Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ or Kingdom Hearts. Roses are red, violets are blue, you smell like a skunk, and you look like one too...Ack! Sorry, wandering fingers.
Author's Note: We're coming down the home stretch sports fans! This has been a lot of fun and I'm glad to have written this. I hope we can see this to the end together. So pull up a chair and sit down. As always, please read and review! Now, without further ado, enjoy the show!
A Different Side,
A Different Story
Chapter 10
They began the long trip back to Traverse Town the next morning. Though in Halloween Town it's hard to tell when that is. Ranko was grinning at everyone, her mood greatly improved by the "vacation". The conversations ranged from past events to their fight with Oogie Boogie. Xiao was a little jealous because she was the only one who hadn't transformed yet. It shouldn't bother her, but it did. Just as Donald was laughing at something Goofy said, his jaw dropped in shock as a massive pirate ship approached. "This can't be good..." Ryoga started before a barrage from the pirate ship's cannons quickly battered their ship. They returned fire as best they could, but these were seasoned pirates and they obviously knew this part of space. When the last cannon ball struck their ship, the systems, which were already beeping in distress suddenly cut out. With no power left, they drifted towards the deck of the ship where the Gummy Ship dissolved and spilled them out on the deck.
Ryoga came to slowly, her body aching from the landing. As her eyes opened, she quickly took stock of the situation and saw the Heartless pirates with their cutlasses pointed at her. She knew she could take them, but she needed to find her friends first. One of them gestured for her to get up and she scrambled to her feet, pretending she was disoriented from the fall. "Welcome to my humble ship, my dear!" a man in a large red had stepped up, his rapier swishing through the air as he brandished his hook where his hand used to be. His voice was oily as he tried to sound suave, failing miserably. "This is no pleasure cruise, so abandon all hope at the door." laughing at his own "witty" comment. "Stuff it up your ass, Hook." came the voice that Ryoga would know anywhere. Hook glared at the pig-tailed boy that sauntered up behind him. "Hey there Ryoga. I'm actually not surprised that you made it this far. You're nowhere near my level, but you were always good for a laugh." it was clear that Ranma was trying to goad the neo-girl into something rash, but was obviously surprised when it didn't work. As soon as the pig-tailed martial artist stepped forward, Ryoga's eyes were riveted on a flash of purple behind the arrogant boy's legs. She thought it was her imagination, but her gut was telling her that this was the real deal. Ranma finally noticed where her gaze was and grinned down at the cursed martial artist. "She's really pretty. While you were out playing, I found her. It seems she has lost her heart to the Heartless." he said as Ryoga's heart clenched in her chest. "She's not much fun to play with. No soul at all." he grinned suggestively and that did it. Ryoga's aura flared out and blew the Heartless away from her in her fury. Ranma kept the arrogant smirk, but his eyes betrayed his shock and growing fear. "I know you weren't serious, but that kinda comment could cost you." Ryoga said in a dreadful voice. Even Hook was momentarily shaken by the cold tone. "W-why don't you play down in the hold!" he cried "Smee! " before Ryoga could blink, she found herself fall down into the ship's hold.
"I saw her guys! Shampoo is right here!" Ryoga was chattering excitedly. Her anger dissipated by finding her friends. Her friends were listening patiently for her to finish before Donald finally screamed "Get off of us!" the neo-girl finally noticed that she was laying on top of a pile. "Heh heh...oops?" she giggled nervously. As they sorted themselves out, Xiao suddenly tensed. "We're not alone." she whispered. As they got ready for battle, with Ranko for some reason brandishing the Pink Heart Rod like Tuxedo Kamen holding his rose. Ryoga knew the senshi outfit changed her style a little, but didn't think it had gone that far. "Whoa! Hold it, I'm not your enemy." said a voice as a boy in green tights flipped out from behind barrels in the hold. "What are you doing here?" Ryoga asked. "I'm waiting for someone." he replied. "You're stuck here, too?" the boy shook his head. "Nah, I'm just waiting for someone." since he wouldn't elaborate on this person, Ryoga shrugged and walked up to the door. With a smirk over her shoulder "Breaking Point!" and blew the door out. The boy's eyes bulged and his jaw dropped at the spectacle. "Wh-wh-wh-what?" he stammered out. He never saw anything like it and the girl's friends hadn't even batted an eye. A small little ball of light suddenly zipped into the room and went right to the boy. "Tink! Where were you?" he asked the tiny girl. She seemed to be making a little tinkling sound that only he could understand. "You found Wendy? That's great! Wait, there was another girl with her?" Ryoga's head whipped around in time to catch that. "Shampoo!" she exclaimed. "Hair product?" the boy looked confused. Ranko sighed and shook her head. "Let us introduce ourselves and we'll explain." she began. At the end of a few minutes, she had given him the severely abridged version, he seemed to think about it. "Okay, the name's Peter Pan. We'll join forces for now, but only until we find Wendy." the friends nodded at him before heading through the broken door.
The pirate Heartless weren't as easy as Ryoga initially thought. At least they gave everyone a good workout, she supposed. Xiao was darting in and out, her sword flashing as more of them went down. For every one she cut down, however, it seemed two would spring up in its place. Goofy was spinning through groups of them, but was having the same problem as Xiao. Donald's enemies for some reason weren't coming back, maybe it was because he kept hitting them in the butt with lightning. Ryoga was actually beginning to feel like she was having her fill of these guys and Peter was crowing like a maniac and hacking them apart. Ranko seemed to be waiting for something and the Heartless were ignoring her in favor of the more dangerous seeming ones. With a twirl the Pink Heart Rod became the Crescent Moon Wand "Moon Healing Escalation!" she cried and vaporized all the Heartless and healed all her allies. They all were looking at her funny. "Why didn't you do that sooner?" Xiao asked. "If I did it too soon, they wouldn't have all been hit." she shrugged. Goofy just slapped his forehead and Donald cracked up. "C'mon, we gotta find Wendy." Peter ordered and lead the way again. As they walked through the expansive ship, Donald asked "How do you fly?" to Peter. The boy looked at him "With pixie dust. Wanna try?" and everyone nodded, so he gently took hold of Tinker Bell and sprinkled them with the pixie dust, but when Donald tried to fly, he fell. They all decided to just leave it alone.
The door at the end of the hallway had only a hole in the floor that lead into the bottom of the ship. Peter flew down first while the others jumped in behind him. After hanging around with Ryoga all this time, even Donald could handle a five-story fall. What they saw when they hit bottom shocked them. It looked like a shadow copy of Ryoga, surrounded by more of the pirate Heartless. The copy pointed a shadow Keyblade at Ryoga and made a "come on" gesture before vaulting through the other opening at the other end. "Go one, Ryoga. We got this." Goofy said tersely. The neo-girl merely nodded and ran after her clone while the others prepared for battle. Along with the pirates, shadows began creeping up through the floor. "These guys are a cinch! C'mon gang!" Peter called out to rally them. As he lunged into battle, he failed to see the mass sweatdrop he left in his wake, but the Heartless were more then happy to bring the battle to them as pirates came in swinging and shadows slashed at them. "Scramble!" Donald yelled and that command they listened to as they ran in different directions to split up the Heartless. Ranko was decimating them with powerful punches, kicks, and bursts of Pink Sugar Heart goodness. Xiao was letting her aura creep out and channeling into her blade with a smile. "Let's see how this works... After Image!" she shouted, moving so fast she left an image behind that the enemies lunged at, before falling down headless. Goofy aimed his shield at a line of them before firing his ki blast, it flared into a saw blade shape before cutting them down. Donald was unleashing tight bursts of lightning, weakening a large group before unleashing a wide fireball to finish them off. Peter's method was just as effective. He would dart in, raining countless blows upon them, and dart back out again letting them hit each other. As quickly as it began it ended, but Goofy noticed the shadows on the floor. "Guys, those shadows are moving together." he said. Everyone watched as they formed into a giant Heartless pirate, wielding twin cutlasses and looking fierce. His eye patch was a mini skull and his good eye burned with malevolent light. They looked at each other and nodded before splitting up and attacking from multiple sides. He looked so slow, but proved to be faster then they expected. They found themselves thrown about as if by a blended of blades and kicks. Goofy tried his Captain America impression, but his shield got batted back at him. He tried doing his slicing attack to split him in two and found himself wrapped around one of the pillars holding up the deck of the ship. Donald fired out his Tri-Blast, but was shocked as it survived the blast with a huge hole in its chest. Peter was having the most luck as he rained blows upon its head and neck, but found himself wrapped around another pillar. Xiao's Iai Blow had no effect whatsoever. She tried After Image and First Class Demon God Assault Blade with no effect. Goofy jumped back into the fray and hammered him flat with his Charge attack and Donald blew his feet out from under him with a gust of wind. Xiao had never felt so useless, her friends' attacks were way more effective. She noticed Ranko was powering up again and jumped away as Ranko used the Crescent Moon Wand "Moon Healing Escalation!" and knocked the thing into the wall. Ranko just stared in shock at the lack of effect before finding one of its swords flying at her and knocking her down with the flat edge.
Xiao felt her eyes burning and her hand clench on her sword in fury. Useless, that's what she was. She couldn't even scratch this guy and it was infuriating her. Her yellow aura was turning to a deep gold as it flashed, leaving her clothed in traditional samurai garb. She looked like she had been transported from Meiji Era Japan, her sword held in the traditional stance. Her hair was tied into a long, flowing ponytail and her eyes were burning gold. The pirate looked in her direction just before she began spinning around it, slicing and dicing so fast her sword and feet were a blur of motion. When she was finished she swept her sword down from her forehead to clean it and sheathed it in a practiced motion. Her form shimmered and she reverted back to normal. As they stared at her she giggled slightly "I did it." before passing out.
Ryoga followed her dark clone to the area she indicated. As she got there, she saw her clone standing there with her Keyblade out. It looked like the original Keyblade, the Kingdom Key. Something was telling her to stay on her guard and it was correct as the copy seemed to blur and immediately bring the fight to her. She couldn't remember the last time she ever launched in for the attack like that without even sizing up her opponent. It was weird to say the least as they traded blows back and forth. Fists, feet, Keyblades, and ki attacks were all fair game. The clone was getting more and more frustrated by her lack of progress against what was supposed to be the one she was copied from. That arrogant smirk on Ryoga's face suddenly set her off and with a dark scream created three duplicates of herself that lunged in for the attack as well. Okay, now it was difficult as she had to spin and dodge from the psychotic quartet that was trying to demolish her. She knew that if she didn't come up with something fast, she was in trouble. Actually, scratch that, the quadruple Shi Shi Hokodan definitely meant she was in trouble. With a scream, she fell to her knees with the foursome stepping around her. Keyblades held low and ready to finish her. She was about to use the angel when she decided to use something better. She didn't need power, she just needed focus. As she felt her mind slip into the focus of the kata, time seemed to crawl. The four brought their weapons up for the finisher, they thought they were fast, but Ryoga thought they were slow. The strange peaceful smile on her face belied the sudden explosion of brutal movement as she blocked and countered all their attacks and sent them flying into different corners of the room. Every movement seemed lazy and slow to her as she began systematically taking them out. When she reached the original she bowed her head to Ryoga. To the neo-girl's surprise, the clone held out her Keyblade to Ryoga. "For me...?" when the clone nodded, she took the black weapon and watched as the clone vanished without a trace. The Shadow Keyblade morphed into a copy of the Oblivion. Ryoga was thrilled with the new weapon, but also knew she had to work on her two weapon fighting now.
Her friends caught up with her shortly after the battle and stared at Ryoga while she marveled at her new Keyblade. "Hey guys." she said. "Where'd you get that?" Donald asked. "My clone gave it to me after I beat her." Ryoga replied. Xiao was bouncing happily "I Tranced!" she squealed happily. Before Ryoga could say anything, Peter called out "Wendy!" as he floated near the ceiling. "Peter!" a girl said with a clear British accent. "Hey Ryoga, think you could open a way up to her?" Peter asked. Ryoga nodded "No problem there." and struck the wooden mesh near the ceiling with the Shadow Keyblade and watched the whole thing explode upward. She blinked in amazement. It worked as well as her real Keyblade. As soon as everyone made their way up, Peter joined Wendy and Ryoga saw Shampoo. To say that she was happy would be an understatement. "Hey, Ryoga. I gotta get Wendy out of here. I'm takin' off now." he said and flew out of the room so fast there was a breeze from his departure. Ryoga was cradling Shampoo in her arms, her Keyblades scattered on the ground. "Shampoo..." she gently shook her, trying to get her to wake up. "Please open your eyes..." the neo-girl pleaded. Everyone respected her wish for silence except Ranko. "I know you're upset and want her awake, but we gotta get outta here. We can help her better in Traverse Town. Maybe Merlin knows something." the redhead suggested. Ryoga nodded softly and picked her up onto her back. They tied Shampoo's wrists together and her legs around Ryoga's waist so that the cursed martial artist could fight. It wasn't their idea, it was Ryoga's. She'd be damned if anyone took her away now. "Let's get to the deck. The ship dissolved there and we can board it from there. Move out." her friends looked at each other as Ryoga began marching out. "I don't wanna be the one to get in her path." Goofy said with a shudder. "I hope we can help her." the neko-girl said, her ears drooping as the braided girl said "Merlin can help her." Ryoga's voice called "Come on! Move it!" and with one last glance, they bolted out after her.
The companions bolted onto the deck of the ship and skidded to a halt as they found themselves confronted with a deck full of Heartless. "Well, I am impressed." Captain Hook said as he sauntered up to them. A lantern was swinging back and forth in his grasp and it was revealed to be holding Tinker Bell. "I propose an exchange. You turn over the girl and I'll give you your little fairy friend. The girl won't be killed, she's needed, but I can't say the same for 'Tink'." he laughed evilly. Ryoga snarled, but knew she couldn't get her away from Hook before he pierced her with his hook. Ranma walked out on deck, his smile said he had all the cards. It made her want to cry in frustration. Before Ryoga could do anything however, Peter snatched away Tinker Bell from Captain Hook. "C'mon Ryoga! Did ya really think I'd leave without you or Tink?" he said. Captain Hook screamed in rage "Crush them!" and the whole crowd surged forward to battle. Ryoga turned into a furious whirlwind of spinning blades, breaking their bodies and hurling them overboard. Goofy whipped his shield through the approaching mass as Xiao leaped through another group. Donald was hurling bolts of lightning down from the sky, incinerating them where they stood. Peter was keeping Hook busy and Ranko lead her enemies into the Hiryuu Shoten Ha. Ranma was definitely shocked at the devastation. He knew they were strong, but watching them fight as one unit made him cold all over. He shook himself from his irrational fear. He is the best martial artist of his generation. No one is better. He called upon the dark power in his heart to unleash a barrage of Mouko Takabisha upon them. Ryoga was stunned as Ranma callously destroyed even his own troops just to beat them. She crossed Keyblades to deflect the attack. She knew that she couldn't block it forever, but tried. As she was occupied with the attack, she suddenly felt Shampoo violently yanked off of her back. The shock left her wide open to the barrage attack that smashed her into the deck. She could only watch in pained horror as a giant black cloak carried her off.
She awakened to find her friends gathered around her, looking at her in sympathy. Ranko helped her to her feet, pulling her in for a hug. The neo-girl pulled back with a shake of her head. "I'm ok. I know she's alright and I will find her. I know I will." the others nodded. Peter sighed "It's hard I know. Hey, figured out how to fly yet? Think happy thoughts." he said. They all looked at each other. Happy thoughts? Ranko had a small smile on her face and slowly began rising up. "The day I realized I'm my own person. The day I realized I'm alive!" she wheeled through the air. Donald smiled and rose up as well "The day Daisy agreed to be my girl." Goofy smiled as well, but when he began flying refused to explain why. Xiao practically leaped into the air, giggling "The day I found Ryoga again!" The only one still grounded was Ryoga. She watched them playing in the sky and wished she was up there with them. She could still feel Shampoo on her back and the feeling that she had her. Safe and almost sound. Then she smiled softly at the day they met. That day was the most terrifying, but now it was also the happiest. Before she realized it, she found herself flying upside down next to Ranko. With a blink and a flip she was right side up. "Took ya long enough!" the redhead teased. When Peter tried to lead them, Ryoga kept drifting off in the wrong direction. Giggling at her distress, Ranko and Xiao grabbed her hands and pulled her along with them towards a large clock tower just barely visible in the distance.
As they made their approach, the same black cloak that took off with Shampoo was there. Ranma's voice echoed "I figured you'd like some revenge against the one who took your Shampoo. Consider it a gift!" his voice faded as he laughed maniacally. Ryoga was glad for the chance at the flying freak. Peter looked worried "It's Phantom. Whatever you do, don't let him hit you with his time spell. There's no coming back from it." Ryoga was glad for the advice. Xiao's suggestion was good too "Let's Trance and deal with him!" they nodded as they began focusing their auras. Suddenly the Phantom found himself against an red Angel, a green Knight, a blue Wizard, a yellow Samurai, and a pink Senshi. Peter was nearly bowled over by the power they were radiating, but the Phantom was unimpressed. He unleashed his dark aura and practically bowled them all over with evil energy. Ryoga's first swings missed entirely as well as everyone else's attacks. "Aim for the heart below its body! The color tells you what will work on it!" currently the heart was blue so Donald tried a Blizzaga spell and was gratified when he saw it wince in pain before sweeping him away with a powerful blow. Ryoga saw it turn red and struck with both Keyblades, engulfing them in flames. She was marginally faster than the swipe, but found claw marks across her breastplate. "Look out! This guy is fast!" she called as Donald floated back "Gee, could of fooled me." he muttered sarcastically. "Okay, I'm casting a spell on your weapons. Ryoga, your original Keyblade will have Fire, Goofy's shield will have Ice, and Xiao's sword will have Lightning. Peter, you, me, and Ranko are support." no one could have made a better suggestion so they just nodded. Goofy struck the heart when it turned blue and deflected the killing sweep just as Xiao darted in with her sword. When it turned white, Ryoga struck it again with the Shadow Keyblade. It seemed to be going down pretty easily until it pulled a scythe off its back that wasn't there before and sent them tumbling through the air with a sweep of it. The swinging scythe hurled out vacuum blades that had no trouble damaging them if they didn't dodge fast enough. It was getting the upper hand, so it held up its hand and gathered dark energy. "That's the spell!" Peter cried out, and before anyone could stop him, flew through the blades with no regard for life or limb and cut through its hand with a green glowing dagger. Ryoga was startled at his ki manipulation. "Not bad for a beginner..." she thought, then started laughing. "What!?" Ranko said nervously. "It doesn't like ki attacks." they all looked at each other. The ki manipulators had wicked grins on their faces. Ryoga began gathering up power into her Keyblades, the Shadow Keyblade was charging Shi Shi Hokodan and the Oblivion Keyblade was charging Mouko Takabisha. Ranko was charging Mouko Takabisha through the Moon Scepter. Xiao was powering up for First Class Demon God Assault Blade. Goofy's shield was powering up with his nameless attack. Donald was using his magic to hold a barrier around them while they powered up. The Phantom thought it was funny what they were doing, but it was getting annoyed with the shield. Peter would occasionally zoom in with his charged dagger and perforate him before going back behind the shield. Once they were done they all took aim and with simultaneous cries of their attack names, opened fire on the Phantom. As the ki attacks hammered into the Phantom and ripped through it, Ryoga summoned Bahamut once again for the finishing blow. Ranma, who was watching from overhead, sweatdropped. "Has she ever heard of the term overkill?" he said before vanishing.
Peter was currently holding hands with Wendy and speaking sweet nothings. Ryoga wanted to puke, but held it back through sheer force of will. Bahamut was still there and watching the scene with a paternal eye. Once he was released, he showed that he had a definite fatherly streak. "I'm sorry about your friend." he said to her as she sat on his head. He didn't seem to mind so why not? Ryoga sighed "I'm all right. I'll find her again." Ranko popped up nearby and ruffled her hair. The neo-girl smiled and laughed at her. Ranko was flying upside down with Xiao doing a good impression of Ryoga drifting off in the wrong direction. Suddenly Tinker Bell began flying around Ryoga's head. "Uh oh, Tink's gettin' jealous again. Hey, would you mind taking care of her for me?" as Ryoga tried to stammer something Peter waved and flew off. The little fairy twirled and flared her skirt with an impish smile before disappearing. The same feeling she got when she learned to summon Bahamut filled her. The events of the day were finally crashing down on her as well as the chi drain from the attacks and fell asleep. Bahamut flew almost lazily under the dropping party and caught them on his head with a smile. He supposed he it was time he learned his way to Traverse Town anyway.
As they hurtled through space on Bahamut's head, they gradually woke up. Ryoga was panicked at first, but quickly found the ride to be fun. The others were all clinging on for dear life while she whooped and cheered like a maniac. Bahamut was blowing away asteroids and Heartless ships into space debris with Impulse and Mega Flare. After awhile, they relaxed and enjoyed the ride, until they saw a huge creature hurtling towards them. It looked like a strange form of dragon with a wedge shaped head and wings coming out and no forelegs. It roared in a pale imitation of Bahamut's and set itself for battle. It looked like a cross between a Heartless and Gummy Ship. Bahamut couldn't help laughing. "Is this how you would defeat me? By making me laugh myself to death?" he gloated, but the laughter died as its powerful breath weapon blasted him. Their Gummy ship suddenly appeared and they quickly jumped aboard to try and assist the Dragon King. As Bahamut fired his Mega Flare, their ship fired all of its heavy guns on the floating monstrosity. Apparently its shield was a good one because it completely blocked the attacks. "We may be in trouble." Bahamut rumbled. They didn't want to agree, but if nothing worked then they were sunk. The Heartless Dragon's mouth opened, revealing a massive energy cannon. "Nega Flare!" it roared as it fired out a dark version of Bahamut's Mega Flare and blasted them both into the side of a planetoid. There was nothing they could do, their power cells were running dry and Bahamut was literally fading before their eyes. Ryoga suddenly noticed the ignition of the ship. "Donald! Take out the key!" she cried. Donald was confused, but complied. The neo-girl pointed both Keyblades at the ship's ignition and watched as blue and black beams fired into the ship. The ship began glowing with an eerie light that spread to Bahamut. Cid's special addition was a Transform Gummy and it was activating in a way the manufacturers never intended. In a blaze of light, the ship and Bahamut combined into one being. This new being unfolded its six wings, spikes coming up from its shoulders and a long tail sprouted from its head. Its other tail was long and swishing angrily. It roared out at the beast before it. Ryoga and the others found themselves inside a cockpit on top of the dragon's head. The Heartless Dragon blasted the new dragon with Nega Flare and was stunned when it failed to scratch him. "I have been reborn. I am the Dragon King of Space, Bahamut ZERO!" he roared out as he unleashed "Arc Impulse!" blasting the wannabe dragon full on in the chest. It gasped in pain as its shields were utterly disintegrated. "If that whet your appetite... How about the main course!? ZERO Flare!" he shouted as the ball of blue light formed in his maw just before being unleashed in a stream of pure energy. The crew watched in stunned amazement as the Heartless Dragon was annihilated and turned into space dust. "Well, that was fun. Wasn't it, children?" he asked over the intercom system. "Oh yeah, a lot of fun." Ryoga replied. They were all laughing, a little nervously, as they flew back to Traverse Town.
End Chapter 10
End Notes:Yes, I love to write fight scenes. I also like to advance the plot while doing the fight scenes. When I first mapped out this chapter I didn't intend for Bahamut ZERO to appear and I didn't even plan on the Phantom. I find sometimes as I write, that characters just want to be let out and used. I'm surprised that situations in later chapters actually shed light on stuff in earlier chapters and earlier chapters foreshadow later chapters. I'm either a genius or a lucky fool. What do you think? Thank you for reading. Ja ne!
