Chapter 2:
Disclaimer:
Everyone knows what is supposed to go here: I do not own any characters or stuff from Ranma ½. All of that belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and the various companies that it has been licensed to.
AN: To reflect update. I have rewritten the first and second chapter I believe they are much better this time. Also please expect chapter 3 soon.
'Thoughts'
"Spoken"
#Chinese#
Signs
'Please let me be in time,' thought Cologne to herself, 'According to what the oracle said Ranma is going to be needed soon.' She began by observing all of the ki paths that where abundant in Ranma trying to find a way to break the path that was fueling the aura. 'Why is he doing this? He's actually managing to form new ki lines and forcing his old ki lines to grow larger. This should be impossible it should take months for his ki lines to increase and to create new ones. I have got to break this connection before he runs out of energy but where is it. Wait something's changing….'
Back inside Ranma's dream:
Ranma was now producing one of the largest auras she had ever created, the rocks in her dreamscape where beginning to turn into glass as the minerals inside of them fused under its intense heat. The aura continued to grow as Ranma fed more and more anger and life force into it.
Ranma stopped feeding into her aura as she dogged even more attacks from the figure, leaving a trail of molten rock and fire behind her. Her intense anger giving her all the power and speed that she needs to keep up.
"So you finally decided to take off the kid gloves did you?" the figure snarled after receiving another hit from Ranma that actually managed to do some damage, "I suppose I should show you the power that you will never be able to defeat." The figure launched a round house attack that sent Ranma flying through the dreamscape yet again.
"I call upon the fire of a raging forest, as you consume trees in haste; grant me thine speed to defeat my enemy." The figures aura received a minor shift and flames started to form themselves around the figures legs and hands. As Ranma closed the distance the figure launched himself towards Ranma even faster than she could see and hit her in the gut launching her up into the air. As Ranma fought the pain and tried to locate the figure she was hit with a strong flip kick in the air launching her back into the ground.
As she impacted she formed yet another crater in the dreamscape dust being kicked up in all directions.
'I need to slow him down for a minute to use this attack,' Ranma thought as she tried picking herself up. 'I will only have one chance to land this.'
Closing the distance between her and the figure using all of the energy that she could spend in increasing her speed she managed to get in front of the figure and dodged the punch that was thrown at her. Putting some of the pent up energy into the attack Ranma yelled out, "Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken revised 1,000 Tears of the Rage," using her tactical mind to create a new move on the spot which hit the figure with 1000 blows with her fist covered in flames launching her opponent into the air.
'Now to finish this,' Ranma thought leaping up in the air towards her opponent. Cupping her hands together in front of her chest she started pooling her energies forming a swirling red, white, orange, and black ball "Moko Takibisha," yelled Ranma launching the energies at the figure. The explosion on impact launched Ranma into the ground leaving a huge impact crater and trails of smoke wisping up from her body
The blast had created a huge vortex as it sucked in all the nearby air to fuel its destructive force casting everything in a brilliant white light. As it receded Ranma extended her senses to try and see if she had won or not. All that was left was a charred spot on the ground below the impact site and a hot wind as the air was still replenishing the vacuum. 'I did it,' thought Ranma as she fell down from exhaustion, 'I finally beat him…'
"Fool did you really think that would stop me? I am born of flame! You expected flames to hurt me?" the Figure said laughing, flames twirling around his figure. "And now you will die along with that pitiful excuse for a girl, what was her name again? Oh yessss Akane, pity that you aren't able to save her. And I think I will give you the pleasure of watching her die first, knowing that you are powerless to stop me." Completing his speech the figure launched himself at Akane who Ranma had felt was in the dream but hadn't actually been able to see until now.
'No.. Oh kami no.. I have to stop him.. Akane cannot be hurt,' Ranma thought as she fought to stand up. "You bastard I won't let you do this even if it cost me my life Akane will survive." Ranma calling on the last of her reserves picking up her battered body and launched herself after the figure who was way too close to Akane already.
"It's too late you don't even have the power to catch up with me," the figure taunted, "Her life ends now." "Phoenix Blast," the Figure shouted launching a blast at Akane who started to dodge. 'She's not going to make it,' thought Ranma cupping her hands to the side, 'please, please let this be in time' "Moko Takibisha," Ranma shouted putting the last of her energies into this attack. All she could do was watch as her attack speed towards the Phoenix Blast as she closed the distance between herself and Akane. She watched as her attack hit the blast and….. fizzled out. She was helpless as Akane received the full Phoenix Blast and collapsed to the ground seconds before Ranma got there.
"Oh Akane noooooooooo…" Ranma cried out, tears streaming down her face as she watched the life fade from Akane's eyes. She reached her and cradled her head on her knees trying to find any sign of life in her body and found none… "No, I was too late I couldn't save you this time either. I'm sorry Akane I failed you again I guess I really am a baka," placing Akane's head down and closing her eyes as tears formed she turned towards the figure. "This ends tonight you will die," Ranma said has she reached to the very core of her being and started pulling more and more life energy out. She started to produce a white aura around her body.
Back to the outside world:
'Something's changing,' Cologne thought as she watched the flow of energy stop. And then suddenly Ranma's aura flashed and then dissipated, but he was still floating of the floor.
Nabiki then turned her attention towards Ranma again wondering why she never noticed how muscular he was, or how manly his chest looks, 'Wait a minute did I just think that.. Gahh I am just tired, yup that's all it is.' Nabiki shook her head to clear her mind of the invading thoughts. "What happened to his aura?" she asked the matriarch.
"I don't know his ki is depleted and his vitals are low but he's not pulling in energy anymore," Cologne replied, "I do not how but I am glad it stopped. Now I need to get him to wake up and also figure out why he's still floating."
"Will my son be ok?" asked Genma, showing more concern than he typically shows.
"If he doesn't pull any more energy and I can get his vitals stabilized than yes," Cologne replied, "But as I just said he has drained a lot of his ki so I am going to try and replenish some of it, which should allow him to stabilize."
Cologne's hands started to glow even brighter as she tried to restore Ranma's Ki. 'His ki paths are resisting the energy? Maybe if I try another approach..' The aura surrounding Cologne's hands changed from white to gold has she attuned her ki to Ranma's 'Good some of the energy is starting to take hold…. Oh no..'
As everyone watched there was a blinding flash from Ranma and Cologne who got thrown back into the wall.
Akane seeing this rushed over to help the Matriarch out of the wall, "What happened Cologne, what did you do to him?"
"I didn't do anything to him you fool, his ki paths rejected the ki," Cologne replied dusting herself off and went back over to Ranma and started examining his ki paths again, "Something's happening. He's drawing more energy again and I can't stop it." Cologne reentered her trance and tried everything she knew to stop the flows of ki even if it would damage the ki lines permanently it would save Ranma's life.
Those who were watching Ranma could see a faint white aura starting to surround him.
Back inside the dreamscape:
'More I need more energy,' thought Ranma as she took another hit from the figure. Having depleted her energy she was no longer able to doge as fast and was just concentrating on defense as she gathered her remaining energy.
"Pitiful, you can't even move a tenth of what you used too. Face it you are weak like all mortals. You couldn't even save the one that you love again," the Figure taunted, "Well I have had my fun for tonight and I grow bored of this game. Twin Phoenix Blast" the figure launched the twin balls of flame at Ranma who was able to dodge one of them but took the full impact from the second sending her flying through the dreamscape before coming to a rough landing 50ft away.
A small trickle of blood was running from the corner of Ranma's mouth and the world looked hazy as Ranma tried to pick herself off the ground and failed. Ranma had numerous cuts over her body and her left arm was completely useless now and was almost severed. Ranma's aura was completely gone and she could feel no traces of ki left in her and just a small flicker of chi remained.
"So this is it again," Ranma said to herself as the world started to fade from view, "I gave it my all and still lost." Ranma knew that this time she really was dying and knew that there was nothing she could do to stop it, 'At least I will be able to see Akane again,' thought Ranma,
"So that's it than, the great Ranma Satome, self proclaimed Master of Satome Anything Goes martial arts. The fighter who never gives up no matter what the odds, is now just throwing in the tower" a deep male voice said to Ranma out of the darkness.
"I am not giving up. I have no way to win. As it is I'm dying and I have no energy left to speak of," Ranma replied unable to discern where the voice was coming from. "And who are you anyway?"
"I am ," the voice replied. "Ahh I see that I still can't reach you even in this time of need. Perhaps it's not the fated time yet." the new figure stated noticing Ranma's confused look. "Oh well it doesn't matter yet. But what does matter is that you are dying in this world and the waking world. If you don't find away to win here than you will be dead. You must look inside of yourself and find your true power. Only then will you be able to fight this darkness," the new figure said pointing at the old figure.
'What does he mean,' thought Ranma using what remained of her concentration to look at all her ki paths. The world around him was growing darker and darker.
"You must look deeper. Look beyond your ki and your chi," the new figure said while protecting Ranma from another attack from the old figure.
'Deeper than my chi?' Ranma thought to herself looking even closer, 'How can something be deeper than even my life force? Wait what is this?' Ranma questioned as she looked at a small ball of golden energy inside of the green energy that represented her remaining chi.
"Reach for it Ranma. Make it your own or you will die…" the voice said at almost a whisper now. The world was nearly pitch black as Ranma's chi was flickering out of existence and then it ended.
Meanwhile in the real world;
Ranma's aura had dissipated a while ago and he had even stopped floating at this point the occupants of the room where growing worried as Ranma's skin started losing its coloring.
'No he's fading even faster,' Cologne was frantically trying to keep Ranma's chi stable and was helpless while she watched Ranma's reaming chi flicker and die. "I am sorry," she said with great sorrow in her voice, "Ranma Satome has died."
"Oh no," said Kasumi who broke into tears and collapsed to her knees near Ranma grabbing one of his hands.
Nabiki just sat there in shock her mind refusing to accept that information.
Akane.. Akane just sat there repeating over and over that Ranma wasn't dead and that nothing could ever kill him while tears streamed from her eyes.
Genma and Soun went to comfort the girls pushing their own sorrow aside.
Back in the dream world:
'Almost got it,' Ranma thought as her inner self started to fade away. "No I won't give up. Ranma Satome never gives up," she shouted and made one last grab for the orb stretching out her hand her fingertips just barely touched it…
Than the dream world exploded in multitudes of light from every color of the rainbow all coming from the prone form of Ranma.
'He did it,' the new figure thought before being vaporized by the incredible aura.
'No, this can't be' the shadowy figure thought before he was also vaporized.
Waves and waves of power crashed through Ranma's system altering and repairing the damage that had been done to her.
In the real world;
All of the girls were crying right now as Cologne turned one last time to regard one the best fighters she had ever known and it's last hope against the coming storm, "Good bye Ranma…."
As the words left Colognes's mouth she felt a huge power from inside of Ranma..
Ranma produced an aura that had never before been seen by any of the martial artist in the room instantly catching everyone's attention. The aura encompassed everyone in the room and made them feel at ease and happy. The girls stopped crying and the fathers looked on trying to figure out what was happening to Ranma who was now floating off of the ground in a standing position. His aura flashed so bright blinding everyone in the room.
Opening their eyes they saw Ranma's aura was now a soft yellow color and than his eyes opened.
Looking around the room his eyes eventually stopped when they meet up with Akane's.
"I love you Akane," said Ranma smiling and then he passed out.