This is it... the final battle in the war between Crystal 

Tokyo's Sailor Senshi and Nemesis' Fenril Knights. And of 

course, someone who's been asking for it the entire war 

is going to get what's coming to her. 





---------------------------------------





         Souls of Fire #12: Ragnarok 



              Ranma 1/2 VS Sailor Moon 



  Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NYChotmail.com) 

  http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/sm/index.html



  Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and characters belong to 

Naoko Takeuchi.  Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to 

Rumiko Takahashi.  Proper licenses belong to respective 

properties and characters.  The manga has precedence 

over material in the anime.  



  This file can be freely distributed so long as it 

appears in its complete form and proper credit.  No 

part may be reproduced for monetary gain without 

permission from the author.  



---------------------------------------------------- 



Interview 7 



  "A soul... it's something that defines us for who and 

what we are.  It's an intangible wisp of essence.  The 

ancient cultures described it as the breath of life, 

and perhaps they aren't so far from the truth.  These 

days it's what some people would call 'character,' I 

suppose.  Well, whatever term you use... a soul is 

what makes you... you."  



  "In my travels I've come to learn what others would 

consider the supreme being, and the most interesting 

one I've heard yet was this: God is the culmination of 

each and every soul that existed, before, now, and that 

have yet to be.  That we are all a small, yet 

significant part, of a greater whole, of something 

grand and special.  A world where all is one, unified, 

and whole."  



  "I don't necessarily agree with this guy, and it's 

only natural that everyone decide to define their own 

beliefs.  Yet, somehow, when you over-analyze the 

wording like Kanna does, you see a certain truth in the 

matter.  But that's neither here nor there."  



  "I'm telling you I got to experience the idea first- 

hand, and let me tell you, it wasn't in a pleasant 

way."  



--- 



Sky Deck, Night Hammer 



  Floating in a nearly-airless sea of space, the wedge- 

shaped Mishima-made airship maintained high orbit over 

Nemesis, directly above the capitol city of Darkhold.  

The entire deck, made up of black energy collectors, 

crackled with electrical pulses, converting its newly- 

acquired power and charging the Dead End Buster in 

moments.  



  Cinder mentally cursed the timing, standing over the 

fallen Ryoga Hibiki, having to abort his attack from 

the sudden lack of oxygen in the air.  His cavernous 

breaths sucked in air like a vacuum, unable to find 

enough to satisfy the void within his breathers.  Using 

his mind Cinder concentrated on the two oxygen tanks 

strapped to his back beneath his traveling cloak, 

turning the valves open with psychokinetic power.  



  It was this momentary pause that allowed Ryoga to 

escape his punishment for betrayal, and the moment the 

oxygen started filling him again the salamander was 

tackled from behind by an energy burst from one of the 

Sailor Senshi.  He was fortunate that, despite his 

rather openness, the attacker was also disoriented by 

the atmospheric change as well, and the blast was not 

as strong as it could have been.  



  Cinder spun quickly, and his mechanical eye tracked 

Sailor Mars as the offender.  The eye rotated outward 

to focus, and he noted that she was also having trouble 

breathing, but not as bad as the salamander; the humans 

required a lot less oxygen than Cinder did.  



  "A little less toast than usual, eh?" he snorted.  



  Before Mars could fire off a response, Cinder spread 

his arms out to the sides, and jetted gales of flame to 

Uranus and Mercury, who were attempting side attacks.  

He then lowered his steel-pronged tail behind him under 

the bottom of his robe, and threw a fireball behind him 

at Ryoga with its forked end.  



  "Blast it, girl," he cursed, wondering where the 

priestess went, "what happened to the artificial 

atmosphere?"  



  For that matter, it was likely he was under the 

affects of the Nemesis gravity, too, which was a bit 

lighter than Earth's.  Not that it gave him a huge 

advantage; all Cinder cared for was a constant source 

of high-concentration oxygen, and the Night Hammer's 

atmospheric envelope wasn't turned on.  



  It also meant the ship could not break into space.  



  "NOW would be a good time, Lady Sypha," he hissed 

to himself, charging his mechanical eye's blaster and 

aiming for Sailor Mars.  



--- 



  Despite the light show, Taro's hand never left 

Shizuka's neck, and she remained dangling over the 

deck, her arms hanging loosely to her sides.  All 

signs of struggle seemed to have ended long ago, but 

the girl was still laughing.  



  "Cheap trick," he muttered.  



  "Let her go!" he heard Sailor Moon shout from 

behind.  



  He turned to face her, and saw that Ranma was with 

her.  "Ah, Femme-boy.  You sided with the Queen of 

Broken Hearts, eh?"  



  "Tough luck, I don't change into a girl anymore," 

Ranma informed him.  



  "Even then, you're still the same hermaphrodite as 

before," Taro replied sharply.  "Have you come to 

witness my ascension?  This girl holds the key to that, 

and I will become a true god."  



  "You can't be serious," Ranma said in disbelief.  

"Her?"  



  "Oh, thanks for the vote of confidence," Shizuka 

muttered.  



  "But why her?" asked Sailor Moon, her fingers tight 

on the shaft of her wand.  



  "I did a bit of studying since we last met, oh 

Queen," Pantyhose Taro said, spitting out the last 

word in contempt.  "I prepared, and engineered the 

deaths of all my rivals to godhood when I learned that 

Deathclaw needs to take on a host in order to interact 

with the living.  Consequently the beast absorbs the 

souls of those who become his host."  



  "And since Shizuka currently hosts Deathclaw you're 

going to sponge the heart crystals out of him, huh?" 

realized Ranma.  "That's crazy."  



  "With enough heart crystals perhaps you could rival 

a god," Sailor Moon granted, "but your heart will 

never know joy."  



  Taro's gloved arm crackled with black lightning.  

"I define joy!"  



  The dark energy lanced through Shizuka's chest, but 

the girl would concede no pain.  Taro granted that it 

was admirable that she refused to show weakness even 

now, but he promised to make his threat very real to 

her nevertheless.  He could already feel her heart 

crystal emerge despite its strong protests.  



  "Shizuka, fight it!" encouraged Sailor Moon.  



  "Shoot him!" Ranma ordered.  "C'mon!"  



  "I might hit her," she said, making up excuses.  It 

sounded very weak to Taro's ears; she was definitely 

going to get pancaked second.  "I might hit the heart 

crystals!"  



  "Goddamnit, shoot me!" Shizuka cried, obviously 

growing impatient.  



  "You can't die yet," Taro replied softly, 

sadistically.  



  "We can't let him win like this!" Femme-boy yelled 

anxiously.  



  He turned his attention completely on Shizuka, and 

saw that her heart crystal was halfway out.  Taro 

chuckled in delight when he saw that another heart 

crystal was emerging from within the girl's, likely one 

of the absorbed crystals.  It raced to join the orbit 

of Taro's remaining three heart crystals, and soon 

more heart crystals appeared.  



  And then they started flying out loosely.  



  "Yes," he roared.  "YES!! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-hah!!"  



  "You neglected one thing," he heard a voice say, but 

the source could not be heard through his ears.  Taro 

could not put a finger on the voice, as it seemed to be 

a strange amalgam of a man and a woman.  Yet, only the 

female voice seemed familiar... and it hit him.  



  "Get out of my head," he muttered lowly, drawing 

heart crystals out at a faster rate until no more would 

emerge.  He struggled to pry out Shizuka's crystal, 

which was still resisting with unimaginable force.  



  "Ironic, that in your bid for power you failed to 

consider your own parasite is engineering your 

demise," Shizuka/Deathclaw informed him.  "How ironic, 

that you neglected to consider the curse of the ghost 

dragon in your hasty desire!"  



  "What?!" he gasped, realizing that he did neglect 

something.  



  "Fool," Taro heard a third voice say, this one in the 

sound of his own voice, but not his voice.  "Thanks to 

you, my revival is complete."  



  "You!" he screamed frantically.  "What are you 

doing?!"  



  "Taking over," the unwelcome one said simply.  



  "No, stop!" Taro cried, releasing his hold on 

Shizuka, dropping her on the ground like a rag doll.  

He turned away, clutching at his chest in pain as the 

numerous heart crystals spinning around him caved-in 

over him.  



  "Taro!" Sailor Moon cried.  



  Pantyhose Taro screamed in terror, the parasite that 

guided him this far consuming his body as the curse of 

Deathclaw enraptured his soul.  



--- 



  His weakness was becoming very apparent to the 

enemy, Cinder noted, as he consumed too much of his 

precious oxygen reserves just to keep the Sailor Senshi 

and Ryoga at bay.  It never seemed to end; Uranus would 

attack, then Ryoga, then Mars, then Neptune, then 

Mercury, all taking turns to get a shot in, and 

sometimes they did it at the same time.  



  No man could endure such odds, but then, Cinder was 

no man.  He vowed to lay his life down for his lord, 

and that was exactly what he intended to do, even if 

he had to join him in death.  



  The circle formed by his opponents spread wider 

when the help arrived, forming a circle around the 

exhausted Cinder.  Each of the remaining Fenril Knights 

appeared in a shifting dark shadow, materializing with 

the power of their black crystal shards.  



  "More of them!" Uranus shouted.  



  "Sorry we took so long," Ukyo said, holding her 

giant combat spatula ready in her hands.  



  "How typical," Mousse snorted, the crippled warrior 

equipped with arm-mounted blades that did not require 

the use of his hands, "that these guys gang up like 

this."  



  "The odds are still in our favor," Kanna added, 

spinning her scythe once in readiness.  



  Sypha raised her claws from the ground.  "Even if I 

hold back, this is still unfair to them."  



  "Hah, now this is more like it!" Ryoga shouted.  



  "The traitor's mine," Cinder decided, quickly 

gathering his breath.  "But Shizuka needs to turn on 

the atmospheric envelope before we all get exhausted.  

Vizier is tying her up."  



  "We'll work on it," assured Ukyo.  "Just keep your 

guy to yourself, and we'll do the same!"  



  Each of the five Fenril Knights charged, spreading 

out from their circle to their five opponents.  



--- 



  Myriad of heart crystals buried Pantyhose Taro like 

iron filings to a magnet, and the warrior remained 

prone on the ground, unmoving, without making a sound.  

Sailor Moon took careful steps toward the fallen one, 

her eyes momentarily glancing toward Shizuka, who 

seemed to be coming around on her own despite being 

thrown around and gutted.  



  "Careful," warned Ranma.  "He's a tricky guy."  



  "I need to find Sailor Venus," she replied, holding 

her wand out.  "This may be the last chance."  



  "And what about the others?" the martial artist 

asked.  "Don't they all deserve another chance at 

life?"  



  "It's not that simple," she replied.  "Cinder was 

right; it's inhuman to keep resurrecting people, but it 

is wrong to take away a life in this manner.  I only 

know that Sailor Venus understands this."  



  "Yeah, well, it's just I'm not so eager to get 

Kodachi back," Ranma admitted reluctantly.  



  Using the head of the wand like a magnet, a single 

heart crystal, shining much brighter than the rest of 

the mass, emerged from the pile and flitted toward 

her.  The crystal vanished into the head, and Sailor 

Moon knew she found her lost friend.  



  And yet, pulling that single crystal away seemed to 

jar Pantyhose Taro into action, as the mass began to 

quake.  A blackened, bony claw tore from beneath the 

pile, with nails that extended outward sharply.  All at 

once the heart crystals reacted, producing a light that 

hurt Sailor Moon's eyes.  



  "Give back what you have taken," Taro rumbled, the 

light increasing in intensity.  



  "What the hell...?!" Ranma gasped.  The voice indeed 

belonged to the martial artist, but at the same time, 

it sounded nothing like him.  



--- 



  Crimson light illuminated the sky over Darkhold, 

silhouetting the wedge-shaped Night Hammer over the 

heads of the Crystal Tokyo populace.  Where battles 

raged in the heavens above the eyes of the people 

gazed upward to the sign of an apocalypse.  



  Emerging from Ukyo's restaurant, Cologne's old and 

weary eyes peered into the illuminated sky.  It was now 

common knowledge that the owner, Ukyo, was the resident 

Fenril administrator watching over the people of 

Crystal Tokyo, ever since she disappeared and Cologne 

took over the restaurant.  It was not a hard puzzle for 

the people to figure out, and Ukyo knew it would happen 

eventually, but she decided she had to exert her 

authority over the other two Fenril lords and quit 

dodging her responsibility.  



  "So the battle has finally come?" she said to 

herself.  



--- 



  Battles raging over the sky deck ceased completely as 

the heart crystals blinded them.  Ukyo held Sailor Mars 

pinned down by the length of her spatula.  Kanna 

lowered her scythe in her engagement against Uranus, 

who lowered her own sword.  Ryoga dared not release his 

parry on Cinder's slashing arms, as they continued to 

waver against his brute strength.  Sypha merely stared 

bored toward Taro's direction, having tied up Mercury 

with magical bonds from her crystal ball.  Neptune and 

Mousse backed off from each other as they faced the 

crimson light.  



  Ranma could barely see anything in the blinding 

light, but if he had to make a guess he'd say that Taro 

was getting larger by the moment.  



  "He's merging with the heart crystals," Sailor Moon 

warned, as Taro's back burst into many flailing 

strips of skin.  



  And then the martial artist realized what was 

happening.  "He's transforming... without cold water?"  



  Pantyhose Taro roared in pain as the transformation 

consumed him, his voice tortured by unimaginable 

suffering.  His voice was joined by those heart 

crystals he consumed in his mad bid for power, having 

sucked them from Shizuka's soul.  Whatever it was that 

was going on in his body, Ranma wished no one would 

experience it.  



  "I live," the monster rumbled.  "I live!"  



  "Shut the hell up, that's so cheesy," Shizuka cried, 

sounding more annoyed than anything.  



  The light faded from the monster's body, and Ranma 

saw the nightmarish Pantyhose Taro towering over him, 

not unlike any previous encounter.  The brown-furred 

behemoth stood on hooved feet, with a long tail 

thrashing about behind it, its tip ending in the head 

of an eel.  His arms were huge and muscular, and could 

manipulate objects as easily as any man.  Large white 

wings spread from the behemoth's back, along with many 

rows of octopus tentacles, thrashing about individually 

with a mind of their own.  The head was unmistakably 

that of a bull, with horns locked forward and as sharp 

as ever.  The monster's blood-shot eyes stared down at 

him and Sailor Moon, and he growled in anger.  



  The only difference between this encounter and any 

previous was the fact that another set of eyes and 

mouths opened up in the creature's chest, creating a 

second, more twisted, demonic face.  



  "Vizier," Sailor Moon whispered, awed.  



  "What happened to Pantyhose Taro?!" demanded Ranma, 

unusually worried.  



  "He is a slave to his body," Shizuka revealed.  "The 

parasite within him is too strong for him, and it 

consumed him.  Such is the fate of those weaklings who 

attempt to become one with a god; Taro's thirst for 

power ended in his own undoing, the same as the undoing 

of those before who tried to tame Deathclaw's power."  



  "Look at this magnificent body," Vizier proclaimed, 

the voice emerging from the face in the chest.  "I must 

thank you, Sailor Moon, for helping me to get this 

far into my ultimate plans."  



  "You planned to do this all along?" Sailor Moon 

realized.  "You wanted us to destroy your previous 

body, just so you could take the time to find another, 

more powerful one."  



  "Exactly," admitted the monster.  "When you thought 

me destroyed, just like my brethren, you wouldn't pay 

me any mind while I worked in the shadows of the Silver 

Crystal's light.  The plan was set back, however, when 

another interfered... but ironically it ensured my own 

survival."  



  "Death Phantom."  



  "It was my dark brother that opposed me, and he 

carried the victims of my essence forward to this time 

from that last battle," continued Vizier.  "He saw it 

fit to use me while I continued to dwell in my dormant 

stage.  He did not count on my awakening, not at this 

critical juncture in his own bid for ascension."  



  "What's this all about?" demanded Ranma.  



  "It's about the reason you exist in this time," 

Vizier answered.  "Death Phantom conquered Sailor Pluto 

and traveled back in time, to the point before the 

Great Sleep, and attempted to destroy Crystal Tokyo by 

making sure it never existed.  In the process, he 

ended up creating it.  So in order to ensure his own 

future back in his time he brought you and your allies 

forward in time to fight this war for him... to buy him 

time to power his Black Crystal and attain his 

ascension.  All of you are nothing but pawns to Death 

Phantom's ambition."  



  "Is that supposed to change anything?" asked Shizuka, 

getting up to her feet to join Sailor Moon and Ranma.  

"Removing us from the timeline... preventing us from 

stopping what might have been...."  



  "It was because all of it already happened," Cinder 

interrupted.  



  Ranma turned, and saw the others had joined them.  

Side-by-side the Fenril Knights and Sailor Senshi stood 

facing the monster, each knowing where the bigger 

threat lay.  It transcended beyond their differences, 

and although the hasty alliance was yet uneasy, it 

looked good to Ranma.  



  "Who's to say that?" Vizier sneered.  "Because of 

Death Phantom, your benefactor," he held the last word 

in scorn, "all of you lost everything, because you 

weren't there to prevent the tragedies."  



  "Then you must know as well as I that I was the 

Guardian of the Seal to the Shrine of the Four Gods," 

the salamander revealed.  "The reason they could not 

thwart the Mekani attack by sealing the gate was due to 

my absence, and the absence of each and every 

individual who had the potential to learn the sealing 

rite."  He gestured to the remaining Fenril Knights, 

but pointed no fingers.  



  "I should've known this was his fault," Sailor Mars 

shot angrily.  "Millions died because of that old 

freak!"  



  "But yet it was still our hand that carried it out," 

Sailor Moon added.  "We are as much to blame as he 

is."  



  "If the point of origin was from this time," Sypha 

reasoned, "then the past may as well be set in stone.  

Our world was lost before we knew it; it was written 

out before we could live it."  The sorcerer shook her 

head.  "It's no use to dwell on what might have been!"  



  "Even if all of that's true," said Ukyo, sounding 

quite unnerved about the revelation, "I still see a 

monster in front of me.  Whoever you are, Vizier, what 

right does it give you to kill everyone for your own 

selfish ambition?"  



  "Ask the same of your benefactor," countered Vizier.  



  Kanna merely laughed.  "But still, Mr. Vizier... why 

don't you tell us all about your little prophecy."  



  All eyes turned toward the Crystal Spider.  



  "The Children of Chaos emerge from the defeat of 

their father, that much I'm sure you all know," Kanna 

explained.  "But what the prophecy is fuzzy on is how 

it can be fulfilled.  That's never explained, and the 

exact prophecy's wording has been lost in time.  The 

answer is the reason you five fight each other."  



  "An interesting observation," Vizier granted.  



  "It's not enough that Chaos be avenged, but that one 

of you take his place as well.  It's a rite of 

succession."  



  "So all of this is one glorified power struggle," 

Ranma noted.  



  "And the last one left wins by default," Ryoga knew.  



  "But now there's only just Death Phantom and Vizier," 

Sailor Uranus pointed out.  "We destroyed the other 

three a long time ago."  



  "So you were planning to wait-out Death Phantom's 

destruction so you could claim Chaos' throne," Mercury 

concluded.  "The reason for the virus was to ensure 

your survival and eventual revival at the right moment, 

not any desire to Silence Earth.  It's only 

consequential."  



  "I care nothing for this planet," the Chaos Child 

admitted.  "Nor do I care for your Silver Crystal, yet 

it is ever a threat to my power.  Both that and the 

Black Crystal rely on the hearts of the people in order 

to function, but if I eliminate the people, I 

eliminate the threat."  



  He gazed toward the heavens above.  "When the 

advance Mekani fleet arrives, they will slaughter the 

people of Earth and Nemesis with impunity!  With the 

coming of Silence, all my enemies will be defeated, 

and I, Vizier, will reign supreme!"  



  "Kiss it!" Shizuka shouted, revealing the master 

control of the Night Hammer.  She pressed a green 

button on the top row.  



  Ranma felt the air dense up as the atmospheric 

envelope initiated, filling the air around the sky 

deck with more free air than Earth's polluted 

atmosphere; Cinder described it as the air the Kami 

Plane's Earth was graced with.  The cleanliness did not 

hold his attention long, however, as the martial artist 

realized that said salamander was powering-up his fire 

ability, now that he was revitalized with the ever- 

precious oxygen content.  



  He also felt the tug of gravity pull down against 

his body, but Ranma got used to it immediately as the 

gravity level adjusted to Earth standard.  The ground 

rumbled beneath his feet as the main engines of the 

airship roared to life, so now it was noticeable that 

the Night Hammer was ascending beyond the atmosphere.  



  "Alright," decided Ranma, "so it basically boils down 

to which one of 'em we'd rather live with."  



  "Why's that?" asked Ukyo, blinking.  



  "If we take the time to stop one of them," Sypha 

explained, "that will leave the other to ascend to the 

mantle of Chaos.  A perfect plan, a perfect dilemma!"  



  "Why can't we just take both of them down at once?" 

wondered Sailor Mars, obviously itching for Death 

Phantom's head.  



  "Time for debate is over!" Cinder declared, 

transforming furiously into a great fireball.  Those 

standing near him backed away as the fireball rocketed 

to tackle Vizier in the chest, but the Chaos creature 

barely seemed to feel it.  With a butt back using only 

his chest Cinder was sent flying backward, and 

disappeared from view.  



  "It's as Vizier said," Mercury said.  "If we let 

Vizier go the Mekani will arrive and wipe out the 

people of Earth.  Death Phantom perfectly engineered 

his plan such that we have to take out Vizier no matter 

what we think about him."  



  "Then Vizier's merely a pawn, too," Kanna snorted in 

amusement.  "And the fool doesn't know it."  



  No sooner had Cinder rocketed back into view Sypha 

fireballed as well, and both kami launched themselves 

head-on into Vizier's chest.  Both seemed to bounce off 

the monster, being pushed back a long way, but the two, 

ever so stubborn, wheeled around for another pass.  



  "Well, are you just going to stand there?!" Mousse 

cried impatiently, raising an arm blade.  "Let's get 

him!"  



  "It's folly to oppose a god!" Vizier declared, 

raising a hand in Mousse's direction.  From each of his 

fingers ink blots flew outward, and scattered the front 

his enemies were making on him.  



--- 



  The corridors seemed dark and cold.  Footsteps 

echoed in the decks below the sky deck, unnoticed by 

any who battled above.  The only question on this one's 

mind was, "What's going on?"  



  There was no one around to answer, but the latecomer 

to the conflict resolved to find out.  



--- 



  Ink as black as night jetted from Vizier's 

fingertips, launching at a spread that forced his 

arrayed opponents to scatter.  The bestial, bull head 

rumbled a low chuckle, one which Ranma was all too 

familiar with in his previous encounters.  What was 

more eerie, however, was that the twisted, demonic face 

in Taro's chest was laughing along with it.  Blood-red 

eyes gazed separately from the true head, folding hide 

in sickening directions that made Ranma feel like 

vomiting.  



  The beast that was now Vizier was unworldly, more so 

than Pantyhose Taro, the twisted chimera, had ever 

been.  More so than the kami salamander Cinder, the 

obsidian-scaled lizard maimed by his experiences on 

Earth, and even more twisted with the perverted steel 

grafts.  More so than Sypha, beautiful and regal in her 

human guise, magnificent and terrifying in her true 

form.  Even more than Deathclaw, the disgusting 

spectral dragon skeleton, and the normal-appearing girl 

he possessed.  No, Vizier was a far greater perversion, 

that of life itself.  



  And Ranma was partly responsible for his awakening.  



  He never shared his experiences under the influence 

of the Chaos cells to anyone, not even Akane.  The 

black crystal jewel the martial artist assembled was 

but a mere tool to trigger Vizier's revival from his 

dormant stage.  It was the cells that fed him the idea, 

and Ranma knew that, out of the remaining Fenril 

Knights, Vizier was trying to decide whether to take 

him or Taro as his host.  



  If it wasn't for Sailor Moon, Ranma would be the one 

with that twisted face in his chest.  



  He dodged a flailing tentacle as Vizier divided his 

attention on his numerous attackers.  Although 

outnumbered the revived Chaos Child was not allowing 

anyone to get a good hit in, and whatever spatula, 

knife, or fireball that did get past the defense none 

of those hardly seemed to faze him.  



  "I traded Pantyhose Taro's life for my own," he 

realized suddenly.  "I made Vizier choose him instead 

of me... this is my fault!"  



  "What?" he heard Sailor Moon cry.  "That's not true!"  



  He felt the warmness of his own ki around him.  "I 

was this close to becoming Vizier's host... he wanted 

me... until I rejected the crystal."  Ranma clenched 

his fists in anger.  "This guy's gonna pay!"  



  "Aw, shit!" he heard Ukyo curse.  Ranma risked 

tearing his eyes away from Vizier and glanced toward 

his old friend.  She stared up and beyond the bow of 

the Night Hammer, and Ranma did the same.  



  He felt the eyes of all combatants, including that 

of Vizier, forget the battle and focus on the anomaly 

in the space beyond Nemesis, off the port of the 

airship.  A ripple emerged, highlighted by azure 

energy, from a point of light in the midst of 

nothing.  The point expanded, spreading in a pattern 

from the center in what resembled a spider web.  



  The point at the center grew larger, and four probe- 

like appendages emerged.  Each spread outward from the 

center, spreading across and forming the shape of an 

insectoid in Ranma's mind.  As the hole grew larger the 

body connecting the four leg appendages emerged, in a 

large, spherical shape.  At the forefront of the 

sphere was what appeared to be a large, ruby diamond 

shape, ringed by gold.  



  From this distance the giant spheroid creature 

appeared to be as large as Sailor Moon's head, from a 

quick size comparison, but Ranma knew it was only 

because the beast was far off.  The martial artist 

could not tell the distance without any point of 

reference beyond the port.  



  "That," he heard Kanna say, "is one big spider...."  



  "Ah, they've finally arrived!" Vizier proclaimed, 

obviously pleased.  "You fools, you're too late to stop 

them now."  



  "I hope they aren't just sending just one of those 

big things," muttered Ukyo.  



  "That beast isn't just one Mekani," Uranus warned.  

"It's a lot of smaller Mekani put together."  



  "You're kidding," the okonomiyaki chef replied in 

disbelief.  



  "I wish I were," she admitted.  "These Mekani are far 

more advanced than the ones we fought before.  The 

giant you see there is an optical illusion; up close 

all the spheroids are visible and link up like a cell 

lattice."  



  "I feel chemistry lessons coming on," Kanna 

recognized.  "They move like one mass, and when they're 

ready to deploy they break off from the whole.  How 

interesting."  



  "And there's nothing you can do to stop them!" the 

Chaos Child declared, drawing all attention back to 

himself as the Mekani cluster continued to emerge from 

the center of the web.  



  "Wanna bet?" Shizuka shouted, holding out the remote 

control box.  



  "You idiot," Ranma muttered, noting in a split 

second that Vizier's palm was aiming toward the 

priestess of Genbu.  His body moving automatically, he 

tried to tackle the girl before the black energy 

lancing from Vizier's palm could reach her.  



  And yet, the darkness somehow traveled faster than 

he, or anyone else that realized how much in danger 

Shizuka was in.  Ranma was certain Shizuka didn't have 

the time to realize she was in trouble as she screamed, 

the dark energy engulfing her.  The martial artist was 

thrown back and away from the impact point centered on 

the girl, as were anyone within five meters.  



  "Shizuka!" everyone seemed to shout at once, a dark 

void sphere inhabiting the area where the priestess 

once stood.  



  "Pity," Vizier said, his bull head laughing, "there 

goes your only chance to fire the Dead End Buster." 



  Flame encircled Cinder's robed form, and Sypha, too, 

appeared ready to continue the melee.  Vizier was only 

too happy to oblige, and the three resumed the fight, 

with the others following suit.  Ranma stood there, 

torn between continuing the fight and the fallen 

priestess.  



  The dark sphere cracked, then shattered like glass, 

but without a sound.  Black smoke billowed from its 

entrapped area, and Ranma waved the foul odor from his 

nostrils.  As it cleared he made out a human shape, and 

knew it was Shizuka, kneeling on the ground.  



  Sailor Moon and Kanna rushed to her side immediately, 

and when the smoke dissipated completely Ranma 

understood.  



  Shizuka collapsed face-first onto the deck, 

revealing that which she was hiding close to her chest.  

The very arm holding the control box slowly edged its 

way out from under her body, and where there should 

have been her left hand was a smoking stump.  



  Kanna bent her knees, and reached down to feel the 

girl's pulse.  "She's still breathing."  



  Reaching down to the priestess' sleeve the Crystal 

Spider found Shizuka's black crystal prism, dangling 

from the end on a chord, and pulled it free.  She held 

it out to Sailor Moon.  "Here."  



  "What's this for?" she asked, staring at the dark 

prism apprehensively.  



  "She's not going to need it," Kanna explained.  "And 

without one I can't take you to see Wiseman."  



  "What about Vizier?" Moon asked, obviously torn.  



  "They can take care of Vizier," the tactician 

insisted.  "If you want to stop the both of them, you 

need me to take you to Wiseman."  



  "Sailor Moon, just go," Ranma chipped in, stepping in 

closer to the girls.  "We can deal with Vizier."  



  "What about the Mekani?"  



  The martial artist shrugged.  "We'll deal with that 

when we come to it, I guess."  



  Sailor Moon smiled.  "Do your best."  She turned back 

toward Kanna, and placed her hand on the prism.  "It's 

now or never."  



  "See you on the flip side," Kanna said to Ranma, 

nodding.  



  In the blink of an eye, the air shifted around both 

Sailor Moon and Kanna, vanishing into thin air.  Ranma 

stared down at Shizuka, her fingers twitching.  He 

caught sight of a spectral force emerging from the 

stump, and Ranma knew Deathclaw was taking the 

opportunity to assert control over the unconscious 

girl's body.  



  "It's now or never," he decided, deciding to gauge 

his remaining time on Deathclaw's awakening.  



  Ranma leaped over a thrashing tentacle threatening 

to bring him off his feet, and tried to edge in closer 

to Vizier's body.  The beast's back was turned, his 

full attention on the attacks the Sailor Senshi and 

Sypha and Cinder were giving him, as they were the ones 

getting in apparent hits with their magic and energy 

attacks.  More tentacles, seemingly having a mind of 

their own, diverted their attention onto Ranma as he 

was getting closer.  



  He raised his arms high to block a bludgeon overhead 

attack.  "Ryoga! Mousse! Ukyo!" he shouted, calling off 

names he could trust.  "Get these things off of me!"  



  Ducking under another tentacle the martial artist 

barely noticed that a spatula bit into the cartilage 

skin, and to his right another one was severed by 

Mousse's arm blades.  Another tentacle wrapped itself 

around Ranma's feet, and he fell onto his back.  Ryoga 

rushed to his aid, kicking another tentacle away hard, 

and began to pry at the one at Ranma's feet.  



  "We can't put up with this much longer," Ryoga 

muttered, overpowering the tentacle's grip.  Ranma 

scrambled backward, retreating from the tentacle mass.  



  "And I'm almost out," reported Ukyo, indicating she 

was running out of throwing spatulas.  



  Mousse took another quick swing, severing a stray 

tentacle heading his way.  "This is ridiculous!  

There's more of us fighting Pantyhose Taro this time 

around and we still can't get a hit in!"  



  "Don't look at me!" Ukyo replied.  



  "But it ISN'T any different from the other times!" 

Ranma said, coming up with a bright idea.  His eyes 

scanned around the stretch of the sky deck, and an idea 

hit him.  



  Turning his attention back to his friends, he 

instructed, "Tell Cinder to set up his sealing spell, 

and Sypha a dark grid.  I need the Sailor Senshi to 

concentrate their attacks on Vizier when I give the 

signal."  



  "And what're you doing?" wondered Ryoga.  



  "Never mind, just do it!" Ukyo interrupted before 

Ranma could explain.  She gave him a concerned look.  

"I hope you know what you're doing, Ranchan...."  



  "Trust me, I'm makin' it up as I go along," he 

offered with a smile.  



  Mousse gave a quick warrior's salute with his arm 

blade.  "Good luck, you'll need it!"  



  Ranma saw it in their eyes; both Ukyo and Mousse, 

even with the reflection off his glasses, caught on to 

what he was up to, but Ryoga hadn't yet.  It didn't 

matter; he'll find out soon enough, too.  



  He had no time to consider if the two kami would be 

uncooperative; Ranma just needed to get Vizier's 

attention, and then worry about his own hide.  



  Ranma held his palms out, and great bolts of ki 

leaped forth.  Both bolts slammed past the tentacles, 

and impacted on Vizier himself.  The Chaos beast's bull 

head craned his direction in anger, and more tentacles 

lashed out in Ranma's direction.  



  So far, so good, he thought, breaking into a sprint 

with the tentacles trailing after.  Ranma directed 

himself toward the Dead End Buster's barrel, and he 

knew Vizier was going out of his way to ignore the 

others to keep the tentacles in range.  



  He leaped up and stood at the edge of the barrel of 

the Dead End Buster, the tentacles slowing in their 

chase.  Ranma glanced down at Sypha's direction, and 

she had just finished weaving her black magic.  In a 

translucent screen before him a black chain-link grid 

appeared before the martial artist, and the tentacles 

tried to run through them, just as expected.  



  "Yes!" Ranma cried, satisfied the ruse he used on 

Taro long before worked even now.  It was in the nature 

of the octopus tentacles to seek shelter in cramped 

spaces, after all.  



  Unfortunately, Ranma's luck chose to run out, and 

the tentacles pushed him further into the barrel.  



  This was not part of the plan, he kept telling 

himself.  Should've gotten out of the way sooner!  



  Ranma turned around, staring back down toward the end 

of the barrel.  Vizier's body completely blocked the 

exit, and his glowing eyes offered the only source of 

illumination.  His face was twisted in pain, and Ranma 

knew that Cinder had succeeded in paralyzing him with 

the sealing magic.  The spell effectively used Vizier's 

body to completely seal the 'opening' offered by the 

cannon barrel, putting him in a good position for 

firing the Buster.  



  He realized he never thought that far ahead, either; 

the control box went up with Shizuka.  



  "Thank you," he heard in his head, knowing the voice 

belonged to Pantyhose Taro.  Ranma, for his part, 

wished he thought through the plan a lot more.  



  "Sorry, Akane...."  



  Vizier's mouth began to glow with dark energy, and 

Ranma knew he was going to get it.  



  "No, it's not your time yet," he heard a voice say in 

his head.  "I gladly trade my life for your 

happiness...."  



  "What the...?!"  He was far too late to stop her.  



  Ranma felt the ground disappear beneath his feet, 

and the cold embrace of darkness engulfed him.  



--- 



  "He's in position," noted Ukyo, her eyes on the 

sealed barrel, "but it won't do any good unless we can 

fire the cannon."  



  "Ah, it feels good to be needed," they heard a voice 

say, projected over unseen speakers on the sky deck.  



  "That voice...!" Mercury recognized.  



--- 



  Shion leaned forward over the control console, quite 

satisfied that he was able to recover and decrypt his 

own code in time.  It was a miracle, but then, he 

prided himself on being a miracle worker.  



  He wondered if his dominating satellite feed of the 

battle, sent back to Earth over all other signals, was 

getting a good following.  It didn't matter, really, as 

the turret was already directed toward the Mekani 

cluster.  Two birds with one stone was a reasonably 

good deal.  



  Holding his thumb over the firing button, Shion 

said, "Give my regards to Orochi!"  



--- 



  Hokuto refused to release the hold her shadow hands 

had on Vizier's final energy attack, slowly pushing her 

backward with immense force.  She felt Ranma leave the 

shadow stream, feeling relieved that he would be safe.  

The Shadow Weaver felt more energy gathering behind 

her.  



  "Farewell, my love," she whispered.  "I can never 

repay for my misdeeds, and the suffering I caused... 

straying from the middle path.  My only regret...."  



  Darkness enveloped her from behind, welcoming Hokuto 

back into the night whence she came.    



--- 



  Everyone on the sky deck shielded their eyes as the 

Dead End Buster's violet lance vaporized Vizier 

completely, and continued on as if he were never there.  

The blast extended outward quickly, driving dead center 

into the ruby eye of the Mekani cluster beast.  



  When the light show was over, alarms blared all 

around the fighters, each warnings of the power drain 

coming just after a successful blast.  Deck elevators 

lowered below the deck to retrieve deployable defenses 

for the inevitable attack from the Mekani survivors.  



  Ranma, surprised he was lying on the sky deck, looked 

outward toward the Mekani web gate, and saw that the 

bulk of the spheroid was gone, but some of it, and all 

four legs, remained intact, and they were growing 

ever larger in his eyes.  



  "Why... Hokuto...?" he muttered.  Ranma forced his 

eyes shut, trying to contain himself.  "Why did you 

have to go and die?!"  



  "Here," one of the Sailor Senshi said, offering a 

gloved hand.  



  Ranma stared upward in surprise.  "It's you?"  



  Sailor Jupiter nodded.  "We're not out of the woods 

yet, you know, so we can use your help."  



  "Sailor Jupiter!" Mars and Mercury exclaimed at 

once, both surprised.  



  "Mind if I join in?" she asked.  



  "Oh great, you're still walking," Mousse groaned.  



  "Stuff it for later, Mousse," Ukyo suggested, putting 

a hand on his shoulder to stop him.  She jabbed a thumb 

backward.  "The Mekani are waiting."  



  Almost forgotten by all, the battered form of 

Shizuka rose, supporting her stump arm with a ghostly, 

skeletal claw.  



  "I... awaken," Deathclaw rumbled, eyes flaring white 

with malevolence.  



--- 



Wiseman's Citadel, Nemesis 



  "Ah, I see you finally arrived," the cloaked man 

greeted as Sailor Moon and Kanna materialized on the 

ground below him.  He kept one shimmering hand held 

over the crystal ball in his lap, with the image of the 

battle on the Night Hammer's sky deck raging within.  



  Sailor Moon looked up toward her nemesis, and handed 

Shizuka's prism over to Kanna.  "Death Phantom... how 

can I allow you to ascend the Throne of Chaos?"  



  Wiseman merely laughed.  "You no longer have it 

within your power to stop me, not with your attentions 

divided between me and Vizier."  



  "We got that part already," Kanna snapped 

impatiently.  "Did you ever think to consider what 

might happen to Earth because of your ambition?"  



  "I would ask you the same," the old man replied, 

raising his shimmering hands to his dark hood.  

Grasping the sides with both hands, he threw it back.  



  Sailor Moon gasped.  "That's... Dr. Taydome...?"  



  "In appearance alone, I assure you," replied 

Wiseman, his voice emerging from the preserved body's 

lips.  "Earth no longer concerns me."  



  "How can you say that?" demanded the Crystal Spider.  

"We thought you wanted us to change the world."  



  "I do," he confirmed.  "But, as you know, you proved 

to be an interesting diversion to any attention that 

could've been placed on me.  In silence I've slowly 

gathered the residual energies released from your 

little war, all the while fueling the Black Crystal 

and allowing it to grow in the darkness from which it 

was born.  Carefully I concealed my true intentions 

from all of you, allowing each of you to believe what 

you wished most convenient.  I merely pointed you in 

the general direction; each of you made your choices on 

your own."  



  "You've won already, Death Phantom," Sailor Moon said 

finally.  "You've achieved your grand ascension... so 

what are you going to do with your Black Crystal now?"  



  "If he wanted to destroy us he would've done that a 

long time ago," Kanna noted.  



  "Your uses to me have not come to an end just yet," 

he admitted.  "The sampling your comrades fight now is 

only that, and I intend to reaffirm the seat of power 

in Tau Ceti by taking this moon with me home."  



  "You saved up all your black energy to move Nemesis 

back to Tau Ceti," Moon realized.  "And in that way you 

restore the world belonging to the disciples of Chaos.  

It's how you intend to complete the prophecy... but the 

Mekani are also there.  You still need us to fight them 

for you, because all the energy you've saved is going 

to be used in moving this world."  



  "Consider this, Sailor Moon," the puppeteer said 

grimly, throwing his hood back over his head.  "The 

Mekani need a strong foothold in this galaxy in order 

to continue their expansion.  They will ensure their 

survival in these fringe worlds before continuing, and 

they will return even when you defeat their advanced 

party.  They have been in Tau Ceti for quite some time, 

and it is their closest staging ground to attack your 

world.  The Mekani Hive Masters know of your new Earth, 

a world ripe for their harvest, and its untapped 

planets, filled to the brim with rich resources.  They 

will not rest until they know they can safely hold 

their empire in this galaxy, and we must join the 

myriad others who oppose their ruthless expansion 

across the universe."  



  "The war is far from over," he finished.  "This is 

only the beginning."  



--- 



Sky Deck, Night Hammer 



  Silence fell in the artificial atmosphere surrounding 

the Night Hammer, and each of its defenders stood or 

lay on the deck, exhausted, amidst the torn, steel 

piles of broken Mekani warriors that made it through 

the defense lines.  



  Slowly, one-by-one, each of the defenders rose back 

to their feet.  Ranma could barely lift himself, and 

he paused momentarily to kick away one of a warrior's 

steel, insectile legs.  



  "It's over," he declared.  



  However, a presence loomed behind him, overshadowing 

him with an oppressive, unliving force.  A chill ran 

up the martial artist's spine.  



  The possessed Shizuka landed a good hit in the back, 

sending Ranma sprawling across the deck.  "For you, 

traitor, it most certainly is," Deathclaw finished.  



  "Hey!" cried Sailor Uranus.  "What do you think 

you're doing?"  



  "We haven't settled our previous business," Cinder 

answered, gathering his cloak around himself, walking 

to join the priestess.  "The Mekani threat may be over 

for now...."  His mechanical eye whirred, focusing on 

a possible target.  



  "You guys are crazy," Ukyo muttered, leaning on her 

spatula.  "We surrendered."  



  "I will never surrender," Deathclaw proclaimed, 

clenching his ghostly fist tightly, white wisps 

trailing from his fingers.  "Too many have died for 

this miserable world called Earth, and for nothing."  



  "Shizuka," Sailor Mars said, "the war's over."  



  "It's never over!" Mousse cried defiantly, standing 

next to the possessed priestess.  



  "Don't you think you did a good enough job already?" 

asked Sailor Jupiter.  "The more you guys push for 

revenge, the more people die!  More good people like 

Hokuto would die; is that what you want?"  



  "What I want is immaterial," Cinder growled.  He 

clenched a fist.  "What you humans should be 

considering is the fact that the Mekani will not give 

up.  Nor shall we."  



  "They're too caught-up with the dead to think about 

the living," Neptune saw.  "You've been fighting so 

long that you lost sight of what really matters."  



  "Look, you guys," Ukyo said, "I'm just tired.  Can't 

we just leave it at that?"  



  "Not until their grievances are settled," Ryoga 

noted.  "It can't, as long as they keep hating."  



  "This stupid hating has to end," Ranma said bluntly.  



  But Sypha shook her head.  The black sorcerer stood 

up tall, but did not move to join her fellows.  

"Cinder, Mousse, Shizuka... we can't go on anymore."  



  "Why not?" demanded Deathclaw, snarling.  "The Sailor 

Senshi must pay for their misdeeds!"  



  "And yet," the black sorcerer pointed out, "there's 

a ring of truth in their words.  How many more of us 

have to die until we're satisfied?  How many of the 

Sailor Senshi have we actually killed?  None; all this 

war is doing is dwindling our own numbers, and if we 

all die, no one will remember.  I can't allow that."  



  Cinder lowered his arm, hanging it in defeat.  "The 

memory of my lord and Miranda will not be served their 

due if I perish now."  



  "And Shampoo," agreed Mousse.  



  "Bah," scoffed the ghost dragon.  "Hokuto and Mizuki 

knew the consequences of their actions, and you expect 

me to live for them?  How foolish do you think I am?"  



  Everyone shielded their eyes as a brief flash of 

light burst over the possessed girl's position, 

and in the time it took for everyone's eyes to adjust 

Shizuka was being held fast at her arms.  In a strong 

grip the boa constrictor Thanatos, recently teleported 

in, bound the girl.  



  "Release me!" Deathclaw demanded furiously.  



  "Sorry, Shizuka," they heard Shion say, "but the 

snake wants you to stop, too."  



  "You, too?"  



  "Shizuka, think about it," the mercenary continued.  

"I almost lost you once before.  You almost lost me.  

Now tell me, do you really want to go through all that 

all over again?"  



  The girl's eyes flared more brilliantly as Deathclaw 

gazed down at Thanatos' small head.  The snake flicked 

his forked tongue quickly, and he stared straight into 

his partner's eyes.  



  Shizuka lowered her head, defeated.  "Very well," she 

said, resuming control over her body, "you win."  



--- 



  She felt light as a feather even as she descended 

from the skies.  Sailor Venus immersed herself in her 

surreal surroundings, of an endless blue sky, the 

fluffy, white clouds passing as she descended toward 

the unseen Earth below.  Sparkles of light trailed as 

she descended, and warmness enveloped her; a warmness 

she had not felt since her heart crystal was forcibly 

taken from her body.  



  It was almost time to wake up, she knew.  



  Two translucent wisps appeared suddenly, matching her 

descent path.  Although they were of shapeless form 

Venus recognized the spirits of the departed.  Brother 

and sister exchanged serene smiles between each other, 

then faced the Sailor Senshi.  



  Kodachi Kuno mouthed a word, but no voice could be 

heard.  



  "Go on," she told the Kuno siblings.  "You guys 

earned a well-deserved rest."  



  No sooner had she spoken those words Venus felt the 

warmness envelop her completely, and the weight of the 

world tugged at her.  She opened her eyes, realizing 

that she was lying down, likely on a bed, judging from 

the soft texture.  Her vision blurred, as her eyes had 

not functioned for quite a while, but it took only a 

few moments to recognize the face of Neo Queen Serenity 

and the other Sailor Senshi.  



  "Welcome home," the queen greeted warmly.  



--- 



World Parliament, Geneva 



  With full confidence Ayame could say that she would 

never stand alone.  



  "The charges are as follows," a voice echoed in the 

great hall.  "High treason against the planet Earth and 

its peoples.  Disturbance of the peace.  The willful 

destruction of property, of a monetary value in excess 

of...."  



  As the arbiters read off the list of charges against 

her and the Fenril Knights Ayame glanced to each side, 

to the others who stood by her in the great hall, 

awaiting judgement by the people who ruled the world.  

The trial was meant to be swift, but in the light of 

the thwarted Mekani attack Neo Queen Serenity 

intervened, wishing to preside over the hearing 

herself.  Although she unofficially supported her 

former enemy the queen made it clear that the ruling 

would be decided by the panel of judges, and not her 

own personal whim.  



  In other words, whatever the five appointees decided, 

she would endorse their ruling.  Ayame and the others 

had to accept that despite their machinations to 

manipulate the outcome.  



  The regional governors appointed the judges, who came 

from all walks of life and represented different 

peoples from around the world.  Although they were 

supposed to be impartial in matters presented before 

them, there was no avoiding the fact that each and 

every one of them was affected by the Black Moon War 

that came before, and they would likely come down hard 

on their successors.  



  "The number of casualties is staggering," one judge 

said, in response to one listed charge.  



  "On the other hand, how many of them actually died?" 

countered Kanna, and there was an uproar from the 

audience.  



  "Order!" demanded the head judge.  Directing 

attention to the floor he said, "I will have you remain 

silent at this time, do you understand?"  



  "Perfectly," she answered.  



  Ayame glanced toward the tactician standing at her 

right out of the corner of her eye, offering a slight 

smirk.  Every word from her mouth was calculated 

precisely, and while it appeared to work against them 

on the surface the trial wasn't over yet; the poison 

has plenty of time to do its magic.  



  She waited patiently as the list of charges was 

completed, and Ayame tallied them all up in her mind.  

If the bloodthirsty got their way the Fenril Knights 

would die at least thirteen times over... if only there 

were such a thing as a death penalty.  No, the worst 

they could get was an eternal sentence of exile, which 

would land them back on Nemesis anyway.  Either way, 

Ayame didn't care; one sentence was as severe as the 

other.  



  It was the inevitable guilty sentence that urged 

Ayame to a 'no contest' on the charges; she had no wish 

to drag out a criminal trial for years on end, only to 

prove that she and her people were guilty of all 

charges.  Each of them knew what they did, and they all 

accepted it; it came with losing a war.  



  "Have you anything to say for yourselves before we 

rend sentence?" asked the head judge.  



  Ayame's head glanced down to her left, then to the 

right, to the faces of those who stood as the remaining 

definite Fenril Knights.  At the far left stood Ranma 

and Ryoga, the last-minute deserter and the early 

deserter, both who decided on their own to stand with 

the others despite their personal pardons from Neo 

Queen Serenity.  Next was Ukyo, who appeared resigned 

to another period of exile, and lacked whatever cheer 

she usually possessed as a seller.  Mousse stood with 

his head up and proud, with his recently-treated hands 

down at his side, as he refused to allow Neo Queen 

Serenity to heal them with her magic.  They remained 

bandaged, but at least they would recover.  Immediately 

to the left was Shion, who should have stayed in the 

hospital for observation, but he adamantly desired to 

stand with the others.  



  To the right her comrades started with Kanna, who 

appeared extremely confident despite the odds stacked 

against her.  Next was Higure, and the old man stared 

up and straight impassively, appearing quite bored 

with protocol of the judicial system.  Beside him, the 

remaining three Fenril Knights, Sypha, Shizuka, and 

Cinder, were the only ones visibly bound.  Each stood 

with glowing, green energy braces that kept their arms 

bound, and while Shizuka, despite having many bandages 

wound around her head, looked ready to explode, and 

Sypha looked cold and impassive, Cinder's expression 

could not be read at all.  His mechanical eye was the 

only feature visible under his heavy hood, and while 

protocol would usually demand the removal of such his 

reptilian appearance startled more than one person.  



  Ayame's eye caught sight of Shizuka's bandaged hand, 

the very hand that was destroyed in the previous 

battle.  She was not privy to how it got restored, but 

whispers said Deathclaw regenerated it for her.  It was 

more likely she let Neo Queen Serenity restore it.  



  "You say," the salamander hissed, "that the 

casualties to your people are high?"  



  "Would you like me to repeat the number?" asked the 

arbiter.  "Three-billion lives!"  



  "And how many of them perished during the course of 

this war?" he pressed.  "I'll let you know, because 

surely, you don't have the answer.  You count seven... 

all on our side.  I count somewhere well beyond three- 

billion... humans and kami, slain by your defenders, 

the Sailor Senshi."  



  "Oh yes," another judge said.  "Your vaunted spirit 

people... who could not possibly exist."  



  "And besides," added another, "the Sailor Senshi are 

not awaiting sentence, you are."  



  "Human laws govern none who are not human," Sypha 

replied calmly.  Her body wavered in a snake-like 

motion in place.  "Yet since the kami are not people it 

is not murder.  To humans murder is committed against 

fellow humans, no other."  



  "Enough!" the head judge decided.  "Your race may be 

indeterminate, but while you're in my courtroom you are 

governed by our laws."  



  Ayame gave the two kami a stern look, and was pleased 

to see that they stood down.  



  "Answer me this, though," Mousse said in a low tone, 

and it was definitely not a request.  "You think this 

world doesn't need weapons-- or soldiers, for that 

matter-- to live.  You think, just because world peace 

was handed to you on a silver platter that you can 

forget about the people who fight for it."  



  "The era of war has been placed behind us," one of 

the panel replied.  "In order to maintain peace and 

harmony we must prevent war from occurring again.  We 

do commemorate those who worked hard to build this 

peace, but we have not forgotten them.  Surely there 

must be more to life than fighting."  



  "Yet," interrupted Ranma, "the whole point was that 

you couldn't defend yourselves from an attack as 

insignificant and controlled as ours."  



  "And that's what your ineffectual Peacekeeper Corps 

is for," Kanna pointed out.  She shook her head.  "I 

witnessed them first-hand, and by golly they didn't 

have the means to stop something as simple as a 

seventeen-man uprising."  



  "The methods of the Peacekeepers will undergo 

review," one judge assured her.  "However, it does not 

excuse your actions for bringing this to light."  



  "Maybe not," Shion replied, "but you must realize 

that attack comes in many different forms.  True, 

disease and ecological disasters are a thing of the 

past, but there are some things that aren't.  I hacked 

your world's highest-security computers in five 

minutes; what does that tell you about security?  I'll 

tell you: it's a complacency problem."  



  "And then there's the Mekani," added Ukyo.  "Your 

laws and edicts work fine here, maybe... but they 

don't protect you from outsiders like them.  You saw 

the battle with your own eyes; if it wasn't for us you 

guys would be running from those locusts."  



  "If it wasn't for you people the invasion never would 

have happened!" shouted someone from the audience.  



  "The Silver Crystal protects us all!" another cried.  



  "That same crystal didn't protect you from the 

Mekani!" Ryoga shouted.  "WE DID!!"  



  Another wave passed through the crowd, and order was 

demanded yet again.  



  "Bickering fools," Shizuka muttered, shaking her 

head.  "You know nothing of hate and suffering, nor of 

peace and harmony."  She attempted to raise her 

bandaged hand for all to see, but the bonds prevented 

her from doing so.  



  "Watch your tongue, girl!" warned a judge.  



  "All I see in this court is hate," the priestess of 

Genbu said, raising her voice for all to hear this 

time.  "Hate directed at the world, and at a handful 

of people."  She glanced upward toward Neo Queen 

Serenity.  "Is this the world of purity you strove to 

create?"  



  "It's likely that the radiating dark energy of the 

Black Crystal is encouraging their rage," Kanna noted.  

"Only this time, on a much larger scale and scope."  



  "But you still can't lay blame on a stupid crystal," 

Shizuka insisted.  "No bauble can change human 

nature; that's why we're standing trial now."  



  "You're right, though," conceded Ayame.  "The people 

of the world have forgotten what it means to have peace 

and happiness... and in this utopia called Earth, all 

have taken peace for granted."  



  "Peace has prevailed for so long, and conflicts have 

disappeared so much... that it's expected.  It's the 

norm.  There are no wars, violence, or battles.  There 

is no disease, famine, flood, or earthquake.  The 

status quo is maintained, day in and day out, and no 

one need worry of these threats."  



  "The problem is, peace is not a right.  It's not 

something that is handed to you; you have to work 

for it.  The existence of the Sailor Senshi is proof 

of this; without them this world would've been 

destroyed... whether it be by the Black Moon, us, or 

the Mekani.  Three trials by fire are more than enough 

prompting, isn't it?"  



  "I'm not saying we were right," Ayame continued, 

finally feeling weary of the entire mess, "and I'm not 

saying you're wrong.  We don't expect to be let go 

easily, and we'll accept whatever sentence the court 

rends with pleasure.  Just know this, people of the 

world: you are not the center of the universe.  In the 

scheme of the cosmos you are but a speck of dust to the 

sea of stars.  Out there, beyond the darkness of the 

void, lies many others who think just as you do, and 

those who would conquer, like the Black Moon and the 

Mekani.  So long as you continue to punish those who 

recognize this fact, and so long as you allow 

yourselves to be shepherded blindly by the Sailor 

Senshi, the worse it'll get when the bigger kids enter 

the playground.  I can't stand to watch my fellow 

people destroy themselves."  



  A curtain of silence fell upon the great hall, and 

Ayame was satisfied that no one vocally objected to 

what was likely her final speech.  Her eyes passed down 

the panel of five judges, watching their expressions 

tear at a thought they never considered.  Or, if they 

did, they were moved... one way or another.  



  She closed her eyes, and lowered her head slightly 

while the judges passed eyes to one another, and the 

head judge finally spoke.  



  "You, the Fenril Knights-- Ayame Mishima, Shion 

Kagami, Kanna Rajura, Ranma Saotome, Ryoga Hibiki, 

Ukyo Kuonji, Mousse, Higure Furui, Shizuka Minazuki, 

Sypha Blade, Cinder-- plead 'no contest' to all charges 

presented to this court.  The sentences will be as 

follows."  



  "Ranma Saotome," the head judge began, "in light of 

your actions in the defense of this world, and the 

support of its defenders, you are hereby pardoned of 

all charges against you.  This pardon is extended also 

to Ryoga Hibiki, clearing both of you of any 

punishment due to your comrades."  



  "Congratulations," Ukyo whispered to the two, 

although neither Ranma nor Ryoga looked particularly 

happy about the news.  



  "It's only circumstance," Ryoga muttered.  



  "Yeah, you guys're going to get hit big time," Ranma 

knew.  



  "Cinder is to be exiled from the Earth immediately, 

pending process of justice.  This sentence is extended 

also to Sypha Blade.  The two of you have expressed 

complete belligerence toward the people of Earth, and 

its safety is in jeopardy so long as you continue to 

live on this world."  



  "Bastards," hissed Shizuka.  



  "You, Shizuka," the judge said, immediately 

singling-out the outburst, "are to be taken from these 

chambers pending process of justice, and exorcised of 

your inner demon, Deathclaw.  Furthermore, pending the 

expected positive results of exorcism, you are to be 

exiled from the Earth for your crimes against 

humanity."  



  The priestess's eyes narrowed.  "You know even less 

than I thought," she said to herself, finding she has 

to contain her laughter.  



  "As for the rest of you," he said, "the sentence is 

as follows: it is the recommendation of this court and 

Neo Queen Serenity to extend to each and every one of 

you to serve a term of community service of no less 

than twenty years.  Failure to do so will result in 

prison time for an equal amount of time."  



  "That's it?" Mousse said, blinking.  



  "Although I never raised my hand to action," the old 

man Higure said, "I serve punishment of equal severity 

as my fellows."  



  "The remaining Fenril allies and associates are to 

serve a term of community service of no less than ten 

years, under the same conditions as before."  The head 

judge stared down at Ayame.  "This court is adjourned."  



  "About time," Sypha muttered, her ruby lips curving 

into a smile.  She writhed in place, moving with the 

grace of a serpent as the energy bond surrounding her 

collapsed and clattered on the ground at her feet, much 

to the silenced surprise of the gathered people.  



  Following suit, Cinder flexed his arms, and the bonds 

quickly burst into atoms, further silencing the hall.  



  An invisible force merely cut the bond around 

Shizuka in two, allowing two halves of energy to 

clatter uselessly and dissipate on the floor, now that 

their circle is broken.  She and Deathclaw chuckled in 

a low tone, and it sounded quite eerie to Ayame.  



  "Know this, people of Earth," the black sorcerer 

said, raising her voice to echo all across the chamber.  

"You may dispose of us now, but it serves you no 

purpose to brush your fears under a rug.  There are 

more of us out there, living among you, and someday 

they will rise up and challenge you, just as we did.  

When that time comes, you will either be prepared for 

change, or suffer the consequences."  



  "Civilizations rise and fall," Shizuka/Deathclaw 

added.  "I've witnessed thousands in this manner.  Pray 

you don't repeat the same mistakes."  



  "No matter what fate befalls us, I retain my honor 

and dignity," the robed salamander said.  "It is a far 

cry to say that you could claim the same."  



  "We bid you, the court, well," Sypha finished with a 

bow, and proceeded to exit the hall unhindered, 

followed by Cinder, then Shizuka.  



  One after another the Fenril Knights filed out of the 

courtroom, escorted by Peacekeeper officers, leaving 

a very strong impression on the minds of the people.  

Ayame allowed herself to smile, knowing that this 

calculated maneuver would serve to bolster their 

already-legendary status.  



  The last the public eye would see the Fenril Knights 

marching out of the courtroom, victorious even in 

defeat, as the finest warriors in history.  



--- 



  Ayame was pleased that the kangaroo court was 

dispensed with as the PKs lead the remaining Fenril 

Knights to another room, a small meeting room compared 

to the great hall they exited.  Each one of them took 

a seat at the table, with each of the Sailor Senshi 

opposing them on the other side.  Ayame took her seat 

at the head of the table, and waited patiently as Neo 

Queen Serenity entered the chamber, and took her own 

seat at the opposing head.  



  "The sentences stand," the world monarch declared, 

setting the base on the table.  "Some of you suffer a 

harsh punishment," she nodded toward the kami, "and 

some of you may have come off easy," she nodded toward 

Ranma and Ryoga, the deserters.  "What I am about to 

tell you does not leave this room.  All present are 

entrusted to this information which you many not share 

with anyone other than yourselves.  Any information 

that falls into public hands will be denied outright."  



  "It's the PKs," Kanna knew, looking around and noting 

all the Peacekeeper officers were still present.  



  The queen nodded.  "What has to be determined yet is 

how each of you serve out your sentences.  On the one 

hand, you can live on Nemesis.  This will make you part 

of an expedition headed out to Tau Ceti to ascertain 

the threat of the Mekani in that system.  Since Nemesis 

is on its retreating orbit it will serve as a sort of 

base of operations and launch point against the Mekani 

enemy, and any of Pharaoh 90's spawn, if they yet 

live."  



  "Or you could remain here on Earth.  After much 

consideration we have decided that the Peacekeeper 

Corps, under its current management, needs to be 

reworked into a more effective force.  To that end all 

officers have been relieved of their duties, and we 

are forming a more efficient, invisible group."  



  "So what you're doing is removing the PKs from the 

public eye, while at the same time continuing the 

program and making it stronger," Kanna interpreted.  

"I'll bet it means they'll have greater freedoms from 

now on?"  



  "Precisely," answered Sailor Mercury.  "There's no 

point to Peacekeepers if they can't keep the peace."  



  "On the other hand, in a world like this, why would 

we need Peacekeepers in the first place?" Mars said, 

posing the question rather than asking for an answer.  

"We created them after the Black Moon War, but it has 

proven unnecessary."  



  "But the threat of outsiders still looms over the 

Earth," continued Uranus.  "The purpose of the 

expedition is to stop the enemy from invading again, 

but while we're away someone needs to defend Earth."  



  "And that's where the new Peacekeepers come in," 

Jupiter finished.  



  Ayame brooded over the revelation quietly, then 

spoke after careful consideration.  "If I understand 

what you're saying you're forming a team armed with 

illegal accessories.  Likely including hardware with 

power on the magnitude of the Dead End Buster."  



  "How would you go about it?" asked Neo Queen 

Serenity.  



  "Well, I... wait a minute.  You've got to be 

joking."  



  "How come you get all the good jobs, huh?" Shion 

said, jabbing ribs even if he was nowhere near Ayame's 

chair.  



  "Look at it this way," suggested Sailor Venus.  

"Whichever way you go you'll disappear from the public 

eye, and at the same time continue working toward the 

betterment of Earth.  It's not enough that there be 

defenders of the planet, but that they are prepared for 

any situation possible.  You guys are very capable of 

doing this."  



  "It's a bit much, don't you think?" said Ukyo, 

appearing skeptical.  "I'm just a cook."  



  "Retirement sounds enticing," Higure agreed.  



  "I hardly see a choice in the matter," Cinder 

observed.  "The only logical course would be the 

Nemesis expedition."  



  "I agree," Sypha said.  She looked directly across 

the table.  "I have no wish to live on a world where I 

am not welcome, or to be reminded of the atrocities 

again.  Our fellow kami will rise up on their own when 

they feel it's the time.  I'll just have to direct my 

wrath elsewhere in the meantime."  



  "We two are going along as well," Neptune voiced, 

indicating herself and Uranus, who nodded.  "It's our 

duty to defend this system from outside invaders like 

the Mekani."  



  "Yeah, so who else wants to go?" asked Ranma.  "I 

sure ain't."  



  "Neither am I," agreed Ryoga.  "Still, I don't think 

I'll be much help to the Peacekeepers, either.  I just 

want to live the rest of my life quietly."  



  "Huh, if only you could remain complacent in all that 

peace and quiet," Mousse snorted, folding his arms.  "I 

know I couldn't."  



  "I need some time to think about it," Kanna said, 

seemingly lost in thought.  "It's all a bit sudden, 

you know."  



  "This sucks," Shizuka muttered.  "Just when everybody 

was back together again, everyone's splitting up 

again, too."  Her head turned in the direction of Neo 

Queen Serenity.  "What's the big idea, breaking us all 

up?"  



  "Shizu... no one's going anywhere," Shion tried to 

convince her, but his words fell on deaf ears.  



  "I've lost a family coming into this war," she 

explained.  "I'm not about to lose another one coming 

out of it, too.  Unlike the rest of you I've lost more 

coming out than going in.  Mizuki's gone forever, and 

now even Hokuto's gone."  



  "C'mon, Shizuka," Ranma said, "we've got our own 

families to go back to, too, y'know.  And don't you 

have one, too?"  



  Ayame cast the martial artist a glance.  "Let her 

take her time," she suggested.  "She's still plenty of 

time to figure out what to do, considering nobody's 

going to wrench Deathclaw out anytime soon."  



  "Shizuka," Neo Queen Serenity said patiently, "there 

are those back home who would like to see you."  



  "Oh yeah?" the priestess of Genbu asked.  "Who?"  



--- 



Interview 8 



  "Geez, we've talked this long?  How long has it been 

since I first came here?  It seemed like ages ago, but 

in fact it's only been a few hours."  



  "But still, I think Neo Queen Serenity was right; I 

do have a family to go back to, and the thing is, I 

never realized it.  I was so caught-up in losing my old 

family that I was blinded to what was happening.  In 

that battle, that war... the Fenril Knights was my 

family.  They were my friends, my brothers, my 

sisters, my mothers, my fathers... bound by common goal 

and purpose, and divided in thought."  



  "That family is now gone, replaced by a new one... 

the one I discarded long ago.  You know it sounds 

cheesy, and I think it is, too, but still... seeing you 

after all these years, little brother... I've not seen 

you since the first year of your life, when I was taken 

away.  I so wish I was part of your life."  



  "You think it was hard to realize you had a long-lost 

sister... how bad do you think it was for me?  I knew 

of you, and the other two girls, and I watched all 

three of you grow up from a distance, unable to talk or 

feel anything.  Yet you say you had vague memories of 

me, in dreams or something, of an older sister that 

once was.  Childhood memories are strange like that."  



  "It's not crying, you dork, it's these onions.  Ah, 

screw it, I don't care anymore.  I'm strong."  



  "I missed you."  



  "You have no idea how I longed to touch these hands, 

to hear you speak to me.  It's something that's been 

eating my heart ever since I became a priestess.  I 

really wish you could've met Mizuki; you would've found 

her sweet.  She is always with me, and she's the big 

sister I never had.  Maybe I could do that for you."  



  "Well, you know there's still plenty of time to talk 

things over and all... I still haven't made up my mind 

about Nemesis.  Master Cinder and Lady Sypha accepted 

almost immediately to join the expedition, seeing how 

they have little desire to live on this Earth.  And 

then guys like Ranma, Ryoga, Ukyo, Higure, and Akane 

immediately decided they wanted to stay on Earth.  For 

the others, though... they still have to make up their 

minds."  



  "Well, they're my friends; I do care.  Love and 

appreciate them dearly, before you miss them."  



  "Kanna has a tough choice for herself; she's gotten 

various offers from many institutions to become things 

ranging from a college instructor to a high-ranking 

official in the newly-revamped Peacekeeper Corps.  On 

the other hand she's also got the side of her that's 

begging for the challenge of beating the Mekani, so she 

may go with the expedition."  



  "Mousse really has no reason to stay, and her mentor 

Cologne isn't going to force him either way.  His way 

is to fight, and he wants to take Shampoo with him 

always, wherever he goes.  Thing is, he doesn't know 

which way the road will take him yet, whether its to 

the PKs or the expedition."  



  "And Ayame... she was offered by Neo Queen Serenity 

herself to become the new director of the PKs, judging 

from her ability in the last war... and to rectify the 

general ineffectiveness of the current director and his 

administration.  If our side is any indication it 

would be something she's well-suited for.  I really 

doubt she'd be willing to go on the expedition, so the 

question is whether or not she wants to take the job."  



  "Shion was also offered a high position on the PKs, 

but he turned it down, citing he prefers to retain his 

freelancer status.  He also added that he was quite 

willing to join the expedition with Dumas and the 

other weapons technicians, provided on my own 

decision... god I hate him.  Does he really have to be 

so blatant about it?  Oh well, at least there's still 

time to change HIS mind...."  



  "I'm not sure what to do yet, actually.  Master 

Higure says I should follow my heart, and decide where 

I want to spend my life, now that my wings are free to 

fly.  Thing is, I don't have to take responsibility for 

what I was trained for anymore, and I don't have 

anything left to do here, so I might go just for that.  

On the other hand, I want to stay with you for a while, 

and help out... or something.  And on the next hand, 

Master Cinder and Lady Sypha could use the company; 

they'd get in trouble without me.  Deathclaw says it's 

up to me, but he'd prefer to go where the action is."  



  "Still, I've got time for you guys... and maybe I can 

forgive Mom and Dad while I'm at it.  Sure is funny how 

all this works out, doesn't it?"  



--- 



Crystal Palace, Crystal Tokyo 



  Neo Queen Serenity gazed out at the stars from the 

high balcony of the reconstructed Crystal Palace, and 

saw no shooting stars in the sky.  The lights in the 

city below marked its usual activity, now that the 

scar of war was obliterated from view.  Life could be 

considered 'back to normal,' but the monarch preferred 

to think of it as 'better.'  



  "What kind of ruler would I be if I did not listen to 

the voice of my subjects?" she asked herself, her 

question unheard by other ears.  "Perhaps that was the 

reason the war needed to be fought."  



  "Or perhaps it was because we are fulfilling our 

destinies?" asked another voice.  



  She was no longer surprised by the sudden appearances 

and disappearances of the last Child of Chaos.  "Is it 

time?" she asked.  



  "I would deign not to see you again," admitted 

Wiseman, his reflection in the crystal wall behind the 

queen.  "Our goals and ideals are too different to 

reconcile.  Now that the Black Crystal is whole and 

ready we can speed its return to Tau Ceti and return it 

to the orbit of its parent world.  The tenth planet of 

this system will be no more... and the throne world of 

Chaos will be reborn."  



  "This is how it must be, then," Neo Queen Serenity 

concluded.  "One world cast in the light of the Silver 

Crystal, the other forged in the darkness of the Black 

Crystal.  Yet, there can be harmony of light and 

darkness."  



  "That harmony is in a world apart," Wiseman agreed.  

"Both cannot exist together, but must exist nonetheless 

even if apart.  If destiny would have it we will never 

meet again, and let it be known that I prefer it as 

such."  



  "Strange," the queen said, "because I have come to 

understand the darkness the more I speak of it with 

you."  



  "Tread not the border in balance," warned the old 

man.  "I have no more desire to learn of the light 

than you of darkness."  



  "Then let us part enlightened, Death Phantom," Neo 

Queen Serenity declared, turning around to face the 

hooded figure in the crystal for the first time.  "In 

understanding we usher another era of peace and 

harmony... that in the eternal struggle our ancestors 

fought.  Farewell."  



  Wiseman nodded silently, his image vanishing from 

view.  "Perhaps," he said cryptically, before 

vanishing completely.  



--- 



  It took a great deal of effort, but the cycle of 

destruction finally drew to a close.  The engineer of 

the design stood back away from the globe depicting 

this parting between mortal enemies, for what they 

believed to be the last time.  



  That, as Death Phantom said, was an uncertainty.  



  The prophecy of the Chaos Children has been 

fulfilled; if not literally, as the last succeeded his 

father by process of elimination.  It was likely a 

simple matter at that point to remove the remaining 

spawn of Pharaoh 90 as potential threats to authority, 

then oust the Mekani invaders from their foothold in 

Tau Ceti and any other invaded system.  



  Five would emerge from the fall of Chaos, and the 

father shall be avenged.  Yes, it definitely wasn't a 

literal fulfillment.  It was something only the Chaos 

Children understood; the prophecy referred to a rite of 

succession to the father's power rather than revenge.  

Revenge was only an incidental motivation that all five 

of them shared.  It was only natural that the successor 

chose to return to the ancestral home.  



  It was exactly as Death Phantom said it would 

happen, as the co-conspirator to his rise to power had 

to admit.  The predictable age of the prophecy has 

drawn into a close, opening up for uncertainty and 

endless possibility by all players.  It was an age 

which she welcomed.  



  "There's a lot of work ahead," Sailor Pluto said to 

herself, walking amongst the mists surrounding the Gate 

of Time, alone in solitude.  It was hard enough that 

she had to discard her previous incarnation to get this 

far, but it was necessary in order to understand the 

true meaning of the prophecy.  Her time spent captured 

by Death Phantom did not go wasted at all, and without 

her guidance he would never have found out how to use 

the Fenril Knights to his advantage; it was something 

only an observer of time would have noticed.  



  "And I will always be there, watching," she vowed.  



  Pluto vanished into the mists, deciding it was time 

to resume her duties as guardian of the Gate of Time.  







---------------------------------------------------- 



Author's Notes



  Thank you for reading!  





--Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NOhotmailSPAM.com) 

http://www.crosswinds.net/~slythe/index.html 



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