Can It Get Any Worse?: Chapter 20
One of the Elders turned out to be a low class sorceress. She chose
to test her power against mine, despite the stupidity of the action.
I didn't even bother to deflect the bolt of condensed air that she
threw. The blurry sphere smashed against my shields, throwing up a
small cloud of dust and tearing a few chunks of sod from the gournd.
"Don't get pissy," I told them, staring all the while at Cologne."I
already know that Saffron will end up in charge at the end of the war.
Your whole tribe will be better off with Usagi in power. She's
compassionate, tolerant, caring, and all kinds of other things that
the Phoenix isn't." I shrugged."And look at it like this, her kingdom
will be a matriarchy," yeah right,"so women will hold most of the
power. Amazons will be in much better positions than they would have
if the Musk or Phoenix People remained in power." I sure thought I was
making sense, but all the Elders except for Cologne were pulling up
every ounce of chi or magic that they could.
"Perhaps we should discuss this with...this Usagi. Maybe she will see
reason," Cologne said slowly. She was regretting sending Shampoo and
Mousse to find me now. She just doesn't know how lucky she is. If
the Amazons along with the others from Jusendo had attacked us, the
senshi and I, our pokemon included, would have laid down some unholy
asskicking on them.
I waved that suggestion aside."Don't bother. She's just a child.
Think of me as her business manager. I make the decisions and she
sits there and looks pretty. In a few decades, maybe things will
change. She 'is' a direct descendent of Kami-same." Like the great-to
the twentieth power-granddaughter. Still, that does qualify as blood
relation, if barely.
"Why the nerve of this 'boy'," a small red-headed Elder with big tits
spat."You don't know who you're dealing with." She was almost ready to
spit nails. Heh. I grinned at her, illuminating my eyes and making
them glow with green and golden fire.
"Maybe you don't understand what I'm saying," I drawled."I'm not
taking charge of the tribe. You ladies can make all the decisions.
When the war is over and done, that is when you're gonna sit back and
let us take over. And don't even think about double crossing me.
Usagi has an army of extra-dimensional animals that even I would have
trouble dealing with. If something were to happen to her, well there
would probably be a few Amazons left after they got through with you.
Cooperate and that army, along with all our magic will be turned
towards saving Amazon lives. Otherwise, as much as I'd hate to do it,
I'll just kill you all and start the takeover now." If I were female
then they would probably be able to swallow this much easier. Hey,
that's a good idea. Good me.
I still wore the black ring given to me by Setsuna. I liked the way
it looked, so sue me. It had recharged itself over time. I repeated
the simple mental cantrip that would change the metal of the ring
white and the change overtook me. I became, Ranma Saotome, mega-babe.
The Elders gasped, gawked, or did a combination of the two. Except
for Cologne. She's a steady one, that's for sure.
"Now that I've revealed my true form, does anyone feel more like
cooperating?" Cologne probably wouldn't buy this, but by now she had
to have seen that there was no reason to resist my course of action.
It would benefit the Amazons in every way.
The green-haired sorcerress wannabe whispered,"That is not the magic
of Jusenkyo at work." No shit, ya dumb bitch. Did anyone else not see
a large amount of cold water fall on me?
"Ranma, if that is your real name, why did you first visit our tribe
as a man?" Cologne asked. I'm gonna have to make her something
special for going along with me."You must have known that you would be
better treated as a woman."
"It's fun to pretend to be a man every so often. Most of the rest of
the world gives them more respect and power," I said mischeviously,
like I'd played a joke on someone."You girls wouldn't believe what
guys talk about when they're alone." That comment got some knowing
looks and a few sets of raised eyebrows.
"And your...fling with my great-granddaughter?" pressed Cologne.
Maybe she had been taken in too.
"I like women. As a man that looks like my male form, it's not too
hard to find willing women. Can you blame Shampoo, I do have a nice
ass. Don't you think?" This is fun!
****
By the time we'd walked back to the Council building, I'd pretty much
convinced the old coots that I was the real deal. One of the elders
though, the one who didn't like 'boys' kept checking out my rack.
That was going to need some attention or Ami was likely to use the
brain freeze spell on someone, possibly me.
"Sure, since the senshi are all female, males aren't likely to get too
far ahead in the future." I probably should have gone to the Musk with
my offer. They respect women more than Amazons respect men.
All the Elders exchanged odd glances after that comment. I let my
senses range over them. They'd suddenly began to feel a small bit of
fear. Why would that load of bull about men being second class
citizens bother 'this' group of dikes?
"Senshi? Do you refer to soldiers or 'Sailor Senshi'?" Cologne asked
evenly. Her voice was tight, tension actually coming to the surface
of her mind.
Something that I didn't understand was going on here."The Sailor
Senshi. My students. What's the big deal?" I'm not truly empathic,
having to combine my higher senses with magic to sense true emotions,
but I could nearly smell the surge of fear and anger that the Elders
released before they could control themselves.
"Ranma, Saffron has spoken in great detail about the Sailor Senshi,
his captors during the ancient times before even Jusenkyo existed.
None of us believe that any other woman could come close to acting the
way he has said, but his hate borders on the insane." Cologne was a
virtual fount of knowledge. So Saffron came from the Silver
Millenium. That would bear definite looking into."If he were to
discover the senshi here..." she left the statement hanging,
attempting to convey danger, I think.
"So? The senshi don't look anything like they did in their former
incarnations. I've even changed their armor. As long as none of your
Amazons starts flapping their jaws, he won't ever find out, at least
not until I'm ready for him to." If Saffron caused this much worry,
his power must be considerable. A fire-kami, not just an elemental?
Maybe, maybe not. If he was as powerful as everyone seems to think,
he wouldn't need the Amazons or Musk. I'll deal with him when the
need arises. To assuage the Amazon's fears, I said,"Don't worry. I
can handle Saffron. My pet dragon could probably handle Saffron."
Gyrados was reasonably strong with ice and water, the elemental
opposites of fire.
Mentioning Gyrados quickly changed the topic of discussion. A few
more assurances that Saffron wouldn't come streaking out of the sky
without warning and turning the village into a pit of lava and we were
talking about pokemon."We got lost in another dimension and the place
turned out to be crawling with the things. People keep them as pets
mostly, but their power can grow to be quite formidable." They weren't
quite ready for Demon. Slammer, yes, he would work nicely.
"Where are these pokemon?" another busty Elder asked. Ami had already
confirmed that the pokeballs would work even after Saffron's
technology suppressor went active. There would have been a whole
bunch of pokemon to feed and shelter otherwise.
I pulled Slammer's pokeball from a rudimentary spatial pocket(yes, I
was finally developing my own). The pocket was small, barely large
enough to hold my three pokeballs and a handful of weapons I thought
may prove useful in the near future. It was growing, though, and
would reach a size comparable to the senshis', or so Katya told
me."They're kept in these devices. They work kinda like Mousse's
Hidden Weapons technique, warping space inside to make much larger
objects fit."
Cologne nodded, as if she had expected nothing less."Would a
demonstration be too much trouble?" I had been about to offer just
that.
****
The bakusai tenketsu training field seemed like the best place to turn
Slammer loose for a little demonstrative mayhem. We didn't need for
anyone to see the pokemon and have a fit about demons."Go Slammer!" I
called, activating the pokeball. Slammer materialized from the
crimson light, a ton of diamond hard living stone.
"Gooooooooo Leeeeeeemmmmmmmm!!!" Slammer roared, pounding the ground
with his fists, shivering the stone beneath our feet. He and I had
worked that out as a sort of battle cry last week. He always had
liked to show off whenever he got the chance.
"As you can see, Slammer is most...impressive. His animate nature
negates the bakusai kentetsu and he gives off no heat, so a renegade
Amazon would have more than her share of trouble harming him." They
had to know I was emphasizing just how powerless they were. As I said
before, being female was making this much easier. The Elders would
probably have been much more distrustful of me in less stressful
times, but they were so desperate to see reality the way they wanted
it(this being not having a man in charge) that they'd practically
ignored my blatant manipulation.
"What exactly is this pokemon capable of?" I wonder. What do giant
rock creatures do?
"Slammer, smash stuff," I commanded, grinning at him. I think the
pokemon winked at me, but I can't say for certain. The next few
minutes involved Slammer picking up huge boulders and smashing them,
throwing them , and exploding them into various sized pieces of
rubble.
"Just think how useful he'll be in urban warfare," I commented as
Slammer was digging a tunnel."Slammer can just shake the city to
pieces and none of your warriors ever get hurt." I felt like a
salesman, and in a way I was, a salesman selling himself(herself,
whatever) as head honcho.
While the Elders had a little pow wow to draw out the length of their
total autonomy, Cologne walked over to me."I commend you, Ranma. You
come across a little strong as a woman, but they bought it, hook,
line, and sinker."
"You Amazons have such a hard time seeing that men are your equals
that I decided to bipass the whole problem. Besides, you know it as
much as I do that my plan and prescence will benefit everyone, not
including Saffron." Stupid old women, making me become a chick again.
Ami would be getting her Ranko back, at least. For your own health,
just forget that I ever mentioned that.
"For a man," Cologne grinned, making herself look even more like
Shampoo,"you have an amazing grasp of the overall situation. Now, how
do your other pokemon compare to Slammer and the enhancing curses of
Jusenkyo?" Down to business, again.
I thought that question over for a minute before answering."That
chimera one, the yeti-riding the whatever thing, could probably take
out some of the weaker ones that the senshi have, but most of the
pokemon have powerful projectile attacks that would take it out before
it got close enough to use its physical strength. Mine would
dessimate it. The Ashuru curse is very powerful, but that one changes
personality too much to be useful. I'd say that it could, one on one,
defeat all but the girls' strongest pokemon. Once again, mine would
win." What can I say, I have good taste in pets. The only other
halfway beneficial curse I knew was the elf curse. I didn't mention
it, though, as I knew Cologne wouldn't even consider allowing anyone
to use it. That particular curse turned its victim into a psychotic
elven death mage that I would have had major trouble defeating before
aquiring the crystals. As a matter of fact, I had had to defeat that
damned elf when some little old chinese man had fallen into it during
my last stay in the village. That's the kind of coincidence that I
really hate.
"There are a few others, but none as powerful in combat as those you
mentioned. Do these pokemon breed?" she asked. Already looking for a
way to get your greedy little paws on the pokemon, eh?
"Yeah, they lay eggs occassionally. Ami and Usagi have worked out a
breeding program that will keep the pokemon at controllable levels."
Usagi was only allowed to have pokemon of the opposing sexes capable
of breeding out when we were fighting or needed particular eggs."For
now, those eggs will be going to the people that came with us from
Japan. Eventually we may begin introducing them to Amazon warriors.
The fighting type pokemon will be of particular interest to you and
your people, I believe." Cologne wasn't happy with the pokemon being
held just out of her grasp. She covered it up well enough that only
someone as sensitive as me could have felt the emotion, though, and we
continued to discuss the important matters of the next few days.
****
"I'm home!" Nabiki announced, stepping into the house and dragging a
suprise behind her. The lights weren't flickering any longer, which
meant that either Akane had electrocuted herself or succeeded. Kami-
same knew she wouldn't have just given up."I've got a suprise!"
Kasumi came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a small towel, her
face flushed and her brow slick with sweat. Akane, equally
bedraggled, followed behind the eldest Tendo."Oh, hello Tatewaki,"
Kasumi greeted.
"What brings you here today?"
Kuno's brow furrowed in immense concentration, finally he gave up and
said,"I haven't a clue."
"Nabiki," Akane growled,"you're not serious are you?"
Nabiki shrugged."Why not? He's got the necessary equipment, and lacks
the intelligence of a rock. He may not be up to Ryoga's standards,
but we can make due with him for now."
Kuno looked from Akane to Nabiki and back again,"What speaketh thee,
my love?" he asked, puzzlement overriding the usual urge to shower
Akane Tendo in love.
"Nothing," Akane snapped at the boy."But it's 'Kuno'?" persisted
Akane.
"Well if you don't want him...I suppose Kasumi and I can share him.
Is that okay with you big sister?" Kasumi nodded.
Tatewaki was such a nice young man, volunterring to take care of their
womanly needs. She would make sure to make his first experience with
her especially memorable."Oh yes, of course."
Nabiki looked at Akane."It would be your turn first, you know?"
Akane was obviously torn between revulsion of Kuno and the almost
uncontrollable urge to screw anything that walked, man, woman, or
beast. If only their father hadn't run away, she wouldn't have to
stoop to 'Kuno'. She shuddered, but said,"Okay, you win. Go strap
him in and I'll get ready."
Nabiki, as last to use Ryoga, was responsible for readying their toy
for its next use."Come along, Kuno, I have a suprise for you."
Kuno scratched the back of his head in confusion."Perchance, none of
you lovely ladies has partaken of the twisted fruits of my dear
sister's labor, have thee?"
"Don't talk, Kuno," Nabiki ordered.
****
As Tatewaki leaned against the wall Nabiki had chained him to, he
attempted to piece together the puzzle presented to him by the unusual
behavior displayed by his love and her sisters. Was there a gas leak
nearby? That must be it. Why else would Nabiki chain him to a wall
and force him to where a rubber body suit? He would have to arrange
for Sasuki to fix the faulty pipe just as soon as he was released.
The door opened, temporarily lighting the dark room and showing a
backlit figure who's features Tatewaki couldn't make out. The figure
reached over to the wall and switched on a set of dim red light.
Tateaki nearly suffered a massive coronary at the sight of Akane, his
love, wearing a tight leather corset, her breasts spilling over its
top. In her left hand the girl held a stiff riding crop and in the
other a coiled bull whip.
****
"Heeeeeeeeeeellllllllpppppppppp!!!!" Tatewaki bellowed."Someone, save
meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"
****
My old hut had been refurbished after the decision to bring me into
the Alliance was made. Ami and I were due a little quality time
together since we'd been working our asses off getting crap togehter
and making sure no one screwed up and got us all in trouble, and we'd
just finished taking advantage of some of that time.
I was female, the ring has its advantages, as I may have previously
mentioned, and it doesn't take nearly as much work to get off lots of
times as a girl. Ami's head rested against one of my bare breasts and
I was starting to get randy again, but I'd wore the poor girl out.
I'd have to wait a few minutes, at least.
"Mom tried to make me stay in the tent with her," Ami was saying, her
breath teasing my nipple. Those things are much too sensitive."All I
had to do was mention how much inventory she had to take with all the
stuff she stole from the hospital and she forgot about me completely."
She laughed. Ami, devious? Real turn on, that.
****
Warm, contented sleep. I don't experience it often, not often enough
to take it for gratned. With Ami snuggled against me, I was sleeping
soundly. That changed when all four wall of my hut exploded, sheered
away by a powerful chi blast. My mind, fuzzed by sleep and sex,
didn't immediately grasp the situation. Reflexes, developed over
years of constant danger, did prompt me to raise a semi-decent body
shield.
Objects, enchanted objects, bounced off this shield almost before I
could form it. Figures, at least a dozen, formed a ring around the
remains of my hut. They were swathed in baggy black clothing, all but
hiding their identity. All female.
When you're suprised, and, yes, a little afraid, you don't act as you
would in more controlled conditions. Three of the women exploded into
clouds of gorey mist as I encased them in bubble of true vaccum space.
They didn't even get a chance to scream. Power, from my own reserves,
from the surrounding environment, and energy from the Silver Imperium
Crystal flooded through me, in turn passing through my lens and
gaining in strength by a factor of ten.
I spared a moment to glance at my love. From her arm and chest,
shuriken, each dark stained and glowing malevolently, protruded. She
didn't move, her life force barely remained within her body. It was
fading. My Ami was dying.
I had to save Ami. She was all that mattered. Instantly the energy
that throbbed within me extended, wrapping my fiance in a web of solid
energy, cutting her off from time, removing her from existance. The
All Mighty could not take her if he couldn't reach her. A handful of
seconds had passed. The Amazons were closing in, weapons, all holding
enchantments of some kind, drawn. The element of suprise was lost to
my attackers, those who had harmed Ami, now that my perceptions had
been thrown into overdrive with the step-up in power and cold rage
that consumed me.
Knowledge of the Infernal Gateways, combined with my recently learned
teleportation spell, came together in my mind and a thought later a
doorway stood open before me, a doorway to Hell. Demons raved and
tortured souls cried out in unending agony. I ignored the piteous
screaming. The nine remaining Amazons, now all nearly within striking
distance, froze, first in fear of the vision that was all too real,
and then as I took away control of their bodies.
"ARISE!" I commanded, my voice booming, the air around me humming with
crackling energy waiting for release. I gave the energy its freedom,
using it to increase the power of my demonic prescence a hundredfold.
"COME TO ME!!!" They had no choice but to obey.
They came, a horde of ravening, soul-starved beasts. A thousand
demons attempted to pile through the tear in reality. I only allowed
the strongest, the most sadistic to cross. The price of the Hellborn
is high. Someone was going to pay.
****
The explosion woke the lighter sleepers. The cries of the damned got
to the more firmly entrenched. My command raised the dead. It was
the continuous scream of nine Amazons being tortured and repeatedly
raped by the denizens of Hell while the sky burned with black fire
that brought me my audience, though.
Many who saw the demons at work became violently ill, others lost
consciousness, and some watched in sick fascination. No one had the
nerve to approach me or my minions.
As my captured Amazons neared death, I returned the spark of life to
their bodies and healed their wounds. Dawn approached, the torment
continued. The sun rose and the sky barely lightened, obscured as it
was by the Death Flame. The flame would soon leave this world,
though, its job completed as each tortured Amazon's soul twisted,
became a thing barely resembling its former self.
They would live. They would also be absolutely insane. Karma? If
their soul ever escaped Hell, pond scum would be above their place in
existance.
Even demons can be sated, and when a demon feeds off pain and
suffering, it gains most greatly from inflicting pain itself. My
demons reached their fill almost exactly as the death spell that hung
in the sky departed. Nine Amazons, nine Elders, each a mass of poorly
healed scars and neverending anguish, remained twitching upon the
ground.
****
Author's Notes: I was going to handle that last part differently, but
I drank a little too much last night and my buzz was strong enough to
mess me up a little(I don't drink to the point of being drunk, I do
stupid things that I can't remember if I do). After rereading it this
morning, and fixing a lot of spelling and grammar errors, I decided to
leave it how it was. Offer still stands for character submissions.
I've already gotten a few really good ones, but most of them don't
really describe the character, original or from some other series,
well enough for me to decide what to do with them. That last scene
was a bit dark, wasn't it? I normally don't do that. I think I may
start, though. It's fun. C&C me at dark_phoneix@hotmail.com