed into the wall.
"Hey, ugly, you bet one of us, why don't you try two!" cried Ranma from
the door, Ryoga behind him.
"Kill Cloud Strife!" the creature hissed.
"One track mind eh?" Ranma laughed, then leapt away from the door at an
angle. Ryoga leapt in the opposite direction.
"Mouko Takabisha!" Ranma yelled as Ryoga shouted "ShiShi Houkoudan!" the
pair of chi blasts slammed down into the creature.
The pair of martial artists landed side by side, staring at the creature.
The blasts had burned off the creature's robe, revealing its disfigured
form, but had apparently done little else.
"Healed by fire, weak against earth," croaked Cloud, as he struggled to
his feet.
"That's lots of help!" Ranma cried, sarcastically.
Ryoga dived forward, finger outstretched. The creature dodged easily, but
moments later the deck exploded outwards, sending shards in all
directions. Ranma blurred forward, plucking metal from the air and sending
then flying into the creature.
The Jenova fell back, threw up its arms and hissed "Life!" A pair of black
streams flew between the two fighters and their opponent.
"What's he doing?" Ryoga gasped weakly.
The streams retreated back to the Jenova, leaving the pair feeling weak
and the monster healed.
"Regen," Cloud whispered behind them. A red glow surrounded them and they
felt their strength returning.
Ryoga looked down at ground, searching for another breaking point to use
when something clicked in his mind. He gathered together his chi as if he
was about to do a ShiShi Houkoudan then shoved his hand onto the ground.
"Chi eruption!" The deck plates beneath the Jenova were suddenly propelled
upwards, smashing the creature into the roof.
As the creature staggered back Ranma smiled wickedly. He grabbed a loose
deck plate held it between his hands loosely. "Chi Canon!" He released the
power of a Mouko Takabisha behind the plate. It rocketed across the room
on the end of the beam, impacting on the Jenova. The Jenova stood for a
moment, then vanished into a red flare.
Ryoga slammed his fist into his palm, looking satisfied, while Ranma
calmly looked around
"That was amazing," Cloud said. "I've never known a pair of fighters to
come up with new techniques like that on the spot."
Ryoga chuckled. "Ranma's good at it, his school of fighting has a special
technique for that kind of thing."
"Really? Do tell."
"Yeah, he used it on me once..."
"Hey!" cried Ranma.
"... you run away and try to think up a plan to defeat your opponent."
Cloud burst into laughter as Ranma whacked Ryoga.
"That's a secret technique?!"
"Hey, it's harder than it sounds!" Ranma blinked in surprise. "Damn, I'm
starting to sound like pop!"
*****
The groups arrival at the Gold Saucer was rather eventful. That the large
entertainment complex was the singularly most impressive building on the
Earth went unsaid. They were greeted at the gate by Cid Highwind, who
currently held the Gold Ticket the group had brought the year before.
"Hey Cid, good to see ya. Have the others arrived?" Barrett asked.
They waited a few seconds then prodded Cid awake.
"Yeah, yeah," Cid grumbled when asked the question again. "Yuffie and
Vincent came with me in the Highwind, but she produced a bag full of GP
and said she'd be on the speed square if anyone wanted her. and Vincent is
probably haunting the ghost square. Who are your new friends?"
"Cid Highwind, Shinra's number one pilot, may I introduce Ranma, Ryoga and
Akane, a trio of martial artists from another world," Cloud introduced
grandly.
"You toss that off so easily Cloud," Cid commented.
"Hey why did I get listed last!" complained Akane.
"Did Shera come?" Tifa asked.
"Nah, she can't travel in her condition," Cid replied.
"What condition is that?"
Cid frowned. "Did I forget to tell you? She's pregnant."
There was a pause, then Cloud leaned forward. "Tell me Cid, did you ever
marry her?"
"Eh? Did I forget that too? Sorry guys."
There was a series of groans. "Great one Cid!"
*****
"This is most disturbing," Vincent said calmly, having listened to the
story. Ryoga stood, barely suppressing his laughter at Ranma's stony
predicament. Cid let out a snore. "The timing of our new friends arrival
and the start of all this trouble is too coincidental."
"So you think whatever brought us here is creating the monsters. The
question is why?" Ranma sat perched atop a bed end.
"And who?" added Akane, sitting next to him, looking around the hotel
room.
Cloud shrugged and turned to Cait Sith. "Could it be something Shinra was
doing that we aren't aware of?"
The cat merely shook his head sadly. "I've had people sifting through the
rumble that used to be Shinra tower, and posted rewards for any of
Shinra's old files, but we've lost just too much. I can't be sure if Rufus
and his father even kept everything in writing."
Barrett nodded. "Yeah, that'd be just like those two."
"I've just set the Turks onto it, if anyone can find something it's them."
Cloud nodded, then smiled. "Tell me, does Elena still talk too much?"
"Yep, still blames you for Tseng's too." There was a pause in the
conversation as the others all watched a small pair of hands reach out
around Cait Sith, then with a giggle, grab hold of his whiskers. "Ow!
Marlene! Not again! Let go!" The group laughed as the little girl
tormented the stuffed toy cat.
The door banged open, then slammed shut again, and a wide eyed, quaking
Yuffie leaned against the door. She was as pale as a sheet, something had
obviously scared her.
"Yuffie," Cloud said, raising to his feet. "What wrong?"
"B-b-black cape," she stuttered. "B-b-big sword!"
"Sephiroth!" the group chorused. The room filled with the sound of weapons
drawing, even Cid had snapped awake, pulling his staff from somewhere
(where do you hide a staff that size?)
Yuffie burst into a smile. "Got you!" she announced happily. She was
immediately pelted by a number of small easily thrown objects, then by a
couple of chairs, and finally by a coffee table. "Ouch," she moaned,
sliding down the door.
"Friend of yours?" Akane asked pointedly.
"You might say that," Cloud replied, sliding his sword back into its
straps. "She helped us against Sephiroth and Shinra, and when it was all
over, she nicked all our Materia. May I introduce Yuffie Kisaragi, Materia
Hunter."
Tifa was kneeling next to Yuffie, feeding her a potion. "You know that
wasn't very funny."
"I didn't expect everyone to react like that," Yuffie whined.
"Yuffie, trouble's brewing again. I hope you brought back the Materia."
Yuffie bounded to her feet, and sprinted to one of packs in a corner of
the room. Smiling she pulled out a large bag. "Don't know why, but I knew
I had to bring them along. Dad wouldn't let me bring all of them though."
Cloud smiled. "Now all we have to do is wait for Red XIII."
*****
"This is Battle Square, they hold fights here between a warrior and
monsters. Defeat enough opponents and you can win prizes," Cloud smiled.
"We spent a lot of time here, practising and getting some of the more rare
magic items."
"Sounds like fun," Ranma said, leaping onto the railing to look around the
room. "Who's this?" he asked, pointing to a large man walking towards
them.
"Hey Dio, long time, no see," Cloud called.
Dio walked over, smiling widely. "Cloud, glad to see you again. How's my
best fighter doing?"
"Much the same as usual. I'd like to introduce a new friend of mine, Ranma
Saotome."
Dio looked Ranma up and down. "Can he fight?"
"Almost as well as I do," Cloud laughed.
"Almost!" Ranma spat, jumping into a combat stance, a smile on his face.
"I'm better than you."
"Those are fighting words mister," Cloud replied, drawing his sword.
"Hey, if you two want to fight take it into the arena!" Dio interrupted.
Cloud smiled, lowering his sword. "Say, that's not a bad idea, it'll give
us a chance to learn each others techniques. In fact, let's bring the
others into it, a three on three fight. You, Akane, and Ryoga against me
and two of the others."
Dio beamed at them. "I'll even waive the registration fees for once, this
should bring in one hell of an audience."
"Since when did you let an audience in the arena?"
*****
How will the Nerimans face against three members of Avalanche?
What will Akane's new technique be?
When will Shampoo and Red XIII arrive?
Why do I keep asking these questions?
More to come!