Side Story to A New Awakening
Series: The Seizure of the Underworlds
The Third - The Green General
***WARNING, WARNING***
Spoiler alert for A New Awakening (Dani: Just a little one but it is a DOOSEY!)
(Dani: Legend is listed in Profile)
By Dani Yanega
Chapter Three
The guards cowered as their king raged again about the human who defeated him. They pitied the fate of his Senchal, at his rebirth. The king blamed her for his defeat. He blamed her for bringing the girl the fighter cared so much for and used her as bait. If she had brought someone else, he would not have fought so hard and the king could have won. So the king believed forgetting he told her who to bring back from Japan.
"NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The scream of Kiima filled the halls of Mount Phoenix as Saffron pronounced his sentence.
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"I have spoken, traitor, your wings will be _removed_ and then you are banished from Mount Phoenix. You and your descendants are forever outlaws to the Phoenix people and if ever met will be killed on sight." He glared down at the young Phoenix before him her white feathers gray from the dust of the dungeons.
"HOLD HER!" Saffron ordered the guards on either side of Kiima.
"I will now place the mark on you that will follow you and your descendants throughout time." Saffron lifted his hand and pointed it palm out at the young woman.
"AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!" The scream of pain passed through even the walls of Mount Phoenix to scare the animals from around the mountain.
The golden blast of chi streaked from Saffron's hand and landed at the base of Kiima's neck. When the blast ended what was left was a Phoenix dying, and surrounded by flame. Kiima slumped being held from falling by the two guards that held her. The Lords and Ladies of the Phoenix upper class watched with fear, horror, and fascination. Saffron nodded at one of the guards then watched as the guard turned to the unconscious woman and hit her hard across the face eliciting a groan from her as the pain caused her to slowly wake from blissful darkness.
"I am not without mercy _Kiima_ you had served me well for many years as did your father before you. Normally I would have your wings pulled from your back in the most painful way possible, but due to your loyal service until now I will have you taken to the hospital wing and have your wings removed surgically. Take her when the job is done give her a weeks worth of food and water then throw her out of the mountain." Saffron finished a scowl of disgust crossing his face as he turned and left the throne room.
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"GGGRRROOAAANNN!" Kiima slowly rose to consciousness as her hand reached up and touched her forehead.
"It was a dream? Oh Kami please tell me it was a dream?" Her voice begged as the dry and raspy sound escaped her lips.
"No child I fear it was not a dream and now you must get ready to leave. I am afraid his lordship will not wait until you have healed completely." Kiima turned and focused on the voice next to her.
"Talmar?" Her eyes finally focused on the old Phoenix standing next to her.
"Yes child it is me. I have brought you the supplies ordered by his Lordship, and I am to help you get out of the mountain. I am afraid no one else wants to be near you since you have incurred such disfavor from Lord Saffron." His voice was filled with pity as she turned her head, but Talmar still saw the shimmer of the tears that flowed from her.
"This is that human's fault! I will get my revenge!" Talmar lowered his head and shook it slightly.
"Don't go there Kiima, you brought him here I do not believe you should have been punished so severely but you chose the woman he loved and caused her near death. He fought for the person he loved just as you would have if it was Saffron in that situation." He saw she was not listening, that she was planning her revenge.
"Come it is time you must leave now. If you are anywhere near Phoenix Mountain at daybreak you are to be killed." Kiima turned to him her skin paled even more under her white plumage.
Talmar helped the wingless Phoenix up to her feet and gave her the small backpack then helped her from the infirmary. They walked the darken halls of Mount Phoenix in quiet contemplation. Kiima's in revenge, Talmar in what he could say to convince her otherwise. They finally reached a balcony to the outside and walked out upon it. Kiima looked back into the darkness behind her, tears building but she refused to allow them to escape. Talmar gently placed his hands under her shoulders then slowly took to the sky. He flew toward the start of all of Kiima's problems, Jusenkyo.
"I was ordered to put you here Kiima. Please leave the area as soon as possible, he plans on sending hunting parties in the morning looking for you." Talmar told her as they landed a short way from the accursed springs.
Talmar turned then left. Behind him, he left a confused and pain filled Kiima. She knew she could not go to the Amazon village nor would she dare go to the Musk Citadel. She wanted revenge and the only place to get that was Japan. Kiima slowly walked away from the 'Springs of Sorrow' and into the woods surrounding them. She walked for a little more than an hour when she could not move any longer due to the pain of the surgery to remove her wings. She had not looked behind her to see the mutilation she knew they were no longer there. This time she let the tears flow.
She walked a little farther but could only take a few steps to a large tree. She slowly sat down under the tree. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. She lowered her head to the top of her knees and let the pent-up rage, hatred, and betrayal fall from her. She stayed that way for an hour. When she finally stopped, it was almost dark. She sighed as she remembered Talmar's warning. She reached for her backpack and pulled out a small piece of bread. If she ate sparingly, she could get the rations to last a little longer.
When she reached in for the bread, her fingers brushed something that should not have been there. She pulled out a small leather pouch. She opened and inside found four 1-carat diamonds, two 3-carat rubies and five 1.5 carat sapphires. At the bottom of the pouch was a note. She pulled it from the pouch and returned the stones to the pouch then hid them in her subspace she used to store her wing darts.
*-*-* NOTE *-*-*
My Darling Kiima:
Like Talmar, I too felt you were being blamed for Saffron's weakness to defeat a puny human. Though if it was your life in the balance I would have moved heaven and earth as well to save you. After the guards searched your food pack I had Talmar put the gems in there to help you leave the country.
Please don't seek revenge against the human it was not his fault, this happened to you. It was mine. I did this because you spurned my advances. In your arrogance, you thought yourself to good for a low level Lord of Saffron's court.
During his rebirth, I learned he could hear what was happening through his shell so I went every morning and every evening and talked how his downfall at the hands of the human was your fault and that you betrayed him to the human that was how he won. I feel guilty for what he did to you but I am not sorry I destroyed you.
You destroyed me when you laughed in my face when I asked for your hand in marriage. We could have made a powerful team you and I one that could have ruled Mount Phoenix together, but now you are as you deserved a vagabond and outcast. For the love I, _had_ for you I give those stones, but you might not want to let Saffron catch you with them since they came from his private stock. See I am still getting my revenge dearest Kiima and I will always be there to destroy your happiness.
Marcal
*-*-* End note *-*-*
Kiima re-read the note her anger growing with leaps and bounds. She now had the proof she was innocent but what good was it to her now, she could not take it back to Mount Phoenix, she would be killed. In addition, the damage had already been done she had lost her ability to fly. She looked up at the sky as the sound of a flock of birds flew overhead as if on cue. She looked down at the letter again then folded it up and placed it in dart space with the gems. She would get her revenge not only against Marcal but Saffron for not trusting her.
Her thoughts then turned to the human, which started this. She was finally willing to admit that his presence was that of circumstance. Which was of Saffron's making not hers. She only did as he bade her, but he still was part of the reason just not as much. Kiima raised her hand brushing a heavy stick as she tried to rise. She picked it up and saw it would be long enough for a walking stick. She then began to walk toward the ocean to find passage to Japan to start her first step of revenge.
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Kiima walked the streets of Nerima in her cursed form. She however had not wanted people thinking she was Akane Tendo after her encounter with that lunatic with a wooden sword. She shivered as she remembered his ranting about banishing the evil Saotome thus freeing his tigress Akane and Pigtailed Goddess. She decided Akane had enough problems with the likes of him after her. She had found a place that did hair and had her hair died a nice white, so that it almost matched her plumage. Since her eye color did not change when her curse was active, her eyes were still the lovely dove gray they had always been. The minor change of hair color and more Mandarin style clothes and even stick brain did not recognize her as Akane.
She had found out much during her surveillance a lot she could not believe but then again Ranma was gone and her revenge went unfulfilled. She did not care if he was permanently a female or not she was still happy and her happiness must be destroyed, then she would plan her revenge on Marcal and Saffron. Kiima continued to walk the streets not paying attention to where she was headed, until she ran into something hard.
"OUCH WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU OAF!" Kiima shouted as she looked up into the red glowing eyes of a man dressed in white armor with a dragonhead helmet.
She scooted back from him as he reached down to grab her only to find her path blocked from behind. She looked over her shoulder and found another man wearing similar armor except in red. He grabbed her by her throat and lifted her from the ground. She sputtered as the one in white threw hot water on her, as this revealed her true form to the two men.
"The Mistress wishes to see you Kiima." The man in white growled deeply as a portal opened onto a wasteland with a reddish sky.
The portal disappeared as soon as the three stepped through. Kiima struggled to escape the ever-tightening grasp of the man in red. She also did not like the way he was staring at her nor did she like the way the white man was looking at her. It was as if he knew her but he also expected something from her. Something she did not want to hazard a guess as to what it was. They did not travel long almost not at all when an area surrounded by marble pillars of red, green, black, blue and white came into view. The three stepped onto the black marble flooring of the area and headed toward a large dais. The man in red threw her to the floor in front of the dais and stepped back as if waiting for something.
Kiima tried to stand when the man in white pointed a large white sword at her throat as a warning not to move. She stayed put but looked around her. Everything had a reddish haze because of the color of the sky, except for the area she was now. It seemed the sickly red stopped just outside the colored pillars as if afraid to enter the area. She looked past the pillars and saw nothing but desolation as far as her eyes could see. She noticed figures in the distance dressed in black going into a building made of the same colored marble surrounding her.
"WELCOME, KIIMA I BELIEVE THAT IS THE NAME MY WHITE GENERAL CALLED YOU BY!" Kiima turned to the booming voices and scampered back into the legs of the red and white armored men.
"DO NOT FEAR ME I HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR PROBLEMS!" She looked up at a five-headed dragon that was a little more then half the height of Mount Phoenix.
"Wh...What do you know of my pro...problems!" Kiima demanded or tried to, but her voice cracked with fear.
"HAHAHAHA! SHE HAS SPIRIT THAT IS GOOD! I HAVE BEEN WATCHING WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU. I HAVE SENT OUT MAGICAL FEELERS IF YOU WILL TO FIND THOSE WHO WOULD BE SUITED TO BE MY GENERALS! YOU WOULD BE SUCH A PERSON!" Kiima watched frozen in fascination as the dragon morphed into a beautiful black haired woman.
"If you help me take over your world you will get your revenge on those that have hurt you. Though I think you will need to wait in line for revenge against Ranma Saotome as his father has first claim." The woman pointed to the man in white.
"I can wait for that, but what must I do for this aid?" Kiima wanted specifics she wanted to know what her limitations would be.
"Ah I see you have a true warrior's intelligence. Very well, once all five of my generals have been _claimed_ we will go to the Halls of Hell to claim our army. I am sure we will also find those among the humans to join us. We will then destroy all seats of power on your planet. Once I have a secure foothold as the ruler of this world we attack the heavens for Seth's revenge and to ensure there is no opposition to depose me." The woman watched as Kiima listened intently her mind going over each event the woman described to her.
"Now since your revenge will come when the earth is conquered yours comes much faster but you are my general and as such you will serve me for life. As I go out and gain a hold of other worlds." Kiima looked up at the woman with skepticism then realized the woman was not of earth so yes there probably were other worlds for her to destroy.
"What if I refuse to be a party to this conquest?" Kiima asked her eyes watching the woman before her as she shivered at the smile that grew on her face.
"Yes you will be an excellent general one that will ask questions others are afraid to ask. One that will make sure all options will be explored for the best battle plan." The woman went on as if she never heard the question.
"I see I do not have a choice." Kiima realized as she lowered her head in defeat.
A strange hissing noise brought her attention back to the woman before her. Her eyes widened at the outstretched hand covered in black lightning a mocking smile on the woman's face. Kiima looked at the hand her mind going over a way to get out of this, then the images of Saffron branding her. Her hand lightly touched the brand at her throat hidden by her shirt. Then the note from Marcal and finally Ranma's defeat of Saffron, strangely that gave her some small satisfaction as she remembered Saffron dying at the hands of the human.
"Well wench do you accept Takhisis' offer or do I behead you?" The blood lust filled the voice of the Red General as Kiima still thought.
"Patience my love she will accept she is just remembering all who will suffer for her pain." Takhisis chided the red clad man.
Kiima did not even look up from the black marble floor as she reached out and clasped the woman's hand. Kiima screamed as the lightning coursed over her from head to toe. The lightning crawled over her body twisting and turning her in every direction. It seemed like an eternity had passed before the pain slowly subsided. When she opened her eyes, she was staring into a strange mirror standing next to Takhisis. Kiima looked into the mirror her mouth agape. Before her was her Phoenix body but none of her plumage remained. Though the features were hers, there was a slight Japanese look to her. Her hair was no longer white nor shoulder length. It now went to the small of her back and was black streaked with white. Her skin had the tawny coloring of her curse. As she stared at her naked body she looked to the mark Saffron forced on her and it was not gone but changed. Instead of a dying Phoenix, it was a five headed chromatic dragon with a dead Phoenix in its claws. What caught her attention was the fact that she now had wings again not the wings of a Phoenix but that of a dragon. She marveled at the emerald green color of them. Then screamed again as the black lightning covered her again.
"As with Genma I needed to show you that those with Jusenkyo curses get combined, though now you look more like yourself then with that cursed body. Oh and I was able to give back what Saffron stole from you." She finished as Kiima passed out from the pain.
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Kiima woke a few minutes later to see only the White General standing next to her his hand extended to her. Kiima slowly reached out but stopped suddenly as she saw it covered with emerald green dragon scale armor. She looked down at her body and saw it was all covered. That was except where Saffron marked her. There was a cutout that showed the new image. She then looked up at the man next to her and he pointed toward the dais. Kiima turned and saw her reflection and the White General next to her, his hand still extended. She reached out, took his hand, and let him help her stand. She stumbled slightly but he steadied her as she stared at her armor and dragon wings behind her. The armor was like that of the White and Red Generals save it was a beautiful emerald green. Draped over her shoulders was an ankle length cape of snow white.
"What now?" She asked not really expecting an answer.
"We wait for the Mistress and her lover to return as they search for the next General and take care of some uh...personal business." The man in white said as he removed his helm.
"*GASP* Wha...What happen?" Kiima asked as she stared at a handsome man with long black hair, eyes surround by black and black panda ears on top of his head.
"I was betrayed by my ungrateful son and cheating wife. They have a dragon lock me in my cursed form. The Mistress freed me but like you my Jusenkyo curse melded with my human form. That is also why my voice is so 'growly' I guess would be a good word for the sound. My arms and legs are black like a panda's as well." Kiima stared in awe, as he really did not seem to mind his half-human half panda existence.
"It does not bother you?" She asked in true surprise as she looked down in disgust at her human-esque form.
"No, I will have my revenge and am one of the chosen of the Mistress to help rule her empire. I will be one of the few that will help her keep her kingdom this time." Genma stated as he remembered bits and pieces of Takhisis' past as he eavesdropped on the dark priests.
"That you shall my White General that you shall. We have found my Black General come let us go!" A portal opened in the mirror they group stared at a park reflected in its black surface.
The Dark Queen5 and her three generals entered the mirror. As Kiima was the last to step through she quickly turned to watch as the portal closed on the Abyss from which they had just come. She stared in awe at the place where the portal was. She turned and followed her new Mistress and wondered if she would teach her magic. She walked thoughtfully following the White General as she slowly donned her helm as they walked deeper into the parks interior.