The room was dark, the only light source coming from a candle in its center. It was completely bare except for one person sitting in the middle in a lotus position. The flame of the candle burned blue and bathed both the room and the person in an unnatural light.

Suddenly there was a knock from outside. The person answered in a decidedly female voice. "Come in." Her voice sounded calm, yet at the same time belied a promise of suffering.

The door opened to reveal a mature woman wearing green robes. She entered the room closing the door behind her and knelt down next to the candle. She waited in silence for the other woman to break the silence.

"Have all the warriors left?"

"Yes, matriarch. Only a couple of elders remain in the village." The newcomer answered. "The final assault will begin by dawn."

The matriarch nodded. "Good." She waited for the woman to leave, but when it was obvious that wasn't happening she asked. "What else have you to inform?"

"Our sentries spotted two intruders close to the village."

"You bother me for that?" Her voice was clearly annoyed. "Send out a hunting party."

The other woman bowed. "Yes, matriarch." With that she stood up and left the room.

The matriarch remained silent for a few minutes more, intently looking at the burning candle. Her lips formed a smile when the flame audibly crackled. "Yes, the time has come." With that she got up and exited the room, knowing full well who had come.

-----

Genma was extremely angry as he turned on the guards. "What do you mean you didn't see them?!" The guards were taken aback by the angered martial artist and remained nervously silent.

They were outside his son's room. Genma came to speak to his son about the upcoming fight, only to find that both his son and Kima weren't inside. And the guards assigned to this particular hall didn't see anyone. He knew that if his son didn't want to get caught he could walk in front of the guard's eyes and they wouldn't even notice, but he needed to vent his frustration in some way.

They all turned down the hall when they caught sight of someone running towards them. Genma's eyes widened when he saw it was Taro. "What's wrong?" He asked, knowing full well that for Taro to actually run inside the halls something big must be up.

The Chinese man stopped and answered in a cold voice. "The Amazons are making a move." The guards gasped and quickly left both Genma and Taro, intent on checking in with their commanding officer. Once they were gone Taro explained further. "One of our sentries spotted nearly the entire Amazon village making their way here. They'll reach the clearing by dawn."

Genma's features hardened. Those 'things' were at their strongest during the night. "I got even more bad news." When Taro looked at him questioningly he continued. "Ranma and Kima are gone. Karmine was left with the other children under Samando's care."

Taro growled. "A fine time your son chose to play hero."

Genma started running down the hall, Taro easily keeping pace with him. "Get everyone to the war room." Taro nodded and turned around a corner as Genma made his way to get Nodoka. *Boy, you better know what you're doing.* He thought.

-----

They silently surrounded the invaders, careful to hide themselves in the shadows and keep their auras hidden. The fact that the Sun was about to set made hiding easier, since the couple of invaders had chosen a small group of trees to hide in.

Talcum turned to her sisters and noticed they were all in position. *Seven Amazon elders just for these two. What a waste.* She understood Cologne's reasons for not letting the elders join in the attack, but that didn't mean she liked it. Guarding the village while the young ones had all the fun would've been even more boring if these two hadn't come. *Now at least now we get some of the fun.* She thought as she noticed one of the couple was from the Phoenix.

In silent agreement the elders attacked, not a single sound heard as they approached their pray with killer intent, swords ready to cut through flesh and bone.

Talcum watched in shock as the pair suddenly turned to them. *How did they know?* She thought as she knew the Amazons didn't do a single thing to give away their presence. She stopped her charge and her shock only increased when she saw the couple move.

-----

Nodoka looked to the horizon from the watching post. Her grip on her katana tightened slightly when she saw the first of the Amazons appear just as the Sun was about to set. *The reports were true.* She could see the number of Amazons nearly reached Herb's estimate of their remaining numbers. Right now the Musk Prince was making the last preparations for battle, with him having come up with a plan if the Amazons ever decided to launch a full assault.

The others had taken posts where they were needed, preparing for what seemed to be their last battle.

Ranma's mother removed the sheathed katana from her belt and held it in front for her eyes to see. What had once been an impeccable piece of art was now nothing more than a piece of metal covered in blood. The blade, hidden by the sheath, had imperfections all along its edge due to the constant use. "Regardless of the outcome, this is the last battle where I draw blood with this sword." She said seriously as she returned it to its rightful place by her side. She then turned to one of the Musk guards, who was watching the approaching Amazons with a somber look on his face. "Get ready."

-----

Saffron basked in the feeling of the wind blowing all around him as he flew over the valley in front of the Musk Citadel. A feeling he knew wouldn't last long for the Amazons were nearly in position. *Herb, I hope this works.* Even the Phoenix God had to admit the odds were against them, especially since he was the only one who knew the nature of what they were fighting. His knowledge couldn't be shared for reasons beyond his power, though. That was why he had to act as if he was as ignorant as the others.

Turning towards the general direction of the Amazon village his eyes narrowed. "Kima." He muttered before diving down towards the Amazons. The time for the attack had come.

-----

The Amazons didn't make a secret of their arrival. Far from it as they rushed towards the Citadel as soon as they could see it, battle cries dissipating the silence that for most of the afternoon seemed to cover the valley.

The defenders of the Citadel opened fire with their bows as soon as the Amazons were on range. Hundreds of arrows covered the sky as a dark cloud of death, reaching for the invader's lives greedily.

The first wave was the most effective, dropping dozens of Amazons. After the surprise was gone the Amazons used their shields to deflect most of the projectiles as they continued advancing through the field. Very soon the arrows would prove useless and melee combat, something the Amazons had the advantage in, would commence.

They covered the last of the distance and roared inhuman bellows of rage as they jumped over the fortified wall to meet their enemies in glorious combat, prepared to bring death.

"NOW!" Came the female bellow from the city as the Citadel defenders almost seemed to materialize out of everywhere.

Young Phoenix warriors led by an irate Taro rushed out of the Citadel, meeting the Amazons in the wall. The young ones fought with a skill and fierceness reserved for veteran fighters as they fell on their enemies with their weapons.

Mousse appeared to one of their sides, leading a small contingent of Musk warriors together with Pa Fum. The first attack from the Master of Hidden Weapons dropped many enemies.

From the other side came Genma and Herb with even more Musk warriors. The prince opened with a chi blast that vaporized half a dozen Amazons.

Out of the sky dropped the remaining Phoenix people divided in two groups. One led by Krain attacking from behind while Saffron's continued the assault from over the invaders.

The five groups surrounding the Amazons started the attack at the same time, turning the invaders into the pray.

As the last rays of the Sun vanished over the horizon the Amazons found themselves fighting for their lives with all they had.

-----

Ranma and Kima entered the Amazon village through the front gate. The place was completely silent, so different from the time Ranma had last been there. As they walked towards the council they could see the village was abandoned, not a single person on sight. They didn't even want to think what happened to the males. It was quite obvious they were missing both here and in the battlefield.

When they turned a corner and came into view of the Council building they saw a single figure standing in front of it.

With her arms crossed over her breasts, a purple-haired woman waited patiently for their arrival, her cold eyes fixed on both of them. The woman carried no weapon, yet her very presence was a threat.

Every step they took brought them closer to what they all knew would be the last battle. The outcome in the Musk Citadel would be very important, but this one would be the decisive one. "Cologne." Growled out Ranma as he stopped a few feet from the rejuvenated Amazon Matriarch, Kima by his side.

Cologne's young features didn't give away a single emotion, yet her eyes spoke volumes. "Son-in-law." She said calmly. "I suppose you took care of the other elders." The last bit was a statement of fact, not a question in any way.

Kima answered with silence as she placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. "You're next. This nightmare ends now."

Cologne's lips quirked up in a smile. "That's where you're wrong, winged one. The nightmare has just begun."

No more words were exchanged between the opponents for this fight. None were needed.

Ranma and Kima assumed their fighting stances just as Cologne extended her arm forward and a sword seemed to materialize out of nowhere right in her hand. *Hidden Weapons.* Was the thought that coursed both Ranma's and Kima's minds as the Amazon assumed her ready stance. It was obvious that if Mousse knew the style the best fighter among the Amazons would also know it. Maybe even better than Mousse himself did.

As the sky's color deepened into the black of the night the fight begun.

Ranma charged with great speed, closing the distance to Cologne in less than the blink of an eye. The former elder was fortunate she didn't blink. With a quick step to the side she managed to avoid Ranma's first attack, a devastating kick that would've taken her in the gut. Before she could take advantage of the missed strike she had to parry with her sword. Kima charged right behind her husband, ready to cleave Cologne's head in half had it not been for the Amazon's steel. It was then that Cologne realized a possible flaw in her perfect plan. She had planned on killing Ranma and Kima herself all along, expecting them to be like Ranma's former futile attempts at defeating her with the help of his friends. This time proved to be different. As she jumped back out of Ranma's punching range she realized, after that one attack, that Ranma and Kima were used to fighting together. Things would be a lot more interesting than she expected.

-----

Mousse blocked with the sword in his right hand, just as he pierced through the attacking Amazon with his other sword. She spewed out blood as she fell, clutching futilely at the hole in her body to stop the bleeding.

The Master of Hidden Weapons was lucky he always fought with his eyes closed now. He knew the sight would make him sick, seeing one of the people he grew up with killed by his own hand.

Not having time to dwell on such thoughts for much longer he was forced to jump forward as two Amazon Warriors tried to attack him from behind with their bonbori. Before he could counter, though, both Amazons fell dead to the ground. One with a broken neck while the other had a spear piercing her heart.

Without a word Mousse resumed fighting, trying to finish the fight before night fell completely. His only thought was that Pa Fum must've been a better warrior than he was. She didn't hesitate to take the lives of her former people.

-----

She knew she would have nightmares about this for the rest of her life. Just like she did since that first night in the battlefield. As her Amazon sisters hit the dirt, nothing more than corpses now, Pa Fum turned to her next opponent.

If she survived she would bawl her eyes out when it was all over. Right now it was time to fight.

-----

Cologne smirked as Ranma crashed through the wall. She had to admit the boy was stronger than she was, and quite possibly as fast, but he was nowhere near her in skill.

With one less opponent she could concentrate her attention on Kima, who as if reading her thoughts assumed a defensive stance.

The fight so far had been mostly even, with Cologne having to fight two opponents. Still, they had yet to land a good blow on her while the Amazon had dealt some severe damage to both fighters. The wounds weren't slowing them down, but they would soon add up.

Kima blocked the first two strikes and managed to lift her leg to avoid a sweep. Cologne's follow-up, though, did land in the form of a kick to the back of the head. Kima used the momentum to launch forward and instead of crashing on the ground flew around the Matriarch and next to Ranma, who was emerging from the debris.

They exchanged a glance and turned back to Cologne, who was waiting patiently for them to attack again.

Deciding it was time to give it their all they both stood straight. They concentrated on their own internal chi flows, ignoring the smirking Cologne for the moment. Their minds focused on the contained chi inside of them, tightly restrained by several locks. Locks they removed with an act of will.

Cologne stared at the unmoving couple and didn't understand the significance of their inaction. She did, however, notice when their stances seemed to become stronger without them moving. "Finally getting serious?" She mocked.

Ranma's blue-gray eyes focused once again. He didn't answer to the jibe as he assumed an offensive stance.

Kima held her sword by her side as she extended her wings.

Before Cologne knew what hit her she was bracing against the tightly compressed air attack coming her way. One powerful flap of Kima's wings almost sent her flying back. As it was she had to strain to keep her balance. That's why she didn't see Ranma coming at her with a fist cocked back.

Ranma took advantage of Cologne's plight to land a wicked cross on her jaw. The blow was so strong that her strength failed her and her sword fell to the floor from nerveless fingers as Ranma continued the assault. When the sword clattered on the floor Cologne's body had already been punished with more than ten blows to debilitating areas. Each and every one sending jolts of pain through all her body.

Ranma finished his combo with a flip-kick, sending Cologne up and into the sky. Right into Kima's awaiting attack.

The Amazon tried to put up a defense against Ranma, but her moves were too slow to even come close to blocking the attacks. Her vision nearly went black when she was kicked in the jaw and sent up with brutal force. The pain then came in a different way. She could feel places in her body go numb and then flare in burning pain as Kima's sword did a number on her. Without her own sword to defend herself, and in the air with no leverage, she found herself at a severe disadvantage against the Phoenix Guard.

Ranma jumped towards as soon as Cologne started her descent. He flipped in midair so that the soles of his feet met with Kima's and they both pushed with all their might, resulting in Kima being thrown even higher than before and Ranma rushing to the ground. Towards Cologne.

The Amazon landed hard on her back, the air completely knocked out of her lungs as her body protested painfully. She opened her eyes only to see Ranma land with his knees on her gut. As there was a loud crash Cologne vomited blood, her eyes glazing over.

Ranma got up and stared down at the twitching form on the ground. Cologne's body was covered in bruises and bleeding gashes, her eyes were open and unfocused as she fought not to drown in her own blood. The man stared down at her as Kima landed next to him. "Is it finally over?" She asked.

Just then night fell completely over them.

-----

The young Musk Warrior held his ground as the Amazon warrior tried to force his blade down with her axe. They sneered at each other in rage as fighting all around them continued, with the Amazons at a clear disadvantage. Herb's plan had worked perfectly, forcing the Amazons into a defensive position that didn't let them all fight, but at the same time they found themselves attacked from every angle.

Even if Herb's plan worked there were still countless Amazon Warriors ready to continue fighting to the last woman. For every single one that fell the others fought for two more.

It was then that the last of the sunlight vanished. An ominous omen that the defenders feared.

-----

Saffron's eyes flashed when the growling started down bellow. "It begins now." He muttered as he prepared another small fireball. He had to control his power, careful not to hit his own allies. After he incinerated the first dozen Amazons they all did their best to be fighting hand to hand with one of his allies.

-----

The defenders stared in dismay as the Amazons, from the first to the last, started growing in size. Their skin darkened and their hair turned white. Claws grew from their hands and feet and long fangs made their appearance in their jaws. The changes tore apart their gear, but left behind horrendous looking creatures.

Standing eight feet high were grotesque blue-skinned monsters with white hair and glowing yellow eyes. Their claws shined with the light from the stars and their fangs dripped blood.

The young Musk Warrior lay on the floor and stared up at the star-filled sky. His unseeing eyes matching perfectly with the heart lacking in his chest. Off to the side, a creature with a bloodied claw made its way towards its next victim.

-----

Both Ranma and Kima stepped back in shock, staring up at the recovered and morphed Cologne. The monster took a step forward, grinning and looking even scarier with the long fangs reflecting their shocked faces. "I'm glad you became so strong, son-in-law. That way I'll have more fun slowly killing you." She growled in a guttural voice, her yellow eyes boring down into his blue-gray ones.

It cannot be said that Ranma didn't fear the thing in front of him. If the sight wasn't bad enough the sheer power the beast exuded was enough to shock lesser men into the grave. But the warrior did know what the consequences of losing would be. He stood his ground and smirked cockily. "I'm not your son-in-law." He said with insolence before rushing forward.

Cologne was a lot bigger than before in her current form, yet she gained speed instead of losing it. Enough to outmatch Ranma's own. Deftly blocking Ranma's punch she snaked her way into his defenses and landed a knee strike to his solar plexus. The rewarding sound of air being forced out of his lungs filled her ears before he was sent flying back and she faced Kima, meeting the sword with her claws.

Ranma rolled with the fall and sprang to his feet. He joined Kima in fighting against the enhanced Amazon Matriarch, the married couple using their coordination in combat to balance out Cologne's advantage in power and skill.

Ranma and Kima soon started to show bruises all over their bodies, though. Cologne knew it would only be a matter of time before she could start tearing them apart.

-----

Nodoka rushed forward and slashed with her sword. She was already fighting another monster when the one she attacked bellowed in agony and fell to the floor cut into pieces. The Saotome Matriarch knew the fight had taken a turn for the worse. Even if she and the others could take care of their opponents, the rest of the Musk and Phoenix forces were hard pressed not to be slaughtered like sheep.

Her katana clanged loudly as she blocked a claw before slashing down and across the beast's chest. Blood exploded from the thing's chest and splattered all over her, bathing her in her victim's life. She didn't care. Her blue-gray eyes turned coldly to see as another of these beasts struck down one of the Musk.

She charged without a thought, her mind completely focused on the fight at hand that needed to be won. Her eyes widened slightly when she found her first two strikes perfectly blocked. *This one is skilled.* She thought as she jumped back and ducked under two claw attacks.

-----

Genma was breathing heavily as he fought against another of the Amazon monsters. The fight had been going so well before they turned into this nightmarish things. Now the battlefield was nothing more than a lethal brawl, where the last to be standing would be the victor. No strategy worked anymore. It was a matter of skill and stamina.

As he blocked another blow he winced in pain. *And my stamina isn't up to par.* He thought as he countered with a kick.

-----

Taro growled as yet another blow landed on his back. He knew he could take any of these things in combat. But several at the same time in the middle of a war was not so easy. He clenched his fist tightly and turned to the offending monster. Before it could recover from attacking Taro punched it in the chest. The monster exploded and splattered blood and body parts all around, yet it made no difference as two more took its place.

Taro cursed as he felt his own blood flow from the wounds on his back. He charged against another one, intent on not letting them get him from behind.

-----

Ranma staggered to his feet and took a stance. Even after he started using the Nekoken strikes the fight didn't go any easier. If anything it had gone worse. Technique after technique, no matter what move he tried, Cologne blocked and countered with an efficiency that denoted her as his superior in skill.

Kima blocked another strike, yet the force of the blow sent her flying back and into a wall. Before she could land on her feet Cologne landed a kick to her chest, making her crash through the wall and the one opposite to that one. She came to a stop crashing against a tree. She stifled a cry of pain from that one. Her left wing broke with the impact.

Cologne sneered at her and turned to the stumbling Ranma. "Give up. There's no way you can defeat me."

Ranma shook his head to clear it and glared at her. "Saotome Ranma never gives up." He said before charging in once again. He managed to dodge two strikes, block a third one and land one of his own. All before Cologne backhanded him and followed through with a kick.

Kima's eyes narrowed when she saw Cologne's wound heal almost instantly. It was the first attack they had managed to land.

-----

Mousse danced as death with the monster he was facing. Even if his skill exceeded that of his opponent, he wasn't nearly strong enough to make a difference, so the fight was at a stalemate. It almost seemed as if this particular fight took place in such a way that the others felt compelled to stay away, for none had broken into it.

The Master of Hidden Weapons placed a wall of steel in front of him to counter the creature's advances. He knew the fight would end with only a couple of attacks, and he needed those attacks to be his.

-----

Inside the Musk Citadel, the Amazon women sat huddled around an old winged man. The sounds of battle coming from outside sent shivers running down their spines. The children, from babies to twelve year olds, were either crying silently or covering their ears with their eyes closed.

Samando sighed. Even if they did win this battle and survive, victory would come at too high a price.

-----

Cologne snarled when yet another attack landed on her body. *What's going on?* She asked herself as it was her that had to get up this time. The attack hadn't hurt as much as it should, but the fact remained that she had been downed once. By an insolent male and a Phoenix no less! Even as the wounds inflicted by Ranma's claws and Kima's sword healed, she glared daggers at the couple.

Kima fell to one knee and used her sword for support. She was breathing heavily and needed a break, yet knew none would be coming. The fact that they had managed to finally down the Amazon made her happy, but it would be useless if things continued as they were.

"Kima." Ranma whispered by her side. He was barely standing as he looked at how Cologne easily stood up. "Think you can pull it off?"

The silver-haired woman understood what her husband meant and answered also in a whisper. "I need time to build it up."

Ranma nodded, took a deep breath, and charged at Cologne again. Only this time he went directly for the kill, his claw going for the Amazon's heart.

The Matriarch didn't even flinch as she caught Ranma's arm by the forearm, stopping his strike just short of her blue skin. "I don't think so." She said firmly.

"Got you." Ranma said and closed his fist, intent on using his technique.

Only that his fist didn't respond. Instead of that he felt pain explode from his arm as his hand went limp. Cologne smirked at his growl of pain. "I already know that technique, male." She sneered. "It won't work on me a second time." She growled out as she applied even more pressure and was satisfied with Ranma crying out in pain and falling to his knees. She kicked him in the face a couple of times, not satisfied until her foot was covered in blood.

Kima bit her lip worriedly when Ranma failed to brake free. She was about ready, but if things continued as they were Cologne would kill Ranma.

Ranma tried to brake her grip, but it was too strong and his current pain severely limited his strength. With cold eyes that could freeze hell itself, he bore into her own through the red haze of his own blood.. "You forgot something, old ghoul." With that he weakly lifted his left arm. "I've got two hands." And closed his fist.

Cologne's eyes widened in shock as all the blows he had landed with his left hand were suddenly felt many times over. The wounds inflicted by his claws became deep cuts that nearly reached the bone.

Ranma jumped away when Cologne fell to her knees in pain. "NOW!"

Kima took the free shot and launched the attack with her sword. It was a weapon version of Genma's ultimate technique, so when it was executed her sword, instead of her arm, shattered and fell uselessly to the ground in a shower of sparks.

Cologne saw the attack coming and knew she couldn't dodge in time. She desperately lifted her claws to block, but when the attack reached her both Ranma and Kima could see the appendages flying away from her body and her chest explode in blood.

Kima fell to her knees, completely spent.

Ranma rested on his back, his world becoming dim.

-----

Mousse finally, after a long and strenuous fight, managed to pierce through the thing's defenses with his swords. One caught the beast in the chest while the other landed into the midsection. He let a small smile grace his features, having been able to defeat a foe that would've killed many of his companions. Then he froze.

"S...s...stupid M...Mousse." Uttered the monster.

Mousse let go of his swords as if they were on fire and fished his glasses from his robe. Even if his vision was blurry, he could still make out something that shattered his heart.

For the monster wore Shampoo's hair ornaments.

-----

Pa Fum turned her head towards the male bellow of rage. It had been a common occurrence so far, but she recognized the voice. "Cousin?" She whispered as she retrieved her spear from another beast and clutched her wounded side.

Her eyes widened when a battle aura brighter than the Sun form around him and he launched himself into a killing frenzy. The monsters would pay for this.

"WAIT! YOU'LL KILL YOURSELF!" She cried for him to stop, for spending that much chi he would burn himself out in a matter of minutes.

It was then that her eyes caught sight of the downed monster in front of where he stood before. Her eyes watered when she put two and two together. *Mousse.* Was her sad thought as she turned all around, looking someone in need of help.

-----

Nodoka clutched her right shoulder as the monster approached once again. She needed to finish the fight before the thing landed another blow or she'd lose. As she firmed herself for another exchange the monster turned to the side and made a run for it. "Escaping?" She asked herself, wondering why it would escape.

Then she turned to the place the thing was rushing to and her blood turned cold. "GENMA!" She cried as she rushed after the beast.

-----

He was done with yet another monster and let a small smile form on his lips. If things continued as they were the Amazons would lose. He knew many would die, but the children would be safe. "GENMA!" Came his wife's cry and he turned around instantly. Before he could react he felt something pierce through his abdomen, yellow eyes staring coldly at him.

"No-chan." He muttered weakly as the thing head butted him into the ground.

-----

"NO!!!" Nodoka cried as she stared at her fallen husband. He gave her a weak smile before passing out, a pool of blood forming under him.

The thing then turned to her and seemed to sneer.

Nodoka's eyes burned in rage as she sheathed her katana. She knew Genma wouldn't survive from that wound.

-----

"Ranma." He heard someone call his name. He felt as if it was from so far away. "Ranma." Again it came, this time more insistently and with a shake that sent pain through his body. Particularly his right arm. With great effort he managed to open his eyes, a blurry vision on top of him that cleared enough so he could see it was his wife. She seemed to sigh in relief when he woke up and caressed his cheek gently.

"Cologne?" He asked weakly.

"She's not breathing, and her chi dropped." Kima answered with no small amount of relief in his voice.

"That's good to know." Ranma said as he closed his eyes again. He felt so tired.

"Ranma!" Kima shook him again, frantically trying to keep him awake. Those blows to the head he received in the end had done too much damage, and she feared she would lose him if he lost consciousness. "Wake up!"

Ranma barely responded to that. "Just a little more time. I feel so tired."

"Ranma!" Kima cried again, tears starting to form in her eyes. She couldn't lose him now. Not when it was over!

Maybe it was the urgency in her voice. Perhaps it was her worried pleas for him to open his eyes. Either way he made the effort again and opened his eyes.

Kima sighed in relief when he did. Then she looked confused when his eyes widened. After that it was all a world of pain.

Ranma's eyes widened when he saw Cologne standing behind Kima. The monster was severely maimed, yet it raised one arm above her head, showing that it had only one claw remaining, and slashed down, intent on cleaving Kima in two.

Summoning strength from out of nowhere he move to block the attack.

Cologne's claw cut through Kima's left shoulder and continued diagonally down, going towards the heart. She was met with resistance when Ranma blocked the attack with his hand, then pushed with enough strength to make her take a step back. Her claw left Kima's body, but the winged woman fell limply to the ground.

Ranma grabbed a hold of his wife's limp body before she could hit the ground. "KIMA!" He cried out, desperately hoping for her to be alright. To smile at him and tell him she was just a little sore.

It didn't happen, though.

Cologne stumbled and fell to one knee, her vision becoming cloudy. She looked up and saw Ranma staring down at her, his eyes boring into hers.

-----

The monster charged once again, intent on finishing off the obviously weak Japanese woman. To cry over a male? Preposterous!

Nodoka leaned over her sword, her hand firmly grasping its hilt. This would be the last attack. Her legacy, a legacy that would hopefully be passed onto one of Ranma's children when he or she became of age and was given the scroll the current master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu left behind.

A legacy she wasn't physically strong enough to use without seriously harming herself, even more so in her current state.

When the monster came into range she attacked with a speed that was considered the speed of God by those that practiced the art of the blade. Her world went dark after that, but at least she fell in the same battlefield as her husband did.

-----

Taro growled as he fell to one knee. "The battle is almost won." He muttered as he saw most of the monsters were dead. Only a few remained and they were being isolated for either Herb or Saffron to finish off with their blasts.

He heard footsteps from the side and turned to see Pa Fum limping towards him, she was dragging her spear as if she couldn't summon the strength to lift it. *She probably can't.* Taro thought.

They didn't exchange a word as they looked all around them. They won, but victory came at a high price. The corpses of their allies lay everywhere. "We won." Taro said as emotionlessly as he could.

Pa Fum was crying when she answered, her eyes roaming through the massacre. "No. We survived." In her hand she held a broken katana and a pair of glasses.

-----

Ranma and Cologne were engaged in the final exchange of blows. They were both determined not to stop until their opponent was dead. Kima's attack evened things up when weakening Cologne, so Ranma could keep up with the matriarch even if his right arm was all but useless.

"You can't win." Cologne snarled as she attempted something that she was sure Ranma wouldn't be able to dodge. He did. "How?" She asked just as he landed a kick to her side and she fell to her knees, her strength failing her.

"The beating you gave me." He answered coldly as if it explained everything and took a hold of her head with his left hand.

And explain everything it did. Cologne's eyes widened when she made the connection in her mind. She had boasted about an attack not working on her twice. It was a treat only the greatest of fighters had. And even if she hated him with all her might, she had to admit Ranma qualified for that. In her arrogance and stubbornness to make him suffer, she had shown him nearly every technique she knew in hand-to-hand combat, and the ones he hadn't seen yet she couldn't use because she was too weak.

She hated him even more with that knowledge. Not only was he going to kill her, and with her the entire Amazon culture. He also became the heir to the Amazon techniques.

Ranma stared at Cologne as she lay on her knees, too weak to continue fighting. All he could see in her eyes was hate. A hate that promised death to him and his loved ones if she survived. With a heavy sigh Ranma closed his eyes.

And his fist.

After letting the now corpse drop, Ranma stumbled towards his wife's motionless body. He dropped next to her and cradled the unconscious woman protectively. "Please don't leave me alone." He whispered in Kima's ear before kissing her forehead. He turned towards the sound of flapping wings and saw Saffron approaching them.

He ignored the god and turned back to his wife. "Please." He whispered once more.

THE END

Author's notes: Some people are really going to hate me for this ending. Who am I kidding? Everyone is going to hate me for this ending.

Well, it took two years, but I finally finished one of my fics. Of course, this was only the first arc of the story. If you want to know what happened after the battle and how things go on e-mail me to continue this. Otherwise I'll just turn my attention to my other fics and leave this on hold.

I'd also like to thank all the readers out there. I started this for fun and at first didn't really care about what people thought about my fics. But it was you who kept me on writing when I was about to give it up.

*Drakuzz bows to the readers, then turns around and walks away to vanish into the darkness.*