Well, here it is....the LONG delayed part four of Magic Knight Ranma.
Sorry it took so long, but many things got in the way, like real life and
working on other projects. Anyway, for this part I want to thank Mike
Koos, also known as Makoto, who was my sometimes co-author sometimes
advisor for this part.
I also want to thank Eternal Lost Lurker for his prompt prereading for
this part.
Anyway, here it is! I hope you enjoy!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
<The scene. A decent sized living room with one set of windows on the far
wall. There is an oak desk sitting in front of the window, with a
computer, several RPG manuals and programming books lying about. On one
of the adjoining walls and the opposite wall are bookshelves filled with
books, manga and video tapes. On the remaining wall there is a door to
outside the apartment. There is also a door leading to the dining room.
A couch sits in the middle of the room facing a small TV and VCR. The
dining room door opens, and four girls enter the room.>
Kiyone: So, what do you think of our new place? It looks nice now
that everything's set up!
Hikaru: Un! Nice and cozy, especially when Lantis-kun comes to
visit!
<Kiyone, Umi and Fuu sweatdrop.>
Fuu: So, Kiyone-san. Now that we're settled, and you're classes have
calmed down allot, you no longer have any excuses.
Kiyone: <Nervously> Umm...excuses for what, Fuu-chan?
Fuu: Your story, Magic Knight Ranma, of course!
<Umi's eyes widen as Kiyone considered running.>
Umi: That's right! I'd almost forgotten about it! You HAVE done
written most of it by now haven't you, Kiyone? After all, it
HAS been a year since you started working on part four!
Kiyone: *Damn, why did you have to remind her of it, Fuu-chan?*
Umm.... Actually....
Fuu: Not at all, Umi-san. She's only recently resumed working on part
four!
Umi: YOU MEAN YOU'RE NO WHERE NEAR DONE STILL!?!?!?!?
<Kiyone cowers, trying to hide from a vengeful Umi.>
Kiyone: Okay, okay! But I did try to do some work on it. See?
Someone else even did some work on it.
<There is a knock at the door; Fuu goes to answer it.>
Umi: HIM!? You let *Mike* work on this story? He doesn't even do
RayEarth stories! Just those ridiculous Ranma and Sailor Moon
stories! Now I know we're in trouble!
Fuu: Now, Umi-san--
Mike: <nervous> Well, uh...
Umi: You stay out of this! This is between Kiyone and us!
Mike: .........
<The camera follows Hikaru and Fuu who sneak out of the room and into the
kitchen. As the door closes, the sounds of the violence soon to come are
heard. Hikaru sweatdrops.>
Hikaru: Well, anyway.... here's part four!
Fuu: And don't forget, you can find previous parts at:
Yamada Tarou and Magic Knight Kiyone's Fanfic Home Page,
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mcausey/
The Unofficial Magic Knight Ranma Page
http://www.mother.com/~makoto/mkran/index.htm
And the RAAC Fan Fiction Archive.
ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/pub/archive/anime-fan-works/Ranma/
Hikaru: Enjoy the story!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Magic Knight Unlimited Press
Proudly Presents:
Magic Knight Ranma: Part 4
Out of the Forest! What's Happening to Ranma?
By Magic Knight Kiyone
Co-written by Mike 'Makoto' Koos
Ranma 1/2 written by Rumiko Takahashi
Magic Knight Rayearth written by CLAMP
All situations in this story are my fault. If you like it, great!
If you hate it, well...you DO have my e-mail address...!
KEY
<....> = Description
[....] = Sound Effect
*....* = Thought
('Real World' Actions)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Narrator: Previously, Princess Emeraude summoned Ranma, Akane and Ukyou to
the world of Cephiro. Ranma, who had had the misfortune to be in female
form at the time, received a blow to the head in the process, and now
believes she really is a girl to begin with - acting like Ranma's imagined
stereotype of how a girl behaves.
The trio meets Guru Clef, who informs them that in order to return
to their world, they must rescue the Princess from the High Priest,
Zagato. But their discussion is interrupted. Clef helps the three girls
to escape; before he can do the same, he is turned into stone.
Continuing on their journey, the girls are taken to Presia, who
promises to make special weapons for them from the legendary mineral
- Escudo. Presia introduces them to the unusual Mokona, who immediately
takes to Ranma-chan, much to Akane and Ukyou's annoyance. She also loans
the trio some weapons and asks that they go to the Legendary Spring Eterna
to retrieve the Escudo.
To get to the legendary spring the three have no choice but to
make their way through the Forest of Silence, which had become a haven for
monsters. On the way, they encounter Ferio, a young man who seems to
develop feelings for Ukyou. Ukyou shows interest in
Ferio - yet is *not* about to give up on Ranma!
They stop to rest for the night. Akane and Ukyou discover that
merely pouring hot water on Ranma to change him back to normal isn't
enough to return his *mind* to normal. They change Ranma back to a girl
when he protests.
Ukyou and Akane then decide that what Ranma needs is a good
pounding on the head to restore his or her sanity.
The next day, the girls and Ferio discover the source of all the
monsters in the Forest of Silence: a huge, mysterious stone floating in
the center of a clearing, encircled by hundreds of the hideous creatures.
While Ranma and Akane distract the monsters, Ukyou and Ferio succeed in
damaging the stone enough to dispel its power.
At the outskirts of the Forest, Ferio parts company with the Magic
Knights. He gives Ukyou a gift - a charm that is said to grant its
possessor one wish - before he departs. Ukyou is left to puzzle over her
feelings for Ferio... and Ranma.
<Ranma, Ukyou and Akane follow a path out of the Forest of Silence into
another tree-lined area. The difference between the two areas was
immediately noticeable... not only was this path clearer and brighter, but
it also encouraged them to feel a lot better. Mokona, however, didn't
seem to mind the scenery one way or the other.
Ranma's fellow travelers see that she is absorbed in her
sightseeing, and nod to each other. Akane draws her war hammer; Ukyou
locates a fallen branch thick enough for her purposes yet still within her
capability to wield. They proceed to sneak up behind Ranma.>
[WHAM!!!!]
<While Ranma *does* have an extreme tolerance to pain - after all, she's
been malleted more than a few times in the past - Akane and Ukyou's
combined full-force attacks manage to knock the young redhead unconscious.
Akane wills her war hammer to vanish and uneasily rubs the back of her
head. Meanwhile, Mokona continues to bounce ahead into the bushes,
unaware of what has just happened.>
Akane: Oops. Heh heh heh...
Ukyou: Maybe we shouldn't have hit her QUITE so hard...
Akane: Uh... yeah. Oh well, we'd better drag her along until she
recovers.
Ukyou: Now wait just one min--!
<At that instant Mokona bursts forth from the bushes, puuing excitedly.
It stops before the three of them. Ignoring Ranma for the first time, it
tries to leap into the safety of Akane's arms again. She ignores Mokona's
attempts to emulate her pet, P-chan. Mokona falls to the ground like a
rock, getting KO'ed in the process.>
Ukyou: What is it, Mokona? <Notices that Mokona is unconscious.>
Just great. Akane, why don't you just catch Mokona for once?
It'd sure be nice to know what in the world's going on.
Akane: Oh, like it getting upset is anything we need to worry about!
Ukyou: Well, the only times Mokona's been upset before was when it
found out about Ranma's curse and when we were about to be
attacked by monsters. And I seriously doubt he... she...
it... *whatever* is worried about the former right now.
Akane: Oh.
<The two girls summon their weapons, and proceed into the bushes from
which Mokona had emerged. Akane uses her mallet to push one of the bushes
aside. Both of the conscious knights scan for what had frightened Mokona
so, while Mokona itself begins to come around. All they find are shadows,
however.>
Ukyou: I don't see anything... *What could have scared Mokona so
much?*
Akane: Me neither.
<They continue to check the bushes, looking for any signs of trouble as
Mokona sits up. Neither of them notice that a large shadow was forming
beneath their feet... without the sun to give it shape.>
Mokona: <Urgently> Puu! Puu! Pu-Puu!
<Akane turns to Mokona.>
Akane: What is it now!? There's obviously nothing here!
Mokona: Puu!
<Ukyou attempts to see what Mokona is trying to get them to understand.
Unfortunately, since practically no one could interpret Mokona when it was
excited, they fail to understand the warning. Before too long, the girls
feel an odd sensation taking hold of their feet and legs. They both look
down at the same time - only to see that a shadow has partially
*swallowed* them!>
Ukyou & Akane: AAAARRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
<Unfortunately, screaming wasn't about to help with their predicament...
or was it? Ranma stirs; the screams penetrated the fog that had taken
over her mind. But even as she began to awaken, the other Knights had
almost been completely engulfed by the shadow creature.>
Ranma <groggily>: Ugh...... wha's... goin'... on...?
Ukyou & Akane: RANMA! HELP!
Ranma: Huh?
<The petite redhead looks up in time to see her two friends be absorbed
entirely into the body of a... shadow?>
Ranma: Ukyou! AKANE!!!
<The shock is enough to weaken the barriers in her mind, enough for a
trickle of unexplained emotion and feelings to slip through. Ranma leaps
to her feet, summoning her sword as she did so, just as the shadow orifice
skimmed across the ground to overtake her as well.>
Ranma: Oh, no - you're not gonna get me, too!
<Before the monster can catch her, she leaps into the air and flips over
the shadow. Once directly over the shadow she darts her sword into it.
The creature howled in agony, leaving Ranma to make a ten-point landing.>
Ranma: Yatta! I got it! I got it! I--uh oh!
<All she had *really* managed to do was piss off the monster. It reshaped
itself, rising from the ground as a pitch-black hole with two glowing red
eyes... not to mention two familiar faces trapped within!>
Ranma: I guess I have no choice. I must use it, to save them. I
just hope my magic will not hurt them, especially......
<Ranma focuses all the willpower and ki she could summon in preparation
for her attack. All her confidence, all her pride, as well as all of
these... *new feelings* were channeled into it. She hoped... no, NEEDED
it to be enough! New words formed in her mind...>
Ranma: Akane! Ukyou! If you can hear me, brace yourselves! AKAI
MOUKOU TAKABISHA!
<A red globe formed within the martial artist-turned-mage's hands. Tiny
explosions of light winked in and out as her ki and magic power reacted
with each other, magnifying the power each had exhibited alone by a factor
of ten. She was unable to contain the sphere any longer even before she
finished her cry; it shot forth from her embrace. Without her will to
keep it in one certain form, it transformed into a massive beam of
red-hued energy.
As it struck the shadow-creature, intent on replacing the shadow
with light, it - for lack of a better definition - *screamed*! The
beast's body began to shake, parts violently torn loose from other parts,
a bright red light emanating from each injury. Finally, it could no
longer endure the crimson light... exploding and dissolving all at once.
The force of the explosion threw Akane and Ukyou far from where the
shadow-creature had once stood.
But Ranma's blast wasn't about to die away, yet. She had focused
too much power into it for that. The blast slammed through whatever it
found in its path for the next fifty meters... trees, grasses, and even
small rocks. Weakened by having given so much power to her magic, Ranma
collapsed to her knees, drained of her power and strength.
Both her teammates gather themselves, shaking their heads to try
to clear the haze that had threatened to take over their minds after being
eaten by the shadow-creature. They notice Ranma and rush to her side.
Mokona, seeing that there is no longer a threat, bounces across the
clearing to rejoin the party.>
Ukyou: Good job, Ran-chan!!
Akane: Yeah! Thanks for saving us.
<Ranma blushes.>
Ranma: Really, it was nothing. I'd do anything for you two! You're
both my friends, after all. And, Akane, I-- <Realizes
something.> HEY! WHY DID YOU TWO ATTACK ME!?
<Akane and Ukyou back away, wary of Ranma's temper. Would it be the same
now, in her condition? Ranma took a step toward them, summoning her sword
once more. Mokona watches, wondering what in Cephiro has happened.>
Akane: <sheepishly> Uh... we can explain...
Ranma: <upset> It had better be good!
Ukyou: Well, uh... you see... Akane and I... we thought that if we
hit you on the head, you'd get your memory back.
Ranma: <upset, but calming down> Then why didn't you let me know
BEFORE you hit me? It would've saved us a lot of trouble!
Akane: Umm... as far as I know, it only works when the vict-- er,
person suffering from amnesia isn't expecting it. So even if
we wanted to tell you, it wouldn't have been a good idea.
<Ranma remains wary, but her now-usual cheer broke through.>
Ranma: <smirking> *They would not hit me over the head unless it was
for my own good.*
<Wondering what Ranma was thinking, Akane and Ukyou glance at each other,
then chance putting on weak smiles for Ranma's benefit.>
Ranma: All right, you're forgiven. Just please, don't do that
again!
Akane: Okay. By the way, what were you gonna tell me, Ranma?
<Ranma looks at her. She wondered if she should tell Akane now, when...
She had her decision.>
Ranma: I... I don't think now is the time to tell you. <Her gaze
falls to the ground.> I'm sorry.
<As they continued their journey, Ranma and Ukyou noticed that the forest
was beginning to thin out. Akane, however, was spending too much time
gazing at the ground to notice. Mokona lead the way, as usual.>
Akane: <sorrowfully> *Have...have I ruined my relationship with
Ranma? Even though she...I mean he...acts so different now,
we were finally getting close.*
<Akane sighs. Ranma, upon hearing her...friend, sighs as well.>
Ranma: *Maybe I should tell her now...*
<However, before she can make up her mind, the three girls clear the
forest, entering a small, quaint village. Everything seems perfectly
normal, except...>
Ukyou: Where is everyone? It's way too quiet for this time of
day...
Ranma: <Uneasy> I feel the same way, Ukyou. Minna, get ready. We
could be in for some trouble.
<Both Akane and Ukyou nod and all three girls summon their weapons, while
Mokona keeps itself a safe distance behind them. As they wander further
into the village, Ranma notices a patch of the ground where more leaves
have settled than any other spot on the ground. Ranma stops suddenly.
Akane and Ukyou, however, don't!>
Ranma: Look out everyone, there's a--
[TWANG!]
Ranma: <under her breath> Never mind...
(Umi: KIYONE!)
(Kiyone: Ummm....what is it, Umi-chan?)
(Umi: WHAT IS IT!?!? WHAT IS IT SHE SAYS!?!?)
(Fuu: You know, Kiyone-san, it appears that it's always my and Umi's
equivalents that get into these messes.)
(Kiyone: Well...)
(Umi: Hikaru-chan DOES get in trouble, too, you know!)
(Kiyone: Yeah...but just watch. It's funny!)
(Umi: FUNNY!?!? MY OTHER SELF IS JUST COMIC RELIEF!?!?!?)
(Kiyone: NO! I DIDN'T...PLEASE, NO!!!!)
([WHAM!][CRUNCH!][GURGLE!])
(Kiyone: AAAIIIIEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!)
(They turn, and see Mike edging farther away...)
<Ukyou and Akane hang ten feet in the air in a rope net. As both of them
settle naturally in the net, they find themselves pressed against each
other. Akane's war hammer lies on the ground, dropped when the trap
ensnared them.>
Akane: <somewhat muffled> Ukyou! Stop touching me there!
Ukyou: I can't help it! And you're touching me there, too!
Akane: <somewhat muffled, still> Well I'm sorry if gravity isn't
giving me much of a choice!
Ukyou: You could at least lift your head off my breasts!
<As Ranma watches the two girls' struggle, a small red bead forms from her
nose. The other Magic Knights, too concerned with their situation, fail
to notice. Mokona bounces around watching their struggle, as well.>
Ukyou & Akane: RANMA!
Ukyou: Why are you just standing there?
Akane: Get us out of this!
<Ranma shakes her head clear, and wipes her nose.>
Ranma: Sorry about that. I'll have you down in one second.
<Right then is when the villagers all started to come out of their houses.
And they didn't look like they were in the mood to form a welcoming
committee...
The villagers were armed with whatever they could grab. Hoes,
pick-axes, pots and brooms. Even the older children were armed. Only the
mothers with the youngest children were staying back.
When they got a glimpse at their opponents, they blinked for a
second, then spread out. Apparently being girls wasn't enough to convince
them that they were harmless.>
Ranma: They don't look happy, do they?
Ukyou: They probably think we're in league with the monsters, or
Zagato. If there are other monsters on the road like that
shadow creature, these people can't travel around freely.
Akane: So they're automatically suspicious of people who do seem to
be going about freely, and since we're strangers to them....
<Meanwhile, the villagers continued to surround them, while trying to
steel themselves for the task ahead. As necessary as taking care of these
people seemed to them, they haven't killed before.>
Akane: <Nervously> Uh, Ranma, I think you better get us down...
Ranma: Yeah...I think you're right!
<Ranma leaps into the air and slashes the rope holding the net up. Akane
and Ukyou fall, and slam into the ground.>
Ukyou: Couldn't you have done that a little gentler, Ran-chan?
Akane: Ittai!
Ranma: <Blushing> Sorry, there was no time.....look!
<The villagers had finished surrounding the Knights, and were closing the
circle. Akane quickly grabbed her weapon, and the girls formed their own
circle, keeping their backs to each other. Mokona, however, bounced
between the villagers' legs and bounds towards the edge of the village,
getting itself out of the trap.>
Akane: MOKONA! Come back here, you... coward!
Ranma: What do we do? I don't want to hurt anyone!
Ukyou: Me neither. But they aren't giving us much of a choice.
Akane: Let's get ready, maybe that will scare them off a bit!
Ukyou: I can't think of a better plan right now.
<The Magic Knights ready themselves. Ranma moves to a Kendo stance while
Akane hefts her war hammer menacingly and Ukyou pulls out a few shurikens.
The villagers pause, no longer as sure of themselves. One villager steps
ahead of the rest.>
Ranma: Please, stay back. We don't want to hurt you! We're here to
save Cephiro!
Brave Villager: Yeah, right! You're here just so you can lead the
monsters past our defenses! Or worse, you're helping
Zagato destroy the entire world!
Akane: <vehemently> NO! We'd never let someone take another's life!
Brave Villager: I wish we could believe that. Everyone! ATTACK!
<Right as everyone else is about to charge forward, Mokona comes bounding
back towards the circle, Puuing excitedly. Everyone, including all the
villagers, turn to see a twenty foot tall, somewhat hominid monster,
trudging it's way towards the village. As they watch, the monster
screams, then spits out fire, incinerating the hut closest to it!
After standing in shock for a few seconds, the villagers scatter,
looking for shelter. While they might have been able to stop a small
creature, there was no way they could go against this monstrosity!
Mokona, also concerned for it's own safety, hid behind the
Knights' legs.>
Ranma: Akane! Ukyou! We gotta stop this thing! Get ready to charge!
Akane & Ukyou: Hai!
<Ranma charged forward, calming herself. With the heat that creature was
generating, it wouldn't be hard to pull off her attack. Meanwhile, Ukyou
throws some of her shuriken at the monster, but it swatted them away as if
they were flies.>
Ranma: BURNING HIRYUSHOTENHA!
<The burning dragon-shaped tornado quickly engulfed the monster, hiding it
from view. Ranma quickly leaped away, barely managing to scramble out of
the way of her own firestorm.>
Ranma: Yatta!
Ukyou: Great jo--uh oh!
<As Ranma's attack fades away, the girls notice that not only has it
failed to destroy the monster, but that it has grown! The monster now
towered over the village as if it was right out of a Gojira flick!>
Ranma: <Nervously> Oops....
Akane: <Angrily> OOPS!?!? Is that all you can say?
Ukyou: Umm, Akane, I don't think now is the time to start fighting
Ran-chan...
Akane: <ashamed> You're right. <Brightens> Now, lets go whip that
thing's ass!
<Ranma and Ukyou both sweat as Akane charges the creature, then shrug.
Ranma charges after her, while Ukyou stays back, distracting the monster
with her weapons. Mokona stays behind Ukyou's legs.
As they both get close, Akane slams her hammer into one leg, as
Ranma stabs at another. The creature roars, and kicks them away! Akane
slams into the ground next to Ukyou while Ranma lands next to a little
girl, too scared to run from the monster. The little girl starts to cry.
Hearing her cries, the monster runs toward them. Ranma quickly
leapt up to defend the child, but as before, her attacks were doing no
good, and she knew her magic would only make things worse.
Akane picked herself off the ground with Ukyou's help and saw the
monster slowly wearing Ranma down. Her eyes filled with fear.>
Akane: RANMA!
<She hefted her hammer and was preparing to charge when Ukyou
grabbed her shoulder.>
Ukyou: No Akane! As much as I'd like to charge in and help Ranma,
we can't do any good against that thing! And we'd get in
Ranma's way! If that thing took a swipe at us, she'd take it
and get herself killed.
<Ukyou sighs.>
Ukyou: No, the only thing powerful enough to stop it now is magic
other than fire magic. I suspect it's probably created from
fire... that would explain why blasting it with fire only makes
it more powerful.
Akane: So how do we stop it? We can't just let it kill Ranma!
Ukyou: <Angrily> I KNOW THAT! But what can we do?
<Mokona steps around Ukyou and walks up to Akane's feet.>
Mokona: Puu! Pu-puu!
Akane: Not now, Mokona....I need to find away to help Ranma!
Mokona: PUU!
<Akane swings her head down, and glares at Mokona!>
Akane: I said not--
<Suddenly, a beam of light shoots out of the jewel its head, and strikes
Akane. Akane's vision blurs. When she can see again, she is in a
featureless realm, except for the image of Clef standing in front of her.>
Akane: Clef! You're alive!
Clef: Yes, but I've been turned into stone by Zagato. I cannot do
much to help you in this state, other than teach you.
Akane: Teach me? But I don't have time! Ranma's in danger!
Clef: That is why I must teach you. It is time for you to learn
how to use your magic.
<Akane's eyes widen.>
Akane: It is? What do I need to do?
Clef: Kneel before me.
<Akane does so, feeling slightly uncomfortable at taking orders from
someone whom looks like a kid. But since Ranma is in danger...>
Clef: Now open your heart. Concentrate your will. Think of your
desire to save Ranma, and know that you can!
Akane: But I don't--!
Clef: Yes you do!! You have the strength, but only if you believe
you do!
Akane: I'll try!
Clef: No! There is no try! Only do, or do not!
<George Lucas appears out of nowhere, bops Clef, and disappears. Both
Clef and Akane sweat for a second.>
Akane: *If it's to save Ranma, I can do it! I must do it!*
<As Akane gathers her faith in herself, she starts to glow a bright blue,
brighter than ever before. Soon, she begins to fill it, the power
flooding through her like never before, along with words...a spell.>
Akane: *Is this how Ranma taps his ki?*
Clef: Good. Now, you are ready to help Ranma!
Akane: <Nodding> Yes. I am!
<Akane stands up, and finds herself next to Ukyou once again. Ukyou looks
like she's about to ask her something when her aura flares again, more
powerful than Ukyou had ever seen before.
Akane steps toward the monster, her aura causing her hair to
ruffle in a wind that isn't there. Ranma and the monster, feeling this
power approach them spin towards her. Ranma gasps as Akane raises one
hand.>
Akane: MIZU NO RYUU!
<As Akane cries out her aura collapses into her hand, then sprouts out as
a swirling dragon of water. The dragon roars as it flies towards the
monster, slamming into it before it has a chance to react! The monster
screams as the water-dragon quickly extinguishes the source of its power.
A few seconds later, all that is left is a cloud of steam.>
Akane: Finally, I've saved Ranma!
<Ranma and Ukyou stare at their friend, shocked.>
Ranma: Akane....that....that....that was so cool!
<When Ranma's complement reaches her ears, she blushes. Ukyou doesn't
look quite so pleased about this reaction.>
Akane: Thank you, Ran--!
<Suddenly, several arrows fly down from above, slicing Akane in several
places! She collapses to the ground, and blood slowly starts to pool
around her.>
Ranma & Ukyou: <Horrified> AKANE!
<As the two girls rush beside their friend, they suddenly hear familiar
laughter coming from above! Both of them look up, and see Alcione perched
on a spear of rock!>
Alcione: About time you Magic Knight wannabe's showed up! Since I
couldn't use my magic in the Forrest of Silence, I've been
waiting for you here. <She smiles evilly.> And now...
<Ranma grimaces.>
Ranma: Ukyou. Please take care of Akane-chan.
Ukyou: <Nods> Un.
<Ranma stands up and steps forward, her face a solid mask of anger.>
Ranma: You'll pay for hurting MY Akane!
<Alcione smiles confidently.>
Alcione: You may know magic little girl, but it's nothing compared to
mine. After all, I was apprenticed to Guru Clef to become
Princess Emeraude's personal sorceress!
<Ranma and Ukyou stare at Alcione, shocked!>
Ranma: Clef's apprentice!?!
Ukyou: Princess Emeraude's sorceress?
<Ranma shifts her weight, ready to attack or dodge at a moment's notice.>
Ranma: Then why are you fighting against us? You of all people should
be on our side!
Alcione: You'd be right except for one thing. I serve the High Priest
Zagato, not the Princess.
Ranma: But why? Without the Princess, this world will die!
<Alcione smiles.>
Alcione: Because I love him! And for his love, I will destroy you!
Ranma: How dare you! Magic and love are pure things, not to be
twisted into things of evil! In the name of Cephiro, I will
punish you!
(Umi: WHAT!? What do you think you're doing, giving Hikaru-chan lines
from Sailor Moon?)
(Kiyone: It wasn't *my* fault! Honest! Mike suggested those lines!)
(Umi: WHY YOU! Hey, come back here, you coward!)
(Mike quickly flees before Umi can catch him.)
<Alcione raises her hand, as her aura flares!>
Alcione: ICE ARROWS!
<Short shards of ice fly out from Alcione heading towards the small
redhead.>
Ukyou: Look out, Ran-chan!
<Ukyou's warning turns out to be unnecessary, as she dodges the arrows.
With her reflexes and training at her command, not a single arrow even
comes close to hitting her.
As soon as Ranma slides to a stop, Alcione begins to laugh.>
Alcione: You're a quick little girl! But you aren't quick enough to
escape my next attack. Soon, you'll be as bloody as your
blue-haired friend over there!
<Ranma seethes with anger at Alcione's words. She slowly stands up, her
fists shaking and her eyes flaring as she keeps herself from lashing out
immediately.>
Ranma: YOU HURT MY AKANE! For that, I can never forgive you!
<Ranma's battle aura flares into existence, as bright as the sun! The air
spins around her, tossing her pigtail and her clothes around! Her fists
clench tightly, as her aura continues to grow!
Ukyou watches on, still in shock. Not even Ranma referring to
Akane as hers broke her out of her trance.
In her hands a sphere of magic and ki forms once again. Even so,
it appears to be much bigger than last one!>
Ranma: AKAI MOUKOU TAKABISHA!
<The sphere of energy flies from her hands straight at Alcione! However,
she keeps her ground, confident in her ability.>
Alcione: Heh, you're pitiful magic will not burn me twice, little
girl! WHITE SPHERE SHIELD!
<A clear shield of ice formed around Alcione milliseconds before the
sphere would have hit her. However, the shield doesn't stop it
completely! Even though she focuses all her power into it, small pieces
of her shield break off, fly back, and scratch her. The sphere continues
to try to bust through.>
Alcione: *Her magic....it's grown so powerful!*
Ukyou: *I...I've never seen her so angry before....or so powerful!
Can it be because of her?* <Ukyou shakes her head.> *No! It
can't be that!*
<Ranma slowly strides forward, her aura undiminished by her attack, anger
still firmly etched on her face.>
Alcione: I'm surprised you gained so much power in so little time!
You must be a Magic Knight! However, it will do you no good!
<Alcione drops some of the power to her shield, and concentrates. Ice
whirls around her feet, gaining speed.>
Alcione: ICE DRAGON!
<Ice shoots away from her, forming a dragon which slowly pushing the
sphere away from her and towards Ranma! Ranma roars in anger and throws
her hands forward, releasing all of her power that she can at once! The
power merges with her sphere, but it isn't enough!
Ranma slams against the ground as Alcione's spell breaks through.
She leaps back up, but it did hurt her. The fight slowly turns in
Alcione's direction.>
Ukyou: RANMA!
Akane: <Stirring> Ukyou...what's happening?
Ukyou: Ranma's fighting Alcione....and she's losing!
Akane: What!?!?
<Akane opens her eyes and watches Alcione toss Ranma about with her magic.
Little cuts have formed across Ranma's skin, and she seems to be favoring
her left arm.>
Akane: NO! I can't let her hurt Ranma!
Ukyou: Akane....
<Mokona bounces up to her, puuing worriedly.>
Akane: For once, I agree with you Mokona...we got to help Ranma.
Ukyou: But what can we do? You're too hurt to do anything, and I
couldn't get close to her if I wanted to!
<Akane stands up, but it's easy to see she's doesn't have much strength.>
Akane: <Softly> Ukyou, please take care of Ranma for me....
Ukyou: A-akane...
<Akane steps forward, and gathers all her remaining strength. Her aura
flares as she raises her hand once again!
Ranma however, is still being tossed about, and is slammed into
the wall of a house! This time, however, she doesn't get back up!>
Alcione: This will finish it! ICE ARROWS!
Akane: MIZU NO RYUU!
Alcione: WHAT!?!?
<Alcione's arrows fly out, only to be engulfed by Akane's water dragon as
it flies toward the sorceress. Alcione flings her hands in front of her
right before the dragon slams into her. She cries out, then disappears!>
Ranma: Akane-chan!
<Akane stands still, looking rather beat up. Blood still slowly trickles
from her injuries, and dirt is smeared all over her. Finally, the last of
her strength fades away, and she collapses backward into Ukyou.>
Ukyou: Akane!
<Ranma picks herself up, then runs over and grabs her.>
Ranma: Akane-chan!
Akane: <Weakly> Are you all right, Ranma-chan?
Ranma: Yes, Akane....you saved me! I...I wouldn't have made it
without you...
<Ranma embraces Akane to her. Ukyou watches on...but her jealousy is only
slightly restrained by the shock. However, as she watches Akane, she
notices the girl is slowly loosing her color. Her jealousy quickly fades
as concern for her sometimes friend overwhelms her.>
Akane: I'm glad, Ranma. I...I couldn't say this before, but you are
so important to me. I don't think I could bear to loose you.
<Akane looses consciousness. Ranma, scared embraces her tighter!>
Ranma: No! Don't die before I can tell you, Akane-chan!
<Ukyou stands up and turns toward Mokona.>
Ukyou: Mokona! Please show me how to use magic! We may be
rivals....but I can't let Akane die!
<A beam of light shoots out from the jewel in Mokona's head and strike
Ukyou. Seconds later, she finds herself in front of Clef.>
Ukyou: Guru Clef! I....I got to save Akane. I can't let her die!
Clef: Then look within, Ukyou. You have the power to save her, but
you have to focus your will. Concentrate...think of how much
you want to save Akane. Believe that you have the ability.
<Ukyou concentrates, following Clef's instructions as best as she can.
Soon, she can feel the power, and words form in her mind.>
Ukyou: I got it, Guru Clef! Thank you!
Clef: Thank yourself, Ukyou. I just showed you how, you did all the
real work.
<Ukyou closes her eyes. When she opens them, she's facing Mokona once
again. She quickly spins about and raises her hand, her palm pointed at
Ranma and Akane.>
Ukyou: IYASHIMI NO KAZE!
<A breeze of wind flows out from her hand, bringing along her aura with
it. It slowly envelops both Akane and Ranma, healing all their injuries
from the fight, and fixes their clothes!
Akane's eyes slowly flutter open, and she gazes into Ranma's
worried face.>
Akane: Ranma....Ukyou....am I alive?
<Ranma nods.>
Ranma: Ukyou used her magic to save you!
Ukyou: It's the least I could have done after you saved us all, Akane.
Akane: Thank you, Ukyou.
Ukyou: HOWEVER! Although she seems to have made her choice, don't
think I've given up, Akane!
Akane: <smiling> I wouldn't have it any other way, Ukyou.
<Ranma blinks, quite confused.>
Ranma: What are you two talking about?
<Both girls sweat.>
Akane & Ukyou: *If she finds out we were fighting over her, she'll get
real mad...* NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
<Ranma continues to look at them suspiciously, but she nods. Suddenly,
she feels someone pulling at her outfit. As she looks down, she sees the
girl she saved before, holding a flower out to her.>
Ranma: Thank you!
<The little girl smiles as Ranma takes the flower. However, the girl's
mother rushes up, grabs her, and runs off, afraid. Ranma sighs.>
Ukyou: You couldn't convince everyone we're all right, Ran-chan.
Ranma: <sighing again> I know. But I can hope, can't I?
<Ranma glances at the ground.>
Ranma: Oh well. Show us the way to Eterna, Mokona!
<Mokona puus, then starts bouncing towards another path. Ranma quickly
follows, but Ukyou and Akane stay behind.>
Akane: What do we do? She still doesn't remember being a guy!
Ukyou: I know...and her behavior worries me, too.
Akane: What can we do?
Ukyou: I don't know. We can just follow her and hope for the best.
Maybe along the way we'll learn a spell to zap her back to
normal.
Akane: I guess. <She pauses for a second.> Thank you again, Ukyou.
Ukyou: You're welcome. But don't think I'm giving up on Ranma because
of what she said today.
<Akane sighs>
Akane: I know....<she then smiles> I just hope you don't forget about
Ferio...
Ukyou: <Blushing brightly> Akane!
<The two girls laugh as the follow after Ranma.>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
End Part 4
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Coming Up Next!
Finally, the Magic Knights arrive at the Legendary Spring Eterna!
What do the find in this weird pool?
Who is it that's fighting Ranma?
Why is Alcione still attacking them?
All this, and more in the next episode of Magic Knight Ranma!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Magic Knight Kiyone
--
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and
quick to anger." --J.R.R. Tolkien
"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and
good with ketchup." --Anonymous
"The universe is already mad. Anything else would be redundant."
-- Londo Mulari
--
Come visit Yamada Tarou and me! Our page is at:
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mcausey/