Brittany awoke as the first morning light hit her face. She coughed, and struggled to sit up with the still healing burns and cuts on her. She looked around to see the cannon still sitting there, still smoking and completely torn apart. It sported numerous holes, all of which were rusted and jagged.

Seeing this, Brittany's thoughts instantly returned to Rhys, who was still lying next to her in female form.

Brittany turned to the smaller girl, and shook her to try and wake her up.

Rhys didn't respond.

"Rhys?" Brittany asked, shaking the furred girl again.

Again, no response.

"Rhys?" Brittany asked again, this time louder. She shook the girl violently to try and wake her up.

Rhys' head flopped to the side, but there was no response.

Brittany's eyes welled up with tears as she realized two things.

Rhys wasn't going to respond.

And she wasn't breathing.

Brittany started to sob into Rhys' shirt as two figures came to the top of the hill.

It was Saffron and Ryoga. They instantly saw Brittany and Rhys. It didn't take them long to realize why Brittany was crying, it was quite obvious when they came up to them.

Ryoga had dumb looks on his face. Rhys… Ranma Saotome… was dead. That was impossible. Just simply not possible.

Saffron was staring at the body of Rhys with a stern look on his face. After a time, a sad smirk appeared on his face.

Brittany and Ryoga looked at him as he started to chuckle.

Saffron didn't had time to think as a crying, enraged werecheetah was suddenly in his face.

"What's so funny?" She yelled, "You think this is funny!"

"Wait…" Saffron said.

"WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT THIS!" Brittany yelled, "RHYS… Rhys is dead! Tell me how that can be funny!"

"Calm down," Saffron yelled.

"HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO CALM DOWN!" Brittany yelled in anger.

"Do it, and I will explain why!" Saffron clipped.

Ryoga placed his hand on Brittany's shoulder to stop her. Brittany glared back at him before collapsing to the ground, sobbing.

"I would like to know too," The werewolf growled, "Why is this humorous?"

"The cannon was technically a failure," Saffron said, "I knew what was meant of it as soon as the first wave hit me last night. It reeked of power, of evil, and of greed. The maker of this tower wanted to control the world, and by using their energy and infecting the entire human population with the werecreatures poison, they would control everyone, just like Rhys controlled that Amazon before he let her go. I could feel the mans thoughts as the cannon fired."

"So it failed?" Ryoga asked, looking up at the phoenix god.

"No, the machine worked perfectly," Saffron said, "But the close range effect was warped, probably by Rhys' Jusenkyo curse."

"But he absorbed the curse," Ryoga said.

"Yes, but parts of its Magick still remained," Saffron said, "The man who made this machine hadn't counted on that, and the machine started to go haywire. My guess is that the machine released the final blast of energy before aging and rusting in a matter of moments."

"So, all the humans…" Ryoga asked.

"Not all, but some are now werecreatures, each akin to their totem animal," Saffron nodded, "I would wager that only 5 of the people world wide changed."

Herb suddenly landed beside Saffron.

"The body has been found," Herb said, "Three miles to the east, severely burned. I don't think he's going anywhere soon."

"Good," Saffron said, "With the mastermind dead, the worlds masses will remain free."

"Won't they know that they're different?" Ryoga asked.

"The blast probably not only changed them, but also forced them into hybrid form," Saffron said, "But they will remain free."

"B-but…" Brittany's voice came.

Saffron glanced at the still crying werecheetah.

"The machine also lost control in another aspect," Saffron said, "No doubt you saw it. Nature suddenly losing control, Rhys' powers going haywire, and her body suddenly changing shape rapidly."

"So?" Brittany asked.

"Rhys passed out before the first blast of energy, correct?" Saffron asked.

"Yes," Brittany muttered.

"And you also removed him from the machine just before said blast of energy, correct?" Saffron asked.

"Yes."

"Then the energy that flowed through the machine didn't destroy his spirit. If you had not gotten him off of the machine, his soul would have been ripped asunder by the blast. And if that happened, you would know."

"How so?" Ryoga asked.

"Tell me," Saffron said, "What are the moving bodies of those who have no souls called."

"…" Ryoga paused, "Zombies?"

"The undead, correct," Saffron said, crossing his arms and nodding, "Had Rhys' soul been destroyed, his body would have rapidly but only partially decayed as parts of it are more linked to the soul than others. Brittany would be dead, half eaten by her undead brother in his eternal lust for living flesh, yaddah yaddah yaddah."

"But that didn't happen," Ryoga said.

"Correct, it didn't," Saffron nodded.

"But what does that mean?" Brittany asked.

"It means I've got one hell of a headache," Rhys' voice called.

Everyone glanced as Rhys places a furry hand on her own forehead.

"Rhys!" Brittany cried out, "You're alive!"

A few days later, the group returned to Hong Kong to meet up and tell the tales of whatever has happened to them over the past few days.

Rhys had remained in her female form ever since the incident. Not because she wanted too, just because the energy pulse that went through her drained her mentally and physically, leaving her in a near comatose state for weeks after the event.

Theo says that she just has to rest for a few weeks to reestablish her control over her energies inside of her, and until that time, she could do nothing that had to do with her abilities concerning her mediums and centers, and could barely do anything outside of those abilities.

It was during her period of rest that the world was forced to realize what had happened. The large conduit on the top of the mountain was a failure, the man who made it obviously didn't think that the residue of the Josenkyo curse would effect the machine.

The waves of energy DID turn many humans into werecreatures, but only some. The changed fell unconscious after being forced into their hybrid form. Most of those that fell unconscious have not yet woken up.

The Diggers home didn't change much. Julia was not changed by the wave, since she was Giant anyway. Theo and Gina had indeed changed with the energies. Gina remained unconscious for a few days before coming out of it, mainly because of her Giant heritage, though Theo had actually not been knocked unconscious in the first place.

Theo had basically, with the help of Happosai and Cologne (who thankfully remained human… or whatever they were in the first place), surmised what had happened.

The Josenkyo curse was water born curse. All those in contact with water were therefore protected from the blast, somewhat. The water protected them by diluting the blast somewhat.

This still takes into account that the blast was totally in itself chaotic in nature, and those that remained human basically had the mental control to stay awake at the time, be it through mental control or large amounts of caffine.

All those asleep at the time were instantly changed, water or no.

Those with inherent magickal abilities were immune to the effects. Theo may be a powerful mage, but his abilities were never inherent. He was not BORN with the knowledge and capability to do those abilities. Anyone with natural magickal sources in their person had something akin to a force field around them when it comes to curses, and therefore deflected the blast.

All those who are awake and werecreature hid from the outside world, as the humans and the people with inherent Magick were looking for them. And not because of nice reasons. Some of the people with inherent Magick are also taking it upon themselves to 'hunt' the demons as they awaken from their slumber. Some of the sleepers have turned up in a coma, but in human form.

Theo estimates, since Rhys is tied to all these people, when she recovers from her current state, the people trapped in limbo around the world will awaken.

No one in the Diggers family were looking forward to that day, not by much.

First things first though, was to go to Japan to make sure the Tendo's and Nodoka were okay. Then, they and Joketsozuko had the responsibility of introducing the idea of real live werecreatures into society.

But something was bothering Ryoga as he walked to the terminal to board the plane.

There was one person who had just disappeared after the Wedding Fiasco.

Ukyo.

The people of Japan were on edge, if anything. None of the werecreatures of Japan had awoken. Those that already were werecreatures stayed in human form. So on the most part, the streets were quiet as the people went about their daily lives.

But every conversation you overheard would be about the werecreatures.

Rumors from regions of Japan that many people have taken up weapons against the werecreatures swarmed everywhere. Some from off in the countryside and some in regions of Tokyo. Especially Juuban.

Ryoga and Brianna were walking towards the residential side of Juuban. Brianna had been effected by the blast to make her totally werecheetah. They were to go to Nodoka's house to see if she was awake or unconscious, human or no.

They passed many people that simple glanced at Brianna's oddly colored hair before hurrying along. The werecreatures were lucky so far; humans didn't realize that they had a human form or an animal form.

Upon approaching the Saotome house, Ryoga suddenly stopped cold. Brianna noticed his tense up, and glanced around.

"What is it?" Brianna asked.

"Something's wrong here," Ryoga said, "A huge energy force is around here somewhere."

"What type of energies?" Brianna asked.

"I don't know," Ryoga said, "Some are elemental, while others are energy based. They're coming from different places. All of which a…"

Ryoga stopped cold.

"All of which what?" Brianna asked, glancing at the look on his face, confused.

"All of which are coming from Nodoka's house," Ryoga said, "And they're angry."

Ryoga tore off towards the house, ripping through the front gate easily. Brianna followed suit, running after Ryoga as he tore through the house towards Nodoka's room.

With a loud slam and the sound of paper tearing, the door to Nodoka's room flew open.

Nodoka was lying in bed, unconscious from the blast. Her naturally red hair was now blaringly red, as she was currently a werefox. She was on her side, underneath the bed sheets in her nightgown.

Around her were several girls, all dressed in skimpy school uniforms. Ryoga glanced at Nodoka and then to the girls, instantly recognizing them as the sources of the strong energies that radiated around him.

There were five in total. One had short blue hair, two with brown hair; one wearing red, the other green; a blonde one, and one with green hair.

Ryoga's hand snapped out to stop Brianna from entering the room. The girls, who had been preparing to do something to Nodoka, were now all staring at him.

"What are you doing with her?" Ryoga demanded.

"What are you doing here yourself?" The green haired one said in a bored tone, signaling for the others to continue.

"I happen to be a friend of the family," Ryoga said hotly, "Now answer me, what are you doing with her?"

"We are cleansing her," The green haired one said, in the same bored tone.

"Of what?" Ryoga asked.

"The demon that has infested her body," The woman said, "Haven't you noticed her current state?"

"Her state looked like a perfectly healthy werefox, who isn't in need of cleaning or anything of the sort," Ryoga said, "Now get OUT of the house."

"I cannot allow this woman to fall because of a demon," The woman said, annoyed, "It is our duty to protect the people of earth fr…"

"I don't CARE what your duty is!" Ryoga cut her off, "Get out of the house before I MAKE you get out of the house."

The woman's face fell into a very annoyed and angry expression.

"Are you threatening me?" She asked, "Oh… oh wait. You're one of the demons yourself. Your friend's hair is riddled with cheetah spots. Then it is my duty to destroy you!"

The woman lashed out, pointing at Ryoga.

"DEAD SCREAM!" She yelled as a large blast of Magick flew at Ryoga at near point blank range.

To the girls inside the room, Ryoga and Brianna were enveloped by the blast, and turned into nothingness.

The green haired woman smirked and turned back to Nodoka's unconscious form.

"Very impressive," Ryoga's voice fell upon the girls, "But a spell of that sort only works when you HIT your target."

The woman with green haired turned around suddenly to see Ryoga stepping back into the doorway.

Looking in, Ryoga could have sworn that something was missing.

"You have to know that in the time you used when casting that spell, I could have killed you several times over," Ryoga said, "But I didn't, because you think your doing a public service by 'curing' these people of their lycanthropy. You're not helping them, you're sending them to their grave."

"Better dead than evil," The woman said.

"Hmph," Ryoga said, noting that the other girls weren't doing anything besides listening to them, "So the famous Sailor Scouts of Juuban are nothing but a group of cold hearted murderers."

"Hey!" The one wearing red shouted.

"Lycanthropes are not demons!" Brianna cut in, "We're just like humans, except we have abilities that humans don't got!"

"You…" The woman with blue hair asked, "You're one of them?"

"We both are," Ryoga said, "Ever since we were born, almost 19 years ago. And you're not going to get rid of all of the werecreatures. In a few weeks, they were awaken, and we shall see what happens then."

"Y… you did this to them!" The blonde one said, "You turned all these people into monsters! Into Youma!"

"Oh please," Brianna said, "Werecreatures are not monsters or Youma! And we had no part in what changed the people like this! The only person at blame for this was killed before the effects even happened!"

"I don't believe you!" The once dressed in red yelled, "BURNING MANDALA!"

Ryoga didn't flinch as the rings of fire slid harmlessly through him. Brianna, who was behind him, simply made them extinguish by chilling them.

"Finished playing?" Ryoga asked.

The one with green hair started freaking out.

"It's you!" She yelled, pointing at Ryoga "The… the…"

"The what?" Ryoga asked, curious but cold.

"You're the werewolf from Nerima!" She yelled, "One of the… Inherited…"

"The what?" Ryoga asked, confused.

The green haired woman looked terrified for a moment, before she lashed out again.

"YOU'RE INHERETED!" She screamed, "BECAUSE OF YOU CRYSTAL TOKYO WILL NEVER HAPPEN!"

"Crystal what?" Brianna asked.

"WHICH ONE ARE YOU!" The green haired woman asked Brianna, "THE LAST! THE MISTAKEN! THE PURPOSE!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ryoga asked.

"DEAD SCREAM!" The woman yelled again.

Ryoga and Brianna dodged again, easily. But when they looked back into the room. Only Nodoka's sleeping form remained.

Nodoka was human, and looked to be in pain.

The closet door opened, and a brown haired girl. Ryoga and Brianna, due to their keener sense of smell, knew that she was a sailor scout. The one that previously had on a green fuku.

Ryoga and Brianna did nothing but watch as the girl went over to Nodoka, and placed her hand on her arm.

She looked up at Ryoga and Brianna. They could tell she hadn't gotten enough sleep lately. Her eyes were tired and she had a fatigued smile on her face.

"I'm… sorry for what Setsuna said," The girl asked, "I'm Sailor Mercury. My name is Mikoto Hino."

"Weren't the Sailor Scouts supposed to be extremely secretive of their identity?" Ryoga asked.

"I don't care anymore," Mikoto said, "I know werecreatures aren't Youma. I know that I shouldn't help make Crystal Tokyo… but I guess I've just been deluding myself."

"What do you mean?" Ryoga said, "What's Crystal Tokyo?"

"An impossible dream," Mikoto said, "Imagine a world where there is no strife, no pain, no suffering… no war and no fighting."

"Seems like a paradise," Brianna chimed in.

"That's what Crystal Tokyo is supposed to be," Mikoto shook her head, "But to be no fighting, no contests, everyone has to have the same ideals. A completely uniform society. Either that or a totalitarian state ruled completely by fear. Doesn't seem as good now, does it?"

"No… not at all," Ryoga said, "For a uniform society, there has to be only perfectly healthy human men and women, all other races must die or be shut out."

"Yeah," Mikoto said, "And even though I would have been one of the people that would have made it happen, I'm doomed never to see it happen."

"Why?" Brianna asked.

"Because I'm not like the other sailor scouts," Mikoto said, "Setsuna has been freaking out because of the werecreatures, and her ability to read the possible futures have become clouded with a group of people named the Inherited. They're supposedly the people bringing in the demon infestation into the world."

"And you're not human," Ryoga said, "Then what are you?"

"I…" Mikoto said, "I'm a bronze dragon."

"What?" Brianna asked.