As the general élite of the frozen nation contemplated the daring situation he was in, the Musk princess moved in front of the blonde healer. If there was one thing she knew would distract her new mate, was his old flame in danger.
Bor, looked into the dark glowing eyes of the general, and appraised his power, but something was wrong. His aura showed a positive kind of energy beneath the malign exterior. "Heracles? I believe I remember that name from a far away nation's hero, but it reminds me of a more benign title. . . .son of Zeus?" The Nord smiled when calling him that way. He knew it would strike a chord.
The general closed his eyes and focused his dark power in a challenging way. "Do not jest about my past. I served Hercules, and helped him kill unimaginable terrors. Now tell me hero. What do I get from such sacrifice?" His face contorted into a mask of fury, which Bor expected from his taunt. " I got hell, flames and humiliation. I will scorch the world he sworn to protect! "
The Nord warrior released forward a stance he had being charging, while the undead general monologue ended. The thrust pushed him at high-speed to a point where his full form "went trough" the general up to his other side. Heracles simply turned and smiled at the human's silly attempt.
"Stupid Nord, There is nothing you can do to defeat me." The rather shorter man behind the general took a deep breath and smiled back at the monster. " Don't doubt your opponent, not when we are just beginning. The first step Heracles took was his last on that spot.
By the time the giant realized it, his body was covered in a frozen state. An ice chest. The general's last sight aimed at his challenger, and when he blinked, the frozen case broke in thousands of pieces, living nothing but a million discarded undead remains.
Princess Herb marveled at her mate's accomplishment, and smiled in a way to describe a feeling of satisfaction without giving away she was impressed. The Nord got the sign, and smiled back while adding. "Oh this is far from over. I might be the strongest on my land, but his level of Ki tells me the fight is about to get interesting.
When the small group looked at the fallen combatant, they saw the dark figure "piecing" himself up, and began to walk at the Nord. "Unexpected, I'll give you that, but it won't happen again."
His moves became slower but steady. The undead warrior took hit after hit, and any energy based attack he shrugged away with sounds of disgust; like telling the group, mêlée was his forte. Bor became slow as well, he knew this fight would take the best, if not, all of his Ki to barely survive it. But he could not think that way. He had two women to take care of.
The first punches reaching the ice lord shook him and pushed him back, but as soon as the bruise formed; a green glow appeared and healed him instantly. The élite nodded every time Ryoga fixed him, and when he felt the general pushing harder he dodged as best he could.
At the far front, Ranma tried desperately to reach that fight. He did not care for small fry, even if they were massive demons charging at him. Akira understood and jumped between the passing boy and the enraged monsters. "Go Ranma, I got this, and please . . . . .keep her safe."
Ranma looked back for a second, just to acknowledge the little girl's plead, and than forced more speed on his steps. He was so close, he could touch the enemy's back, but when he almost reached them, the other general stopped him at once.
"Saotome Ranma, I do believe we have a settle to score." The impudent pose taunted the boy, while the trickster laughed at his premature conclusions. "Just because some female spirit protecting this miserable rock taught you how to fight better; doesn't mean you can defeat me."
Ranma was one of short temper, and talking was overrated for his taste. Action dictated his goals and his friend and mate needed his help. "I ain't got time to lose with you. . .move . . .or I'll move ya."
The general kept laughing and stopping at the pigtailed boy's feet he vanished from his view.
"I thought you were hot air from the start." The air master resumed his running and stopped when his environment changed dramatically. He was at the Tendou house, surrounded by his family and friends. When he tried to get close to them, Akane came into view.
"Ranma you Bakka, you saved me from Saffron. Fought princes and evil monsters, and in the end you left me." A light crossed the boy, showing all his mistakes and adventures, while trying to save his fiancée. Multi-headed monsters, immature princes and even giant birds, all with the intention to protect what he believe was his mate and eternal companion.
The light started to flash and move faster. Scenes from struggling times with the Tendous made they're way, and even Ryoga popped in as the villain, trying to keep the brunette girl away from him. He moved close to Akane and held her close. When their faces almost collided he said. " Akane. I. . .I-I used to . . .well. . .you know. But I was never able to say it. If it's that, than tell me this."
"How can I tell Ryoga, I love her?" The girl's face churned and the mallet appeared as usual. Ranma stood there waiting for the punch, and smiling at his response. "I said it. . .I've been sayin' I love her for some time. I guess this feminine stuff is gettin' me." When he closed his eyes to receive the punch, nothing came. He opened them again and saw Ukyo and Shampoo with angry faces, ready for battle. Without noticing, the Saotome heir was lured into a nightmare by the lord of chaos himself.
Bor looked tired by the fight while the fallen hero kept his cool. Even at remarkable healing speeds, Ryoga wasn't able to keep up with all the damage the army was suffering. She was maintaining the fallen Amazons on the back of the battle, protecting the rest of the elites from the only monsters and demons left on the field, and for her disadvantage, they were the strongest ones.
She kept shielding her sister whom was sustaining massive amounts of punishment by all the main demons on the front, and Bor had full regenerative ability thanks to her. But the war didn't seem to end and she was wasting away in pain and torment.
Herb looked at the girl. Ryoga-chan suddenly fell on a knee, while holding her head with both hands. When she tried to help her up, she was pulled by one of the undead monsters passing through Akira's defense. Musk spirit would never die, and even if she was cursed she didn't care to die. Her fight was devastating. The monster gushed away, slashing and cutting flesh from her limbs.
The Musk accepted faith and began to fall when small greenish sparks stitched every wound on her being. Mad at the blonde's intention the Musk princess bared her own set of fangs. "Damn it Ryo-chan. Stop protecting us. . . .I . .Thank you, dear friend, but you are dying. . ." No one could believe what that moment brought to the feral girl. Herb began to shed tears, she was in pain for the girl.
Ryoga smiled and looked up. Her face, covered in dripping blood coming from her nose and ears. Tears mixed with sweat and a trembling body revealed the excruciating torment the girl was passing by. "Don't worry Herb. . .S-soon everything will be fine."
Inside Ryo-chan, the last farewell took place between Toshiko and the girl. "Ranko, I think is time. . . .go back to Ranma. . .he'll need you from now on." The girl saddened at the order. She knew the blonde's last efforts were taking her away and complied at her last request. "Ryo-chan, it has been an honor. I'll tell Ranma you'll wait for him so just hang in there." Ryo-chan just smiled and disappeared from her own head.
"Some feet away, a very annoyed redhead cursed her luck. The only reason she let her sister back was for the pigtailed boy to protect her and show off as her knight in shining armor. But the moron was drooling away, while a gray smoking screen bathed around him. "Damn it Ranma. . .snap out of it. . ! "
The girl aimed her open palm towards the boy and shoot a blast of water and lighting combined. The blast made the new redheaded girl scream at the splash and shocking impact. "You had to use water didn' ya?"
Ranko crouched and waited for her opponent to pop. She knew he was around trying to pick a fight using her own memories, and was on to him at this point. "C'mon Loki, I ain't got all the time. This will be my fun now."
The Lord amused himself at the girl, he was so confident he didn't see when the girl sneaked behind him and ready to strike him. He only saw her crouching at the dirt in front of him as if waiting on his move.
Ranko used her even faster speed mixed with the Umi-sen Ken at the point where she left her image impressed on the last position, giving the illusion of waiting for the opponent, while she moved freely all over the place. The general gaseous form popped and was sent in a heap on the dirt.
Indignity filled his demeanor, and he stormed the place nearby with bolts of lighting similar to those of his brother. "No one disrespect me. . .not even a wench as you, half male."
Within his surrounding, a voice with no body alerted him of his fate. "I may be half way, but I'm more than you'll ever be, an' you have crossed a line I ain't forgivin' "
The lord of chaos took punches and kicks on every direction he tried to counter, even when moving into an illusion or smoke, the speed and mastery of air enhanced every move on the redheaded girl, there was no way to run or escape, that is until a very amused shadow's hand reached him and tossed him into the portal.
Ranko looked at Hades smiling away from her, while setting his general back from harm's way. "Lord Loki, it is not yet your time. . .soon, but not today." When the girl decided to run after the other general and help Bor, set of tentacles from a near monster caught her and dragged her back into the fray Akira was handling.
Ranko looked at the little girl, bruised and disheveled from the fearsome foes standing against her. "Hey Aki-chan. . .need a hand?" Ranko prayed Bor would keep the general occupied long enough for the pair of girls to get back at him.
"I can always use some more . . . . .!" Akira blinked when, trying to seem arrogant, took down her guard. One of the strongest demons threw a fist she was ready to counter, but the beast's hand extended and a sharp bladed bone like weapon impaled her by the shoulder.
"That witch might try to heal you human, but she can't do it while my claw is still inside you." Bellowed the monster, smiling at the girl's situation. Ranko approached the girl and tried to find a way to dislodge the claw, but Akira stopped her and looked at her in a pleading way.
"Forget me Ranma-chan. My sis . . . . .please." Tear drops adorned the little girl's face, but Ranko knew it wasn't for her pain. She was dreading the death of her sister, and the demise of her mate. "No, not in a million years, you hear me? I ain't leaving Ryo or You back. . ."
The pigtailed girl began her run once again after the blonde, while pulling the little redhead from the claw by force. A muffled sound of flesh ripping startled them for a second, but they kept running. Akira set both open palms to her front and a torrent of water shot in front of her. The torrent turned full blast and began to crystallize, forming a wall between the monsters and them. When the demons tried to touch the wall, a surge of electricity kept them stuck to the ice.
"Damn, I was planing to use that move as a desperation attack, but I guess we are desperate."
The ice lord was barely standing up to the general. Somehow the undead's punches were tearing his Ki away, while his body burned from the inside out. Heracles seriousness depicted a man with honor, even when he was a fallen one. "Lord Bor. Remember how I died? . . The mighty Hercules left me to rot, while I drown in fire and poison."
Bor understood his comment and realized the punches exerted by his rival were drenched in that same venom, while the fire burned through his lungs and insides. "No wonder Ryo-chan can't heal me as fast. Is not only his Ki and incredible strength, but those two accursed effects."
Finally, when Bor raised once more to face him, the pair of redheaded girls arrived at the place. Ranko, Akira, Bor and Herb stood before Heracles. When the general closed his eyes one last time for his devastating final attack, he was called back into the portal.
Enraged by his master's orders, the undead general turned at him, questioning his words. Hades turned back appraising the battle and counseling his servant. "Lord Heracles. Come, the fight has been won. There is nothing to do anymore."
Heracles form vanished while appearing into the other side of the portal. That was the last picture from this war. The rest of the demons retreated back, just outside the portal without crossing over their master's side, as if waiting for something else.
After the sign of monsters running away, all the Nation's warriors yelled in victory. The cries of bravery and defiance from Amazons and Musk filled the bloodied field, there were no casualties, thanks to the blonde prodigy and the evil was charging with their tails between their legs. This was a good day.
Cologne kept her cool, always showing restraint, and when every amazon about to die was spared thanks to the lost girl power, she began to relax. When the Amazon elder turned back she met the group of people she believed would never do so any more.
"Tendou Akane? What are you doing here? This is not a place for you and the rest of Nerima's young ones to be."
Akane walked close to the woman in the pogo stick. She looked worried and Cologne wondred the reason. "Elder Cologne, this is Ranma's mother. . . .Nodoka."
The elder looked at the middle-aged woman with envy. "So this is the mother of our mighty warrior? Tell me child, how do you stand on your son's personal relationship with the boy Ryoga?"
The matriarch did not want to touch this subject, not specially at the present time, but there had to be a reason for the old woman to ask and she wanted to find that out. "My son is a Saotome and his blood is pure and honorable. He will not follow such lack of manliness, but will abide to our family rules."
Not what Cologne wanted to hear, but expected, coming from an exterior source at all this ordeal. The amazon walked close to the matriarch and motioned her to sit near her. "Nodoka-sama. You're son has been recruited by Lady Gaia, and she is the female protector of this world. Do you know what that means?"
Nodoka understood the implications on the woman's declaration, but honor demanded her son's blood if that were the case. "I do see that elder, but my son is bound by pledge to his honor and the right of the family. I believe this is not a good time to discuses these matters and my son is not present. Why don't we meet them and explain this?"
Cologne found wisdom on Nodoka and nodded at her decision. "I agree child, let's wait for this situation's resolution, than we'll try the rest of Ranma's life.
The group walked to the front of the field, hoping to find Ranma and Ryoga unscathed. Ukyo held Konatsu close while admiring the blood spread all over the path. "Ko-chan, I think this is not a place for us. The devastation of the land alone gives me the creeps."
The ninja stared at the damage and at the warriors walking in the opposite way. He was intrigued at the vision before him, everyone was happy, yet there was an ominous feel; like something was about to unfurl.
Akane kept her pacing and eventually reached the small group of brave people. Ranma was in female form, while the little redhead bled from one side of her shoulder. The giant Nord looked ruffled and beat up, and the Musk female was panting after the extenuating circumstances drawn by the monsters.
Ranma would have noticed the brunette, but his full attention aimed at the blonde on his arms. Ryoga bled from her ears and nose. Akane had seen the lost girl, mostly in male form, with nose bleeds, but to see her almost fallen apart and with looks of exhaustion made her cringe in pain.
Nodoka ran to her son and hugged the now girl dreading not to let her go, nothing could separate them in that moment. "Ranma. . ." The girl nod away accepting the fact her mom knew the truth about his alter ego. She could have argued, but she had to make sure Ryoga was OK.
"Ryo . . .see? there was nothin' to worry about. We won, and you are safe, just like I promised."
The blonde looked u at her mate and smiled, while covering her stomach with her hands. The redheaded girl noticed that and carefully forced the other girl's hands aside, the surprise was more than the fight itself. Ryoga-chan's stomach delineated a curvy bump.
Just when Ranma raised her fist in the air, index finger up and ask what was going on, a loud thunder called her attention and the rest of the armies at the portal.
Hades stood behind the tunnel and faced his enemy once again. " Humans. . .I said the war had been won. . .I never said, by who."
As he finished his final taunt, he moved aside and a monstrous beast began to cross over through the portal. A giant three-headed dog.
While the new challenge made his way into this world, all the fallen demons slain by the nations began to re-appear at the foot od the portal as well. 100,000 evil beings were getting ready for the second round.