Chapter 7 (Now edited by Xtor49)
Ranma found himself standing in a very dark place, so dark that it felt like he was being suffocated. Trying to look around was pretty much a pointless venture. But what made him feel strange was the fact that the last thing he knew, he was standing there listening to the Sith Lady's speech. He froze, sensing something approaching; he turned to where his senses were pointing him to. He saw a very faint outline of a figure holding a lightsaber, only the blade was Sith style red.
"Who are you?" Ranma questioned. As the figure came closer, the dense blackness lightened into a bluish-blackness, much like twilight.
(cue Battle of Heroes theme)
Ranma watched as the figure came to a stop not more than three feet away from him. His eyes widened in shock. He's me! Ranma was seeing himself, dressed in all black, carrying a Sith lightsaber. There were other differences as well. The darker Ranma also had ears that were pointed and triangular, fangs instead of teeth, and slit, catlike eyes.
Ranma took a step back for a second, a moment of fear clouding his mind, until he saw flashes in his mind. Scenes of Akane being struck down by his own hand, his cousin decapitated. "No, I will not turn to the Dark Side," he glared calmly at his mirror image. "That's what you represent isn't it. You represent my training in the Nekoken, you represent everything I fear. I will not give into to it," he stated firmly.
Neko-Ranma chuckled, a second red blade igniting from the other side of his lightsaber. Ranma gave a deep sigh, looking at his darker half, "So be it." He activated his own green blade.
Neko-Ranma charged in quickly, bringing his blade across diagonally. Ranma blocked and countered the reverse strike. Spinning away, Neko-Ranma twirled the 'saber like a baton. Ranma twirled away at the same time, gliding low and watching his opponent. A second later they locked up, going through several dives, parries, and thrusts. Neko-Ranma though had the speed and power behind him. Ranma leapt back, barely dodging one blow, only to be nailed by a vicious spinning back kick that knocked him several feet. Ranma skidded along the imaginary ground. Gripping his weapon, he watched Neko-Ranma come in for the charge. Neko-Ranma brought the back blade down toward Ranma, only to have it blocked by Ranma's single blade.
Mace Windu was running along the corridor, sensing both his students were up in the Observation Deck. Heading for the maintenance rings, he was shot at by several droids. He deflected the blasts with ease. Leaping through a maintenance hatch, Mace started his climb toward the Communications deck. "Be strong, my young Padawans. I know you can do this."
Sailor Moon was looking up at the Tokyo Tower Observation deck, her face lined with worry. The battle out here is going well. But what about the one inside? She turned to Sailor Pluto, "Let's go. I won't sit back and wait for him to come to me," she proclaimed, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks.
(mix Battle of Heroes with Across the Stars theme)
Darth Ravenous frowned at her new apprentice, He should have killed the girl by now! Instead he was just standing there looking tense and his face was blank. "What are you doing?"
Akane looked into his eyes, almost ignoring the fact the lady was a Sith Lord at this moment. "He's in a trance," she closed her eyes a moment and could swear she saw a flash of blades, two red and one green. The green blade was getting pushed back by the reds. The female Jedi Padawan gently took Ranma's hand, eyes still closed. Soon as she touched his hand, she saw the lightsaber battle. Two sides of Ranma were battling for control, and the darker side was winning.
"No, please, Ranma," Akane whispered, tears starting to fall from her closed eyelids. She gently squeezed his hand with both of hers, opening her eyes to gaze at his vacant face. "Please, Ranma, I know you can defeat this. I couldn't bare the thought of losing you," she muttered, the tears now rolling down her face in streams. "I give you my strength, my love. Please use it," her voice low, she glowed dimly. It only lasted a moment, as Darth Ravenous Force-pushed her away.
"You dare to touch him!" Ravenous scowled, igniting her lightsaber and stalking toward Akane. "Now you'll die by my hands, little girl," the Sith Lady seethed.
(end Across the Stars theme)
Ranma heard a faint whisper from his fiancée in the dark battlefield against his dark Neko half. He was breathing lightly from his battle, keeping his emotions under control as they circled. Suddenly something flickered in between them; the item was closer to Ranma than it was to his darker side. He reach out and grasped it, in his hand was another lightsaber.
He flicked it on, and the resulting yellow light abruptly exploded outward. The room no longer held the oppressive darkness; instead, it looked much like a monastery he and Akane had trained in during their childhood. He saw Akane floating in the bright haze, gazing down at him with total adoration.
(end Battle of Heroes theme)
(cue Force Theme)
"Ranma, do not give into your fear but embrace the technique, it is a part of what you are," the phantom looked over at Neko-Ranma who was cowering under the new light. "Show it compassion Ranma, and your Neko side will become a stronger ally than anything. Show it the love you've shown me all these years, and you can truly be at peace."
Ranma smiled softly at his fiancée, "I love you, my tomboy." Then he began walking toward his Neko side.
Akane hovered, a faint smile on her face before fading away. "I love you too, my baka," she replied before vanishing.
Ranma gently dropped to his knees and lightly petted the Neko-Ranma. His dark side was slowly losing its form, transforming into a small kitten. It was one of the cats that had been in the pit with him ten years ago. "Easy there, I won't hurt you. I'm sorry I was afraid of you. I promise, from this point on, I'll make amends for my ignorance."
The kitten looked up at him, and transformed back into Neko-Ranma. Only now he looked like Ranma in clothing and mannerism. The cat-like features were still there, but a small smile was on Neko-Ranma's face. "From this point on, we'll replace fear with happiness, replace anger with compassion, and hatred with love." Neko-Ranma nodded, and vanished into Ranma like a shining mist.
(end Force theme)
Darth Ravenous brought up her lightsaber, and with a rush of anger, lowered her red blade on the girl. Akane stared her down defiantly, showing no amount of fear. Before the blade could strike home, a green blade intercepted it. Ravenous looked up and was staring into the piercing blue orbs of Ranma Saotome. He pushed the blade up quickly, sending Ravenous flying backward. The Dark Lady of the Sith flipped and landed on her feet, looking utterly surprised for a moment. Then watched in anger as Ranma helped his fiancée up.
"You spurn me?" Ravenous snarled.
Ranma looked at the dark woman impassively, "I am no longer afraid; I replaced it with inner peace. The Nekoken is now a technique I can control," he emphasized this by showing a glowing set of ki claws. "You failed in your attempt, Lady Ravenous."
Ravenous anger caused the air to swirl for a moment before she slowly took off her black robes. Ranma and Akane did the same, Akane igniting her 'saber and taking up a guard position next to her fiancée. "Then so be it, Jedi," Ravenous charged at them in cold rage.
(cue Duel of the Fates theme)
Mace Windu had just entered the Communication deck when he felt a shift in Ranma's aura. He smiled softly at it, Ranma did it. He reached into his robe and keyed Sailor Moon's communicator.
"Master Windu, what is it?" Sailor Moon asked, already just finished launching her Spiral Heart Attack at a group of droids.
"You'll be happy to know your cousin has defeated his fear," Mace said, heading to the upper level of the Communication deck.
Sailor Moon shoulders slumped in overwhelming relief, "That's good news. Need any help up there?"
Mace shook his head, and started his climb toward the Observation tower, "No, just finish taking down the tower defenses. I'm going to check on my Padawans."
Sailor Moon nodded and closed her communicator, giving Sailor Pluto the thumbs up. Pluto kept her face neutral, but if you got a closer look she cracked a light smirk before going back to her own battle.
Ranma spun, bringing his saber around to guard Akane as she flew past; they locked Ravenous in a defensive position. Her eyes were glowing red now, as she swung her saber up and in, which Ranma blocked. Akane rotated in position, trying to get the Sith Lady up high, but her opponent blocked and kicked her in the mouth.
Ravenous leapt away. Ranma ran up, lunging with his saber, only to be blocked by Ravenous' red blade. The two quickly exchanged a series of blows, parries, and slashes, before coming into a guard position. Akane came in with a slash. Ravenous ducked underneath the slash while blocking Ranma's attack, knocking it away to stop Akane's following downward swipe.
No words were spoken, no quarter given, and none were taken, as the swirl of blades continued. All three were in their prime, and all three had been trained well in their perspective sides of the Force. Ravenous twisted, shielding against both blades as they struck. She lunged into strike at Ranma, only to be blocked by Akane. She stopped Ranma's blade, only to be attacked by his fiancée.
Ravenous did a back flip, kicking them both away. Gasping for breath, she looked around a moment. She saw an open window, and dove out just in time to avoid Ranma's green blade. Ranma followed her out the window, as did Akane soon after. The pause in the action gave Ravenous some much needed seconds. She extended her hand and sent Force Lightning right into Akane, knocking her against the railing. Her fiancée managed to catch her before she fell.
Ranma gently laid his unconscious fiancée down on the deck, kissing her forehead lightly. He stood up and ignited his 'saber again. Running up to the Dark Lady he brought his 'saber up.
Ravenous cackled, re-igniting her 'saber, One Jedi is easier than two. She charged at Ranma, bringing her 'saber in low. Ranma blocked as he spun it in the same motion to bring his lightsaber around, Ravenous defended herself and tried to come in with a side slash, which Ranma dodged by jumping backwards.
Mace looked up from his climb. Through the smoke from below and the dimming light, he could see two glowing blades. One blade was the standard red of a Sith, while the other was the green of Ranma's lightsaber. He could just make out a body laying behind the green blade. Either Akane is unconscious, or dead. Please, don't let it be the latter. He quickened his pace, spurred on by worry.
And saw two glowing blades in the dim smoke from below and the dimming light, one was Sith red while the other was green. He didn't see Akane's but did see a body laying behind the green blade; either Akane was unconscious or dead. He prayed it wasn't the latter as he quickened his pace.
Ravenous locked up with Ranma again, her eyes boring into his as they blocked and parried each move. First he beats his fear, and now he's beating me! Amazing! "I could have given you anything you desired. Money and power like you've never seen before. We could have ruled this and every other galaxy," she snarled as she spun, trying to strike his blind side, only to have her attack stopped.
(end Duel of the Fates theme)
Ranma unexpectedly let her blade loose, using her surprise to slice off the top of her lightsaber. Still bewildered, she was not ready when he Force-pushed her into the wall. "I said before I wouldn't be swayed by the Dark Side, and I meant it," he said firmly, snuffing out his own lightsaber and turning to check on Akane.
(cue Emperor's Theme)
Ravenous glared coldly at his back, slowly standing up. "YOU DARE SPURN ME!" she growled and let loose Force Lightning into Ranma's back. The boy crashed to the ground. "I'll make you pay the price for your lack of vision, and for spurning my feelings of love," she snarled, pouring more power into her lightning.
Ranma didn't scream as the electricity shot through his body, preventing himself from doing so through sheer willpower. Yet internally he still cried out in agony, awakening Akane through their link. She got up and ignited her 'saber, charging at the Sith Lady, only to be caught in the same lightning.
Ravenous glared at them, her eyes radiating the anger and contempt at the lovers. "Now my young Jedi, you die," she said, raising her hands again. More Force Lightning poured out. Yet this time, it was intercepted by a purple blade.
(end Emperor's Theme)
"I don't think so," Master Windu told her, his face showing determination, "Your reign ends here, Darth Ravenous."
Author's Note: Why didn't Kasumi like Ranma? The idea of being taken from your mother to train didn't appeal to her. I don't know exactly how long Jedi Padawans are away to train, but I think it's between the ages of 1 to 5. Mainly because the attachments 1-5 year olds have aren't as strong as the ones they have when they get older. As for those who hate Akane :P. You don't have to read it.