I stand by my claim that this is not a darkfic, since everybody is happy in the end. C&C is more than welcome.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything you are about to read either belongs to someone else or is stolen from the dictionary.

By the way, I was tired, a little hungry and coughing uncontrollably when I wrote this. This has little or no relevence but I felt like saying it okay!

The Timepiece

The witching hour approached. Embracing the icy bite of the wind with only the mist around him as his cloak, Genma stood waiting at the edge of a cliff. The cliff. The one where Heroes were said to be born. It had been years since Ranma went down its edge to face the trials that would mark him as a Hero. One destined to be a savior of a dark and decaying world.

He sighed, as he did every night he did not hear his son's grunting as he finally made his way up the cliff to greet his father as a Hero. A man among men. Turning on to more productive matters, Genma settled down on his usual spot and took out his wife's katana. Admiring the intricacies that made it beautiful and testing the sharpness of the edge that made it deadly. He sighed once again and then� and then he heard it.

*******

The cliff-face seemed determined to reject him as bits and pieces of it crumbled at his very touch. Still, it was only delaying the inevitable. He had been struggling for far too long to be stopped now. Compared to some of what he'd been through, this mountain was as insignificant as an anthill. Ranma grinned.

*******

Genma smiled as he saw his son's grin rising over the cliff's edge. He stood looking into the eyes of his blood, his flesh� his heart.

*******

When Ranma finally pulled himself up, his grin grew even wider yet, as he was at last able to look down on his father.

*******

"The boy has grown tall and proud." Genma thought.

"One last step boy!" he called to his son.

*******

The grin never leaving his face, Ranma spread his arms, palms facing outward.

*******

Taking up the blade he had been examining, Genma put the tip to Ranma's chest. Solemnly, Genma began, "The path of a Hero is, has and never will be an easy one. Those who would walk it condemn themselves to damnation even as they attain salvation. Do you Saotome Ranma, accept the mantle of the Hero?"

*******

"I do." How simple it was! Just two words, and what simple words they were!

*******

Once again, Genma smiled. It had been a good night for him. Twice he smiled tonight. Twice more than he had for the past ten years.

Without another word, he ran the blade through his son's chest as the boy gasp in pain and disbelief. Moving to the side of Ranma's face, Genma spoke softly� comfortingly, to his son, "The world need Heroes like you son." before running the blade all the way through. Ranma stared at his father with wide eyes even as the life left him. It was the first time Genma had called him 'son' and not 'boy'. Putting his feet against his son's gut, Saotome Genma, kicked Ranma off the family katana to lay dead on his back with a forever expression of shock. A single tear on either side of the young man's face. "And that is why you must die." he said to the corpse on the ground as he turned away and into the mist.

"Damn you!" Happosai spat from his hiding place in the shadows. "Damn you to hell!"

*******

A millenium prior

Queen Serenity is sitting in front of a fire. To her side are those most dear to her and to her front is the harbinger of news most dire. Sailor Pluto.

Queen Serenity: (Voice somewhat desperate) Are you sure of this?

Sailor Pluto: Yes my queen. We must make provisions. It has long bothered many of my colleagues and the discovery by Melchiar has proved that our concern has not been without reason.

Queen Serenity: What do you propose we do, Pluto?

Sailor Pluto: We need your power my queen. And not just yours, we need the power of all the Senshi and of the two rogue orders. It seems the motives of the Circle of Nine were not as dark as we thought.

Queen Serenity: Indeed. It seems that we should not have dismissed them as we did, for now we pay the price. Luckily, if what you say is true, then all is not lost. Please contact the Circle of Nine and tell them we are ready to talk. Also, see if you could get the Dark Infinity to send a representative as well.

Sailor Pluto: Yes my queen.

*******

At the royal conference room

Queen Serenity is sitting at the head of the table. Pluto is to her side, as is Melchiar, the one who discovered the truth spoken by the Circle of Nine. In front of her are the representatives to the two rogue orders. Mortaneus, an emaciated man with a cadaverous complexion, for the Circle of Nine and Dumah, with his blue tinged skin and slanted eyes, representing the Dark Infinity.

Mortaneus: It seems you have finally come to your senses oh queen. Who was it who finally opened your eyes? Surely not the Sailor Pluto, for how could those who would not see, lead those who are blind?

Queen Serenity: That is enough, necromancer. You made your point. There is no need for insults.

Mortaneus: I apologize oh queen. It was rude of me.

Dumah: Why have you summoned us Serenity? What is it you want?

Queen Serenity: Pluto, if you will.

Sailor Pluto: Yes my queen. As Mortaneus probably already guessed, the Moon Kingdom has found some very disturbing news. It seems we were wrong in condemning the Circle of Nine. The warnings they have repeatedly tried to give us have panned out to be true. We now ask for your help in diverting the disaster that is to come.

Dumah: Then tell us how you intend to divert this 'disaster'? What role would you have the Infinity play? And why should we even consider giving you the help you desire? After all, are you not the ones who chase my people like dogs?

Mortaneus: Enough Dumah. The danger that threatens us all is all too real. Ask your master what it is that threatens us, he would surely know. (Turning to Queen Serenity) I apologize once again for my earlier behavior Queen Serenity, we of the Circle know what it is you wish of us and would be more than willing to offer assistance. (Getting up) Now if you would excuse me, I shall retrieve the artifact that you seek.

Dumah: (Also getting up) It seems that this 'meeting' has come to an early halt. I shall speak with my master.

Dumah spreads his arms and burst into a whirlwind of wings. Finally, the many bats that now represent him fly out the palace to meet the master of the Dark Infinity.

Mortaneus: (Shaking his head slightly) I see arrogance is hereditary. Goodbye, Queen Serenity. A pity that no pleasantries seemed to have been changed, but circumstances obviously do not allow. You shall have the Timepiece by dawn tomorrow.

Mortaneus leaves via a more traditional method, through the door.

Melchiar: (Fidgeting slightly and a little upset at not being able to make his presentation) Well that was brief. I suppose everyone knew before we did. If you'll both excuse me, I should prepare for when we receive the Timepiece.

Melchiar gets up and leave after getting a nod from Queen Serenity to do so.

Queen Serenity: Melchiar was right. Everyone else knew before we did. How did we get ourselves into this?

Sailor Pluto: Destiny my queen.

*******

Ten years prior

Ranma has just climbed down the cliff-face when Sailor Pluto arrives. She gives Genma the Timepiece. It is a tear-shaped piece of jewelry encased in a glass sphere, hanging by a gold chain.

Sailor Pluto: Remember Genma, you must be at ground zero or all would be lost. The future depends on you.

Genma: So this is the infamous Timepiece. How did it go again? "Crafted by the nine keepers of destiny and imbued with infinity. A future to a world with none."

Sailor Pluto: (Smiling slightly) Very good Genma. I shall see you if we survive.

*******

Year prior to 'Second Impact'

Mortaneus: There is no other way. This is our best chance to avert disaster. We must open the path to heaven.

*******

Second Impact

A small man in purple robes slumps to the ground, hands clutching at his head. He is crying.

Man: My god! What have we done? What have I done!?

Mortaneus: Console yourself Nup-rapter. There was no way we could have known. Besides, we've made contingencies.

A wraith-like woman floats next to Nup-rapter.

Woman: Yes, my love. Console yourself. All is not lost. This was fated to happen. There was nothing that could have been done.

Nup-rapter: Ariel� (Bitterly) Ironic isn't it? To think that by trying to save humanity, we would instead be the catalysts to destroy it.

Mortaneus: Who would have thought that heaven was no more than a prison for the Angels and that we would be their liberators when we tried to open a path to it for humanity. Ironic indeed. (Turning to face the woman) Don't you agree Ariel?

*******

Third impact

Genma holds the Timepiece up in the air as he dies. It falls and the glass shatters. Happosai is cursing furiously at this. Somehow, the old pervert has managed to survive being at ground zero of 'Third Impact'. His plans to be the leader of man's destiny seemingly breaking with the glass that held the precious artifact.

The Timepiece suddenly decays into a sickly green and is scattered into the wind. Happosai suddenly feels the power of 'Third Impact' welling up inside him and he realizes that he has succeeded! He manipulated both SEELE and Ikari Gendo. He would now be the mind that would lead the souls of humanity into heaven! Finally, all his fantasies would come through!

His celebration is short-lived however, when he feels a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and lo and behold, it was Ranma.

Happosai: (Sneering) So, you've come back did you? Now you know why Genma killed you, don't you?

Ranma nodded.

Happosai: And you know why I'm going to kill you.

Ranma nodded again. Yes� he knows now, and he has forgiven his father.

Happosai launches into a deadly series of attacks that almost killed Ranma instantly. If it weren't for the things he learned on his way to being a Hero, Ranma would be dead. And this time, there wouldn't be any coming back.

Happosai knew Ranma was only buying time. It wouldn't be long before 'Third Impact' finishes off the rest of humanity, Ranma would have to make his move before then. Finally, the old shrunken master of Anything Goes Martial Arts got lucky and hit Ranma with a shot to the side of the head, sending the boy to his knees. There was no time to lose for the old pervert, he raised his pipe and struck a killing blow at the would have been heir to Anything Goes Martial Arts.

Only to be blocked by the legendary 'Singing Sword'. Excalibur.

It was too late. Happosai knew it. He was going to die. Ranma was to be the first to arise. Once the others followed, it would be too late. The prophecy rang true.

*******

A thousand years past

Sailor Pluto: I� I cannot go any further. Melchiar, your findings are true. There is no future.

Melchiar: (Sighing) It is as I feared. You have confirmed it. Yes, there is no future. In a thousand years, time will cease for humanity and 'Crystal Tokyo' will never come to pass.

Sailor Pluto: But how can this be? I've seen the future. Yet, you are right, I cannot past that barrier a millenium from now. How can it be?

Melchiar: Perhaps what you have seen is a possibility. The future is not set in stone it seems. My theory is that in a thousand years, we will come across a fork in the road of time. A milestone, or an event in which a true future would occur. But something troubles me. My instruments show that the future has no possibilities. That existence would simply cease to exist. It is most troubling.

*******

After the awakening of the 'Sleeping King'

King Arthur is waving the blade Excalibur in the air as dozens upon dozens of Heroes appear out of thin air. All the greatest Heroes that have died in the past now come to life once again. The Man of Steel, who died fighting Doomsday. The Monkey God, Sun Wukong, who had defied the edicts of heaven and hell. Even a young unknown man named Tenchi, who had died at 'Second Impact'.

Happosai sweated. This was not what was promised of him. His master had betrayed him. Gathering all his remaining energies, Happosai did the only thing he could. He killed himself. But not before betraying his master. Or rather, former master.

*******

Ranma knew. He knew the whole story now. There was an evil to be fought and Happosai wasn't it. The Timepiece was hope. Hope for a future. Any future. There was no future after 'Third Impact'. By all rights, 'Third Impact' was to signal the beginning of a new era, not the end of all. Something or someone was behind this. Something or someone who wanted to end all life. All existence.

That was why the Timepiece was so important. It was a link. A link to the past. Warriors would be needed to fight the evil that was to come after 'Third Impact'. But if there was no future. No life. Who would there be left to fight?

Heroes. Heroes of the past. The present is dying. The future is already dead. So what's left? The past. That was why he had to die. He had to become the past.

*******

Kefka rose from the earth. Breaking it as it strained to contain him. Happosai had betrayed him! By taking his own life, Happosai broke the seal, which bounded him to the earth. Now Kefka was free. Free to destroy, yes. But also free to fight a battle he may or may not win. With an inhuman roar, the evil who sought to end all, now faced the Heroes of the past.

*******

The future

All was right with the world. Or at least, that's what the inhabitant(s) felt.

Ranma had his family. After the titanic battle with Kefka, life returned and all was well once again. He still had fianc�e problems though.

Sailor Pluto let out a sigh of relief as the future righted itself. Crystal Tokyo was on its way. Strange though, shouldn't Crystal Tokyo be categorized as Tokyo-2? Why was it after Tokyo-3?

Goku lounged about and waited for his next meal. He deserved it after saving the world from Buu.

Kefka let out a cackle as all those around him died horribly and he dance to the music of their wails.

Happosai was in heaven. Panties. Panties! PANTIES! Everywhere! Hahahahahaha!

Yes, everybody was/is/shall be happy. The future holds many paths and all are happy in one or another.

Notes: I think you can tell the ending was rushed. Oh well. Read the statement just below the Disclaimer for an explaination.

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