Alright, I usually don't ramble at the start of my fic posts,
but this one deserves some special attention. First off, this
is a very old fic... about 3 or 4 years old. I stopped writing
it for a LONG time because of college, but now I'm back at it.
So if it looks old... well, it is. ^_~
I'm about to finish Chapter 5, which I am planning to post for
C&C. However, prudence and common sense tell me I should post
all the previous parts first. They are long, so I will be
posting for a while.
If you like, you can go get the rest of the fic at my website
below. <hint, hint> This is actually recommended, since the fics
there are better formatted than this pitiful e-mail version.
http://www.geocities.com/jitou.geo/fanfic.htm
Although this is already more or less the final form in
terms of story structure, typos and other small details
are sure to abound. As such, comments and criticisms
are always welcome.
Now, please enjoy...
[jitou@geocities.com]
*----------------------
The Dark Crucible
Mega Crossover
Episode 1 v1.1
"Ripples of Darkness"
*----------------------
The day slowly dawned as the sun rose above the distant
mountain peaks. The feathery pink clouds grew lighter and
brighter in the light of the sun, bringing forth gaiety and
cheer. Of course, the definition of fun in Japan's Nerima
district can be quite *subjective*.
WHAM!!!!
A dust-trail streaked into the sky, propelled by
inexplicable force as the word, "Baka!" echoed in the
distance. Looking down, a moderate-sized Japanese house
could be seen at the base of the dust-trail. There were two
things that were readily apparent about this normal-looking
residence : an innocuous little fishpond situated in the
backyard, and a curious-looking hole in the roof.
From the hole in the roof can be seen a pretty, short-
haired girl in her mid-teens, lowering her leg, which was
outstretched before her in a kicking position. A look of
annoyance was plastered on her otherwise engaging features.
"Really, Akane, you shouldn't get angry so early in the
morning," another short-haired girl said, standing to the
side of Akane. "Besides, we're having too many holes in the
roof these days."
"Well, it has his fault!" Akane huffed at the other
girl, smoothening her skirt. Akane was dressed in a green
school-uniform, and across her shoulder was a small
schoolbag. In her hands were a few schoolbooks.
"Honestly, why can't the two of you just get along?"
she asked in a business-like voice. This girl's hair was cut
in a more severe style than Akane's, and her eyes were more
serious as well, as if constantly appraising the world. Her
face was stern and seemed detached, cool and calculating.
She too was dressed in a school uniform.
"You know him, Nabiki. He's such a... such a..."
"Such a boy?" Nabiki supplied.
"Yeah!"
"Don't worry, sis. That was free of charge."
The two make their way downstairs, where Kasumi, their
eldest sister, was busy dusting tables, arranging curtains
and generally making the house more livable. Kasumi was a
mature-looking young lady with long brown hair and a
pleasant demeanor. As the two prepared to leave the house
for school, she handed them three paper bags.
"I prepared some lunch for you. Where's Ranma?" she
asked in a sweet, demure voice.
"He should be coming along any second now," Akane
replied.
"From the sky," Nabiki mumbled under her breath.
"Thanks for the lunch, Kasumi!" Akane said, and they
passed out the living room, where a man wearing a brown gi
and a panda were playing goh over the dining table. The man
looked up from his game as the passed by. This was Soun
Tendo, father of the three girls and owner of the Tendo
Dojo.
"Are you two off to school now?" Soun asked.
"Yes, father! We don't want to be late again." They
answered.
*Where's that ingrate son of mine?* said the panda
through a sign which he pulled up from nowhere.
"Oh, Mr. Saotome, Ranma seems to have gone ahead."
Akane replied.
"I'm sure we'll see him later on." Nabiki said.
"Okay, you two. Hurry on now. We don't want you to be
late!" Soun said.
The panda turned its sign around, and it read, *Have
fun!*
"Hai!"
As the two skipped out on the street, heading for
Furinkan High, a scream steadily grew in intensity. The
scream seemed to be coming from the sky. The two without,
looking up, stopped as a young man crashed into the ground
before them, blasting through layers of concrete, his legs
sticking up from the hole in the ground he had just
created..
"That must have hurt." Nabiki commented.
"It was his fault." Akane said.
The man just popped himself out of the ground and stood
facing Akane. He was breathing quite heavily and he was very
disheveled from his long flight, but otherwise he seemed
unhurt. He wore a simple red shirt and black pants cut in a
Chinese-style, and he wore his long black hair in a tightly
braided pony-tail. He was glaring angrily at Akane.
"Hey, what'd you do that for?" he fumed.
Akane was about to answer qutie madly, and perhaps,
quite violently, when Nabiki spoke.
"Really, Ranma, do you want to take another trip into
the sky?" Nabiki noted.
"Huh?" Ranma thought. Akane was, getting pretty riled
up again.
"Nah," Ranma said, "we'll be late for school again."
"That's right!" Akane said, flabbergasted. She
instantly took Ranma by the arm and began running. Nabiki
just looked at them and shrugged before following. Of by the
bushes at the side of the road, however, a dark shadow was
bristling.
"Hmm?" Nabiki pondered, looking at the bushes. *I
thought I heard something...* she thought. *Oh well, must be
my imagination.* With a quick twirl she set off after Ranma
and Akane.
***
The sun glistened off the towering minarets of the
royal palace as it continued its glorious ascent. The
strange avian-like creatures of this world had already
awakened from their slumber, twittering in the resfreshing
dawn, flying through a sky that was quickly changing from
hues of purple and dark indigo into brilliant azure. The
scent of blossoms was high in the air, as nature bequeathed
its great fortune into the world. It was a good day to
awaken and rise into the sunshine. Or was it?
"Aiyeeee!!!! You pervert!!!" a voice screamed from
within the vast confines of the palace.
"I'm sorry, it was an accident!!!" in the great halls
of the palace, a young man with short, rather spiky brown
hair was running frantically. He was wearing nothing but a
towel draped across his midsection. Behind him could be seen
blasts of pinkish-orange energy flying around, notably going
in the general direction he was in.
"You'd think with all the bathrooms in this place
you'd end up in one aside from mine!!!" the voice was pretty
riled now, and a across the corner, a young woman with dark,
olive skin and long, flowing red hair could be seen, draped
in a towel, a strange device on her right wrist. She was
glowing with energy.
"Shayla, calm yourself. Your temper can really get the
better of you sometimes." A woman said, coming across the
hall to join her. She was light-skinned and she had short,
somewhat curly brown hair. There was a strange white mark on
her left cheek. She was dressed in a green skintight outfit
with a brown shawl draped over her shoulders. An air of
elegance exuded from her as she spoke with the angry woman.
"It was his fault, that hentai!" Shayla panted, trying
to gain a hold on her temper.
"You really shouldn't mess the palace up to much. It's
embarassing to our hosts."
"Let's see how you feel when someone sneaks into your
bath."
"I'm sure Makoto didn't mean to. Besides, you don't
want Ifurita finding out that you tried to incinerate her
boyfriend."
Shayla shuddered at the thought. Ifurita was a devil.
Quite literally. Even though she was supposedly a good guy
now, Shayla still remembered how Ifurita had easily
manhandled all three priestesses, Afura, the woman beside
her, Miz, and herself. "It ain't right. How can Makoto put
up with that... demon goddess!"
Afura just shrugged.
***
Elsewhere in the palace, Makoto Mizuhara finally found
a bathroom all to himself. As he got into the shower,
thoughts raced about all that had happened since that
faithful day when the ancient ruins were found underneath
Shinonome High.
His musings of his adventures in El Hazard, of the
Bugrom, the princesses Rune Venus and Fatora, of the Phantom
Tribe, the priestesses of Mount Muldoon; they all eventually
led him to thoughts of Ifurita, the mysterious woman who had
sent him, Nanami, Jinnai and Mr. Fujisawa to El Hazard. She
was such a lonely person, with no other purpose but to kill
and destroy. He was glad that he'd been able to help her
become a free person who could do what she wanted, just like
everyone else. A person free to love...
Makoto smiled to himself in the shower. Fujisawa-sensei
was finally cornered. Miz Mishtal had finally managed to get
Mr. Fujisawa to profess his undying devotion to her. Trapped
by his own word, their wedding was to be held in the palace
in a week. The three priestesses had gone over to the palace
again for an extended stay, at least until the ceremonies
were over. Mr. Fujisawa was probably scrambling over himself
right now, trying to get a drink, making the most of his
bachelor days.
He sighed.
Life in El Hazard was great. He was surrounded by
friends who cared for him in a great palace. The people
praised him for his heroism and for saving them all from the
destructive power of the Eye of God. He also had duties as
the chief expert on ancient artifacts in the science
department of Roshtaria. And most of all, he had Ifurita.
But he couldn't help but think of his old home.
Shinonome High had been a place of memories for him. He had
lived all his life in Japan, until that faithful night. Even
though his life was all he could have hoped for here, he
wondered how life was back home, in earth.
He stepped out of the shower and began to dry himself.
As he was getting dressed, he heard a soft padding of feet
behind him.
"Makoto." said a tiny voice somewhere behind and below
him.
Makoto turned around to see a small, tawny cat with
beige-colored fur and a bright tuft of orange hair across
its back. Its eyes were round and beady and regarded him
thoughtfully. It lifted its front paws up to him in a
playful fashion.
"Hey, Ura!" Makoto said cheerfully, picking up his cat.
"How are you, Makoto?" Ura asked.
"I'm just fine. Hold on, let me get dressed and we'll
go to the main hall with the others."
Ura playfully batted Makoto's arms and settled down.
Makoto liked having Ura around. He was so friendly and loyal
to him. After Fatora had berated and treated Ura badly for
failing to protect her, Makoto had been quick to take the
kawaii little cat in. Ura seemed to like him better, anyway.
Makoto got dressed in his flowing white robes, the
current trend in clothing in Roshtaria. As he was putting on
his clothes, he thought of his old school uniform which he
had always been wearing in the past. Now, he had almost
forgotten about them, preferring to wear these garments
native to El Hazard. Another reminder of his old home which
he was slowly drifting ever farther away from.
As he walked along with Ura in tow, a palace attendant
walked over to him.
"Doctor Mizuhara, your presence is requested by Doctor
Strellbaugh at the Royal Academy of Science. It is a matter
of extreme importance."
"Huh? Oh, okay. I'll be there in a minute. Thanks for
the message." Makoto replied. *I wonder what the matter is
this time?*
Makoto and Ura made their way to the science academy.
Upon entering the Dr. Strellbaugh's lab, he was surprised to
see Ifurita there as well. She looked as beautiful as he had
first seen her, back in the basement of Shinonome High,
where she had fallen into his arms crying, weak from her
10,000 year ordeal. Today, however, she had a very concerned
look on her face.
Dr. Strellbaugh spoke. "Ah, Makoto, it is good of you
to have come."
"What is it, doctor?" Makoto asked, a little tense.
"Ifurita will be able to explain."
"It is a matter to deal with the Eye of God, dear
Makoto." Ifurita said. "Or more precisely, a matter of
dimensions."
"Dimensions? Has the Eye of God grown unstable again?"
"Not exactly. Do you recall when you came for me in
Shinonome High, after I had sent you on your journey?"
"Yes. I had to study the Eye of God for a long time
before I could uncover the secret of travelling between
dimensions. I must admit, I wasn't very sure of myself then.
Dimension travelling is a confusing business."
"When you arrived back at Shinonome High that day, I
felt a surge of power, sort of like a `ripple' in reality
where you opened a gateway between worlds. It was a sign of
dimensiononal travel. My senses are very attuned to this
phenomenon, so I can discern many details from it. Your warp
had a feeling of lightness to it."
"What do you mean, a feeling of lightness?" Makoto
asked.
"When I saw you come for me that day, I saw a brilliant
flash of light before I finally saw you, carrying the
powerkey staff. However, it was more than a matter of
visually seeing light; my senses extend to another dimension
which precludes worldy senses. I can sense into a world
which is primarily spiritual in nature. With this sense of
mine, I was able to detect the quality of `lightness' in
your arrival."
"So, what does this have to do with the Eye of God?"
Makoto asked.
"I was flying up to the Eye of God early this morning,
once again wondering at its creation. As I came closer to
the Eye of God, I became aware of a sensation. It was weak
at first, but as I came closer to the Eye of God, it felt
stronger and stronger. It was the same `rippling' sensation
that I felt when you warped over to Shinonome, the same as
when I sent you to El Hazard in the first place."
"Are you saying that someone had warped into El Hazard
using the Eye of God?"
"No. The rippling sensation was weak. I think that it
may have been a warp in another dimension that I felt, with
the Eye of God serving as an amplifier to my senses. I
believe that something had warped over to another dimension.
Moreover, the sensations were continuous, as if coming in
pulses. Normally, one warp only sends out one `ripple.' I
felt many ripples, hundreds, maybe even thousands. There was
no telling how long it had been happening, the ripples were
occuring even before I came to the Eye of God. When I left,
they were still continuing. They could still be continuing
as we speak."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that there is a large number of warps
occuring somewhere." Dr. Strellbaugh said. "However, that is
not the main cause for my conern."
Ifurita nodded. "Makoto, unlike the warps which you and
I have experienced, which felt of lightness, these warps
felt of darkness."
"Darkness?" Makoto asked.
"Yes, dear Makoto. Darkness. Darkness like none I have
ever felt before. Darkness which brings forth feelings of
dread, despair and destruction."
"What can it mean?" Makoto asked.
"It means, Makoto, that somewhere, a great deal of
`dark' beings are warping over to another dimension."
Strellbaugh said. "And the biggest concern here is the
target dimension. It is likely that a number of evil beings
are travelling over to another dimension, en masse. What
reason could a huge number of beings have to perform an
exodus to another dimension?"
"A visit?" Makoto mused.
"No, an invasion." Ifurita corrected.
"An invasion?" Makoto echoed, shocked.
"Yes, what else could it be? A great number of `dark
beings' travelling to another dimension. They can only be
thinking of taking over the dimension." Strellbaugh said.
"Where does that leave us?" Makoto asked.
"I believe that these dark dimensional travellers are
intent on conquering dimensions. If that is the case, then
who can say what dimension they will set their eyes on
next?"
"El Hazard!" Makoto asked, realization beginning to
dawn upon him.
"But there is more, dear Makoto, and I fear to tell you
should I be correct." Ifurita said.
"What? What is it, Ifurita?"
"I felt the disturbance through the Eye of God. This
probably means only one thing -- that I am feeling traces of
what is happening in the dimension from which the Eye of God
was last connected."
"So that means..." Makoto mused.
"Think, Makoto! What was the last dimension which the
Eye of God had connected to?"
Makoto's eyes suddenly widened, and his mouth dropped.
He wavered a step, the full weight of the implications had
finally hit him. He involuntarily stook a step backwards,
unable to fathom the horror which Ifurita and Dr.
Strellbaugh were suggesting.
"Earth..."
***
Ranma and Akane were eating lunch during their break in
Furinkan High's schoolyard. A crowd of students were going
about their own business in the park-like yard, enjoying the
fine day and the bright sunshine. As they sat down, Ranma
opened the lunchbag which Kasumi had prepared for them.
*Boy, am I glad Akane didn't cook lunch today.* he
thought, darting quick glances at Akane. *I'm not sure if I
can manage to slip off to Ucchan's or the Nekohanten today.
Akane seems to be watching me like a hawk.*
"And just what are you staring at, Ranma?" Akane
demanded of him, seeing those sly looks he's been giving
her. "You're not thinking of any hentai thoughts, are you?"
"Huh?? What? Me? Of course not! How could I think
hentai with a kawaii-kune tomboy like you?" Faster than
thought, a big wooden mallet appeaered in Akane's hand and
blasted Ranma right in the head. Surprisingly, the mallet
broke.
"Hahaha!!! My head's gotten tougher after all the
bashings I've had!" Ranma cried out gleefully. *POW* Ranma
went sailing into the air.
"So what?" Akane said, annoyed, putting her foot down.
Underneath a tree next to the table, a shadow, darker
than the shade of the tree, began quaking. It slowly crept
over to Akane's feet.
"Where'd Ranchan go?" a young girl asked, walking over
to Akane. "You didn't send him off again, did you Akane?"
this girl was wearing a boy's uniform, but Akane knew she
was a girl. She was Ukyou, one of Ranma's childhood friends.
As she normally did when she went to the school, she
arranged her long brown hair into a neat braid that cascaded
down her back. A huge spatula was strapped to her back.
"He just got on my nerves again." Akane, said, putting
her broken mallet down on the table.
"Hey, Akane, you didn't crack that thing on Ranchan's
head, did you?" Ukyou asked, pointing at the broken mallet.
"It's strange, Ukyou. I've never managed to break one
of these things on Ranma's head. Is he getting more hard-
headed?"
"You've probably used that thing once too many. Why
can't you just talk to Ranma instead of pounding on him?"
Akane promptly discarded the broken mallet. "I don't
know. He just makes me so mad at times." She proceeded to
open her lunch. Ukyou did likewise, and the two chatted over
other things while eating.
In the shade of the tree, the shadow moved away from
Akane and poised itself underneath the discarded mallet.
Unnoticed by the two girls, the mallet began to glow, but it
seemed to be a dark glow, one which did not give off light,
but rather sucked it in. In a few moments, the mallet was
immolated and suddenly it disappeared in a dark `flash'. As
quickly as Akane produced the mallet, it was gone from
existence, devoured by a dark shroud.
"Ah, the beautiful Akane Tendo has finally freed
herself from the clutches of the vile Ranma Saotome, only to
be taken in by another unworthy contender! Fear not, Akane,
for I, Tatewaki Kunou, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High,
shall save you from this misery!"
Akane and Ukyou looked up from their lunch to see a
tall, handsome man wearing a traditional kendo uniform,
complete with blue robe and black-baggy pants, regarding
them.
"Kunou-sempai." Akane murmured.
"What did he say about an unworthy contender?" Ukyou
wondered.
"Surely being driven from my side has made thee
desperate enough to seek solace with this undeserving
knave!" Kunou indicated Ukyou with a wave of his hand. "I
cannot stand to see you like this, Akane Tendo! I will free
you from despair's unholy grasp!"
Kunou suddenly drew his boken from and made a lunge at
Ukyou. Ukyou jumped back from the table and drew her huge
spatula in fluid motion.
"Geez, sugar, you get weirder and weirder everyday."
Ukyou said.
"Silence! I will not allow you to defile the virtue of
Akane Tendo!" With that, Kunou began a quick series of
lunges, jabs and swipes at Ukyou with his boken. Ukyou
parried deftly with her spatula and leapt out of the way.
*Kunou thinks that Ukyou is a guy!?* Akane realized.
Once again her temper flared at Kunou's obtuseness. *After
all the times that they'd been together, Kunou still
couldn't tell that Ukyou was a girl. Perhaps he thought
there were two Ukyous -- one guy, one girl. He certainly
thinks that way of Ranma. Talk about dull!* She got up to
give Kunou another one of her impressive kicks when Ukyou
blared in with several quick slaps of her spatula. Kunou was
driven back by the impressive volley, but he was a good
fighter and he easily deflected all of the attacks.
A bunch of students had already gathered around them to
watch the fight. It was dragging on long enough that the
students were actually beginning to cheer. Akane saw Nabiki
taking bets from the students, always ready to make a profit
on the outcome of any fight.
After a masterful series of thrusts and counter-
attacks, Kunou suddenly gave a skillful upward blow which
cracked Ukyou's spatula right out of her hand. The oversized
cooking utensil arced highly into the air and embedded
itself in the ground some distance away from the two
combatants.
"Did you really think that your feeble fighting skills
could defeat my superior training and discipline?" Kunou
said haughtily.
"Well, sempai, I think that this round goes to you."
Ukyou said with a slight smirk. "You can probably date
Akane, if she doesn't kick you into the atmosphere-"
Suddenly, Ukyou's spatula began glowing. All eyes went
to the spatula as a dark glow enshrouded it, much like the
broken mallet. It was a blinding glow, an indescribable
blend of brilliance which wasn't brilliance, light that
wasn't light, a glow which seemed to take in light rather
than give it off.
"What is happening?" Akane gasped.
"What vile manner of treachery is this?" Kunou said,
eyes narrowing at the darkness before him. He cast a glare
at Ukyou. "What dark magic have you woven to keep the
beautiful Akane Tendo from my grasp?"
Akane and Ukyou face-faulted.
Slighty unnoticeable from the glare of the spatula, a
dark shadow crept was growing in size underneath the
spatula. As Akane and Ukyou turned to give a stern retort to
Kunou, the spatula glowed its brightest (or its darkest) and
with a boom like an implosion -- the sound seeming to be
drawn inwards instead of `exploding' outwards -- the spatula
disappeared.
In its place was a thing out of a nightmare.
It was huge, towering over all of the students, with a
massive frame which rippled with unspeakable power. Its huge
legs, thighs and calves exploding with over-developed
muscles, were daunting, but looked small in comparison the
the thing's upperbody. Its torso was the epitome of `barrel-
chested', several feet across, muscles rippling across its
chest and all along its back. Its arms were larger than its
legs, ending in fists larger than Kunou's head. Larger than
two of his heads, most likely. It looked like an over-sized
gorrilla with no fur and dark, purple skin, wearing a
loincloth and an array of straps and furs across its wide
girth. Its face, however, was nothing like an ape's. It had
a horned plate across its forehead, framing eyes which
glowed a dark blackness, at the center of which seemed to be
a primordial fire. Its face was gaunt and had sharp
features, and its maw was filled with jagged teeth.
Screams erupted from the students as they stumbled over
each other trying to get away. Akane, Ukyou and Kunou were
taken aback, but they stood their ground. Off to the side,
Nabiki was finishing collecting some payments from some
students who were anxious to get away already.
"What the hell is that thing?" Ukyou mumbled, her eyes
bugging out.
"Let's run!" Akane said, her eyes equally wide at the
horrific sight.
"Whatever foul beast of dark sorcery this is, it cannot
stand up to the might of Tatewaki Kunou!" Kunou cried a
strong kiai, or battle cry, and charged the massive
behemoth.
The thing merely smirked, although the way that it did
gave Akane the impression that it was none too bright.
"YOU BE VIOLENT, YES?" It grated in a bellowing, dark
voice which sounded like tombstones being grated across each
other. "GOOD."
As Kunou lunged, the thing grabbed Kunou's boken with
one hand and smashed Kunou away with the other. Kunou was
sent crashing into Akane and Ukyou's lunch table.
"Kuno-sempai!" Akane said, genuine concern touching her
voice.
"Fear not for me, beautiful goddess. This demon-spawn
cannot defeat me with one lucky slap." Kunou said, getting
up. He was battered and bruised, but he did not seem to be
in any severe pain.
Kunou's boken suddenly began to glow that dark glow in
the creature's hand, and in moments, it too was gone in that
implosion. The creature smiled and faced them.
"VIOLENCE IS GOOD, YES?"
"What are you?" Ukyou demanded.
Its response was a long trail of deep, bone-grating
laughter. "BEWARE, WE HAVE RETURNED! HAHAHAHAH!!!!" With
that, the thing suddenly melted into a shadow and was gone.
"The foul demon has fled like the coward which it is!"
Kunou declared, running over to the spot where the demon
disappeared. "If only it had not run away, I would have
shown to it the true might of Tatewaki Kunou!"
As if in response to his statement, the ground rumbled.
Suddenly, an innumerable number of shadows began popping up
across the floor. They then burst out of the ground, and a
host of purple-skinned monstrosities appeared and began
surrounding the three.
"What is this? The knave is so cowardly that it must
send its underlings to do its work!" Kunou reflected. "Of no
matter, I will defeat them all!"
"Hah, you and what army, sugar?" Ukyou said, pointing
out that Kunou was weaponless.
"Have no fear, for I always carry a spare!" Kunou said,
drawing another boken and flourishing it off into the sky.
"I shall not permit a one of these beasts to touch thee,
Akane Tendo!"
"Oh, please." Akane mumbled.
The three stood back-to-back against each other,
preparing themselves for the horde that was before them. No
single creature that stood before them was alike. They were
basically smaller versions of the huge thing that had
casually swept Kunou aside, but they were nowhere close to
being as muscular. They were mostly different in a variety
of features, such as a horn or two here, a few extra bony
ridges there, claws, fangs, they came in all sorts of sizes
and shapes. They did, however, have nasty looking
expressions on their faces, and they looked like they were
ready for some blood.
*Oh great. Ranma, where are you, you baka?* Akane
thought.
***
In a distant park, quite a ways away from Furinkan
High, something crashlanded and created a huge dustcloud in
the process. Through the dust and debris flying around can
be heard coughing and choking sounds, as well as muffled
curses which sound suspiciously like "Kawaii-kune tomboy"
and "flat-chested" and "violent", among other things. The
people at the park just stared at the mysterious cloud and
wondered amongst themselves.
As the dust cloud clears we see a disheveled Ranma
brushing himself off while muttering curses about Akane
under his breath. Remarkably, aside from his tattered
clothes, he seems to be quite fine considering he just crash-
landed from that kick Akane gave him.
A great number of people were looking at him curiously.
Ranma just faced them and laughed sheepishly. A couple,
seated on one of the benches, regarded him very, very
interestedly. One was a young man with short, brown hair,
wearing casual clothes. With him was a young lady with long
dark hair, regarding him familiarly.
Ranma's attention was jerked from the couple as a voice
behind him cried. "Ranma Saotome, you won't escape me this
time!"
Ranma turns around and sees another young man before
him, this one wearing a yellow shirt and dark pants, with a
black-striped bandanna tied around his head. He also had a
backpack and an umbrella on his back.
"Oh, great." Ranma mumbled. "Hey, Ryouga, don't you
ever quit? I thought we settled this already."
Ryouga simply drew his umbrella and points it at Ranma.
"Well, you thought wrong, Ranma!!! I've been training again
and this time I'm going to beat you! Hah!" With a cry,
Ryouga charges and tries to hit Ranma with his umbrella.
Ranma leaps up to dodge and kicks the umbrella to the side.
"You're still too slow, pig-boy." Ranma laughs.
"What? You dare mock me? Shishihokodan!"
"Aaacckkk!!!" Ranma barely dodges the ki blast which
Ryouga hurled at him. "Hey, it was a joke! No need to get
angry here!"
Ryouga whipped out several bandannas and threw them at
Ranma. Ranma easily evaded all of them. They hit the ground
and stayed there.
"If you hadn't run away from our duel, none of my
problems would ever have happened!" Ryouga picks up a nearby
bench and throws it at Ranma. Ranma dodges, but finds a huge
rock flying at him.
"Hey, easy on the scenery, Ryouga!" Ranma said, dodging
a flying tree. As Ryouga began to tear the place up, the
people in the park began screaming and scattering wildly.
"You don't want to get these people hurt, do you?"
"Shut up and fight like a man!" Ryouga tore up a statue
from a nearby water fountain and hurled the whole thing,
spouting water and all, at Ranma.
"Hey careful with that thing!" Ranma said, dodging the
water and the statue. "Or maybe you want Akane to have her
pet pig back?"
Unnoticed by Ranma or Ryouga, a black shadow slipped
past the many people running away from the fight, creeping
over to the various articles of scenery which Ryouga had
thrown around. It engulfed each in short order, and went on
to Ryouga's bandannas.
Ryouga seems to have exhausted his supply of scenery.
Looking at Ranma across the field, he clenched his fist.
"Alright, Ranma. Hold still or I'll be forced to use my
special technique!"
"Come on, Ryouga, you've damaged the park enough
already. Let's call it quits."
Ryouga would not be dissuaded. He tapped his finger
towards the ground. As Ryouga's finger touched the ground,
something big erupted in front of his face.
The huge monster which had been seen earlier at Ukyou
and Kunou's battle sprang up from the ground, but this time
it looked even larger than it was previously. It flexed it
broad back as the shocked Ryouga was thrown back.
"Hey, Ryouga, what crazy technique did you do this
time?" Ranma cried, his mouth open and aghast at the
monstrosity before him. Ryouga was still staring back and
forth from his finger to the monster, trying to figure out
what happened. Screams filled the air as the people who had
not fled the park now scambled on top of each other trying
to get away. A fight between two people was one thing, a
monster was something entirely different.
"YOU BE VERY VIOLENT,YES?" it boomed in that hideous
voice. "I WILL BE VIOLENT TO YOU!" The creature shambled
forward towards Ranma, its big fist clenched and ready to
knock Ranma into the next city.
"Sorry, but I've taken one too many flights already."
Ranma snarled. He ducked under the monster's punch and
counter jabbed into its huge muscle-bound torso. The monster
grinned at his punch, then kicked at Ranma. The young
martial-artist frantically flipped back, giving another
ineffectual kick to the thing's chin before getting out of
its reach.
*Damn, this thing is too tough!*
The thing smiled at him darkly and roared, beginning
its charge. It lumbered at him, but despite its size it was
surprisingly quick. Ranma's mind screamed, *I'm gonna die,
I'm gonna die!!!* The thing took another powerful swipe
which Ranma evaded, landing in a crouch beside Ryouga. Half
of the park's lawn was mowed away with that strike.
Ranma grabbed Ryouga, who was still staring at his
finger, by the front of his shirt, "Ryouga!!! Get rid of
that thing!!!" Ryouga snapped out of his dumb reverie and
looked at the thing, which had turned around to face them.
It wore that evil grin on its face again.
"How?" Ryouga asked.
"You should know!!!" The thing lumbered at them again.
"Just do something!!!"
Ryouga got up and faced the thing charging towards
them. It looked very eager to pummel the both of them down
to the ground. "There's only one thing I can do." Ryouga
said.
"Bakusai Tenketsu!" Ryouga drove his finger to the
ground, causing the rest of the park's lawn to shatter and
spray them with debris. The air was filled with dust and
visibility was reduced to a minimum. Ranma and Ryouga
whipped their heads around frantically, trying to determine
what had happened to their adversary.
A movement to Ranma's flank caught his eye as a huge
silhouette appeared and grew even larger. "Incoming!" Ranma
shouted, diving out of the way as the huge behemoth blasted
through the dust and debris, flailing its massive fists
around. One of the fists clipped Ranma's leg, sending him
spinning across the air. He landed a short distance away
from the monster, sprawled on his back. Ryouga, on the other
hand, reacted a little too slowly from Ranma's warning. As
Ranma leapt away, Ryouga turned his head towards Ranma's
shout and came face-to-fist with a huge purple fist. Ryouga
was thrown violently off to the side, half his face
distorted by the power of the blow.
Ranma looked up at the beast, breathing heavily, his
teeth grit in anger and determination. *What is that thing?
What does it want?* His leg felt numb, but it was nothing
serious. He could still fight.
A cry for help suddenly drew his attention from the
fight. Looking to his left, Ranma saw the couple who had
been watching them earlier. Or, more precisely, Ranma saw
the man in the haze, crying for his help. "Please, help me!
She got hit by the debris!" Ranma saw the girl he was with
earlier, down on the ground and unconscious, blood caking
the side of her head. She seemed was underneath a slab of
something, probably a remnant of the fountain Ryouga had
been throwing around earlier.
*Damn!* Ranma thought. *I have to get them to safety!
But what about Ryouga?*
The thing advanced towards Ryouga, who looked a wee bit
dazed from the hit he took. *I've got to buy Ryouga some
time to recover,* he thought, feeling his anger building up
within him. With that anger a glowing red aura slowly began
to form around him. Ranma raised a fist, where a ball of
energy was beginning to form.
"Keep to the side!" Ranma shouted to the man, who
nodded his consent.
The thing stopped its advance on Ryouga, sensing some
sort of anomaly behind it.
"How dare you attack us." Ranma said calmly at the
thing. "We weren't finished fighting yet." The behemoth
turned its head around to see Ranma standing up, aura
focusing around him, a ball of ki energy in his hands.
"DIE!!" Ranma shouted, releasing his attack at the
unwitting beast. The power of the ki blast tore into the
thing's huge chest, illiciting a roar of anger and, Ranma
hoped, pain. The thing was thrown aside, not very far, but
far enough. Ryouga shook his head and got to his feet,
regarding the creature who was in a sitting position a few
feet away, its chest smoldering.
It looked dumbly at Ranma, its black eyes of reddish
flame staring at him. Ranma felt fear then, looking into the
depths of those eyes. Ranma had fought many warriors, many
monsters. He had done so, and never once was he afraid. A
bit apprehensive perhaps, but never truly afraid. But
looking into the eyes of this creature, Ranma felt fear. He
wasn't sure why, but it was there, plain and simple.
As Ranma just stood there, the thing began to laugh. It
was a horrid, gut-wrenching laugh which shook to the very
core. It got up then, and began its charge anew. Ranma was
almost paralyzed, unable to react. Suddenly, Ryouga leapt in
front of him.
"Stop standing like a coward, Ranma. Show the thing
what you've got!" As the thing came up to them, growling its
hideous roars, Ryouga ducked under its flailing hands and
landed a powerful punch, as strong as he could muster, into
the creature's stomach. The thing barely flinched. It
swatted Ryouga aside once more, and proceeded in its
attempts to pummel Ranma.
"Ryouga, help those two!" Ranma said, indicating with a
slight nod of his head the couple. "I'll keep this thing
busy."
"Hai!" Ryouga responded. Although Ryouga might have
argued that he wouldn't back down from the fight, he
realized that his strength would be needed to get the statue
off the girl. He turned his efforts to the couple.
Meanwhile, Ranma regarded the behemoth. *It's too
powerful for me to take it down. I'll have to use my speed
and skill to distract it while Ryouga gets those two to
safety.* Ranma thought.
The creature charged Ranma once more, roaring insanely.
It took one, two swipes at Ranma, who easily dodged and
ducked. As he weaved, Ranma used his chestnut punch on the
thing's chest. The thing merely grunted in irritation and
raised a leg to kick the young martial artist. Ranma easily
dodged out of the way.
Ryouga had gotten rid of the statue and was helping the
man carry the girl.
"We must get away from here!" the man said.
"No, not yet. Ranma and I aren't finished yet." Ryouga
replied.
"You can't fight that thing!" the man insisted. "Trust
me!"
Ryouga looked curiously at this man with short hair,
dust coating his features and matting his hair. His face was
soft and unassuming, as if the man was not used to taking
charge, which made his insistence even more distressing to
Ryouga. *What does he know that we don't?*
"Please, you must come away!"
Ryouga looked at the behemoth fighting Ranma. Ranma was
desperately dodging its swipes, trying to get in hits, but
it didn't seem like he was doing any damage. Ryouga hated to
admit it, but it looked like they couldn't win this battle.
Suddenly, Ranma went in a little too deep while trying to
land a very telling blow. Ranma connected, unfortunately, it
didn't do much good and it gave the monster a perfect shot
at him. Ranma was in too awkward a position to evade the
monster's retaliatory attack.
The young martial artist flew towards Ryouga and the
couple, crashing painfully into the ground beside them.
"We must escape now!" the man insisted.
"HAHAHAHHA!!!!" the thing boomed. "YOUR VIOLENCE IS
SWEET!! SHALL I FINISH IT?" it took a steady advance towards
them.
"That does it!!!" Ryouga screamed, a ball of ki forming
at his hands. "You've hurt us enough!" The ball crackled as
Ryouga amassed even more energy.
Ranma got up as well, wiping blood from his mouth.
"Let's show that thing what a real martial artist is made
of, Ryouga." Ranma said, a ball of ki forming in his hands
as well.
"Full Shishihokodan!!!"
"Moko Takabisha!!!"
Ranma and Ryouga sent their balls of energy towards the
creature, impacting with the behemoth head on, blasting the
thing back, way back, through an incredible wake of
destruction. It was gone.
Ryouga fell to one knee, panting. Ranma almost
collapsed, his red aura flickering away. They had put all of
their energy into that final attack. The young man just
stood there, carrying his ladyfriend, aghast at the
destruction he had witnessed.
Bloodcurdling laughter echoed behind them.
Suddenly alert, the three faced the source of the
laughter. Standing amidst the destruction a ways back was a
figure. It was humanoid, nay, it looked very much like a
human male. The skin of his face was a pale, shadeless
white, ghastly in contrast to its dark raiment. His long,
black hair flowed across the sides of his face, blowing
slightly in the wind. The rest of his body could not clearly
be seen, covered as it was in a wide sweeping cape which
wafted in the breeze. His features were sharp, very refined.
Women would have called him handsome. The severity of his
look, however, as well as the coldness in his dark, black
eyes, gave him an inhuman quality which stole all the
attractiveness from his dark beauty.
"You have simply given the Darguro more power with your
futile attacks." he said derisively, as if talking to a
lesser form of life. He might have been. "But I am sure it
is done collecting energy from you worthless fools. It was
an interesting show, but I regret I must end this now."
From beneath his cape, he drew forth an arm garbed in
black finery. The hand was covered by a black glove, which
seemed darker than the darkest night. He extended that hand
towards them, fingers pointed stiffly. He smiled.
A globe of dark energy crackled at his fingertips. His
laughter broke out again, chilling their beings to the very
core.
Ranma and Ryouga stood up, taking combat stances in
front of the couple. "I can't believe that it would end like
this, Ryouga." Ranma said tiredly.
"I would never have thought..." Ryouga agreed. They
were both tired, too tired to form any semblance of defense.
They had put all their energy into that final ki attack --
they were drained as dry as a cup in the desert.
The dark energy reached its climax as the man sent it
towards them, all the while laughing that twisted laugh.
"DIE!"
Ranma felt a hand to his back.
"It shall not end like this." The man said, head bowed,
eyes closed. Ranma and Ryouga turned to regard him, the dark
energy behind them momentarily forgotten. He suddenly drew
them near, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished.
The dark energy blasted into the ground where the four
had been standing, devastating the surrounding area even
more. The explosion was tremendous, but the force did no
more than ruffle the mysterious man's cape.
"Hmm... an ESPer... very interesting." He mumbled, and
he turned away into the dark.
***
*----------------------
Something's wrong in Nerima...
In the next episode of... The Dark Crucible
People from all over the aniverse drop into Tokyo's west
side district! Who are these people, and what role will
they play in determining the fate of Nerima?
*----------------------
*** BLAH BLAH BLAH...
Standard disclaimers go to RT and everyone else who I'll be
stealing ideas from. For the record, this fic was partly
inspired by Karl Rim's "The Darker Half" Ranma fanfic.
Thanks to all the guys at the Fanfic ML 2 (Which was up
while the Main List was down around 1997).
After downing a pint of melon milk, I've finally managed
to wrap this first part up. Things are still going slow,
but hopefully that will change as the story picks up.
This episode has undergone several minor revisions, and so
has this BLAH section. My ISP has changed since I last
wrote this, so I've revised my e-mail to my more permanent
Geocities account. Well, hope you enjoyed it and that you'll
stick around for the next episode.
End -- The Dark Crucible - Episode 1 v1.1
*----------------------