Well, it took me a while to finish this, but here's the next chapter 
of the "Excaliber Arc" of TRIO.

The Flashman
(Proud member of The Church Of Tsukino Usagi)
Usagi(Rabbit) Ranma(Wild Stallion)
TRIO 3: you know the rest
May The Spirit Preserve You!
_______________________
				  TRIO:
		     SECOND BATTLE AGAINST EXCALIBER

	Morning came all too soon as far as the Trio were concerned.  Gohan 
was a bleary eyed mess as he had sensed an incredible power surge at 
midnight and hand't been able to get back to sleep since.  The only 
thing that was keeping him from unintentionally nodding off was the 
argument that currently raged upstairs.

	"Usagi, open this door!  It's practice time!"

	"No way!  We practiced all day yesterday, I wanna rest now!"

	The sound of a fist banging on a door.  "Damnit!  In case you've 
forgotten, today's the day of the fight!  We need to be as ready as 
possible!"

	"How do you plan to do that if we've exhausted ourselves with your 
'training'?!"

	Gohan smirked to himself, it was amazing how logical Usagi could be 
when she wanted to sleep in.  He heard Ranma sputter a few times and 
then head for the stairs, his tantrum-ish footfalls banging loudly as 
he went down them.

	Ranma entered the kitchen and sat down opposite Gohan, sulking.  
Gohan asked, "Couldn't get your hoof in the burrow?*"  He shook his 
head in an attempt to clear the cobwebs and corrected himself, "I 
mean, couldn't get your foot in the door?"

	Ranma groaned and replied, "Very funny Gohan."

	Then Ranma took a look at his friends drooping eyelids, the rings 
under them, the barely combed hair, the slight stubble under his chin 
and he cracked, "I guess it wasn't a joke, since you look like you 
called Satan a sissy.  Rough night?"

	The microwave beeped and Gohan stood and got his bowl of oatmeal as 
he said, "Yeah.  I felt the power surge from Excaliber and it kept me 
up all night."

	As he sat back down, Gohans fingers reached for what he thought was 
the milk.  He poured some of it into his oatmeal and began stirring 
as he continued, "This isn't going to be an easy fight.  I don't know 
if I would classify Excalibers power with that of Brolis' but it's up 
there.  Maybe Usagi has the right idea.  Maybe we should sleep in 
today and be as rested as we can be."

	Ranma replied, "At least you should get some z's.  You look ready to 
fall over any second."

	Gohan grunted once in reply and put a spoonful of oatmeal into his 
mouth... where the combined taste of liquid oranges and wheat paste 
assaulted his taste buds.

	Elsewhere...

	"You FOOL!" Setsuna practically roared, "How could you even THINK of 
doing something so stupid?!  Did I not already tell you that we were 
not to be involved in this Excaliber incident at all?!!  Are ALL Saya-
jins as thick headed as you?!  Do the words, 'Do not alter the Time 
Stream unless I say we must' mean ANYTHING to you?!"

	Trunks winced as he adjusted the bandages on his injured shoulder.  
His ribs still ached from where the force blast Samaron used had hit 
him, his skull still pounded because he felt Exclaibers power still 
radiating and seeing his partner lose her seemingly unflappable 
attitude wasn't helping his own sour mood at all.

	Trunks wanted to yell back.  Say something about how the other time 
traveler couldn't feel Excalibers power.  Say that she had no idea 
what she was letting the Trio get themselves into.  However, he 
noticed that there seemed to be an undertone of fear in Setsunas rage 
filled dressing down and it kept him mute, his head lowered like that 
of a misbehaving child.

	Besides, he'd learned his lesson the hard way.  He would be a fifth 
wheel in the upcoming battle.

	11:52 AM....

	Great Sayaman landed on a roof top near Shea Stadium and let go of 
Sailor Moon and Yin Yang so they could stand on their own.  A soft 
wind blew off of Flushing Bay and gave the air a slight nip that 
hinted to the coming of winter.  Sayaman looked at the baseball 
stadium that was their ultimate destination and took a deep breath.  
He could still feel the incredible power coming from inside the 
stadium and it caused a slight headache, but he was reasonably sure 
that it wouldn't affect his performance.  He had managed to get a 
little more rest and felt ready to fight.

	He turned to his friends and asked, "You ready?"

	Yin Yang was full of his new found confidence as he exclaimed, "You 
better believe it!"

	Sailor Moon nodded her head shakily and said, "Yeah.  I'm scared... 
but I guess I'll be okay."

	Yin Yang said, "You better be.  We're gonna kick Samarons butt and 
make him eat that glorified pocket knife of his."

	Sayaman grinned at the mental image Yin Yangs comment produced and 
exclaimed, "Let's go!"

	The three of them leaped off the roof of the building they had been 
standing on and they broke into a run as they headed for the Shea 
Stadium parking lot.  As they did so, Yin Yang dropped back behind 
Sayaman slightly so he and Sailor Moon could talk somewhat privately. 
 "Are you okay?" he asked, "There's no reason to be scared.  We've 
faced worse.  This'll be no sweat."

	Sailor Moon looked at him with her deep blue eyes filled with 
concern as she replied, "Easy for you to say.  I've just been having 
this... feeling of dread all day.  Like something really bad is going 
to happen.  The last time I felt like this was... when Broli almost 
killed you."

	Yin Yang faltered for a moment as his body shuddered at the memory 
of the intense pain that the mad super warrior had inflicted on him.  
However, he quickly recovered and replied, "Aw, you're just worrying 
too much.  In fact, I'm so sure everything'll be okay that, if we win 
and none of us are seriously injured, I'll take you out on a date 
tomorrow night and pay for everything."

	Sailor Moons eyes widened and she exclaimed, "Do you mean it?!"

	"Of course I do.  Now, get that cute little butt of yours in gear 
and lets go!"

	"Ranma!" Sailor Moon blushed crimson, "How could you say th... HEY!  
Wait for me guys!"

	At that moment, thousands of Scarab Demons poured out from the 
stadium entrance like a black wave.  The Trio skidded to a halt and 
got into fighting positions but no battle came as the Scarabs circled 
around them and stayed back.  "What the..." Yin Yang exclaimed.

	Sayaman took stock of the situation and noticed that there was a 
vague pattern to how the Scarabs were standing.  Sailor Moon was 
looking around desperately, her pony tails flying around like whips 
as her head turned left and right rapidly.  "Yin Yang, Sailor Moon," 
Sayaman said in his most authoritve tone of voice, "follow me.  I 
think I know what these Scarabs are here for."

	The other two members of the Trio nodded nervously and followed 
their leader through the subtle maze that the Scarabs formed.  Soon, 
they found themselves reaching the field entrance to the stadium that 
exited on right field.

	Sitting in the stands were many of the creatures that served the 
Eclipse Syndicate, as well as the other members of the Inner Four, 
who had box seats, and they roared in anticipation as the Trio made 
their way onto the field.  Standing on the pitchers mound, Excaliber 
drawn, was Samaron.

	Samaron gave them a cold gaze that fit with his reptilian physical 
nature and waited for them to approach.  "That's Samaron?" Sailor 
Moon asked in surprise, "He looks... bigger."

	Sayaman replied, "Excaliber must be increasing his power so much 
that his physical body is being affected as well."

	Samaron pointed Excaliber at them and said, "I welcome you as 
warriors Trio.  When this battle is concluded, I can only hope that I 
can pray for your souls in the same way."

	"You talk big Samurai Boy," Yin Yang taunted back, "but can you back 
it up?"

	"THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO SEE," a voice boomed from the PA system.


	In surprise, the Trio spun around and looked up at the large video 
monitor that was behind the back wall of right field.  An image 
snapped onto the screen and the Eclipse Syndicate members grew quiet 
as the image began to talk.  It was the image of Eclipse Lord.

	"GREETINGS TRIO.  I AM THE ECLIPSE LORD, LEADER OF THE ECLIPSE 
SYNDICATE.  YOU THREE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN GIVING MY ORGANIZATION 
TROUBLE FOR FAR TOO LONG AND IT IS TIME FOR YOU, LIKE ALL CHILDREN 
MUST OCASIONALY BE, TO BE DISCIPLINED.

	"SADLY, IN THIS CASE, THE ONLY WAY TO DISCIPLINE YOU IS TO SEE THAT 
YOUR DEATH CRIES ECHO THROUGH THE STREETS OF THIS CITY.  AS WELL AS 
THAT YOUR NAMES JOIN THE RANKS OF THOSE WHO WERE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO 
CHALLENGE ME... AND FAILED."

	"We're going to win this fight Eclipse Lord," Sayaman yelled back, 
"and then we're going to find you and take your organization down 
once and for all."

	Eclipse Lord laughed, the sound resembling that of a demons laugh.  
He replied, "YOU ARE WELCOME TO TRY.  FOR, IF YOU SOMEHOW BEST 
SAMARON AND EXCALIBER, BE WARNED THAT EVEN THAT GREAT POWER IS 
NOTHING COMPARED TO MINE."

	The Trio gasped, was what Eclipse Lord saying possible?

	"Do not worry yourselves with my master," Samaron suddenly shouted 
as the image on the video screen faded out of existence, "*I* am the 
one you must contend with and *I* shall be the one who will bring 
about your downfall!"

	"You keep reminding us how powerful you are," Yin Yang spat back, 
"but you STILL ain't proved anything yet!"

	"That shall change."

	"Sailor Moon, Yin Yang," Sayaman whispered to the others, "Listen 
carefully.  Yin Yang, you and I attack Samaron head on.  Sailor Moon, 
hang back and when you've got a clear shot, you hit him with a 
scepter attack.

	"Be careful guys, this is it.  If we play this carefully, don't make 
too big a mistake and work as a team, then we can win."

	The others nodded and adopted fighting stances.  Then, as Samaron 
took a defensive posture, Sayaman shouted, "NOW!"

	With that, and a flare of his ki, Sayaman flew off the ground 
several inches and charged at Samaron as Yin Yang did the same by 
running at the Inner Four member.

	The two heroes pooled their efforts into a double jump kick but 
Samaron ducked and slashed at them several times.  The heroes avoided 
the slashes... just barely and answered with a barrage of punches.  
Sayamans fists flew as Yin Yang cried, "KATCHU TENSHIN AMAGURAI 
KEN!!"

	The two attacks were so fast that their arms seemed to be nothing 
more then blurs.  Samaron, to their surprise, moved even faster and 
dodged all their punches.  Sayaman and Yin Yang each put everything 
into one last, extra powerful punch, but were just barely able to 
stop from hitting each other as Samaron jumped away from them.  While 
the dragon samurai was in midair Sailor Moon aimed her Heart Scepter 
at him and cried, "MOON SPIRAL HEART ATTACK!!"

	From the head of the scepter burst forth a giant, glowing pink heart 
that was charged with mystical energies which streaked towards 
Samaron.  The samurai placed Excaliber in front of him and 
concentrated its power until the blade began to glow white.  Just 
when he started to descend and the mystic attack was only a few 
inches away, he slashed at it with all of his might.

	A blinding flash of pink and white light blinded the spectators and 
the participants for several seconds.  When the light faded, Samaron 
landed, smoke curling off the blade and his gaze rested on Sailor 
Moon.  Keeping his cold gaze locked on her, he said, "Son Gohan.  I 
must commend you on the strategy.  However," he rushed Sailor Moon 
and slashed downwards at her, "IT HAS FAILED!"

	In desperation, she brought her scepter up and just barely managed 
to block the sword blow.  However, the shock of the blow numbed her 
arms all the way down to her elbows.  Samaron smirked as he said, 
"You have speed, if not skill.  Perhaps you should have taken Seer up 
on his offer to join us so long ago.  Your potential is vast."

	"HEY," Yin Yang exclaimed as he performed a spin kick, "that's MY 
girl you're trying to recruit into your army of hell!"

	As Samaron back flipped away from the kick, Yin Yang thought, "'Army 
of hell'?  Yeesh!  I think Usagi and Gohans speeches are starting to 
get to me."

	Samaron came out of his back flip and aimed Excaliber at Sayaman as 
the green, black, white and red clad hero moved in.  White energy 
gathered at the tip of the blade and Samaron cried, "MYSTIC WAVE!" as 
energy burst forth from tip and smashed into Sayamans stomach.

	The half Saya-jin felt the full force of the beam and was knock for 
a loop as the crowd cheered.  Yin Yang growled as Sayaman crash 
landed near third base and ran as fast as he could, circling Samaron. 
 The samurai stood ready as Yin Yang went faster and faster, then 
skidded to a halt and shot a fist upward as he shouted, "HIRYU SHOTAN 
HAAAAAA!!!"

	The tornado that formed from Yin Yangs attack made Samaron stagger 
in surprise, yet the samurai quickly recovered as, while fighting 
against the wind, he raised Excaliber above his head and began to 
spin it in the opposite direction that the tornado was spinning.  To 
Yin Yangs surprise, the wind from Excalibers spin canceled out the 
tornado.  Yin Yang started his next gambit by raising his confidence 
to a highly egotistical level, then he cupped his hands in front of 
him and yelled, "MOKO TAKABISHIA!"

	The blue ki beam rushed forward but Samaron slashed upward and 
deflected the ki burst.  "Damn," Yin Yang cursed to himself.

	Sailor Moon meanwhile, was checking to see how Sayaman was doing.  
"You okay?" she asked as the other hero made his way back to his feet.


	"Yeah," Sayaman replied, "Listen.  I've got another idea.  I'll rush 
him again and try to hold him still so you can get another shot in 
and he won't be able to block it."

	"But if you did that, then I'd hit you too!"

	"If I power up, it shouldn't hurt me."

	"Are you sure?"

	"No, but it's a chance I'm willing to take."

	"Gohan..." Sailor Moon started to say as Sayaman began to gather his 
ki.

	Sayaman flashed a smile as he said, "I'll be fine," his expression 
turned grim, "Now... get ready."

	With a loud yell, the golden aura around Sayaman sprang to life and 
his hair turned golden and stuck straight up, with the exception of 
that little spit curl.  His bandanna and sun glasses went flying off 
and Sayaman grabbed his cape, ripped it off and threw it at Samaron 
as he began his charge.  Samaron moved as fast as possible and 
slashed upward, cutting through the cape as it descended toward him 
and then went to fight Sayaman.

	The other members of the Trio watched in amazement as the fight 
moved to another level.  Each slash was answered with a punch.  Every 
kick was answered with a stab.  All the blows passing, being dodged 
and countered in the blink of an eye.  Sayaman worked his way around 
another stab and then, slipping behind Samaron, grabbed the Inner 
Four member in a hammer lock.  "Sailor Moon," he shouted, shaking the 
other heroes out of their stunned awe, "get him now!"

	Sailor Moon nodded and tried again.  "MOON SPIRAL HEART ATTACK!"

	Once more, the giant glowing pink heart shot forth from the scepter. 
 The crowd gasped as it looked like the Trio had Samaron right where 
they wanted him.  As the attack came closer, Samaron closed his eyes 
and energy sprang forth from the ancient blade and formed a shield 
around the samurai.  The attack struck the shield and the explosion 
ripped a large hole in the natural grass and dirt of the area near 
the left side of the pitchers mound.

	No one dared breath as they waited for the dust to clear and when it 
did....

	Yin Yang and Sailor Moon gasped in horror as the crowd roared.  The 
Moon Spiral Heart Attack had hurt neither participant and, under the 
cover of the smoke and dust, Samaron had viciously stabbed Sayaman on 
the left side of his stomach, blood dripping down to the hilt of the 
blade.  Sayaman was so stunned by the stab that he fell out of his 
super mode and, as Samaron pulled out the blade, fell to his knees.  
The samurai then jumped away as the other members of the Trio ran to 
their injured leaders side.

	"Gohan," they both said as one, "are you okay?"

	"Sorry," Sayaman groaned as he clutched his bloody side, "Guess my 
plans just aren't working this afternoon."

	"Don't worry bud," Yin Yang said as he began to stand, "Sailor Moon. 
 Stay with him.  This time, I'VE got a plan."

	"But Ranma..."

	Yin Yang grinned, "I know how this guy thinks.  I'll be fine."

	Sailor Moons eyes began to dampen, "No offence," she indicated 
Sayaman, whos' left hand was currently resting on her shoulder to 
keep his balance, "but that's what he said."

	"Trust me," then he turned his attention to their opponent and 
yelled, "Hey Samaron!  Let's make this REALLY interesting!"

TO BE CONTINUED...