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slightly forlorn expression on her face. "I can't believe we couldn't find
Mokona," she said sadly. "It just doesn't feel the same without him."

"It IS somewhat unusual to not see Mokona-san nestled in your arms,
Hikaru-san," Fuu agreed from behind her. "But we simply did not have time to
search the palace. And perhaps..." She paused. "Well, in any case, our
journey will be much shorter this time, so perhaps Mokona-san is of more use
to the people back at the palace."

"I guess."

Slightly ahead of and below the gryphon, a majestic black pegasus with
steel-feathered wings bore Umi and Innova. The pale man's eyes scanned the
landscape as it passed; his mouth was set in a thin, grim line.

"Ano...do you mind if I ask you a question?" Umi suddenly spoke up.

"Ask," Innova said, not diverting his attention from whatever he was
searching for.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but...you DO work for Zagato, right? I'm
just wondering what your part in the whole mess from last time we were here
was."

Innova's intent searching paused, and he turned slightly to look at Umi.
"Lord Zagato is my master. In all things, I am the extension of his will."
He closed his eyes and smiled a small, ironic smile. "I served as my lord's
adjutant during the period of unrest. I directed many of the attacks by his
other followers against you. If the situation had not changed, I most likely
would have been your executioner. Is this what you wished to know, Magic
Knight?"

Umi blanched, frowning. "Well, I did ask."

"That you did." Innova returned his gaze to the ground below. "In any case,
you are no longer Lord Zagato's enemy. Which means you are no longer mine."
He paused, expression suddenly intent. "Something is amiss on the coast
below."

Umi blinked, straining to see through the darkness. "Eh? How can you tell?"

"My senses are far sharper than--" Innova broke off suddenly, then shook his
head. "It is of no consequence. I will report this, and we will proceed with
our mission." He raised one hand; a ball of sparking, hissing light formed
over his open palm. After a moment, it sped off in the direction of the
palace.

The gryphon edged slightly closer. "What was that?" Hikaru shouted over the
rushing wind.

"A message for Lord Zagato. Concern yourself only with the task before you,
Magic Knights!"

The party soared out over the ocean, black and infinite in the dark of
night.

* * * * * * *

Ranma's projection was hovering near the palace gates, idly watching the odd
streak of fire moving across the sky, when two guards burst through the
gates. One of them was heavily wounded, and the other looked rather the
worse for wear.

*Oi...what happened?* he asked.

The wounded guard pressed a bloodied hand to his shoulder, and tried to
focus his gaze on the apparition. "Attack..." He coughed, and a thick gob of
blood issued from his lips, spattering on the crystal floor.

"We were patrolling Acura, and a group of townspeople suddenly burst out of
the tavern with..." The less injured guard shook his head. "Strange weapons.
I've never seen anything like..."

Ranma hovered closer, inspecting the wounded guard. *Holy shit, he's been
shot! Hang on, don't move him, I'll get some help...*

The apparition abruptly vanished.

* * * * * * *

"--seventeen more found in the palace," Clef said grimly. "This is getting
ridiculous--"

*CLEF!* Ranma bellowed suddenly, appearing in front of the startled mage.
*Some'a your soldiers're at the gates, one of 'em's been shot!*

"Shot?" Clef asked, eyes wide. "With one of those 'gun' weapons?"

*Yeah. They said a whole buncha people came out with 'em and...*

Clef sighed. "Thank you for reporting. I'll have the healers look after them
immediately."

Ranma hovered for a moment, then asked ponderously, *About which way an' how
far is a place called Acura?*

The mage frowned. "About six miles southwest...why?"

The disembodied martial artist was silent for a moment. *Okay, I think I can
do this.*

Before Clef could ask, Ranma had disappeared.

* * * * * * *

Lafarga raised his eyes to the heavens, scowling. "That is no shooting
star."

The two mounted guardsmen at his side exchanged nervous glances, their gaze
turning as well to the flaming streak of light blazing across the night sky.
"Ser Lafarga, what be your orders, ser?"

The guard captain was silent for a moment. His mouth set in a grim line as
he observed the fiery streak split into three; two moved away from the main
bolt at speed, while the third continued on a collision course with the
distant mountains. "Continue with your assigned task. I wish to investigate
this."

"Aye, ser!" The two soldiers spurred their mounts onward.

Lafarga waited but a moment, then dismounted his own steed. With a gentle
pat on its rump, he sent the animal on a return course to the palace. Then,
face tight and tense, one hand to the hilt of his blade, he sped off on foot
in the direction of the falling stars.

After only a few moments, he reached a broad sandflat. He stood impassively
as two massive metal objects slammed into the dunes, spraying fine sand in
all directions.

The objects which had landed resembled suits of armor, only on a tremendous
scale. As Lafarga watched, narrow hatches in the chests of each suit opened,
extending metal ramps to the ground. Two human figures emerged from each
one, at least one of them injured judging from the limp and the support
being lent by a comrade.

Lafarga's hand tensed on the hilt of his sword...


...then relaxed as the tallest of the four strode into the moonlight,
allowing recognition to set in.


The guard captain bowed deeply. "Lord Lantis. Welcome home."

* * * * * * *

Ranma's senses faded to fuzz for but a moment; sharp vision and hearing
returned soon after his mind locked onto his surroundings.

He almost wished they hadn't.

In a small, rural village of low wooden and rough stone houses, people in
shabby peasant clothes were running around screaming. Shots cracked like
thunder; men in canvas breeches and jackets marched down a gravel-strewn
lane, rifles held ready.

A child began to scream and cry as her mother stumbled and fell. Ranma's
anger built as blood pooled beneath the fallen woman; one of the armed
soldiers approached, examined her, then aimed his rifle at the child. "Your
mother has died because she supports the false ideals of this world. You
need not join her. Come with us, and we will--"

*Get the HELL away from her, you fuckin' bastard!* Ranma yelled. The
soldiers snapped around, rifles at the ready...

"By the gods...a ghost?!"

"Don't be an idiot, it's an astral projection!" the apparent leader snapped.
"One of the mages at the Palace is scrying us!"

"A scryer...of course. BEGONE, or there shall be more deaths, and they shall
be on your head!"

Ranma growled, frustration at his helplessness building. *You hurt one more
person, and I'll personally see to it every last one of you burns in hell.*

"Only the oppressors of this world shall perish in flames!" the lead soldier
barked.

The fallen woman suddenly rose to her knees, coughing blood. "Mama!" her
child cried, dropping beside her, wrapping small arms around her neck.

The injured woman shuddered as she struggled to stand. "Run," she rasped.
"Don't worry about me...just get away...be safe..."

"Mama, don't...no! I'm not gun' leave you!"

The woman stood, turning to face the soldier who had shot her. Her eyes
burned with rage. "How could you..."

"You defied me," the armed man replied. "My will in this matter is absolute.
The Marquis--"


"To hell with your Marquis!" the woman spat. "I..." She broke off,
stumbling; she sank to her knees, coughing blood.

"MAMA!" the little girl screamed. She ran up to the soldier, beating on his
leg with small fists. "PAPA, WHY? WHY PAPA?!"

*...Papa?* Ranma echoed, horrified. *You're...this child's father? And...you
SHOT your OWN WIFE?!*

"She defied the will of the new ruler of this land!" the soldier declared
hotly. "It is her own f--" His protests ceased abruptly as he clutched at
his throat; his rifle fell to the gravel beside his dying wife. A strangled,
raspy gurgle escaped him as he sank to his knees.

*You piece of SHIT!* Ranma roared. The soldier's eyes bulged in their
sockets.

"Papa?" the small child asked fearfully.

*Hurt anyone again...*

Suddenly, Ranma could no longer hear. The world before him faded to a fuzzy
grey. After a moment, color and muted sound returned.

The soldier was seated beside his wife, who had now died. His rifle lay
forgotten in the gravel; his daughter was screaming and wailing. The other
soldiers looked confused and terrified; some of them staring white-faced in
Ranma's direction.

A door burst open, and another wave of armed soldiers spilled out into the
streets. A shot rang out, and the screaming child fell still.

Feeling sick, Ranma focused his will on returning to the palace. The scene
before him faded away into ether...

* * * * * * *

The two spirit beasts paused over the dark, endless ocean. "The Shrine of
Water is below," Innova said calmly.

"Great!" Hikaru called. "So, Umi-chan gets to Awaken Selece again?"

"If fortune favors us," the pale elf replied. He stood and pressed the palms
of his hands together, bowing his head. With a faint yellow-white glow, he
began to blur and stretch sideways; the Magic Knights stared in disbelief as
Innova split into two identical elven mages.

"I will now accompany the two of you to the next Shrine," one of the Innovas
said.

The other turned and beckoned to Umi. "And you and I shall depart for the
Shrine of Water below."

"H-how the heck did you do that?!" Umi asked, eyes wide and jaw agape.

"It is one of my many talents," both Innovas said in unison.

"That's kinda creepy," Hikaru commented, blinking.

The Innovas chuckled. Then, one extended a hand, palm facing down, and
created a disc of light. Umi stepped onto the disc, which formed a cone of
light around the two of them; they descended into the sea below.

The remaining Innova nimbly boarded the gryphon with the other two girls.
The pegasus wheeled around and streaked off, disappearing in a bolt of
shadows. "Let us make haste to the next Shrine," Innova said.

"Ah...hai," Hikaru agreed, nodding.

* * * * * * *

Ranma reappeared, slightly more transparent than normal, right in front of
Clef, who was busy issuing orders to a group of heavily-armored guards. *We
got trouble,* he said grimly.

Clef blinked. "Ranma? Where did you--"

*Sent myself to that Acura town. People with guns've taken over the whole
town. Buncha people are dead.*


The mage hissed a curse. "How much worse is this situation going to get?!"

*I need t' check on Akane. 'Scuse me.* Ranma disappeared again.

"Master Clef?" a perplexed Caldina asked, "How th' heck does he keep doin'
that?"

Clef shrugged. "He must have exceptionally strong will...possibly even
stronger than the Pillar."

"Stronger than--"

"In any case, this is not the time for that," Clef admonished. "Right now,
we must--"

"Master Clef," a deep voice interrupted.

"Yes, Zagato, what--" Clef turned...and blinked. "--Lantis?!"

The lanky swordsman stood proud and tall, thoroughly unconcerned, even with
the equally tall, willowy white-haired man he was clearly supporting leaning
heavily on his shoulder. Two other men, of less imposing stature--one was
still a boy, really--stood behind him, shifting uncomfortably as they looked
around the grand palace. The three unfamiliar men were garbed in attire
completely foreign to the short mage. He frowned. "These three...they hail
from Autozam?"

The white-haired man stood straight, shrugging off Lantis' supportive arm.
Wincing as he did so, he bowed stiffly to the mage. "Master Mage Clef, I
trust? I am Eagle Vision, Commander of the Autozam Mechanized Defense
Forces." He chuckled ruefully, deftly covering a cough as he did so. "Or at
least, I used to be."

Clef raised an eyebrow. "Prisoners, Lantis?"

"No, Master Clef. Refugees." Lantis scowled. "I have returned because of the
situation which now threatens not only Cephiro, but its neighboring lands as
well."

"Autozam has been conquered," Eagle added, "by a clever and ruthless man who
calls himself--"

"The Marquis," Clef supplied, head bowed, eyes closed. "So, this folly is
not the making of the people of Autozam, as we had believed."

"Absolutely not," Eagle asserted. "We hold no quarrel with Cephiro. Our own
concerns would hardly allow us to broker a war with your nation even were we
to desire one, in any case." He paused. "This Marquis appeared out of
nowhere, and quite literally conquered Autozam overnight. We have no idea
how he managed it. The four of us--myself, Lantis, Geo, and Zazu--went into
refuge, trying to gather intel without being captured by the Marquis'
forces."

"But then we heard him make this speech that scared the hell out of us," the
stocky, square-jawed man identified as Geo spoke up.

"He's taken Chizeta and Fahren," Zazu added grimly.

Clef's eyes widened. "Truly?! But their warrior forces are superior--"

"Not to the Marquis and his cronies," Eagle said sadly, shaking his head. He
once again leaned against Lantis, apparently deciding decorum was no longer
of importance. "They possess a frightening power."

"We know of it," a new voice entered the discussion. Everyone turned, and
the three Autozamites stared openly at the foreboding, heavily-armored man
who had just arrived.

"Holy shit, he looks just *like* you, Lantis," Geo breathed.

"Elder brother," Lantis acknowledged, inclining his head to the priest.

"I welcome your return, brother," Zagato replied, mirroring the respectful
nod. "I wish your homecoming had been under more pleasant circumstances."

* * * * * * *

The gryphon landed on the floating island of the Shrine of Wind. Fuu dropped
gently to the ground. Innova stood and, once again, split into two copies of
himself. "I will guard the Shrine of Wind while you are inside," the copy
said as it dropped to the ground beside her.

The Innova still aboard the gryphon turned to Hikaru. "And now, we will
depart for the Shrine of Fire."

"How many of you can you split into?" Hikaru wondered idly.

"As many as necessary," Innova replied. "However, dividing myself divides my
power. Three of me are still sufficient to protect the three of you while
you awaken the Mashin. Any further division, however..." He shrugged. "In
any case, time is not our ally."

Hikaru nodded. "Okay. Good luck, Fuu-chan!"

"And you as well, Hikaru-san."

* * * * * * *

Ranma hovered hazily over the three sleeping girls from Nerima. As he
observed Akane's peaceful form, the smoky, translucent state his apparition
had exhibited since the escapade in Acura slowly resolved into a more
stable, coherent image. With a shaky, relieved sigh, he floated through the
wall.

Much as he'd love to float over Akane and protect her all night, he somehow
felt "patrolling" the palace would be a better use of his limited abilities.

A moment after he faded through the wall, Akane turned over, snuggling more
deeply into her bed. "Ranma..."

* * * * * * *

Zagato surveyed the gathering with a penetrating gaze, then turned his focus
upon Clef. "News from Innova," he said softly. "I'm afraid it's not
pleasant."

"The Magic Knights?" Clef asked, gripping his staff tightly.

"Rest easy, they are in no immediate danger," Zagato replied. "Rather,
Innova has detected what appears to be a small army marching up the coast
toward Anglia." He paused. "They are accompanied by a device Innova cannot
account for. Whatever it is, it is very large and most likely extremely
dangerous."

Clef closed his eyes and hissed a curse. "And Lafarga's services are needed
in Acura, if Ranma's assessment of the situation is--"

"Maybe we can help?" a new voice intruded.

Hibiki Ryouga walked into the room, glancing curiously at the near-identical
duplicate of Zagato and the trio surrounding him before shaking his head and
dismissing it. "You say you've got trouble?" he asked.

Clef nodded. "The fishing community of Anglia is apparently about to be
invaded by the insurgents. If they wreak the same sort of devastation there
as they have in Acura..."

Ryouga scowled. "Right. I'll go wake up the girls, and we'll head out as
soon as they're ready."

He started to turn, but was halted by Clef. "Ryouga," the mage noted,
"you're headed in the opposite direction of--"

"Dammit," Ryouga grunted. "Even here, my stupid sense of direction..."

The mage rubbed his chin, then raised a hand and chanted. A small sphere of
lavender light appeared in front of Ryouga. "This will guide you wherever
you need to go," Clef said. "Just follow it, and you will not lose your
way."

Ryouga grinned. "Hey, thanks!" Sobering, he nodded. "Alright then, we'll be
ready to go in a bit."

* * * * * * *

The gryphon descended. Hikaru eyed the smoking, steaming volcano below them
apprehensively. "The Shrine of Fire?" she asked.

"Yes. This will not be an easy task for you, girl from another world."

Hikaru adjusted her gauntlet, mouth set in a grim line. "I don't care how
hard it is, I'm going to do it."

"Then I wish you fair fortune."

* * * * * * *

The door to the Nerima girls' guestroom banged open sharply, startling them.

In the darkness, Ryouga's silhouette was sharply defined by the ball of
light circling him. "Ryouga?" Akane asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

"We've got trouble," the wanderer said. "Clef and Zagato need us."

Ryouga waited outside while the girls dressed. Two minutes later, they were
on their way to the war room. As they entered, they found Clef and Zagato
studying a floating image, looking exceptionally grim.

"A militia is advancing along the coast toward one of the larger fishing
villages," Clef explained without preamble. "They are armed with guns, and
there is a strange device among them we can't identify. The palace guards
are already dealing with a situation in a nearby village. We're
shorthanded."

"Say no more, we'll take care of it," Ukyou said, twirling her fan idly.

"Thank you, and please, stay safe."

* * * * * * *

GIRL FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

Umi stared up at the imposing blue dragon, fists clenched at her sides,
willing her knees not to tremble.

AGAIN THOU DISTURBEST MY

SLUMBER. THINE HEART LACKEST

THE STRENGTH TO BECOME THE

LEGENDARY MAGIC KNIGHT. WHY

THEN HAST THOU RETURNED?

"This world--this place I hoped never to see again--this world is dying, and
I've...I've promised to do my best to become a Magic Knight and protect it!"

THINE OATH RINGS FALSE. THOU

CAREST NOT THE FATE OF THIS

WORLD. THOU CAREST ONLY FOR

THINE OWN SELF, AS THOU DIDST

ONCE BEFORE.

"Th--that's not true!" Umi cried insistently. "I...I didn't understand what
was really going on before, I admit it! And I got really upset, and I didn't
want to fight anymore, after...after what happened to Hikaru..." She trailed
off.

THINE ALLY, SACRIFICED IN

PURSUIT OF HER HEART'S WILL.

"Yes," Umi said softly. "But what she believed in was all a lie..."

A TRULY STRONG HEART CAN

ONLY BE DECEIVED BY ITSELF.

GIRL FROM ANOTHER WORLD,

I ASK AGAIN: WHY HAST THOU

RETURNED?

Umi bowed her head. "To save Cephiro," she replied softly. "For real this
time. I know the truth about why I was brought here before, and it's not
something I could have done. But this time...this time, we're not here to
murder the Pillar. This time, we're going to save her, and this world!" She
glared up at the dragon in defiance. "SELECE! I'm going to become a Magic
Knight, so fight alongside me, like you promised you would!"

The dragon's eyes glowed brilliant blue...

* * * * * * *

The flying fish, Fyula, descended toward the coastline. "There army,"
Shampoo said, frowning. "Have guns...have tank!"

"A tank? Wonderful," Akane muttered.

"What's the big deal about a tank?" Ryouga asked. "We're tougher than any
dumb metal box."

"Well, *you* are, maybe," Ukyou remarked.

"So like I said, what's the big deal? You guys handle the troops, I'll take
out the tank."

"Sounds like a plan," Akane said. "Just be careful. We're not used to
fighting people with guns."

"And these guys probably ain't used to using guns, so we're on equal
footing," Ukyou pointed out.

"Enough talking, time to fight now!"

The martial artists leapt from the back of the magic flying fish, and
charged into the fray.

* * * * * * *

GIRL FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

WHY DOST THOU AGAIN

DISTURB MY SLUMBER?

"I apologize, Windam-san," Fuu said softly, bowing. "It was my sincere hope
never to return here, and certainly never to trouble you again. However, I'm
afraid I must now ask you to lend me your power, if this world is to be
spared annihilation."

THINE HEART BEARS NOT

STRENGTH ENOUGH TO DON

THE LEGENDARY MASHIN.

"That was the case in my previous visit to this land," Fuu said, head bowed.
"It is not the case now. For now, I am certain about my reasons for
fighting. I know what I must do, and who I must protect. Please, I beg of
you, Windam-san."

A soft green light limned the cavernous shrine...

* * * * * * *

The militia, secure in the knowledge that the weapons provided by the
Marquis and Commander Alcyone would easily overwhelm the meager defenses of
Cephiro, were completely at a loss when four teenagers descended upon
them...and took down half of their number before any of them knew what was
happening.

Massive clouds of sand were erupting everywhere. A girl with a metal fan was
casually disarming men on the right flank. Another girl with a polearm was
dropping men with precision strikes on the left flank.

And in the center, a short-haired girl with no weapon at all was plowing
through the ranks like a scythe through wheat, sending disarmed, dazed, and
unconscious riflemen flying in all directions. Those who actually had a
chance to fire found their shots deflected by a spinning, razor-edged shield
attached to a long chain. Those men never got a second chance to fire. A few
of them never got another chance to breathe.

The army of the uprising was fully defeated in under three minutes, with a
good third of its number dead. The rest were either unconscious or
incapacitated.

"That take care of stupid men with guns," Shampoo said, relaxing her stance.
"Now for tank."

"Leave it to me," Ryouga said, cracking his neck with a sound like a string
of firecrackers. "I'll rip through that thing like a Sumo pig through
ricepa--"

A cannon shell slammed into him, sending him flying.

* * * * * * *

GIRL FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

Hikaru looked around warily. The air shimmered with the blistering heat of
the boiling magma.

"Please...are you the Mashin?"

I AM THE LEGENDARY MASHIN.

I AM RAYEARTH.

A gout of flames erupted across the cavern from Hikaru, resolving into a
creature that resembled a cross between a lion and a wolf, with a large,
curved purple horn on its forehead.

Hikaru gaped in awe. "You're...the Mashin?"

GIRL FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

THOU COMEST BEFORE ME,

BEARING A FORM NOT TRULY

THINE OWN. THINE SOUL STINKS

OF DEATH AND DESPAIR. THOU

HAST OFFENDED ME WITH THINE

VERY EXISTENCE. BEGONE!

A blast of heat and flames buffeted the redhead, who crossed her arms in
front of her face. As the hot wind pressed against her, she dared to open
her eyes, and stared intently at the apparition before her.

"NO! I'm not going to turn and run away! I don't care what you say! I've got
something important to do, people to protect! This world needs me. It needs
you! You can't turn your back on this world!"

The heat and flames abated.

SO SAYEST THEE, FROM LIPS

THOU HAST STOLEN FROM ANOTHER.

"That isn't my fault!" Hikaru cried. "Things happened to me...to
Ranma-kun...to everybody! Things that should never have happened! But that
doesn't matter now! What matters is everyone who's going to die if we don't
fight to save Cephiro!" She bowed her head, tears leaking between her
lashes. "I already died once for this world. Or I thought I did. I'm not
happy with what happened here before at all." She looked up again. "But I
still want to save Cephiro! And I can do it, but I need your help! RAYEARTH!
Help me! Help everyone! PLEASE!"

The Mashin's eyes burned with intense, white-hot flames...

* * * * * * *

"And that is the situation," Eagle finished, leaning heavily on Lantis for
support.

Zagato scowled. "I see. I suspected Autozam's involvement in this crisis,
but it would seem we share a mutual enemy."

"We'll help you any way we can," Eagle promised. "If Cephiro falls, there's
no hope left for any of us. As it stands, I have no idea where to even begin
planning the liberation of Autozam."

"It will be extremely difficult," Lantis noted. "Far too many of your own
people have willingly allied themselves with the Marquis."

"I know," Eagle replied through clenched teeth. "It galls me, that such a
man could appear out of nowhere and..." White-knuckled fists trembled at his
sides.

"From what we have observed of his tactics here on Cephiro, this Marquis is
well-versed in subverting the common people and inciting insurrection."

"Those little do-it-yourself army kits of his don't help matters," Eagle
agreed. "His followers call it the 'Divine Science'. Exactly what part of it
is supposed to be science, I have no idea. It definitely looks like magic to
me."

"Yeah, we can't figure out how the hell that stuff works," Geo agreed. "It's
all pulling-crap-out-of-nowhere, and it pisses me off."

"We have had some measure of success investigating this 'Divine Science',"
Zagato said. "However, knowing how they work does not change the fact that
far too many tracts have been distributed, and they can produce weapons we
barely understand."

"I think I can help with that, at the very least," Eagle said with a smile.

Zagato nodded, then turned his gaze to his brother. "And you? Have you
anything to add?"

Lantis was silent for a long moment. Then, in a hard tone, he said, "I have
heard that the Magic Knights have been summoned."

Eagle gasped. "The Magic Knights?! But..."

Zagato raised a hand to silence them. "Three girls from another world were
summoned by the Pillar some time ago, during a time of crisis. The crisis
was resolved--without the death of the Pillar. The girls who were to become
the Magic Knights returned to their own world. However, they have now
returned to this world--by what means, we cannot be certain, as Emeraude is
unable to perform any such action at this time." His left fist clenched at
his hip. "The Magic Knights have pledged their support in opposing our
enemy. They are presently awakening the Mashin."

Lantis looked thoughtful. "The power of the legendary Mashin would certainly
serve as a boon in this war."

"And you? Will you stand beside your countrymen? Beside your brother?"

The swordsman gave his elder brother a hard look. "You should not need to
ask."

The tense silence that followed was broken by a shrill scream.
"LAAAAANTIIIIIIS!"

The three tall men turned to see a tiny, blue-haired fairy flying toward
them at top speed. "Lantis! There's a totally disgusting creature trying to
eat me!"

Zagato cocked an eyebrow at his younger brother, who, for his part, held his
composure quite admirably. "Calm yourself, Primera," Lantis said softly.

A moment after Primera hid herself in Lantis' jacket, Mokona bounced into
the room, a mischevious smirk plastered across the rabbit-creature's face.

Primera poked her head out, and pointed a trembling finger at Mokona. "See?
I told you! That thing's completely nasty! It's EXACTLY like that one on
Autozam!"

Clef, who had kept silent counsel during the entire debriefing, cocked his
head curiously at the fairy. "You have seen another creature like Mokona?"

Mokona's ears perked up sharply, and the smirk on its face changed to a
faintly puzzled frown.

"Yeah, it was exactly like that fat, nasty thing!" Primera exclaimed. "Well,
it wasn't white, it was black, but..."

Mokona abruptly bounced out of the room. Unnoticed by those now staring at
its back, the gem on its forehead began strobing wildly.

* * * * * * *

When the light faded, Umi found herself atop a knoll, a light breeze
stirring her hair and clothes. The cloudy night sky let little starlight
shine through.

GIRL FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

IF THOU WOULDST DON THE

MASHIN, THEN PROVE THAT

THOU ART WORTHY.

Umi glared up at the dark sky. "Tell me what to do."

IF THOU WOULDST PROTECT

THIS WORLD, THEN PROTECT

ITS PEOPLE FROM THEIR OWN

FOLLY.

Looking down into the valley below, Umi saw three men gathered around what
appeared to be a large, manually operated drill. The men were straining to
turn the giant wheel which turned the bore; chunks of dirt and rock spewed
outward as the drill dug into the ground.

"You there!" she called. "What are you men doing?"

The men glanced around, startled; they frowned at her. "It's no concern of
yours, child! Move along!"

"That machine isn't something you'd normally find on Cephiro! Are you
working for the Marquis?"

That caught their attention; the drillers stopped turning the wheel and
faced her, drawing revolvers from their belt packs. "Are you a mage? Did the
palace send you?"

"Answer me! What are you doing here?"

"We can't have witnesses," the youngest of the three said, thumbing back the
hammer on his gun.

"Agreed. I hate to kill such a young child, but..."

"MIZU NO RYUU!"

Before the men could react, a surging serpent of water flowed over them,
sending their guns flying. Umi drew her rapier in a blue flash, and
approached the men, eyes hard. "You're all under arrest," she proclaimed.
"Surrender and I won't hurt you."

The men glanced at one another; the elder of the three nodded gravely and
pulled a small silver object from his belt. As he flicked it open, Umi
realized it was a cigarette lighter.

"We were ordered to use this if someone tried to stop us," the
insurrectionist explained. "I don't think you can kill me before I do as I
was instructed."

Umi frowned, lowering her sword. "But...a lighter? That doesn't make se--"
Her eyes widened. "What exactly were the three of you drilling for?" she
asked slowly.

The men exchanged a glance. "We're not sure," the middle one replied. "We
were just instructed to build the drill, erect it here, and bore into the
ground."

"And you followed such a vague order without even wondering what you were
doing?" Umi retorted archly.

"We are instruments of the will of the Marquis," the elder replied firmly.
"Ours is but to serve; we need not know the breadth of--"

Umi stepped closer to the three men, who tensed; the elder's thumb twitched
on the sparkwheel of the lighter. "A drill and a lighter, and an order to
use it if..." She began sniffing the air, and her nose wrinkled. "Oh my
God...gas!" She scowled. "You fools were about to blow yourselves to hell!"

The men stared uncomprehendingly at her. "What do you mean?"

"Can't you smell it?" she asked.

The men sniffed tentatively; they grimaced and glanced at one another. "Did
you--?"

"Of course not! It must have been--"

Umi's face smacked into her open palm in disbelief. "Idiots. None of you
farted. That's natural gas. It comes up out of the ground, and it explodes
when it comes in contact with fire."

"Ex...plodes?" the elder echoed nervously. He glanced at the lighter in his
hand, fingers trembling.

"Give me that before you kill us all!" Umi shouted, stepping forward and
snatching the lighter. With a grunt, she drew back her arm, and hurled it as
far into the nearby woods as she could. "And as for this thing...AOI
TATSUMAKI!"

The insurrectionists gaped as a ball of water magic smashed their drill to
rubble. The stench of gas became stronger.

"Cover this damn thing up," Umi ordered, sword raised once again. "Then go
back to your homes and families, and forget all this Marquis nonsense! If
you don't, I'll come back, and I'll plug this hole with your butts!"

Any reply the three might have made was lost as Umi's world faded into a
streak of bright blue light...

* * * * * * *

Sand sprayed into the air as Ryouga dug himself out of the beach, spitting
wet sand. "Okay, now I'm pissed."

Even though the girls were used to seeing the lost boy shrug off improbable
amounts of physical damage, his survival of being shot at by a tank was
enough to give them pause. "You sure you're okay, sugar?" Ukyou asked.

"I will be as soon as I rip that tank apart," he growled.

The tank fired another shell; Ryouga readied his shield and braced himself.
The explosion didn't budge him even a fraction of an inch; before the smoke
even cleared, he was in motion, rushing down the war machine like an angry
bull. Shield swinging off to the side, he stretched out his right index
finger...

"BAKUSAI TENKETSU!"

The sound of tearing metal rent the air; a series of small explosions rocked
the beach as the tank's fuel and ammunition stores ignited and exploded.

"Good job, Ryouga!" Akane cheered as the lost boy leapt away from the
fireball.

"Who...DARES?!" a cold voice rang out from the wreckage.

"Aiyah! Tank driver still alive?"

The woman who emerged from the shattered, smoldering husk of the tank was
tall, slim, and graceful, with a prominent bust, haughty eyes above tapered
cheeks, and long, glossy black hair. Her attire consisted of crimson and
black leather--and not very much of it. She glared hatefully down at them.
"You DARE to defile my precious LF-EINS...the grand gift of science from my
master..."

"Have tramp in Cephiro too?"

"No kiddin', sugar. Looks like somethin' that loon Kodachi would wear."

"She even LOOKS a little like that psycho."

"A middle-aged, gone to seed version of her anyway."

The leather-clad woman's eye twitched. "Middle-aged..." Leaping down from
the tank, she drew a slender rapier from her waist. "You shall pay for such
insolence!"

Ukyou sighed. "Look, lady. We kinda gotcha outnumbered here. Aintcha noticed
we took out all your goons an' busted up your tank? It's over. Just pack it
in."

"Over? I beg to differ." The tall woman chuckled throatily. "You are indeed
skilled warriors, but your backwards, archaic magic cannot withstand the
might of the Divine Science!" She gestured sharply with her sword. "I,
Alcyone, divisional commander of the Liberation Army, shall show you the
true power of those who bear allegiance to the Marquis!"

"Old hag too much talking!" Shampoo charged forward, halberd slung low along
the plane of her body. As she leapt to strike, Alcyone slid smoothly
backwards, pressing her rear against the hulk of her tank. Smirking, she
palmed a black iron talisman which had been clipped to her belt, and ducking
a thrust by the Amazon, slapped the talisman against the ground. A flare of
blue light surrounded her hand, and Shampoo was forced to backflip out of
the way of a grove of glass needles which had spontaneously erupted from the
sand.

"Okay, she's got a few surprises," Ukyou remarked.

"Broken glass dangerous!" Shampoo yelped as the pile of glass needles shot
forth like arrows at another press of Alcyone's talisman. Ryouga suddenly
burst out of the ground in front of Shampoo, shield raised to deflect the
rain of deadly glass. With a roar, he dove into the ground again; the beach
rumbled for a moment before he burst from the sand beneath Alcyone, clocking
her in the jaw with his shield and sending her flying.

The dark-haired woman stood, wiping blood from her chin and scowling. "You
dare to injure my face? For that, I will inflict pain unlike any you have
ever--"

"Stop talking, old hag!" Shampoo yelled, diving out of a shadow and taking a
swipe at Alcyone's throat. The leather-clad woman jerked awkwardly to the
side, and slapped the ground with her talisman again. A spear of glass
caught Shampoo through the ankle; the Amazon screamed in pain.

"SHAMPOO!" Akane yelled.

Alcyone cackled. "So, you are no longer so cocky..."

* * * * * * *

When the green light faded, Fuu was somewhere that was most certainly not
the Shrine of Wind.

GIRL FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

IF THOU WOULDST DON THE

MASHIN, THEN PROVE THAT

THOU ART WORTHY.

Fuu looked down at the blood-soaked ground below her, her eyes moist and sad
behind her glasses. "Please...what can I do to prove myself?"

IF THOU WOULDST PROTECT

THIS WORLD, THEN PROTECT

ITS PEOPLE FROM THOSE WHO

INTEND THEM HARM.

Fuu had been deposited on the roof of a tavern. The gravel road below was
full of terrified people, casualties, and soldiers armed with rifles. Her
eyes narrowed in anger as she espied the still form of a small child, draped
over her mother; the back of the child's head was largely gone, and a mess
of sticky, congealed blood matted her glossy brown hair.

One of the soldiers barked an order; his comrades began lining up the
terrified townspeople against the doors of a large stable. At another barked
order, the armed men hoisted their rifles, drawing back the bolts with a
chorus of loud, ominous clicks.

Fuu scowled darkly, and raised her hands. "IMASHIME NO KAZE!"

A torrent of tangible, almost visible winds spread from the bespectacled
mage to the street below, swirling around the dissidents and forcing them to
drop their weapons as their arms were pinned to their sides.

Fuu leapt down to the street, massive longsword appearing in her hand. "You
men!" she yelled, advancing on the soldiers. "Please account for your
behavior! Please explain the senseless murders you have committed!"

A shot rang out; a bullet grazed Fuu's right shoulderpad. The proximity was
distracting enough to break her concentration; her binding winds dissipated,
and the soldiers retrieved their weapons.

"Did Clef send you?" a rough male voice barked. Fuu turned to see a tall,
broad-shouldered man with tanned, weathered skin and a patch over his left
eye. He was garbed in rough burlap farming clothes which had been dyed
crimson; braids of silver thread had been sewn onto the shoulders of his
tunic, and he wore a sheathed saber at his hip. He held a short-barreled
rifle slung casually over one shoulder, and fixed Fuu with a penetrating
stare.

The mage was unruffled. "That is irrelevant. Are you the leader of these
men?"

The man nodded once, curtly. "I am Taurus Sho, divisional garrison commander
in service to the Marquis."

"Then as their commander, Sho-san, you should be aware that the leader of an
army is typically held responsible for the actions of his subordinates." Fuu
levelled her sword at the burly man. "I am afraid I must place you under
arrest and have you escorted to the Palace for questioning and judgement.
Please surrender peacefully. I cannot promise I will be able to subdue you
without lasting injury."

Taurus Sho's response was to level his gun at her and fire.

"MAMORI NO KAZE!" A wall of wind sprang into existence before Fuu; the
bullet was stopped dead and fell to the ground. Sho's men began firing at
Fuu, to much the same lack of effect.

A tear leaked from Fuu's soft green eyes. "Then you have given me no choice.
MIDORI NO SHIPPUU!!" She spun in place, gathering wind. A compressed,
spinning ball of green wind magic exploded from her hands, slamming into the
commander. He was flung backwards into a wall, which partially collapsed
around him.

"IMASHIME NO KAZE!" Once more, Fuu's binding winds enveloped the remaining
soldiers, disarming them.

She scanned the terrified villagers critically. "Those who are injured,
please step forward. Those who are uninjured, please fetch ropes, chains,
and anything else which can be used, and tie up these rebels. I will have
further tasks for you when you have done this."

The assembled throng shifted, murmuring amongst themselves, then moved to
comply with Fuu's orders.

The Wind Knight used her healing magic to repair the wounds of those for
whom it was not too late, while the remainder of the villagers bound and
gagged the disarmed soldiers. Once she had completed her healing, she
surveyed the fallen men, women, and children who littered the street. Tears
splashed to the gritty road, mingling with the blood that had coagulated in
spots and pools. She looked up at the people she had just healed. "Please
examine all of the casualties," she instructed. "If any are still alive,
alert me immediately. Those who are dead, please cover them for later
burial."

Twenty minutes later, an exhausted Fuu had finished healing the wounded and
accounting for the dead. She walked over to the chained Taurus Sho, and
levelled the tip of her sword at his chest. "Please understand the magnitude
of what you have done here, Sho-san. You believe yourself to be an idealist,
but look upon the death and despair you have caused to the people you have
lived amongst for your entire life. You are little more than a monster, much
like the ones which so recently ravaged Cephiro. If you are penitent and
cooperative after you have been handed over to Clef-san and Zagato-san,
perhaps you can in part atone for all of this. Otherwise, I have little
doubt that Zagato-san will not hesitate to execute you."

Sho spat at her feet. "Then I'll die, for the Marquis."

Fuu sighed wearily. "Then you are indeed no more than a monster."


"Kill him," a woman hissed. "You have the power, Magic Knight. Kill him.
Kill all of them."

Fuu's head snapped around; she leveled a reproachful glare at the speaker.
"I will not take a life when it serves no purpose to do so," she said
sternly. "It is neither my place nor yours to determine the fates of the
dissidents. That is for Clef-san and Zagato-san to decide. At present, their
value as prisoners to be interrogated outweighs their value as corpses.
Also, by killing them, I would have lowered myself to their level. Perhaps
you feel you can live with a soul stained with blood. I am afraid I cannot.
These men will not be harmed until they have been judged by those who
oversee this world."

The woman flinched as if slapped. "But...my son..."

"Would your son approve of vengeance?"

"I..." The villager faltered, lowering her head. "You're right, of course.
Forgive me, Magic Knight."

Fuu smiled sadly. "There is nothing to forgive. It is only human to
experience anger at times such as this. However, please save your anger for
the one who truly deserves it: the Marquis-san who has corrupted these men
and caused this travesty."

The villager nodded. "Yes, of course."

"Then please help prepare the graves for your dead, while the men take the
prisoners to the Palace."

As soon as she finished speaking those words, a green light enveloped Fuu,
and she vanished...

* * * * * * *

The roaring flames died away, and revealed a raging battle--one which
Hikaru's friends were losing badly.

GIRL FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

IF THOU WOULDST DON THE

MASHIN, THEN PROVE THAT

THOU ART WORTHY.

Hikaru stared in shock at the scene before her.
"Akane-chan...Ucchan...Shampoo-chan...Ryouga-kun..."

IF THOU WOULDST PROTECT

THIS WORLD, THEN PROTECT

THY FRIENDS FROM THINE

ENEMY.

The group from Nerima was not faring well. Shampoo had numerous long, thin
glass staves sticking out of her wrists and ankles, and had been anchored to
a large slab of glass. Ukyou was covered in bleeding cuts and breathing
heavily, strength clearly flagging. Akane's right arm hung limp and useless
at her side, and a large gash on her forehead bled into her eyes. Ryouga
appeared largely unharmed, but his face showed exhaustion, and his tense
posture told of his frustration; he was long past the point where he could
think clearly and fight with anything more than brute strength.

"You pitiful children..." Alcyone said coldly. "Your deaths will bring glory
to the Marquis--"

"You're not killing ANYONE tonight, Alcyone!" Hikaru cried.

"HIKARU!" the teens yelled in unison.

Alcyone stared at the interloper in disbelief. "You...?!"

"Yeah. Me." Hikaru replied, drawing her sword from her gauntlet. "It's been
a long time. AKAI INAZUMA!"

A wall of sand erupted in front of Alcyone, shielding her from the fiery
magic. A moment later, Hikaru was forced to dive to the ground, shielding
her head as needles of glass tore through the space where she'd been
standing.

"Look out, sugar!" Ukyou called. "She throws around sharp glass!"

"I noticed," Hikaru replied as she ros to her knees. "But I've fought this
witch before. Her bag of tricks hasn't changed in all this time...it's just
she's using glass now instead of ice."

"I no longer profane myself by dabbling in the twisted magic of this world,"
Alcyone said. She pressed her talisman to the ground again, and produced a
glaive with a translucent blade, which she twirled before settling into a
combat stance. "I had believed you dead, hatchling Knight."

"Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you," Hikaru replied, sword at
the ready.

"Then let us make this our final battle," Alcyone suggested. "I will finally
rid this world of you once and for all!"

"You can try," Hikaru said, eyes flashing.

"Hikaru!" Ryouga called. "We're with you, let's--"

"No, Ryouga-kun," Hikaru said, shaking her head. "You rest now. Take care of
the others. I'll handle Alcyone."

"But--"

"This is my fight," Hikaru insisted. "Mine alone, and nobody else's."

Alcyone cackled. "I will enjoy skinning you alive, hatchling Magic Knight!"

* * * * * * *

*You sure hopped off in a big hurry.*

Mokona spun around, ears twitching. Its gem was still strobing, the pulses
of pink and crimson light almost blinding. "Pu-puu?"

*Somethin' that fairy said got you real spooked,* Ranma observed, floating
above the rabbit with his arms folded. *I dunno why, but I got a feelin' you
bein' spooked ain't a good thing.*

"Pupupupu pu puu."

*I just wish I could understand you...* Ranma snorted. *What th' hell'm I
talkin' about? I must be losin' it if I'm this worried about some
freaked-out bunny rabbit...*

"Puu pupu."

Ranma let out a ghostly sigh. *I hate not bein' able t' do jack shit t' help
people.*

The strobing of Mokona's gem faded. "Puu," it said sadly.

*You too, huh?* Ranma chuckled mirthlessly. He frowned. *Somethin' up with
Hikaru. I think I'd better...*

He suddenly disappeared. Mokona's ears twitched and it tilted slightly to
one side, a single flash of bright pink light flaring from its jewel.
"Puuuuu...."

* * * * * * *

The battle had been long and fierce; Ryouga had managed to get the girls out
of harm's way even as streaks of fire and hailstorms of razor-sharp glass
flew all over the beach. Without once using her magic, Alcyone had held
Hikaru at bay far longer than the redhead expected. Only the superb
conditioning of Ranma's body and the previous exertions of the sorceress
allowed Hikaru to gradually gain the upper hand.

Hikaru panted, sweat plastering her bangs to her forehead. Her eyes were
narrowed as she levelled her sword at her opponent's chest. Alcyone lay
crumpled against the damaged armor of her wrecked tank, leather garb
tattered and burnt, alabaster skin streaked with soot, dirt, and blood. She
clutched her left arm, which dangled uselessly; blood trickled from her
lips. Her eyes, however, were full of ice-cold rage, locked firmly on the
redhead who had bested her.

"Alcyone," Hikaru said in a soft, weary voice, "please...surrender. We can
take you back to the palace...Clef and Zagato will go easy on you, I'm
sure..."

"I will DIE before I humiliate myself in such a way," Alcyone spat. "I will
not betray the Marquis! His will is the strongest of all--he alone deserves
to rule this pathetic land!"

Hikaru sighed tiredly. "Alcyone...we don't need to be enemies. I don't want
to kill you, but..."

Alcyone laughed. "You? Kill ME?! I think not, hatchling Magic Knight!" A
coughing fit wracked her slender frame; blood flecks sprayed forth, staining
Hikaru's sword. She seemed about to say something else, but her eyes
suddenly became cloudy, her pupils dilated; with a raspy gurgle, she pitched
forward, lying still against the shattered armor of her tank.

Everyone watched her warily for a long moment. Then, Hikaru sighed,
banishing her sword back into her gauntlet. "Minna...let's--"

The redhead suddenly vanished in a blinding streak of light.

"Hikaru?" Akane called. "Hikaru?!"

"Aiyah...Hikaru gone."

"Just as suddenly as she appeared..."

*She's fine,* Ranma's voice said.

"Ranchan! When did you get here?" Ukyou cried.

*A bit ago, but I was back in my body,* Ranma replied. *It felt like Hikaru
might need my help, so I was waitin' t' switch places with her just in case.
But she handled it...* He trailed off. *Holy SHIT, what th' hell happened t'
you guys? --AKANE!!*

"I'm fine," Akane sighed tiredly even as she pressed a spotted bandana to
the wound on her forehead. "It's not deep. Shampoo's messed up a lot worse."

"Old hag get Shampoo with oldest trick in book," the Amazon said grumpily,
leaning heavily against Ukyou for support.

*Well, looks like it's pretty much over here,* Ranma said. *I'll go let Clef
know--*

A flying fish descended into their midst.

"I think he knows," Akane said with a grateful sigh.

"Let's get the hell outta here," Ryouga suggested.

"Amen, sugar."

The teens boarded the flying fish; Ranma hovered alongside Akane. *How th'
hell'd a scrawny old witch like that mess you guys up so bad, anyway? I
mean, you don't suck nearly that bad.*

"Give us a break," Ryouga groused. "She was a lot tougher than she looked,
and she had that damn THING."

"Yeah, she was makin' glass outta sand," Ukyou noted. "It's like she had the
same power those nuts with the guns have, except--"

"Except she could control it at will," Akane finished. "Which means she
must've been pretty high up in this invasion army."

*An' her boss can probably do it even better,* Ranma said sourly. *I've got
a bad feelin' about all this...*

* * * * * * *

The three Magic Knights suddenly found themselves standing in a place of
darkness, one which all three girls recognized.

"Umi-chan? Fuu-chan?"

"Hey, isn't this...?"

"This is the spring of Eterna."

GIRLS FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

The Magic Knights glanced around, confused and disoriented.

IN THIS TIME OF URGENCY

WE, THE MASHIN, THOU SHALT

DON.

"Windam-san?"

"Selece?"

"Rayearth?"

WE ARE THINE TO COMMAND.

BUT KNOW THIS:

PERIL UNLIKE ANY THOU

HAST KNOWN UNTIL THIS DAY

LIES AHEAD OF THEE...

* * * * * * *

The site of the battle was eerily silent. Most of the survivors were still
unconscious; those who were awake were too injured or exhausted to move.

All, that is, except for one.

"Hatchling...Magic Knight..."

Alcyone shuddered, then pushed herself shakily to her knees.
"I...refuse...to die..."

Lifting her good hand to her mouth, she tore her glove away with her teeth,
then bit her thumb. She pressed the bleeding digit to the cold metal beneath
her, drawing the Marquis' seal with her own blood.

With a deranged smile, she pressed her palm against the circle of blood. "My
precious LF-EINS...become one with me!"

Dark crimson light flared beneath Alcyone's hand. Sparks of crimson and
violet energy coursed up her arm, enveloping her; the ruined tank began to
glow blue-hot as a wave of blood-red power spread outward.

Alcyone's mouth opened in a tortured, unholy shriek. Her body began
dissolving as the hellfire glow and violet sparks whirled around her.

The crimson maelstrom spun and wobbled for some time, purple arcs of power
and dark flames dancing and snapping fiercly. After several moments, the
remains of the tank had reformed into a massive metal centaur, easily three
meters tall, wielding a poleaxe in one gauntleted hand and an eight-barreled
machine gun in the other.

The armored figure laughed a hollow, ringing, female laugh.

"Now," the centaur said in an echoing, metallic approximation of Alcyone's
voice, "to realize the Will of the Marquis...and crush that little
red-haired egg once and for all!!"


=FIRE=IN=THE=WATER===========================ACT=FOUR==END.=




==================
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