Chapter V: Hotaru's White Knight

The sun began to set as the moon began to rise, the continuation of the night and day cycle. And Ranma was right in front of Panik's Keep.

It was very tall, ten or so stories high, and as wide as his old High School. It was also black. Not pitch black, but still black. He didn't know if it was painted black or the stone was black. The metal gate was more of a grey iron, and looked hard to assault... for a normal person.

For Ranma it wouldn't be that hard to do. His white silk shirt fluttered as a breeze went by, as the martial artist turned duellist took a stance.

He COULD summon a monster to knock it down, but he'd rather blow the gate down himself. Focusing his confidence he began to form his attack, a ball of energy glowing in his hands. With a wordless cry he fired it into the gate knocking it inwards. As he rose from his stance he took note of the guards charging at him.

A lookout must have seen him approach and arranged a welcoming party, Ranma figured. Still he smiled as he ran into the force of two-dozen well- armed soldiers.

---

Exodia winced as Ranma landed a rather painful looking blow. Ranma was still a superior fighter, and was showing that over ten years of Genma's idea of 'training', as well as nearly two years of chaos in Nermia proved to be way to much for a mere numbers advantage to handle.

"He'll need to ice that one for sure."

Exodia blinked. Then he looked down at the woman who and actually managed to ENTER this damned place of his.

"I'm sure. Who are you?"

The tanned woman smiled. "Urd. Class two, Category two Goddess of the Past. Father asked me to find you a couple centuries ago, but until you teleported that girl, I wasn't able to get a fix on you."

Exodia nodded, he should have noticed the markings on her face.

"Ah, good old Kami-Sama pitching in to my... situation?"

"Something like that. But I can't do a thing about that seal that you got there." Urd shrugged. "Sorry about that."

"No worries Urd, it's being taken care of."

"You mean Ranma, right?"

Exodia blinked. "Yes. How do you know him?"

"His life was one the most interesting I've seen, always cheered me up when I was in the gutter. I was thinking of finding a nice girl for him, until that entire Burakumin thing. Anyway, you think he can do it?"

"Yes. I gave him everything he'll need. I locked most of my power away before the seal set in. If he can unite that power the seal that binds me will be broken. But first, he needs to defeat Panik. It will be a nice stepping stone for he future battles."

"Mind if I watch?"

"Until I summoned Ranma I had no visitors for five thousand years. I need the company."

---

The messenger wasn't shot. Reason: Panik didn't have a gun.

He did have a Claw Reacher though, which worked.

'Note to self, hire new messenger.' Panik was, however angry at the fact Ranma beat his best-hired man Keith. As he relaxed as the slave girl, he never bother to learn her name, refilled his drink. Just then a soldier burst into the room.

"Sire, our guards are fighting an intruder! He's fighting his way in!"

A flash of hope filled Hotaru's eyes as she though maybe her pleas for a hero was answered. Panik saw that flash of hope that only served to fuel his anger at the upstart duelist.

"Then don't just stand there, go out and FIGHT!"

The soldier saluted and ran away as Panik grabbed the girl around her chest with one hand. He squeezed on it hard enough to cause pain, but not enough so she'd close her eyes from it. No, he wanted her to look him in the eye.

"I hope you don't think he's here to save you little slave, he won't even... what are YOU DOING BACK HERE!?"

The last part was not directed to the girl in his hand, but the guard that reentered his throne room. He stumbled forward before falling to the ground.

And walking over the guard's prone form was a young man wearing a white shirt and black slacks. A heavy pack rested on his back and a dueling deck contained in a holster at his thigh. Panik knew, just knew, this was the source of his troubles, as his fists clenched together.

Hotaru gave out a whimper as the large hand began to really hurt her. She closed her eyes together in a vain attempt to shut out the pain.

Ranma looked confidant on the outside. Inside he was worried about the girl in Panik's grasp and the fact she could be hurt, or used as a hostage.

The latter worry wasn't a problem. Panik's control was broken and anger consumed him to the point that he forgot he was holding someone.

"You... YOU! YOU HAVE GOTTEN IN MY WAY LONG ENOUGH!"

All he knew was something was in his hand, so with a mighty toss Hotaru was hurled towards Ranma. She kept her eyes squeezed shut, bracing her small body for the impact.

The impact was not of a cold, un-giving stone floor but warm, gentle arms, cradling her. As she opened her eyes to see her savoir she...

Looked into the pair of deepest blue eyes she had ever seen, looking at her with worry. A white silk shirt covered his muscled, but warm, chest arms bare save golden bracers. Her only thought was three words. 'A white knight.'

"Are you OK There?"

Panik's growl filled the room. That BOY came all this way to face him, and the first person he speaks to is a worthless SLAVE?

Ranma set the girl on her feet gently as she looked at him, eyes filled with a new hope.

"I-It hurts, b-but I'll be OK."

Ranma frowned as he turned to the enraged Panik. "Panik, you are finished."

"I'M FINISHED?! YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER, STEPPING IN TO THE LION'S DEN!"

Panik stalked towards a door to the side of the room.

"If you wish to duel, follow me!"

Panik stomped up the steps, followed by Ranma whose puzzle glowed for a brief moment, who was then followed by Hotaru.

---

The Canadian Rocky Mountains. Majestic. Beautiful. Incredible. With some of the best sounds in nature...

"WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOW!?!?!?"

And the current location of Ryoga Hibiki, AKA: Lost Boy and P-Chan. He was SURE his curse of being lost was Ranma's fault, SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY, it HAD to be!

Ironically in a way it was. When the Pharaoh locked half of his spirit into the Millennium Puzzle, the other half was reborn several times throughout the ages. And one of those incarnations was done a great injustice by Ryoga's Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather. In retaliation his bloodline was cursed, the curse being different for each member.

His Great Uncle Harry, for example, was cursed to go act like a chicken when someone used the word 'wing'.

His Great, Great, Great Grandfather was cursed to fear anything that looked female. No one QUITE knows how he fathered a child.

His Great, Great Grandfather had a curse for woman to fall in love with him... if they weighed in excess of three hundred pounds.

His Grandfather had an incredibly weird one though. You see good old Orville, yes Orville, Hibiki was cursed to think he was a woman. Never mind he had tools instead of plumbing; he honestly thought he was a girl.

And as we all know, Ryoga got a curse to not only have no sense of direction, but also warp space around him. Hence, the reason he traveled to Canada, from Japan, while walking.

And if anyone could see the future of Ryoga (Or, in the case of those who had those powers bothered to look) they would learn that Ryoga was NOT going to have a fun time in the near future.

---

The top of Panik's Tower was a sight to see. Even at night one could see waves crash into the shoreline, and see the land and water for miles around.

Panik stood to one end of the tower, standing tall and fearsome. Ranma had yet to go to the other end, but placed his pack down next to Hotaru, who was shivering from the cold wind and lack of clothing. Ranma quickly dug into his pack and handed her a sweater and some sandals, which she quickly donned.

"I know they're a bit big for you." Ranma started as Panik once more growled. "But they'll work. What's your name?"

"H-Hotaru."

Ranma smiled warmly as the girl, as she felt her cheeks flush up. 'I feel warmer already...'

"My name is Ranma, and don't worry about a thing. I'll handle Ugly over there, you just wait here, OK?"

When she nodded Ranma took his place across from Panik. "Your bullying ends now!"

"Bah! Bullying? It's the job of peasants to grant me more strength, and not give things to worthless little girls. I am too strong for that."

Ranma kept in anger in check, barley. "A little girl is not worthless, but I already know I am stronger than you."

"And what makes you so sure?"

"Because I'm strong enough to give my strength to others, and not take it like a thief."

"Enough talk! Shuffle your deck boy!"

The decks were then shuffled, and a cry filled the night sky.

"LET'S DUEL!"

The arena and podiums rose and hands were draw, the duel was on.

------------ Ranma: 2000 Panik: 2000 ------------

Panik smiled as he saw his had.

'Excellent!' He thought. 'The Castle of Dark Illusions in the first draw! Too perfect!'

"I will make the first move, and I play the Castle of Dark Illusions (1000/2000) in defence mode!"

In a burst of light was not a monster, but a castle with uneven yellow towers and walls. A ring surrounded it with a black circle at the front. Spikes of land jutted underneath it, looking like it was torn from the very ground. Before anything else could happen black mists fell from the castle filling Panik's end of the field.

"Ha! My Castle has created a fog that you can't see past! You will be unable to find any of my monsters!

"Not only that, but since we are playing at night the Castle gets a field power bonus, boosting it's defense power! (1300/2600) You can't break past it! And the Castle will give the night's field power bonus to ANY monster I play!"

Ranma frowned as he considered the castle. He then played his first card.

"Ancient Elf, defense mode!" (1450/1200)

The elf of times past arose to the field kneeled with staff held to his chest.

Panik grinned as he played his next card.

"Claw Reacher, Attack Mode!"

In his past battles Ranma could not just see his opponents monsters, but he could tell how strong they were.

Neither could apply here. With the Castle's fog in place he couldn't see his opponent's monsters, or gauge their power.

"Extended Claw Attack!"

An arm, a long one at that, reached across the field taking hold of the elf. Hotaru screamed as Ranma's elf was pulled into the fog and destroyed.

"Do you see my powers? How could you hope to match my monsters? You will PANIC!"

Panik's laugh filled the air as Hotaru shivered again, this time in fear. Ranma however...

"Sorry Panik, but you'll need more than that to intimate me."

"Huh?" Panik just blinked. By this point even the most hardened of duelist were having second thoughts, wondering how to combat his fog. But this 'Ranma' hardly looked worried. He was even smiling.

"You think this sort of tactic would have me scared, but it's the EXACT sort of thing one would expect from you, an overgrown bully."

"You DARE!?"

"Bullies like picking on people, but they do it in shadows and behind defenses, and never face people head on. You have no courage Panik."

"Silence you dog, I will CRUSH YOU!"

"I doubt it." Ranma drew a card and played it. "Witty Phantom (1400/1300) Attack Mode!"

The monster Ranma summoned was a long eared person with purple pupil- less eyes wearing a purple dress suit, and matching hat.

"Phantom's Burst!"

The well-dressed monster fired a ball of energy into the darkness. It, however, hit nothing.

"Ha! For all your bluster, you can do nothing! Your monster cannot hit what they cannot find!"

He drew a new card and gave off his ugly grin. "Snake Hair, Attack Mode!"

Like the monster before he couldn't see it as it appeared.

"Snake Venom Strike, destroy Witty Phantom!"

All Ranma saw was a burst of acid as Witty Phantom was hit and gruesomely melted away. Hotaru turned away from the sight.

------------ Ranma: 1450 Panik: 2000 ------------

---

"Are you SURE he can beat Panik?"

"Worry not Urd, it is only the beginning."

---

"See, you cannot stand against me! Admit defeat boy!"

"I am far from defeated Panik, so don't start counting chickens, you need to hatch them first."

Ranma drew a card and nodded as he saw it.

"One card, in face down defence mode."

Once Ranma's turn was over Panik made his move.

"Snake Venom Strike, attack the defence monster!"

Again the burst of venom flew forth, but this time it was deflected as Ranma's monster rose from the ground. It was female, had light blue skin, wore green robes and had blonde hair that nearly touched the ground.

"As I thought. My Mystical Elf's defence power (800/2000) is too great for your assault."

------------ Ranma: 1450 Panik: 1950 ------------

"Bah! A minor problem." Panik drew a new card, as he thought to himself. 'Mmmm... I have Saber Slasher in my hand, but even with the field power bonus it isn't strong enough to beat this Elf. I should play it anyway, until I draw a better monster.' "Saber Slasher, in Attack Mode. However I will not attack this turn."

Ranma nodded as he drew his own card. 'The Summoned Skull. I can make use of him later, but until I deal with that fog I can't even target his monsters.' "I will end my turn, without making a move."

Panik too drew a card. 'Bah. Useless card.' "I again have no move for the turn. I await your move."

As Ranma drew his new card he forced a frown. "I play this card face down onto the field, and end my turn."

Panik took the top card of his deck to add to his hand and gave a feral grin. "Ah Ha! Ranma, your Elf is DONE for! I have just drawn The Beast of Talwar! My strongest attack monster!"

Panik quickly played his new beast. "Attack Talwar! Double Sword Slash!"

The beast charged forward, but Ranma could still not see it as the fog followed and covered it as the Mystical Elf was cut twice.

---

"Oh great, Exodia do SOMETHING! Your boy is in trouble."

Exodia looked down at the goddess REALLY wishing he could smile.

"Wrong Urd. He is in control."

"What?

"Trust me. Panik may think he's all that, but he will learn Ranma is the true King of Games."

---

Panik turned to gloat, not to Ranma but the girl. "Do you see girl! Nothing can beat me! Nothing can defeat PANIK!"

Hotaru turned to Ranma a mixed look of showing fear and asking him for the truth. He smiled back.

"Don't worry Hotaru-Chan, I have him right where I want him."

Panik only grinned. "Nice bluff boy, but you cannot win! You can't even see my monsters!"

"I CAN and WILL win Panik. I know bullies like you, gaining wins with intimidation and fear, not skill."

"Fool, my SKILL is what is beating you!"

"Hardly Panik, I have everything I need to take you down." Ranma drew another card and only smiled wider.

"First I place the Summoned Skull in Attack Mode!" (2500/1200)

The monster that rose up looked like a demon with it's skeleton on the outside.

"I can also use Horn of the Unicorn to boost my monster seven hundred attack and defence points. (3200/1900) But the card you'll hate is my down card."

"Bah, what card could beat ME?"

Ranma smile never changed. "A Trap Card called Light of Intervention!"

Activating his trap, Ranma watched as the entire ground began to light up, pushing the fog upwards and away until Panik's fog was fully lifted.

"No! The light is removing the fog! My monsters are revealed!"

"That's right Panik, and even if you still have your power bonus, now that I can see your monsters, I can ATTACK THEM!"

Taking stock of Panik's revealed end of the field he took a look at his monsters, the metal Claw Reacher wearing purple robes (1000/600 - 1300/600), the Medusa like Snake Hair (1500/1200 - 1950/1560), The machine monster Saber Slasher (1450/1500 - 1885/1950), and his strongest monster Beast of Talwar with deep green-almost-black skin and deep blue-almost- black wings, a large sabre like sword in each hand. (2400/2150 - 3120/2795)

"Summoned Skull, Lightning Strike! Destroy Claw Reacher!"

The bolstered demon charged it's electrical attack firing forth at the Claw Reacher, obliterating it and almost all of Panik's life points.

------------ Ranma: 1450 Panik: 50 ------------

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

Panik could only watch as his ENTIRE strategy was shattered. He had thought he was untouchable with the fog down, but with that Light of Intervention Card his field was in plain view. In a word, he panicked. He drew a card hoping he could get something, ANYTHING, powerful. He smiled as he did.

"You may have crippled my life points, but you cannot defeat me now! I have drawn Chaos Shield, a Magic Card!"

Ranma smile changed into a frown. "Great. With THAT he can flip everything to defence mode and jack up their defence points!"

Even Hotaru knew this was bad, and she barley understood this 'duel'. That's when Panik laughed even harder.

"FOOL! You think too small! By combining it with the Castle of Dark Illusions I affect ONLY that card's defence! (3200) However, I can also project a barrier around my other monsters from my floating Castle, surrounding them in a protective shield equal to the thirty-two hundred defences of my Castle's defence stats! Admit, I have you beat!"

---

"He does... that defence is impenetrable. Exodia, help him!"

"I cannot. It is against the rules I myself have declared."

"But he's a sitting duck while Panik is shielded perfectly!"

"No shield is perfect, and no wall is without imperfections. Just watch."

---

"All you have me is bored."

"WHAT!?"

"I figured you might have had SOMETHING like that in your deck, bullies like to hide behind something, feeling safe while others feel fear. But I have no fear of you or your deck."

'But I'm not sure how I can punch past that defence... but If I can convince him it's not enough... yeah, that'll work great. If I can make him THINK his defences are not enough I can use one of my magic cards to beat him down, for GOOD, while he's scrambling to boost his defences.'

"FOOL! You cannot hope to break my shields!"

Ranma smiled. 'Time to start 'Operation: Panik Attack.'

"Wrong Panik. I have a card that will beat your defences."

"What?"

"That's right... I have a card that will send your Castle tumbling down. And when I draw that card not all the King's horses nor all the King's men will be able to put YOU back together again."

"You BLUFF!"

"Do I? I can hold out until I draw it, but can your defences hold until then? Can you even HOPE to remain standing as I bring your defences crumbling down around you?"

Hotaru could only hope, as she stood to the side, that Ranma COULD do just that.

---

"Can he do just that?"

Exodia would have answered with a smile, but he never could do that. Instead he just watched.

---

'The fool makes no sense! Unless... Mmmm... Summoned Skull has the same attack power as my Castle has defence power. (3200) Perhaps he plans to grant more power to his Skull, beyond what my Castle has. I shall fortify it then, until it is unassailable!'

Panik drew his next card and smiled. "Ha! Perfect! Dark Energy will boost my Castle's defence power three hundred!" (3500)

Ranma drew his own card and placed it to the field. "One card, face down."

Panik drew a new card and frowned. 'Another useless card. Bah!'

As Ranma took his turn again, he let out a smile. "I play Dark Magician, in attack mode!" (2500/2100)

The wizard rose from the ground, floating next to Summoned Skull. "And with Black Pendant I give him five hundred more attack points." (3000/2600)

'Huh? Why play it on Dark Magician? If he had given it to his Skull he COULD have overpowered my shielding. He must have a plan, one that revolves around his Dark Magician!'

"Your move Panik."

Panik drew a new card and smiled. 'Another Magic Card to boost my defences! Excellent. But his strategy eludes me, why play Dark Magician? My Beast of Talwar can destroy it. I know! His down card is a trap! He wants me to deactivate my own shield so he can attack me without my shield's protection! Well, I will not fall for it. I will ensure my defences are secure, then ready my Beast to power through his trap!'

"I'll use a second Dark Energy card on my Castle! (3800) Now you'll never be able to destroy it!"

Ranma frowned. Outwardly. Inwardly he was giddy. Panik fell for it. He was scrambling to raise defences, not counter his strategy. He drew another card, not what he was looking for, but it would keep Panik on the mental defensive.

"I'll use the Book of Secret Arts to bolster my Dark Magician!" (3300/2900)

'Yes, the Dark Magician, that his the centre of his plan! I must disrupt it! But how! Now my Beast cannot attack either monster of his, so I cannot lower my shield to attack! I must draw a powerful card! One that will work!'

Drawing his next card he grinned. 'It won't destroy Dark Magician, but the elimination of Summoned Skull works well enough!'

"Ranma, I have drawn a Fissure Magic Card!" He slapped it onto the field. "Fissure will destroy the weakest attack monster on your side of the field!"

The magic card created a controlled earthquake underneath Summoned Skull, as the ground split and swallowed it whole.

"There! Your monster is gone Ranma, what will you do?"

Ranma simply drew his next card... and smirked, not smiled, smirked.

"Win, of course."

"Huh?"

Hotaru looked at Ranma standing tall card in hand, wondering if his plan would truly work.

---

"Now Urd, listen and learn. Ranma's strategy should be remembered."

---

"You see Panik this one card I have is what I was looking for. And with it I will bring your Castle down."

"Bah! Go ahead! Use your card; I am prepared for your combination! Your trap card and Magician will never beat me!"

Ranma's reaction, Panik noted, was odd. He laughed. Hard. When Ranma got control he still looked ready to laugh.

"But it's not a combination Panik! Just this card itself." So saying he showed Panik his down card, the picture looking like an imp with an open scroll. The scroll had one word written on it. 'Fake'.

"A FAKE TRAP?! But then the Magician combo..."

"There IS no combo, my Dark Magician was played to distract and confuse you, making you concentrate on your defence, not offence." He looked to Hotaru before continuing. "You see Hotaru, bullies like Panik terrorize people to feel strong, and when threatened themselves build defences and hide, like a turtle in it's shell. But even the best of defences have a flaw, and I will now use my magic card, Gravity Bind, to bring all of his walls down!"

Ranma slapped his card down as the field started to shake. Soon all the monsters, Ranma's and Panik's, were forced to the ground.

"Gravity Bind effects all monster with a level of four or higher! It pulls them to the ground by increasing the gravity on the field by a thousand times! And that also effects your Castle, which will crush your monster beneath it."

Panik looked skyward to his floating Castle, and indeed, it was slowly falling, the floatation ring fighting the entire way. "Castle of Dark Illusions, full power to the floatation ring!"

The ring surrounding the Castle began to glow, it's decent stopping. Panik was about to shout a victory cry as he heard a cracking noise. Looking back up he saw where the cracking was coming from.

"NO! The floatation ring is overloading! It will self destruct, leaving the Castle with NOTHING holding it up!"

As advertised the ring broke away and the Castle plummeted into the ground, all of Panik's monsters trapped beneath. Both Panik and Ranma realized that the Castle fall would not only destroy the monsters, but do damage to both the monsters and Panik's few remaining life points.

With a loud thunderous crash the Castle hit the ground breaking apart as it did so, throwing up dust and debris, clouding the field. As a few moments passed the field cleared.

The Dark Magician was still trapped to the earth from the pull of incredible gravity. Panik's monster and Castle were gone, shattered and sent to the Graveyard.

------------ Ranma: 1450 Panik: 0 ------------

"Impossible... My Castle... My monsters... They failed me!"

"Wrong Panik."

Panik looked to his opponent as the Eye of Ra glowed brightly on Ranma's forehead.

"Your deck did not fail you, you failed you deck as a coward, a bully, and a tyrant! And in accordance with the Shadow Games your fate is MY choice!"

"No! I beg of you, let me live!"

"So you could bully others and force them into your bidding? Never! Your fate is... OBLIVION!"

As Ranma thrusted his hand forward Panik's body turned to greyscale, then shattered like glass. As Panik left the world Ranma turned to the girl he had helped. We walked in front of her as Yami's presence retreated back into the puzzle.

"Hey there Hotaru-Chan, you want to get out of here?"

Hotaru's response caught him off-guard. She ran forward, wrapping her arms around him, burying her face into his chest. For the next half hour only two words from the girl was distinguishable.

"Thank You!"

---

"Awww... ain't that the CUTEST thing you ever did see?"

Urd giggled to herself as she was sure Ranma found himself a girl. And a lovely one at that. Exodia nodded, smiling inwardly (Damn mouth) and watching his plan of giving Ranma a companion finally produce fruit of a sort. A little off from Plan A, but it works.

"It seems Ranma will have a companion to take his mind off training and duelling. He shouldn't make them his life. And Hotaru should be able to help Ranma by granting emotional support, something he rarely got.

"So, it's smooth sailing for them now?"

"Hardly. Tests and challenges are abound in their future, but I recall an old saying from an old Pharaoh. 'For those who walk the road, a companion can and will be, the ever saving grace of the human soul.'"

"And that means?"

"Now, now Urd, I cannot explain everything, or it will lose meaning. Right?"

"Maybe. I gotta go home and keep the squirt from dealing damage to Bell's man. See ya around."

---

Duellist Profiles

Name: Lord Benjamin Panikal (Also known as Lord Panik)

Deck Style: Castle of Dark Illusions' Terror Deck

Favourite/Best Monster: Castle of Dark Illusions

Other Monsters: Beast of Talwar, Snake Hair, Saber Slasher

Info: Born into an upper class family, Panik got his kicks by hiring bandits and raiding other people's property. Although born into money, he loved to steal, but loved to terrorize even more. He shortened his last name to 'Panik' since he loved to make people panic. After he became a duellist he had a keep built with black stone called 'Panik's Tower' or 'Panik's Keep'.

Author's Note: Ranma beat Panik, and looked good while doing it. As for the Castle's stats, the REAL stats for it are 920/1930, but in the Anime after the bonus it was 1300/2600, which didn't make sense. So I changed the stats to 1000/2000 to make it as the same stats as in the anime. Creative control, ya know. As for the bit with Urd and Exodia, no I'm not planning on adding the Three Norns, that was just a cameo. She may get a return performance, but don't count on it. Lastly we WILL be seeing Ryoga again, in some side-bits I'm gonna call 'The Misadventures of Ryoga Hibiki'. And like stated earlier P-Chan is so NOT going to have fun. Comments, Questions, Suggestions and Ideas are welcomed.

Next Chapter: Ranma has to figure out what on earth he's going to do with Hotaru. Maybe find her a place in a small town? Then again there is that second deck...