Warp Realities

by Vahn

Ranma dies in battle against Saffron. Given another chance at life by Urd, Ranma intent to take full advantaged of it. Peaceful days ahead for our pig tailed hero right? Right? Ranma/SM/Oh my goddess/Flames of Recca/Bastard cross over. Not as crazy as it sounds . M for language.

21. Warpath

Warp Realities

Disclaimer

Ranma 1/2 created by Rumiko Takahashi

Sailor Moon created by Naoko Takeuchi

Ah! My Goddess created by Kōsuke Fujishima

Flames of Recca created by Nobuyuki Anzai

Bastard! created by Kazushi Hagiwara

I do not own any of these characters, all anime belong to their respective companies. Don't sue me.

Special thanks to Himiko and Scott :D

Chapter 21

Warpath

****************** Vatican City, Italy *****************************

The Cardinals talked in hushed whispers amongst themselves as news of the forest fire in China reached them, naturally they would be sending humanitarian aid, after all, it was their mission in life. One cardinal in particular had studied the Old Testament and found the fire pattern disturbing.

"Why the pensive look Radolf?" Cardinal Awbee asked. The African man had risen to Cardinal rank despite the civil war that was taking place in his homeland.

"I can't quite put my hands around it, but I don't believe this is a natural fire." Radolf said pensively. There was something that was niggling at the back of his head something he once read about.

"The Lord wills what the Lord wills." Awbee said smilingly. "It is also his will for us to help those of his children who had been displaced in China."

"You are right my friend." Radolf said patting his friend on the shoulder. "Perhaps I am thinking too much of-"

"They launched their nuclear missile!" A loud cried could be heard shouting. "China launched their nuclear missiles!"

Radolf and Awbee looked at one another in wide eyed shocked. What could have happened to warrant the world's leaders using such terrible weapons of destruction? Was this the fate of mankind to die in a fire by their making? Already they could hear the masses' hysterical screaming out in the quiet city even as the priests and their guards started to move about hurriedly. Walking into a T.V lounge they watched with many others as the news was broadcast.

"-Reports are confirmed, China has launched over one hundred nuclear missiles toward their own city, Beijing. We are updating information as we get them but I repeat there is no need to panic, stay where you are, the nuclear missiles were fired by China on their own city." A man with a slightly British accent said. The scene switched over to a computer generated map of China showing the missile launching up from the country only to land in Beijing.

"My God, all those poor souls." A fellow priest said as the rest bowed their head in silence for the lives lost.

"Looks like we need to get into China faster then we anticipated, the fallout must be devastating." Awbee said to which Radolf could only nod.

++++++++ Rome Airport, A few hours later ++++++++++++++++++

Radolf and Awbee had acquired 12 cargo planes to load up with food and supplies for those that would undoubtedly be affected by this disaster. Already their medical priest had loaded up with the medicine cargo planes waiting for the signal to go. Naturally the twelve planes would only be the beginning but for right now it would have to do.

Radolf was in the cockpit saying prayers with the pilots for their safe trip when a concerned voice filters over from the control tower.

"Flight 983-995 stand by there seems to be some unidentified flying objects in the sky. Too small to be planes, settle down and wait for it to clear. Over." The air traffic controller said from the control tower.

"Roger that, probably over size geese." The pilot responded. He turned to Radolf. "Thank you your holiness."

"No problem my so-" Radolf started to respond when a ball of fire struck the watchtower blowing a hole clear through it.

"My god!" The pilot said. "This is 983 to control tower are you ok?"

Dead static was on the other line as they all stared in shocked at each other only to be snapped out of their shock when another plume of fire ignited in another section of the airport.

"Heaven have mercy on us." The co-pilot said as he stared out the window. Radolf looked out and his eyes widen, running out to the cargo hold he saw Awbee looked at him with wide eyed shock. Together they open the latch and stared as the sky was raining fire.

As far as their eyes could see, the balls of fire struck all over the city blowing things up and setting buildings ablaze. In the background they can hear the siren wails in response.

"Meteor shower?" Awbee asked in concern.

"I would thin-" Radolf started to say when one of the fireballs crashed near their plane. Radolf stared at the ball of fire that had landed near them, then the impossible happened; the ball of fire started to unfurl revealing a fiery demonic looking humanoid bat creature. The fire creature stood taller then a regular man, but it's arms had bat-like wings attached to it. It had a sharp, long, pointed tail that was at least it body length if not longer. The bird like claws and demonic looking face snapped at the two holy men as it started to stalk toward them. With a roar of fury it whipped it tail out and impaled Awbee onto it and to Radolf horror it ripped his long time friend apart. The creature turned back to him, he knew then what it was what had been niggling at the back of his mind.

"Light Bringer ." Radolf whispered naming their foe, the name seemed to incense the demon. Radolf got on his knees and prayed even as the fiery creature jumped toward him.

**************** Tibetan Monastery, Asia ******************

They needed no names, no titles, no words, they just lived simply and were content on their path of enlightenment. It was easy to communicate with words or hand gestures, the challenge lies in communicating without, such was their tenant, such was their belief.

The mountain had been cold as the one that was in charge sat and mediated. The cold air constantly reminded them of the life they have here, making them stronger, that was why he was surprised to feel the air change, at first he thought he gotten use to the cold but a quick look around the room showed his brothers and sister sense what he sensed, heat. A bit concerned he got up and walked over to the pillars showing the outside world, his brothers and sister falling in behind him as he walked.

The Head was the first to see the pillar and widened his eyes in shock. His brothers and sisters behind him felt his shock and in turn grew concerned. This brother of theirs was not prone to such emotional outbursts, tracing their vision to where their brother was looking they too saw the sight that had rattled their brother. Audible gasps could be heard, as a thousand years of silence was broken. The sky was raining fire.

Suddenly several of the balls of fire raining down broke off and slammed into their monastery. The head brother turned around and saw the fire creature unfurl itself and growl menacingly at him. He looked at his brothers and sisters who looked on impassively, he would never say it, but he was proud of them. Turning his head back to the creature as it stalks toward the group he did something not done since the founding of his order. He talked in their most ancient language and named their foe.

"Light Bringer ." he said as the creatures fell on his brothers and sisters. No one made a sound.

****************** Sahara Desert, Africa *********************

The Shaman Zabya of the Tiger clan village had been attending to the local hunters when he saw it. Streaks of fire raining upon the world, the children all gathered and shouted as they looked at the amazing spectacle.

"Look momma!"

"It's so pretty!"

"It's like those western fire works."

Marie Leblanc, a missionary working with the village to lend humanitarian aid, stared wide eyed at the sky. She was a pretty, middle aged blond, but dressed heavily least she catch the eye of some of the local war lords.

"What's going on Zabya?" Marie asked in fear as she watches thousands upon thousand of fire balls streaking across the sky. She had known the old shaman as a friend, though they differ on religious beliefs they had respected one another. She had been living with these people for five years and had grown to love them. In all her time here however, she had never seen the look of sadness and despair in the shaman's eye.

"The Musk's and Amazon's have failed." Zabya said sorrowfully as he continued to watch the fires streaks across the sky.

"Musk? Amazons?" Marie asked. Amazon's she had heard of but Musk's was a new word.

"Ancient allies of our people, the lord of light returns to burn the world once more." Zabya said as he turned to Marie. "You best stay here until it's over since I doubt the lord of light would bother to come here again. Not when there are so many fertile lands out there to scour."

Marie stared in confusion at her friend, but did not see any of the fire streaks deviate from their course. She was not due to report in for at least another 3 months, she hopes her loved ones will be okay.

************* Tokyo Japan ********************

Machine gun fire could be heard in the distance as Specialist Jimmy Spencer drove through the streets of Japan with his caravan. This was the first time ever an American army presence was fighting in Japan. Of course the things they were fighting were a first for Japan also.

"Where we going Ayumi?" Spencer asked his translator. She was a pretty Japanese girl and he promised that he would ask her out when this was all over.

"Make a right over there Spencer-san." Ayumi said. Her homeland had seemed to be the focal point of the weird for so many years now, but this time it was something different, this time the world was in danger along with Japan. She had volunteered to be a translator for the American as had many others, this was the least she could do. Her parents were not too happy with her choice, they felt it was too dangerous for her.

Spencer had discovered that it was rude to call Japanese people by their first name, most likely an Asian thing he thought, but Ayumi had let him call her by her first name mainly because he butchered her last name badly.

"Incoming!" Specialist Thomas Hicks yelled from the back of the caravan as several of the fire balls streaked toward them. He had joined the army to pay for his tuition, he knew combat was a possibility but the enemies were something different from the conventional forces he was told he might go up against in combat.

"Let her rip!" Thomas said as he and his squad open fire upon the fire creature. The impact of the bullets quickly destroyed the creature, but that wasn't their only concern.

"Don't get near that thing!" Hicks yelled. They had discovered too late that the creature was made of nuclear fire, even if they killed it the body would leave the area soaked with radiation. Not dangerous by itself as much, but if the body count keep on piling it, it could be.

"My mom always told me to take the Bible seriously, wish I had paid more attention." Tremaine Jackson said. He was newly enlisted also and came from the southern part of the U.S. Like many here, he also enlisted because he wanted an education, but was not rich enough to afford it, the army would pay for it when he got out.

"Hey eyes opens, there could be more of those things." Hicks warned only to be right a second later as dozens of the fire creatures streaked down toward the caravan. Turning to another of his squad mates who controlled a heavier type of gun he nodded. "Let her rip Sanchez."

Pablo Sanchez swung around a wicked looking .belt fed 50cal machine gun that required two hands and had to be mounted on the truck. Turning toward the demonic creature he fired the armor piercing rounds at them. "Yeah baby!" he said grinning with glee as the fire creature was cut down like grass.

Banging his fist on the back of the truck Hicks signal for Spencer to move them out of the immediate area even as more of the fire creatures attacked.

"Make way for the QB baby!" Jackson yelled as he pulls his grenade pin and tosses the grenade not unlike a football into the creature mouth. He was rewarded when the explosion blew it apart. "Wooo fuck yeah!" he said grinning.

"Oh shit TANK KILLER!" Private Mark Smith yelled as he saw a hulking fire demon burst up from the ground lumbering toward them. It must have stood an in impressive ten feet in height with a heavier type of body frame. Its body rippled with muscles as big as cannons its weight apparently so heavy that every step it took could crack concrete. Reports had came in that, after the fire demons were pushed back initially by superior tank firepower, many of them started to merge together to become such a creature and faster then a tank could move leap upon their armored division and ripped it apart. That was not to say it was impervious to tank firepower, the army had learned the creature itself could only take three direct hits from a tank before it breaks down again. The problem comes when it can move as fast as the smaller fire creatures. With enough strength to peel back a tank's armor and the speed of the small fire demons the tanks by themselves were overwhelmed.

"Fu-." Spencer said as he turned right and tried to drive away from the creature. He looked back and saw Jackson loading up a RPG round.

"Kill this bitch." Jackson sad as he felt Hick load the RPG. Aiming it he squeezed and felt the missile fire and strike the tank killer dead on. There was a cloud of fire for a while before they saw the hulking thing run through it's mouth open in a roar and it speed quickly gaining on them.

"Shit!" Thomas cursed as he loaded another RPG round for Jackson.

Sanchez used his mounted .50cal machine gun against the creature, but the impacts of his bullets seemed to do little against something of that size and density. He could see his bullets impacting the creature and see the visible ripples that ran through it, but the creature barely seem phased by it.

"No good man!" Sanchez said as he went back to destroying the smaller ones that had appeared with the hulking brute.

Jackson felt the RPG being prepped and loaded up again, squeezing the trigger he watched as once more the RPG struck it target. "Reload!" he yelled. He didn't need to, because Hicks was already doing it. Each convoy had ten rounds. By the time the tenth was gone there was nothing but a blazing ball of fire. He saw the creature try to keep its form but was unable to and whooped in joy.

"Tank killer ain't shit." Sanchez said hi-fiving the other guys.

Spencer smiled as he saw in his side mirror as the hulking behemoth went down only to see the ground burst up in front of him as another of the Tank Killers showed itself. Picking his car up it tore it apart sending his squads mates in all direction.

Spencer snapped out of his dazed state and found himself on the ground the creature not too far from him holding the torn truck he had been driving as if it was a toy. He looked over to see Ayumi with a bloody gash on her forehead, the creature roared at him as it made its way over to him. Standing over him it balled it's fist together and was about to smash him when he heard gun fire. A moment later he saw little ripples across the creature's chest, turning he saw it was Sergeant Hicks who was doing the firing as his other squad mates were trying to get themselves out of the wreckage.

The creature roared at the annoying human as it whipped it's tail out and speared the sergeant.

Hicks looked down at where he was speared in sick fascination as he felt the life drain out of him.

"Hicks!" Jackson yelled in helplessness. Even though his leg was broken he tried to make his way to help his commanding officer. He shivered as the creature roared in rage once more before he saw something fall on top of the creature. It seemed to bounce on the creature lightly and to his surprise turn out to be an Asian girl. In fact, one of the prettiest Asian girls he ever laid eyes on, her face was sharply different from the Japanese, if he didn't know better he would have said she was Chinese. Of course the way she wore those sexy silk Chinese dresses and was carrying around two fans he had always seen in those Chinese restaurants might have been a dead give away. The odd thing was the color of her hair it was a light pinkish color.

The girl turned her back on the creature and closed her fans. Jackson had to wonder about the stupidity of the girl's actions when he saw the creature's head slowly sliding from its body. He watched in amazement as the creature fell back decapitated and apparently dead as its form start to break up.

The girl walked toward the group and to his amazement lifted the concrete piece from the truck that was pinning Sanchez casually. The expression on her face made it seem effortless.

"Americans too too stupid." The pink hair girl said to them in broken English. The girl had a cute voice but her tone was chiding. "Putting Amazons with other women and children, they regret now." She said softly.

"Who are you?" Jackson asked. With Hicks dead command fell to him.

"I Baba Gan of Chinese Amazons." She said proudly, she couldn't be anymore then nineteen.

"Bubblegum?" Smith asked incredulously. "Your name is bubblegum?"

"Is good strong Amazon name." Baba Gan said menacingly. "Now come with me, get you weak men to safe place." She said without malice.

Jackson noticed Spencer carrying Ayumi gently, he briefly wondered if he was able to get Bubblegum's number.

********************** Japan's American HQ *************************

General Hubbard clenched his jaw as reports filed in about what was happening in Japan then all of over the world. He had wanted to pull his troops the moment he saw those fire things headed in America's direction. However, any thought of escape was quickly silenced when all of Japan's major cities seem to be under attack, for better or worse the two peoples needed each other now to survive. He couldn't abandon them now, and to get his people out unprepared like this would be to still have the home guard along with most of it naval fleet, they should be able to put up a stout defense.

"Sir! The Chinese women have left the safe camp." One of the communication officers said.

General Hubbard just muttered under his breath about the stupid Chinese. "If our men see them, tell them to protect them, other then that they are on their own." he said. The girls, all of them no more then 30 years old, had offered to help fight, they weren't even armed with guns and he couldn't spare the resource to gear them either. They had all been quite pretty and not more then a few of his men were thinking lusty thoughts about them. No, best they stay with the other women folks and feed the children, let the men do the work.

"What about these...Sailor scouts?" He asked hesitantly. He had laughed when they introduced the blond looking girl, she couldn't be older then his daughter yet the Japanese had put her in charge of their defense. He wondered what could those girls could do?

he knew they were pretty, but apparently they had super powers or some sort.

General Hubbard snorted. "Give me a good 9mm over short skirts any day." He muttered to himself.

"The front is reporting they are obliterating the Phoenix King army." The communication said incredulously as if he had misheard.

"What?" General Hubbard said shocked.

"No-" The communication officer was silent for a few more seconds as he listen to the reports filtering in. "The Phoenix King's army is no match for the girls, they are clearing the Harbor area with ease."

"And the Phoenix King?" The General asked. He waited as the communications gathered the information.

"He is hanging back sir, he has yet to participate." The comm officer said.

"Are the girls showing signs of fatigue?" The general asked. Once more he waited as the comm officer relayed his message.

"No sir, some of the creatures like the tank killers are killed by a single punch from the girls." The comm officer replied.

"He's testing them. Warn them, attack imminent." The General said. Once again he waited for the message to be relayed, but was startled as a blinding light illuminated their camp. Walking outside he was surprise to find it looked like day time instead of the familiar night sky. Gazing into the distance he felt dread as he saw the blinding light came from the harbor.

+++++++++++++ The Harbor +++++++++++++++++++++

"Moon healing escalation!" Moon said as she saw thousands of the creatures exploded on contact with her magical attack. The healing escalation to her surprise cleaned up the nuclear fall out from the creatures also making the area free of radiation.

"Aqua Rhapsody!" Mercury said as hundreds of ice water spears pierced the hides of the fire creatures.

"Solar flare!" Sun said as a ban of fire, like a solar flare, whipped out and absorbed the fire creatures cleansing them into a purer type of flame.

"Burning Mandala!" Mars yelled as hundreds of Ofuda emerged and attached themselves to hundreds of the creatures. The creatures writhe in pain before they too burn out along with the Ofuda.

The Sailor Senshi had been battling the innumerable creatures for a while now, it had been Pluto who told Usagi to focus on the problem at hand. The princess had despaired as she saw the creatures spread in all direction all over the world.

"Defeat Saffron and the creatures will go away." Pluto had said. Usagi had been determined to battle the Phoenix King, but to their surprise he just hovered out of reach and instead sent his armies after them.

"When is he coming down to face us for real?" Uranus asked as she used her magically enhanced strength and speed against the horde of creatures.

The girls had sent a few attacks his ways, but every time they did hordes of his creatures would bunch up in front of him absorbing the blow. In the distances they heard loud artillery booms, it was so much different from in the movies. Over head they could see an air battle taking place, the American fighters along with their navy had been annexed from the main land of Japan. They were on their own for now, if the Senshi went to help them then the creatures would flood through in waves of hundreds and thousands.

Mercury had informed them they were keeping Saffron's attention and it was only because he was focused here that he wasn't out there destroying everything else. The ones that he had already sent out were but a fraction of fire demons that Saffron could create from his uranium gas cloud. So far he had sent out more to fight the Senshi then he had sent out into the world.

"It doesn't matter, as long as we blunt his attacks here." Usagi said determinately. Again she tried to send another moon healing escalation wave but it was once again unable to breach thought Saffron's guards.

"Remember keep it to level one attacks." Pluto said softly over her communicator so only they can hear. "I'm positive he sending these waves to see if we do anything different."

Silently the Senshi nodded as one, they had waved Recca and Herb back telling the two to stay in the shadows. Herb had been surprised to see another figure join them wearing a tuxedo and a top hat.

"Who are you?" Herb asked the new comer, the energy he radiated was similar to the Senshi. Herb noticed the man was not un-handsome by any stretch.

"Tuxedo Kamen." Mamoru said eying the new comer from head to toe. She was quite pretty.

"This is Herb, former princess of the Musk Dynasty." Recca said introducing the two.

"Then I guess I should tell you I also go by Endymion, prince of the Earth." Mamoru said eying the girl. Something about this girl attracted him.

Herb nodded and turn back around to watch the battle not noticing the tuxedo clad vigilante was still eying her backside now. "Saffron is waiting for something." Herb told Recca. She felt a kindred soul in Recca mainly because he was the only other dragon user in existence.

"Most likely testing their defense, good thing we are their ace in the hole if something comes up." Recca said. He then turned around to Mamoru. "Excuse me for a second Herb." he said.

The dragon princess nodded then turned her attention back to the battle.

Mamoru followed Recca silently over to a private place, the moment Recca turned around he gave Mamoru a vicious right hook. "That's for hurting Usagi." Recca said silently, and then followed it with another punch to Mamoru stomach. "That's' for letting the other girls down."

Recca words hurt worse then his blows to Mamoru as he struggled to gasp for breath. "You wouldn't understand." he said bitterly.

"I don't need to, all I know is I consider those girls to be like my little sisters, you hurt one you hurt them all." Recca said venomously. "I thought you were a respectable guy, but right now you disgust me." He said.

"You don't know what's it's like in America." Mamoru said. "If they find out you've been with a 16 year old and loved her before that they won't give you a chance, they will judge you and any opportunity you have will be gone." He said voice full of bitterness.

"But to tell it to her like that, really?" Recca said. "You could have said it differently instead of being a dick about it by ignoring her." He said angry again now. Many a nights Usagi had came over to Ranko's place to spend the night crying over Mamoru, even before he went over to America. (Editors Note: I agree with both Recca's and Mamorou's viewpoints)

"It's better that way, only two more years and then we can spend an eternity together." Mamoru said drawing himself up to is full height. Recca was one of the few guys he respected.

"She might not wait for you that long." Recca said softly before turning back around. "You should know that youma we fought all those months ago was not a youma at all, but a very powerful ally."

Mamoru was shocked and looked at Recca to see if he was lying. He wasn't. "How?" Mamoru asked and listened wide eyed as Recca told him. He felt self loathing for not being there to help the girls regain their power, but from what Recca said, he doubt it would had availed them much. He was also surprised to find that Herb was a guy in the first place and not a girl. He flushed at how he reacted toward the pretty girl.

"Ah, it's nothing, every guy I know had that same reaction initially, especially now...well almost. Ranma just seems highly disinterested." Recca said chuckling. He had seen Ranma being surrounded by the girls at the party, but he showed no signs of real embarrassment or being uncomfortable. It's as if he was used to having pretty girls around him.

Mamoru's hand clenched together and tried to let bygones be bygones as Usagi had ordered. If she gave one to the Senshi he would be expected to follow also. The pig tailed boy along with beating him had insulted his man hood and questioned his sexuality in full view of the public. He had to work hard over the weeks to repair the damage done by Ranma's slanders.

"Recca!" Herb yelled, the tone in her voice concerned. Recca quickly rushed over to the dragon princess and felt it, tangible power, fire and something else.

Suddenly night became day as the sky was lit up, the stars gone from the sky. The scene was surreal as he looked toward Saffron and found it was the Phoenix King that hovered down to the harbor level. Everything was set ablaze, the American army had wet the entire area with water, yet it was bursting into flames the closer he got to the harbor. His thoughts turned quickly to the soldiers that were in the area, this fire would kill them. Herb apparently saw the same thing as together they created a fire break that would let the soldiers retreat, several of them looked like they had severe burns from the sudden flash of burning light.

************ Asgard, Heaven ***************

In the futuristic room amongst the blend of nature and high technology thousand from the Goddess relief office gathered to watch the horror unfolding on Earth. Many of them dressed in different styles some Nordic designs, some wore togas, while other wore business suits, all attention was riveted on the battle happening between the legendary Light Bringer and the Demi-goddess of the Sol system. There has not been wanton destruction like this since the last time the Light Bringer graced the world. All save one, even among the goddesses, she was lovely, with long luxurious platinum hair and dark skin tone only helped to accentuate her exoticness. Her amethyst eyes shone like sparking jewels giving her an ethereal look. Even the sad expression on her face as she made her way out the door way could not detract from her beauty.

Urd had left the chamber filled with self loathing, she couldn't bear to look at the battle raging on Earth and if she was to understand it correctly, it was all her mother's fault. She would have gladly gone down to battle Saffron herself if she was allowed, but the rule of non-interference made that all but impossible. The simple truth was in the power levels of the Senshi and Saffron were almost the same. They were the same type of demi-gods now, a bastardization of gods and mortal flesh, some were able to attain god-hood like Hercules while others live for a long time only to eventually die.

"Urd." Belldandy said coming up behind her little sister quietly. Technically Urd should be the older sister, but she was only four months old eighteen if you combine her mortal years. "You are not the only one that wants to help."

Urd looked as if struck and then turned to her sister, was she so transparent she wondered. "Yeah, but it's my fault, my mother did this all because of me." Urd said bitterly. She had read the files, never would she have thought that the death of trillions would be on her head, yet her mother had broken an empire and scattered its people to the winds for her. Her mother truly was the Daimakaicho.

"You can't carry the blame or burden of your mother's action." Belldandy said gently. "You are no more responsible for what she did then I am for what Kami-sama did with the flood so long ago."

Urd sighed in defeat. "Doesn't make me feel any better." She said softly.

Belldandy looked at her sister and her heart went out to her, slowly embracing the younger goddesses the two stayed like that for a while. It was Urd who pulled away first.

"I..I think I've come to a decision Bell-ne." Urd whispered softly.

Belldandy heard the tone in Urd's voice, she knew what her little sister was talking about and the pain it might bring her. Belldandy hugged her baby sister trying her best to comfort the younger Norn.

Skuld had followed Belldandy after discovering both of her sisters missing while the other gods and goddesses looked on with sadness at what was transpiring on Earth. She found her sisters, Urd looking sad and Belldandy trying to comfort her, the only thing that mattered to Skuld was her sister was feeling sad. Wordlessly she moved over to her younger sibling and slowly wrapped her arms around her two sisters.

********** Japan, Earth ********************

"Deep Submerge!" Neptune yelled striking Saffron with her attack. It seemed to push the Phoenix King back briefly before he turned his attention back to her. He wordless leveled his hand at her and shot a massive wave of flame at her, dodging quickly she retaliated with another one of her attacks.

"Space Sword!" Uranus yelled as she throws multiple slice strikes at the Phoenix King seeing him distracted with her partner. To her chagrin the Phoenix King turned around and block all her attack waves with one of his two staff's.

"Blazer!" Saffron yelled as massive fire aura shot out threatening to burn everything within the immediate vicinity erupted from his body.

"Silence Wall!" Saturn yelled as a inky dark energy extended all along the coast of Japan blunting its attack. The firestorm lasted a few seconds in which time it two other members of the Senshi had charged up their attacks.

"Dead Scream." The beautiful Senshi of time whispered as she launched her attacks.

"Jupiter Thunder." The tall and elegant Senshi of lighting uttered as she drew enough power in to easily level an entire city block.

Saffron was struck bodily by the two attacks and sent flying into the sea, a few moments later the sea glowed a fiery red and exploded upward as Saffron emerged with murderous intent in his eyes.

"Venus love me chain!" Venus said as she wrapped Saffron up preventing him from moving momentary.

"Rainbow moon heart ache!" Moon said as a nine foot giant purple heart struck the Phoenix King, the attack seem to hurt him more then any of the others.

"Damn, he's still not down?" Mars asked in frustration. "Mars flame sniper!"

"He's a tough one that's for sure. " Sun said as she attacked with one of her bigger attack. "Sun spot!" Hitting Saffron with a blinding light attacking.

"Moon gorgeous meditation!" Moon said as a swirl of silver-ish energy washed over Saffron causing him physical pain.

"GNATS!" Saffron screamed in rage. He couldn't believe these ludicrous attacks were hurting him, flexing his muscled he broke free of Venus' chain and swooped down faster then any of the Senshi could counter. He was moments away from impaling Saturn when a blast of cold ki struck him from the side sending him flying away.

"Who?" Uranus asks then turned to see Herb. She had been rushing over to try to get Hotaru out of the way, but the Phoenix King had been too fast.

"We must continue our assault on the Phoenix King." Herb said hurriedly as she flew over to where the Phoenix King had fallen.

The ground burst opened as Saffron stood in the center surrounded by flames once again and eyed all of them briefly before he threw the flying fire disc at the girls. The group tried to dodge it frantically except for Saturn who ducked under it and leap at Saffron trying to impale him on her glaive.

"A planet destroyer." Saffron said in an impressed tone as he blocked her attack with the Kinjakan. "You are quite dangerous." He said admiringly. Before Saturn could react he swung the Gekkaja into her side to the other girls' horror.

"Saturn!" Uranus and Neptune yelled horrified as they charged at the Phoenix King.

Saffron quickly pushed the young girl back with the Kinjakan while leaving the Gekkaja embedded in her side. He turned to the two outer Senshi and struck Neptune across her face with his staff while at the same time stopped the blade's descent with his clawed fingers.

"Space swo-argh!" Uranus was about to say when the flying disc from Saffron's staff whirled back embedding itself into her back, digging into her flesh. Luckily her magical suit was working hard to push the foreign object out of her back even as it went about healing her wounds.

"Venus Crescent BEAM!" Venus said as she struck Saffron with her planetary power knocking the Phoenix King out of their immediate vicinity.

"Recca!" Herb prompted as she flew off in the area where Saffron was knocked away to again. Recca wordlessly followed the Dragon Princess followed by Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars.

"Hotaru-chan!" Usagi cried at the down Senshi of Silence. Using her hand she grabbed the Gekkaja only to be ice burnt by it. Surprised she doubled her resolved and grabbed it again ignoring the intense cold washing through her. It felt like she was pulling the staff from a stone so deep was it embedded in Hotaru's body.

"Usagi-hime." Hotaru whispered. "It's so cold, so very cold..."

Venus and Mercury went down and grabbed the staff of ice also, tugging on it hard the three girls fell back with the staff being held by Mercury. Moon ignored everyone else for a while and went about healing Hotaru with her magic. There was an open wound on her side, but no blood had dripped out, in fact any blood splashed had become frozen. Tiny crystalline red specks covered Hotaru's side as Usagi slowly healed her.

"Stay with me Hotaru-chan!" Usagi yelled as she noticed Hotaru's eyes were starting to close.

"Prin...ces..." Hotaru said faintly.

A loud explosion rocked the land as they saw Mars's body come flying across their area slamming into a warehouse roughly.

"Mars!" Venus and Mercury called rushing over to their friend. They saw several bruises on the pretty raven haired girl, her eyes looking vacant she was probably dazed. Gently, Venus picked up the Senshi of fire and brought her next to Hotaru. To their amazement the proximity the Senshi of fire to Hotaru melted the ice magic inflicted upon Hotaru as her blood started to flow freely.

"Hotaru!" Usagi said and went about mending the wound now that she had blood flowing through the body again.

"Lets go." Uranus said having removed the offending disc and tossing it away. She had to leave her adopted daughter as the Outers rushed to where the battle was taking place.

Meanwhile, not far away from the concerned girls, Herb, Recca and Tuxedo Kamen were battling the Phoenix King.

"Annoying dragons." Saffron said contemptuously as several flame dragons try to attack him with fire. Using his Kinjakan he sliced one of the dragons head off making it howl in pain and disappear.

"Ice breath!" Herb said as she opened her mouth shooting a magical ice mist attack at Saffron.

"Another demi-god." Saffron said wonderingly. "Why are you fighting me, we should be on the same side."

"Never! You will pay for the slaughter of my people!" Herb said coldly, cupping her hand together she shot pure beams of ice infuse ki into the Phoenix King who cupped his own hand and shot a massive fire ball at her.

"What people, you're a demi-god you do not belong among these mortal insects." Saffron said contemptuously. "Look at them, they die so easily. Hardly worth the effort to kill."

"I am Herb, former princess of the Musk Dynasty." Herb said imperiously drawing in more of her power infusing her body with cold ki. "We defeated you once before, we will do so AGAIN."

"Musk?" Saffron said venomously. "You're a Musk?" he raged.

Herb made to respond, but was surprise by the blur of speed Saffron displayed as he slammed her through multiple walls before finally pinning her to the ground. Grabbing her jaw with his claw like hand he lowered his face closer to hers.

"I enjoyed killing your country men." Saffron said in a low voice filled with pleasure. "They fought well, but the valley ran red with their mortal blood as I slaughtered them, the younglings though, were so weak their necks snapped quite easily." He said to Herb, his breath caressing her face now.

Herb eyes turn into a reptilian slit as she gathered her powers and blasted Saffron off of her. "You will pay, I, Herb of the Musk dynasty promise on my ancestor I will do so." Herb said softly.

"There that's more like it." Saffron said smilingly. "Show me what a dragon of the Musk can do-" He had almost finished saying when he found several roses embedded in his body. Looking down incredulously at the new mode of attack he was not prepare for when they exploded puncturing holes into his body.

"Keep your hands to yourself you filthy mongrel, I, Tuxedo Kamen the prince of Earth will show you that there are still people who will resist your evil at every turn." Tuxedo Kamen said in a voice that had made hundreds of women swoon before.

Herb turned and gave him a strange look then turned back to Saffron. "It was written how Jin Jaj defeated you in our history hook. He was born in the mountainous cold and had an unprecedented control over cold ki. It was said he defeated you by turning the area into an arctic wasteland." Herb said determinately. She knew she could do it, the price would be her life. It was a price she was willing to pay. She was the last of her kind, she would defeat the Phoenix just like her answer did so long ago before her.

"You can try." Saffron said menacingly. "I was extremely weakened by that point, I must say it was clever of him to do that, but I don't think you know how he really did it." Saffron said smugly.

"Koku!" Recca said as a beam of pure fire energy shot into Saffron making him grimace in pain.

"Hiryuu shoten Ha!" Herb said mixing her cold ki with Recca's flame to create a barrier of wind trapping Saffron.

Saffron looked at the tornado that formed around him, encasing him. This one was stronger then the amazons one, however it will avail them nothing. Grabbing the Kinjakin he gathered it into his hand and then concentrated.

Outside of the tornado was the Senshis who had just arrived and Herb. "That won't keep him for long." Herb said softly. "I need to use the arctic attack Emperor Jinja used so long ago to defeat Saffron, but I don't want to do it here, when he breaks out of the funnel I need for everyone to push him out to sea then I will finish him off."

"Wait didn't you say that move will kill you also?" Recca said in alarm.

"Yes." Herb said softly. The other Senshi looked at the dragon princess in shock while the Outers looked at her in respect.

"No!" Usagi said having finished healing Hotaru. "We can still defeat him." She said firmly.

"We might." Herb said to Usagi, one princess to another. "However, by the time that happens the world could be scarred for all eternity. We must defeat him now to stem the loss of any more life. Know that once he is dead he will revert to an egg form, if your magic can break the egg and kill him permanently do so, if not return him to the foot of the world."

"Here he comes." Mars said as she felt the heat rising all around them. The tornado had taken on a red hue then suddenly burst into flame itself, the spin continued like that for a while until it burnt itself out. Standing in the center was Saffron looking a bit fatigued, but none the worse for wear.

"Kiima to me." Saffron said as a streak of red flew toward him.

"My lord." Kiima greeted.

"The Amazons are still hiding, lead the rest of our troops and slaughter them and bring their heads back to me." Saffron said never taking his eyes off the assembled fighters before him.

"It shall be as you will it my lord." Kiima said before her and the flaming cloud flew off in the direction of Tokyo.

"Oh no you don't!" Sun said as she was about to fire an attack when they felt air thrummed with power before everything was set aflame.

"SCORCH EARTH!" Saffron yelled as a fire not unlike a nuclear blast shot out in all direction leveling buildings and turning the landscape into glass and magma.

The Senshi felt the intense heat as Rei realized this was the fire bird from her dream, the one that she saw killing everyone. Fear gripped her heart as she felt the flame threatening to burn everything, even over powering her fire resistant body.

"Musk Emperor Final Attack, Arctic Dragon Breath." Herb said as inside the inferno a powerful wave of freezing ice shot out in every direction swallowing the flames and snuffing it. The blast wave hit Saffron, who stared at her in wide eyed shock as the blue wave of ice energy began to encase him in ice. For an entire five mile radius everything was frozen at sub zero temperature. Luckily most of the civilians had evacuated the area including the army when the battle had escalated.

The sky returned to night as Herb, Princess of the Musk fell backward. Usagi was the first to rush to the fallen Princess as the others started to shiver in the magical ice attack, even Mercury.

"So-something- no-not- r-right." Herb stuttered through ice cold lips. Her reptilian eyes narrowed as whips of cold air was exhale from her lungs. She was freezing to death.

Usagi looked at Herb still form and suddenly glowed a silvery white, leaning down she place her head on the dragon girl and brought her back. It normally would had been harder on Usagi, but Herb already had divine blood in her system, the power that was given to jump start the dragon princess was quickly and efficiently heating the dragon princess blood once more.

"Herb." Usagi said softly a happy expression adorning her face.

"Sailor Moon." Herb croaked out. Even though her body was jump started it did not replenished her magical ki reserves, she would need bed rest to fully recover. "Something is wrong, I should have died instant-" Herb started to say when the ground shook.

The encasing icing that was suppose to hold Saffron's remains sudden exploded as an inhumane cry of rage, pain and hatred echo across the harbor. The Phoenix King drew himself to full height again, he was panting hard as blue residual energy was leaking from his body. He looked at the girls once more and with a scream of rage fired a fifty foot sphere of fire in the girls' direction.

"Dead Scream." Setsuna countered right away.

"World Shaking!" Uranus said taking a queue from the Senshi of silence.

"Deep Submerge!" Neptune said finally finish charging up her attack.

The three Outers attack combined to strike at the incoming sphere. The attack stopped Saffron's incoming attack, but they still needed more, the Inner Senshi added their attacks to the fire ball.

"Mars Fire Soul!" Mars said as a stream of fire lend it self to the Outers powers.

"Aqua Rhapsody!" Mercury said as magical waters attack tried to extinguish some of the fire from the sphere.

"Super Nova!" Sun said adding her own fire sphere to the fight hoping to push Saffron's attack back.

"Jupiter Supreme Dragon thunder!" Jupiter said as a giant dragon made of lighting slammed into Saffron's fiery attack and started to push it toward him.

"Venus Kiss!" Venus said as an orange heart shape energy attack spinning furiously pushed the fire sphere back toward Saffron.

"Earth Bind!" Tuxedo Mask, the prince of earth said as roots and veins broke from the ground and added it to the power of the Senshi's attacks.

The combined attacks not only stopped Saffron's fire ball, but started to push it back slowly toward him. Saffron in response pumped more of his fire attacks into the sphere of fire halting the Senshi's progress.

Sailor Moon stood in front of the Dragon princess protectively and started to charge up her moves. "Moon~~~~"

All were surprise when Saffron flew underneath the fireball letting the Senshi's attack push it away as he swooped toward them in the blink of an eye. He slammed into the cluster of girls flinging them away in all directions and before they could get back on their feet slammed the butt of the Kinjakan down and bathed all of Tokyo harbor in flames.

******************* Asgard, Heaven *********************

The three Norn Sisters of Fate moved purposefully toward the goddess academy. It was a place that had tall beautiful curved spires as far as their eyes could see. In front the academy was a vast expanse of green grass kept perfectly trimmed and neat, many young gods and goddesses could be seen walking barefoot on the lawn, some were even enjoying picnics. At the entrance of the academy were the gracefully kept garden, many young goddesses were also helping keep it up. All in all, the place radiated elegance and serenity. It was here that a goddess gets her limiter removed or advanced to the next rank.

"You think she will grant us an audience?" Skuld asked flanking Urd side.

"She will." Belldandy said smiling.

"What makes her so special?" Urd asked. She had taken the test, but never attended the Academy. In fact it was Belldandy who tested her so she didn't know much about how the ranks were assigned here. It would have taken her a few millennial just to go through school here, a life time Ranma did not have.

"She's one of the remaining Archangels." Belldandy said in a reverent voice.

"You mean like the one we get?" Urd asked.

Belldandy turned to look at Urd, for a goddess of the past she didn't study history that thoroughly. Ranma of course made her study the important part, the book of rules and regulations.

"Urd, angels were the first creation of Kami-sama then came us gods and goddesses." Belldandy said remembering her history lesson. "Among them number seven powerful angels, such were their power that they were named archangels."

"Oh." Urd said.

"During the war of Heaven, the Light Bringer convinced all the angels to rebel against Kami-sama. Such was their power that the gods and goddess were defeated by them. Before they were stopped, they wrecked havoc on every inch of creation nearly causing Kami-sama to remake the universe." Belldandy said softly. "When they were finally stopped, Kami-sama sentenced all to death after a fashion. Their memories were wiped clean and they were reverted to their infant forms placed in eggs and were to be bonded to a god or goddess."

As if sensing they were talking about her Holy Bell showed herself and so did Skuld's angel. "They are quite happy now, as you can see their memories of death and destruction are all behind them." Belldandy said reaching out her hand to Holy Bell who took it and smiled.

"I bet mother was happy about that." Urd said quietly.

"Though she was the one that convinced the Light Bringer to do what he did, she did not account for an angel host lead by a relentless foe vs an angel host that was kept in check by Kami-sama's will. Whatever creation suffered, the forces of Hell suffered a hundred times over, such was the angels' fury." Belldandy said. "Why do you think she readily agreed to the doublet system?"

The three sisters made their way through the white stone walls to the head mistress's room. The secretary saw them and opened the door. In the room were hundreds of goddesses studying for their exam, each of them so focused on what they were doing that they ignored the new comers. All the way in the back, sitting on an impressive seat was an angelic woman with beautiful white wings behind her. Dressed in a simple toga she motion for the three Norns over to her side.

"Great Seraphim." Belldandy said with respect.

"Pish posh." The Seraphim said. "It's Amitiel." she said with an open smile, then she turned and looked at Skuld. "Have you been studying?"

Skuld blushed. "Yes ma'am." she said shyly.

"Great to hear." Amitiel said smiling warmly at the young goddess of the future. "Now what can I do for you?" she asked the three Norns.

"We did not want to trouble Kami-sama so we came to you, we heard you were the masters of dreams." Belldandy said in place of Urd. "Urd would like to communicate Ranma."

Amitiel looked at Urd as if searching. "Is this about bro- Saffron?" she asked. The slip was not lost on anyone, but they were all too polite to point it out.

"Yes." Urd said softly.

Amitiel looked at Urd for a while then nodded, before they knew it Amitiel spread her wings out and Urd found herself standing someplace else she noticed she was standing in a valley with endless rolling green grass as far as she could see. She then looked down at herself and saw she looked no more then fifteen years old, though not dressed as daring as she'd like she was wearing the pink Chinese pajamas that she bought for Ranma and her. Her long hair ran straight down her back though there were wavy curls in it.

"What the heck and where am I?" Urd wondered then chuckled at how much she sounded like Ryouga. She was about to tell Ranma just that when she noticed the absence of his presence. Paniced, she search deeper and found herself empty.

"Urd?"

Urd turned around and saw Ranma. It was one thing to see Ranma through a mirror through his eyes, but it was quite different when she saw him as a separate entity, another person. A bit taller then she and wearing his trademark red Chinese shirt and black kung fu pants, the black haired pig tailed boy with his steel grey eyes and maturing face grinned boyishly at her. Urd knew she was hot, she knew was desirable, and while Ranma had always been a comforting presence to her she had never quite experienced separation quite like this. Her knees felt a little rubbery as Ranma started to walk toward her, his posture confident and graceful all at the same time. Before she could mentally brace herself he stood in front of her, his eyes searching her face as if seeing her for the very first time. She blushed and forced herself to look at the ground.

"Urd?" Ranma asked again, concern evident in his voice.

Urd opened her mouth to speak to try to answer, but her voice failed her and never had she felt so flabbergasted, so confused and uncertain. It was as if the foundation of her personality was gone. She let out a loud eep when she felt Ranma hug her and as if by magic the moment she touched him she felt right again, less unbalanced, his scent was just as she remembered it and his body felt nice even as she molds herself to him. Being near Ranma stabilized her emotion, her senses, for the first time she realized she needed Ranma more then he needed her. He was still the confident cocky arrogant boy while she was the flustered unsure girl. It occurred to her then that the reason why she could deal with the other gods and goddesses so surely, be so confident, and vain about her looks was due to Ranma. He was the foundation for her personality and as such the stabilizing force within her.

"Where are we Urd?" Ranma asked looking around.

"We're in Heaven." Urd said, her voice sounding surer of itself now, her confidence returning. She looked up at Ranma and saw eyes light up like a kid in a candy store.

"Really!" Ranma said as he started to look around.

"What are you looking for?" Urd asked trying to follow Ranma's gaze to whatever he was searching for, he had let her go, but she still clung to him protectively.

"Other gods and goddesses of course!" Ranma said looking around still.

"Baka, we're in a dreamscape in Heaven." Urd said bopping Ranma on his head.

"Hey! Whaddado that for?" Ranma asks putting his hand on his head rubbing the place she bopped him gingerly. For a dreamscape it sure felt real enough he thought darkly.

"You seen Heaven before, why do you want to see it again anyway?" Urd asked questioningly.

"Because it's Heaven!" Ranma said as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Seeing his other half confused look he sighed. "Baka, us "mortals" as you classified us rarely get to see anything so beautiful and elegant. The fact that I saw it once doesn't mean I don't want to see it again."

Urd blinked at Ranma's explanation and for the first time realized just how much she took going to Heaven for granted. Ranma was right, if a mortal saw Heaven it would be perfection in their eyes, once you gaze upon perfection how could you not want to continue being there?

"This is important!" Urd said clearing her thoughts, she needed to focus, she didn't know how much time she had in this dreamscape.

"Saffron right?" Ranma said much to Urd's surprised.

"What, we are still in Heaven and I still exist inside of you, you know." Ranma said grinning. "I know bits and pieces, but more importantly I think I know why you want to talk to me." He said softly.

Urd looked at Ranma in surprise and started to tear up despite the steady control over her emotions Ranma had given her.

"Cry baby." Ranma said hugging Urd. "If I die it won't be your fault, it would be mine."

Urd's lower lip quivered in response and she averted her eyes from his. "If I stay up in Heaven you would be safe." She said softly, pleadingly.

"A martial artist protects the weak. If I can help in anyway then it's my duty to do so." Ranma said firmly.

"Even if Skuld said you'd die?" Urd asked angrily. "Don't you care that I need you?"

"Baka." Ranma said bopping Urd head soundly shocking her out of her guilt-ridden depression. "I won't die, Skuld can make a million and one prediction, but I promise you won't die." He said softly.

Urd looked at Ranma and searched his eyes, he really believed what he said. "Promise we will be together?" Urd asked softly.

"Until the day I die." Ranma said softly and hugged her again, seeing Urd's horrified expression he sighed. "I meant by old AGE baka."

Urd pouted cutely and hugged Ranma harder for assurance, she felt his arms squeeze her tighter. "Now lets say we go kick some Phoenix butt." Ranma said grinning.

Urd was about to respond when she saw a flurry of feathers and she was standing next to Belldandy again. Disoriented she staggered a bit before righting herself.

"Are you ok Urd?" Belldandy asked concerned. "You think you would be able to go through with the dream world?"

"What?" Urd asked confused.

"Will you be ok going through the dream world?" Belldandy asked sounding confused.

"But I already went..." Urd said to herself, the meeting with Ranma still fresh in her mind.

"What are you talking about, you've been here with us the whole time." Skuld said.

"We're done." Amitiel said softly. "Please have some tea on the way out."

Skuld and Belldandy looked shock. "How?" Belldandy asked. "I didn't feel any power..."

"We old fogies got our tricks you know." Amitiel said smiling secretively she then turned to look at Urd. "The moment you enter the mortal world as Ranma that dream sequence will play over in his head. He will know."

The three Sisters of Fate looked at each other and then turned to talk to the head mistress only to find themselves staring at the door.

"Ready to go in?" The Secretary asked the three goddesses.

"Uhh..I think we already did." Urd said a bit freaked out.

"Oh. Amitiel-sama must have known you were coming then." The secretary said then sat back then. "If you'd excuse me." She said as she went back to her duties.

"Archangel." Belldandy whispered reverently.

************* Japan, Earth ****************************

Rei awakened to find her mouth dry and her lips cracking with blood. Saffron had unleashed wave after wave of flame at them, she did not know how long she lasted only that it couldn't have been long. Saffron did not simply stop with one burst of waves; he continued to detonate constantly, charring the harbor. Trying to move her legs she realized her legs was in water while her body was laying on a piece of concrete. Opening her eyes she saw darkness, using a bit of her Senshi power she lit the area and found herself enclosed underground. Somehow she had fallen into a hole during the course of the battle.

"Nnnggh." Rei groaned out as she pushed herself up. She looked down at her red uniform and noticed it was ripped in several placed. She stood up to full height, gathering her strength she punched a hole through the rocks and pulled herself out of the hole only to find herself in hell.

As far as Rei's eyes could see everything was on fire, here and there she saw her fellow Sailor Senshi, many of them looked beaten and unconscious the rest seem to be in pain. The sound of battle drew her attention, squinting through the blazing inferno she found Usagi battling Saffron in her princess power up mode, the angelic wings the free flowing white pristine dress was suppose to be immaculate. Her princess looked haggard and bedraggle, her dress charred and ripped in places, blood was flowing freely from various wounds on her body, one of the wings on her back was blackened.

"Mars Flames Sniper!" Mars screamed her attack. Willing her power into it she struck Saffron just as he pulled one of Usagi's wings out causing her friend to cry out in pain. The force of the blast struck true, causing him to slide a bit before he turned his attention to her. Throwing Usagi's wing to a side he flew up and swoop down toward her, she braced herself for impact as she felt his hands wrap around her throat.

"Fire user." Saffron says contemptuously. "I'll show you how to really use fire." He said as he started to flare up once more a tendril of dark fire dancing from his body curving along his arm, moving to strike at her like a viper.

Rei felt the heat start to rise up past her comfort level along with Saffron's hand trying to choke the life out of her. She decided if she were going to die, she would struggle to the very last, using her fist she punched him repeatedly much to his amusement. She saw a flash of movement from the corner of her eye and before she knew it Saffron had let her go.

"Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" Usagi yelled unleashing her powerful attack.

Saffron was suddenly surrounded by white feathers everywhere and felt a powerful magical energy rushing toward him. Turning around and tossing the fire user to the side he crossed his staffs to block the incoming attack. It was powerful cleansing magic, it should only work on demons or a host that demons had possessed. Much to his surprise it actually hurt him, he shouldn't have been hurt by cleansing magic, after all, what was there to cleanse? He had existed like this for untold millennial. Roaring in anger he charged up the Gekkaja and the Kinjakan and created an explosion of fire and ice knocking the one winged girl's attack back.

"Lovely attack." Saffron said mockingly. "But like the rest of your servants, utterly useless against me."

Usagi stared up in defiance at the Phoenix King, after his first detonation Usagi had transformed into her princess mode with the real wings, using the Ginzuisho like never before she was able to contain Saffron's attack from spreading much further while protecting her friends and the dragon princess. Where Galaxia was powerful, Saffron was sadistically brutal. The methodical way he had gone about defeating her friends was heart wrenching to the twin pony-tailed blond girl.

Saffron had intended to charge in and skewer the girl when he felt Kiima's distress through the fire connection. Looking out into the distance he looks to where his beloved was battling the amazons to see what was troubling her.

"My princess." Setsuna said weakly as she regains consciousness. Her body was charred and parts of her were severely burnt. "I think I know why the great ice happened." She said getting a far off look in her eyes staring at Saffron.

"You mean because of him?" Usagi asked in shock. She was surprised, Saffron seem distracted.

"Yes, you must use the Silver crystal and freeze the world or else everyone on it will die." Pluto said in a hoarse tone of voice.

"I-I can't!" Usagi said shocked and horrified.

"You must!" Pluto said firmly then looked sad. "At first I wanted this to happen more then anything, but now I don't want it to, I don't want to sacrifice the world for Crystal Tokyo anymore." She said as tears fell down her eyes.

"She's right Usagi-chan." Ranko said emerging limping closer to the two Senshi. "He's powerful and worst of all uncaring. He has no purpose, he just wants to destroy everything."

"If we don't stop him here then all will be lost Usagi-chan." Ami said coming near the group. She briefly looked up to see Saffron hovering with his eyes closed, she debated whether they should attack him now, but seeing the battered state of her friends, she figured it would be wiser to give them a moment respite.

"I love this world Usagi, but if we don't save it, we will have nothing left to love." Venus said as she limped over also.

"We can fight him indefinitely." Haruka said limping up supported by her lover. "But at what cost?" she finished and as if to make her point took a look around the battlefield.

"What is worse is how he can regenerate, unless we hit him with overwhelming power we can't defeat him and as much as I am loathe to admit it, we are even with him right now Usagi-chan." Michiru said softly.

"You can tip the scale in our favor meatball head." Rei said softly having gathered around her friends. "His fire burns eternally, it can get low and dim but it will forever burn."

"Everyone..." Usagi said looking at all of her friends.

"If you do not do it princess I will." Hotaru said clutching her side as she went to join her family. "If everyone is going to die anyway I might as well give people a peaceful death. Not a loud cry of despair, but of comforting silence."

"Hotaru-chan." Usagi said looking at the smallest but most powerful of the Senshi. The look in the girl's eyes showed that the girl was now the Warrior of Ruin and not her friend.

All the Senshi looked at her expectantly. Surprisingly it was Recca who swayed their princess.

"Usagi." Recca said coming up to the group of girls, behind him Tuxedo mask carried the weakened dragon princess. "I will tell you this, humans will fight to the bitter end, but it will still be an end."

"If the whole world is going to die then the path that will allow people to live would be the wisest choice, search in your heart Sailor Moon." Tuxedo mask said softly. "You know my words to be true."

"Long ago the Musk and Amazons were all that stood between Saffron and world, we suffered heavy losses knowing the price of defeat would mean the end of all." Herb said softly. "Today you are all that stand's between Saffron and the total destruction of the world. If you have a way to stop him, no matter the cost, you must use it!"

Usagi felt her heart constrict painfully as air became harder to breath, it wasn't from Saffron's flame, but the weight of the decision she had before her. They had truly done all they could have done to fight the Phoenix King, but how do you fight someone that can match you so evenly. Not to mention he constantly has energy while they had to take small breaks. As long as they stood together he couldn't kill him, but they couldn't kill him either, she looked down at her crystal and knew that would be the deciding factor.

"I'll do it." She said a soft whispered. The crackling of the flame was the only other sound present. "I will need a few minutes time I think he will sense my power when I start to use it, when that happens..."

"We will give you your five minutes princess." Haruka said kneeling before Usagi. One by one the other Senshi and their allies kneel before the future queen.

"For the world then." Usagi said softly then closed her eyes as her body thrummed with power.

Saffron had still been watching his lover battle the Amazons when he felt it, power, pure raw power and it was rising. Looking down pass the Senshi and focused on the blond haired winged girl. Judging by her look of concentration she was preparing another attack and from the energy crackling in the air, it might be impressive. He wasn't stupid, however, as he swooped down straight toward the girl with every intention of gutting her with the Gekkaja.

As one the Inner Senshi true to their name sake stood tall in front of their princess to protect her.

"Jupiter Oak Revolution!" Makoto said sending a barrage of lighting ball at the Phoenix King.

"Super Nova!" Ranko said sending out a powerful stream of fire blast toward Saffron,

"Crescent Beam!" Minako yelled, her job always to protect the princes fire a yellow beam of energy at the lord of light.

"Shine Aqua Illusion!" Ami yelled determine to not be the weak one of the group, to stand her ground against the fallen lord. Her attack turned the air around them to sub zero degree.

"Burning Mandala!" Rei added her own holy fire to the mix pumping everything in her attack for she was all that stood between her dearest friend, her princess and the fire lord.

Saffron was struck with a multitude of powerful attacks that sent him flying away damaged. As before the open wound area closed itself quickly as he readjusted in mid air and glare at the princess's defenders. Tearing off his wings even as new ones took it place, he connected the two wings together making it into a big longbow. Using his fire power he ignited the feathers the bow as a thin stream of fire appear making it look like a bow string. Pulling back on the bow string he let it snapped back as hundreds of sharp fiery feather arrow shot towards the princess's defenders.

The Senshi saw the feathers rushing toward them and shot their attacks out, what they didn't expect was for each of the feather to contain enough explosive power to destroy an entire block.

"Silence Wall!" Saturn said as she extended the inky blackness across her friends protecting her princess. The force of the explosion taxed her however as hundred upon hundreds slammed into her shield chipping away at her willpower.

The Senshi had to squint as the explosive light of the feathers hit Saturn's shield when it was over though they saw no sign of the Phoenix King.

"Where did he-" Ranko started to say when a high pitch whistling sound interrupted her. Recognizing the sound, she pushed Mercury to the ground and kept her pinned as moments later the spinning fiery disc pass across where the blue haired girl's neck was moments ago.

The Senshi turned their attention toward Ranko for one second before turning back to the sky. It was a moment they couldn't spare as he was among them wrecking havoc with his twin staffs. He took care of Saturn first by slashing across her face with the disc-less staff, they heard the sound of Saturn's jaw bone breaking as she was flung bodily away. Next was Pluto who had his other staff embedded in her gut, pulling the staff out he whirled and brought it down on Jupiter's shoulder blade cutting into her bones, taking the Kinjakan he parried Haruka's space sword and ran her through with the staff with a powerful thrust.

"Uranus!" Michiru yelled as she found the Phoenix King's claw embeded in her gut. She felt his fingers move as he viciously tore out of her.

Saffron turned to face the remaining defender, all that was left was Ranko, Rei, Ami, and their princess.

"Monster!" Ranko spat through teary eyes. Seeing her friends brutalized tore at her heart.

"God!" Saffron said as if offended. He charged toward Ranko when Usagi opened her eyes.

"No!" Usagi screamed as she leveled the massive power she been building up at Saffron.

"Princess!" Ranko yelled.

"No!" Ami said. "She didn't finish charging!"

Saffron was surprised at the power of the attack as it hit him, using his own power he counter as the entire area was engulf in one destructive wave. Silver metallic energy intertwines with black- red flames as the area was once again bath in destruction.

********** Juuban ***************

The people of Juuban district have had their fair share of weirdness, from book sucking Youmas to Daimons and even weird sailor girls recently. There was always the occasional part of town that would be isolated due to a Sailor Senshi battle, but it would always be over by the end of the day and everything would be back to normal within the week. However their protectors have left them as the people knew they would one day, the girls had a greater destiny then protecting their small town, they just never realized how much better they had it when the girls were here as the sound of motorize tanks and artillery fire could be heard all over town.

For some weird reason out of every city, town and prefecture, Juuban was where the fire demons attack the hardest and it was there were the Amazon-American force were battling the creatures with great success. War, however, was a fickle mistress and just as victory seems within their grasp a new enemy showed up.

Xian Pu and her Amazon sisters had been helping the Americans soldiers battle the fire demons when Kiima showed up. Dressed in the ancient battle style of old, Kiima broke through the American defensive position as tiny feather darts found their marks among the soldiers instantly killing them. Some of Xian Pu's Amazon sisters tried to go to the Americans defense and were cut down by the fire woman. After having cleared her immediate area Kiima organized the fire creatures into one cohesive fighting force inflicting considerable damage on the American/Amazonian forces.

"We have to fall back!" Colonel Trevor, a bulky impressive man in his forties of the 401st battalion yelled in English at the Chinese girls. He had been hard pressed when these lovely girls arrived and started to take out the hulking tank killers, not one to look a gift horse in the mouth he immediately ordered his men to lay down cover fire for the girls keeping the smaller demons away from them as the girls took on the tank killers. Things had been going well until the bird woman showed up with a massive amount of fire demons.

Xian Pu turned to her Amazon sisters for the translation.

"He saying we need to fall back." Cao Fah translated. Xian Pu nodded and using hand signal of the Amazon tribes ordered a steady retreat.

"That's Kiima!" Cao Fah the Village former historian said pointing at the fire bird woman.

"Saffron second in command?" Lu Zing , another Amazon sister said in concerned.

"He must have brought her back to life." Cao Fah said in horror.

"It doesn't matter, I will send her back to her grave." Xian Pu said firmly. "For the honor of the Amazons!"

Her battle cry seemed to rally her sisters as they started to fight the fire demon army with greater intensity.

"Well if they can do it so can we, give em hell boys!" Colonel Trevor said as his men finished regrouping and start to lay down suppressive fire for the Amazon girls once again. The American men not wanting to be out done by the pretty Chinese girls concentrated on the battle at hand like never before soon the advantage Kiima had enjoyed from her initial surprised attack was blunted, neither side giving or gaining ground.

Kiima noticed this and her eyes narrowed, seeking to break the spirit of this human rabble she sought out the one that looked like the leader.

"You, Amazon." Kiima said pointing to purple hair girl. "You lead your people?" she asked.

"I do!" Xian Pu said defiantly. She dodged left as several fire arrows were fired from the fire woman wings.

"Then you die." Kiima said flying towards the purple hair Amazon. Unsheathing her fire blade she quickly whipped it toward Xian Pu's head only to find it block by the purple hair girl Bon Bori.

"I will kill you again." Xian Pu said firmly. "Then I will kill Saffron for what he did to my people."

Kiima laughed. She had to admire the girl's spirit and bravado. "You and your people will be burnt to ashes before the night is over." She said as she charged into Xian Pu.

Both sides continued to fight neither side receiving command to stop. Xian Pu frantically dodged the fire woman blade, dancing out of her reach almost always at the last second. Using her Bon Bori she managed to deflect a blow and then charge in with another one hitting the fire woman in her face. Kiima, stunned by this did not see the mace that had deflected her sword swung in a wide arc and knocked her clear across the street.

"Amazonian Bitch." Kiima spat as she cleared her head only to see Xian Pu coming down on top of her. She quickly rolled to a side as the battle mace shatter the street she was on.

"Flying slut." Xian Pu said not taking her eyes off the fire woman. Xian Pu charged again only to have the woman fly sky ward and shoot more of those sharp fire arrows at her.

Kiima was about to gloat when she felt Saffron's presence in the vicinity, she knew he was watching her. Drawing herself to her full height she looks down at the girl, she will show her lord she is worthy to be by his side. Swooping down she attacked the Amazon girl ferociously.

"Kachuu Tenshi Amaguriken!" Xian Pu yells as her Bon bori blurred taking Kiima by surprise as hundreds of blows landed on the bird woman.

Kiima was stunned and dazed before she felt a more powerful Bon Bori blow land on her body. She knew had she been mortal she would had died. Unfortunately for her Amazonian opponent, all it did was knock the wind out of her. Rolling to her side she stood up once again and flew off to perch herself high on top of a building. She did not expect the Amazon girl to follow her.

"Hi-yah!" Xian Pu yelled as she launched an attack at the girl on top of one of Juuban tallest buildings.

"Fool! On the ground you might have had some advantage but here with you boxed in, I have it all!" Kiima laughed gleefully as she flew out quickly then sped into where the Amazon girl was and cut her.

Xian Pu realized her mistake the moment the first attack landed. Kiima was a quick flier and using the speed her wings granted her she could swoop in from anywhere. She turned left and right frantically each time a split second too late as Kiima was able to land yet another blow on her.

"Great Grandmother." Xian Pu said in frustration. She wanted to make her great grandmother proud, but she knew she had made a novice mistake. She did not look before she leapt and grimaced as the side of her leg was opened up by Kiima. Falling to her knees she tries to staunch the wound only to feel another slash against her upper left arm.

Kiima had been enjoying toying with her opponent when she felt an incredible burst of energy being set loose. Looking over the horizon she felt her lord's power explode, a silvery white energy intertwining with his black-red flames. For the first time she was worried for her lord.

Xian Pu bloody from her wounds saw the bird woman distracted instinctively she charged at the bird woman who was surprised to see the Amazon girl leaping at her. Tackling the bird woman in mid air the two fell down to their doom or so she though as Kiima extended her wings and flew up. Xian saw she was high in the sky they having flown higher then any sky scrapper in Japan and knew that her time was over there was only one thing left for her to do this high up. The two grappled viciously with one another. Kiima, still ascending upward, gouged at Xian Pu's eyes, clawing at the defenseless Chinese girl trying to get the Amazon to let her go. Grimacing from the pain Kiima was inflicting with her claws she grabbed the flying woman wings and tore them off viciously.

Kiima let out an inhuman cry of pain as felt her wings ripped brutally from her back. She tried to create new ones, but only realized too late that only her lord had such ability.

Xian Pu saw the ground close up on her quickly, if she didn't die from the impact the horde of fire demons down on the ground level surely would take care of that small matter for her. She held her two winged trophy close in case Kiima could reattach them back somehow. Kiima had flown quite a ways from the battlefield and so her Amazon sisters were too far away to lend her any aid. She saw them shift their forces in her direction, but it would be quite some time before they made it through the fire demons. Suddenly she was tackled from the side and found herself being cradle in a most gentle manner. Thinking it was one of the fire demons she started to struggle and put up as much resistance as possible.

"Shampoo." A voice said gently.

Xian Pu ceased her struggle and try to peer at the mysterious stranger through blood tainted eyes. She wanted to see the stupid male that could butcher her name so badly. Blinking her eyes clear she felt her heart skipped a beat as crystal grey blue eyes look down at her. Suddenly she realized she had been cradled by him and could feel the strength in his arms as he landed safely with her in his arms.

"Are you ok Shampoo?" The mysterious boy asked in Japanese.

"Shampoo ok." Xian Pu said cursing herself for butchering her own name and how stupid she sounded. Before she could say anything he started to glow blue, curiosity turned into recognition as she realized what he was using. The soul of ice.

"Hiryuu Shoten Ha, Diagonal blast!" The mysterious boy yelled as he sent a funnel into the throng of fire demons snuffing them out like flame on a candle. The attack also made a clear path for the Amazon-American force to clear through.

"That amazon technique!" Xian Pu said in shock. "How you know!"

The boy smiled at her as he grinned. "Cologne taught it to me." He said grinning from ear to ear. Xian Pu was too shocked by the familiarity he addressed her late great grandmother to notice he butchered her late great grandmother's name.

"Impossible, Shampoo no see great grandmother teach anyone secret Amazon technique." She said cursing herself for her poor Japanese.

"She did but she didn't. Where is the old bat anyway?" The boy said looking around warily. He looked down at her and suddenly his features soften as he saw the expression on her face. She suddenly found her vision clouded by tears.

"Damn." The boy said honestly. "I'm- I'm sorry."

Amazons doesn't cry Xian Pu thought to herself. Tried as she might though she couldn't stop it, it was as if for the first time she felt it was safe enough to lower her guard and indulge in one weakness.

"I gotta go now." The boy said softly as he gently placed her on the ground. "Your peoples coming."

Xian Pu watched as the boy bounded away before her Amazon sisters arrived. She distantly wondered before she passed out if she would see that boy again.

++++++++++ Harbor Remnants ++++++++++++++++++++++

Rei struggled to get up again looking at the scene of destruction around her. The Phoenix King had been killed she rejoiced, it had taken every effort, but they have prevailed.

Her joy turned into ashes, however as she spied the fire light of the king spill all over the sky taking the shape of a phoenix . She watch in horror as the scattered flames moved as if each had a life of their own. She watched as the fire pulled itself together condensing tightly before it exploded letting loose another wave of energy. She despaired as she felt the power of the Phoenix King once more.

"No." Rei said despondently. She looked at the Phoenix King, though batter and bruise and his body wounded in multiple spots, she felt his power spilling out from the wounds in his body. Then in sick fascination she watched as he gave out an inhumane roar and condense the flame all over covering himself into a tight ball of fire.

"Wh-what is he doing?" Usagi asked from behind Rei. She had woken up shortly after Rei and now watched as the Phoenix King condensed himself into a ball of fire.

"Healing himself." Rei whispered softly. Being the Senshi of fire she could see what was going inside the fire, Saffron with his limitless power over fire was regenerating himself, healing.

"Then we have to finish him before he can finish healing." Setsuna said surprising the two girls.

The two girls turned to see the Senshi of time looked haggard beyond imagination. Half naked with cuts, bruises, and limping the Senshi of time never looked worse. Even her eyes normally red now had blood pooling into it from the physical punishment she had suffered from Saffron.

"Mars flame sniper!" Rei yelled out willing her energy to gather itself and strike the recovering Phoenix King. She watched as the fire gather sporadically into her hand then fizzled out. She needed rest before she could use high level magic again, her suit won't let her draw anymore. Turning back she gazed as all the other Senshi, some on their backs, some face down on their side, all of them were trying to gather enough energy to fire at the Phoenix King and like her all of their power fizzled out. They were still young and so their magical reserves could not keep up with someone as ancient as Saffron.

"Sun flare!"

"Silence Glaive Surprise!"

"World Shaking!"

"Aqua Rhapsody!"

As much as the girls willed their magic attack to strike at the fire cocoon it always fizzled out. Tears of frustration could be seen in Ranko, Makoto and Haruka eyes as their powers failed them. Being the tough girls of the group they could not accept the fact that they had tapped out.

Rei saw Saffron's flame lick out and literally inhaled the uranium gas cloud and felt his power levels raise once again as his body continued to recover.

"Nooo~~~~!" Usagi yelled in frustration as she too felt the rise in power and found herself unable to summon the silver crystal to help strike Saffron at his weakest.

The Harbor area of Japan have been completely ruined, the once lush forest on the edge burned to cinders, the land shattered and broken up from the explosion and still Saffron lived and regained his strength,

"If we can't do anything about him its best we run until we regain strength ourselves." Tuxedo Kamen suggested and saw the girls all glaring at him.

"He's right, when he comes out he will try to kill you Usagi." Recca said standing on unsteady feet, his left arm was broken his eyes swollen from the battle. "I hate to do it, but right now none of you girls have anything left to give, you will be slaughtered and this world's only hope would have died with you. Do you want that?"

"It's not fair!" Minako said through tear filled eyes. However she slowly got up to help her other friends.

"War never is Minako, war never is." Setsuna said softly to the Senshi of Love before she help carried Hotaru over her shoulders.

Unfortunately they tarried too long as the egg condensed tighter then before turning white hot and exploded revealing Saffron looking none the worse for wear. Raising his head up he looked directly heavenward and gave an inhuman cry of defiance, finishing that he turned his gaze toward Earth's defenders.

"I must said, I'm impressed you girls almost managed to kill me." Saffron said as if impressed. He let lose a flurry of punches and kicks in the air almost like he was stretching his muscle.

Saffron smiled a benign smile at the assembled fighter. "Come on, you gave it your best effort, you are truly warriors I will give you a clean death in honor of your resistance." He said graciously.

"You were killed once you can be again, the Musk proved that!" Uranus spat bitterly. To her chagrin Saffron let loose a mirthful laugh.

"The Musk king at the time channeled his ki with the Gekkaja." Saffron said grinning as he lifted up the staff to show Herb. Then as if to taunt her, he carelessly tossed it over his shoulder and let it sink into the sea. "That was the flaw in your attack dragon princess. It was ingenious of him I assure you, but a second attack like that won't work. My flame back then was nothing compared to what it is now and I have you to thank for it. Without you to help me exercise my power I would still be weak and blind to most of my abilities. So as promised a clean death, thank you all."

Suddenly Rei found it hard to breath and she looked up at Saffron who was flaring out. She realized what he was doing judging by the impassive expression on his face he was burning the air out. He was trying to suffocate them all to death. Rei tried to gasp for air but it felt too heavy, too oppressive for her lungs to inhale. Looking around she saw the expression of her team mates the same way, the suffocation of air was killing them.

Rei saw Saffron looked at all of them curiously and knew that he was studying the expression on their faces as they tried to fire their attacks to will something to come out but once more it fizzled. The loss of oxygen was making her head fuzzy she dropped her head face first to the ground, not even registering the pain. Slowly extending her hand she held onto her best friend's hand in their final hour.

"Hiryu Shoten Ha!" A cleared voice called out as suddenly a strong gust of wind sucked the oppressive air away and let a cool breeze through.

"Haaah!" Rei gasped in the sweet air as her other team mates did the same. There was no more oppressive heat, but a comforting chill, it should not have been possible. The flame that was burning the area were now dimmed, the Phoenix King's eyes narrowed looking at something passed her shoulder. She turned around just in time to see a hand placed on her shoulder instantly cooling her down, so powerful was this new cold that even her normally raging Senshi fire was cooled. She looked from the arm all the way to the person and felt instantly safe as she saw Ranma looking at her with cold icy eyes.

"Sorry, I'm late." Ranma intoned emotionlessly. "Get the others out of here, I'll deal with Saffron."

Rei nodded and looked behind Ranma to see a wind funnel held in place by some unseen force, she could feel a lot of ki generation from the vortex. Amazingly enough the vortex was sucking in all the heat from the area.

The Senshi all looked at Ranma and moved toward the funnel and away from the battle field. It was Uranus who stopped to look at Ranma with respect and admiration clearly evident in her eyes.

"How did you beat Saffron in your old world?" Uranus asked. She figured Ranma would do something like he did with Herb and saved the day again. She was surprise to see him hesitate and look at her with those cold icy blue eyes.

"I didn't, we killed each other." Ranma said turning back to Saffron.

Uranus and the other Senshi eyes widen in shock at Ranma's reply. He walked passed them and got closer to Saffron who was still staring at Ranma since he arrived.

"You are new." Saffron said looking at Ranma. "Impressive Soul of Ice, I haven't seen such control over it since I was last on this world."

Ranma, however, remained impassive channeling the Soul of Ice to its very core tenant. He had used different things when battling the Saffron of his world, but this time he knew the way to be most effective against the Phoenix King. At least he wouldn't be wasting energy anymore. Digging deeper and deeper into the Soul of Ice he merged his soul with the technique and felt the area around him go to freezing arctic level.

Saffron startled at the sudden change in the air and looked at Ranma incredulously, despite his constant burn the air was still cool. The two eyed each other for a second before charging at one another.

*************** Niflheim – Hild's Office Lounge *********************

The demon lords were all startled as Hild started to clap vigorously.

"Bravo! Bravo!" Hild said clapping her hand. Nodding as Ranma and Saffron prepared to battle each other she turned around to look at each of her demon lords and smiled sinisterly.

"Now, implement phase two." Hild said turning her attention back to the screen as her generals acknowledged her command and fade away.

"Everything going according to plan boss?" Mara asks coming up beside the Daimakaicho.

"Not yet." Hild said softly while looking at the screen. "Not just yet."

To be continued...

AN: First of all thank you to Himiko and Scott without whom this fic would NEVeR ever be finish. I kid you not, secondly I had this done quite sometime ago but I left it on the back burner to make sure this is what I want to do, after a month of not looking at it I decide this is as good as it can. So here it is, Warp 21, hope you guys enjoy as always reviews are appreciate so is C and C. Love it or hate it lemme know :)