Ranma ½ belongs To Rumiko Takahashi, Viz video and others. Any other works belong to their respective people as well. I don't own any of this so just sit back and enjoy the tale, oh and don't sue me please that would be bad.
Warning: This chapter gets quite dark in places. It's probably at least rated R. Just an FYI.
Note: Where Necessary our Ranma will once again be referred to as Ranko so as to keep confusion to a minimum.
Chapter 11 – Warped reflections in time and space
Setsuna Meioh was at the Time Gates watching as Neo Queen Serenity was about to send her daughter back in time. The young girl went into the time stream and then the image went fuzzy. Setsuna panicked as she looked again saw that there were two images, then three, four, and more every moment. The timeline was destabilizing right in front of her eyes and Crystal Tokyo was only one of thousands of future possibilities. She searched desperately for the young Chibi-Usa, but the girl could not be found in the chaos that was the time stream. Her only hope for survival would be the stabilization of the time lines.
That meant that Usagi the second could would not be coming to assist the sailors at all. It meant that something had seriously gone wrong. Setsuna calmed herself and guided the time gates to see what could possibly have happened she looked through the recent past and detected one gigantic thing. Sailor Saturn had been activated by another sailor scout calling herself Sol. A sailor scout who should not exist in the timeline. The two of them together were greatly affecting the future of Crystal Tokyo. She realized then that she would have to go and seek out both the inner and outer scouts and tell them of the danger posed by Saturn as well as the danger posed by this new senshi called Sol.
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Queen Beryl found herself in a shadow existence barely alive at all. She was a sprit being at most. The last thing she remembered was the power of Sailor Moon and the Ginzoushou washing over her and Metallia. It should have destroyed her utterly and yet somehow her spirit had survived leaving her trapped in the dark realms as an incorporeal being.
A black caped figure hovered nearby and its voice said, "Hello Beryl, I am what is left of the one called the Wiseman. I have used my ability to travel through time so that I may be able to infuse you with all of the power left in this realm; the power that once belonged to every single youma and queen Metallia herself."
Beryl said, "Why would you do that?"
Wiseman replied, "I wish you to defeat Sailor Moon and her servants."
Beryl smiled remembering her defeat at the sailor girls' hands, remembering that her prince would never be hers because of the girl and said, "I would be happy to comply."
Then she realized her incorporeal state and said, "But I will not be able to do much at all in this form."
Wiseman replied, "As I said can give you all the rest of the power from this dimension destroying it in the process."
Beryl said, "Even with all of the power left in this dimension it would not be enough to defeat Sailor Moon and her band. I would need my Youma minions and their forces, I would need to collect vast quantities of human energy to match her and they would stop me at every turn. How can I even hope to challenge them?"
Wiseman pulled back his robes to reveal the form of an unconscious Pink Haired girl and said, "You will inhabit this vessel." Then the robed figure opened a gateway to earth and said, "Enter the body and step through the portal, there you will find a person named Ranma Hibiki. He/She is a senshi called Sol and will be able to help you. However, when you approach her you must tell her that you knew her in the silver millennium and that you were allies against the evil moon kingdom."
Beryl said, "Easy enough as is it not the truth?"
Wiseman said, "From a certain point of view, but you must not mention Metallia or your love of the earth prince. Nor, should you mention youma and this dark kingdom."
Beryl said, "Very well Wiseman I will do as you say." Then, she floated towards the young body and felt her sprit inhabit it. She walked through the portal to earth and felt a rush of power that made her fall to the ground. The power forced a transformation that came upon her almost instantaneously. Her childlike form became that of a young woman its bright pink colored hair changed into a darker grayish pink color and a black crescent moon appeared on her forehead. Finally instead of a pink outfit she was garbed in a black dress and in her hands appeared a black heart topped scepter in her hands.
A dying voice echoed in her mind and said, "I have given you all of my power and that of Nemesis, now arise Neo Black Lady and find the one called Ranma Hibiki and his partner Mistress Nine, together you will be able to do battle with the hated senshi."
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Ranma was in his female form next to Hotaru, they were sitting in the park after transforming from their sailor guises. Ranma looked at the sickly girl in front of him and said, "I'm sorry about that witch at your house Hotaru."
Hotaru looked at Ranma and said, "I felt evil all over the house when I transformed. There wasn't any good anywhere. What happened to my Papa? What did that evil witch do Ranma-San?" Then she collapsed weeping into Ranma's arms.
Ranma tried her best to comfort the girl and to say soothing things to her. She calmed down in her arms and Ranma said, "I don't know Hotaru, but we can check it out if you like. Maybe after you're feeling better we can go there and interrogate that witch to find out what she did, but first we need you to get better okay?'
Hotaru looked at Ranma and said, "Alright, first I get better, then we go back to my house. We go back there and get that evil witch to give my daddy back!"
Ranma looked at her new friend sadly and said, "I hope it's that easy Hotaru, really I do."
Then she stood up and said, "Alright come on, it's time to go visit the doctor."
Hotaru stood up as well and said, "Alright Ranma-San, let's go."
The two walked along until Hotaru got tired and then Ranma carried her. Once Hotaru was in Ranma's arms she leaped up into the sky and roof hopped all the way to Nerima and the location of Dr. Tofu's clinic.
Ranma stood at the door with Hotaru in her arms and hesitated before going in. The hesitation she felt was due to concern about this world. She knew that in this world there was no Tendo Dojo listed in the phone book, no Ucchan's and No Cat Café, but here was Dr. Tofu's office and she knew that the Kunou residence was listed in the phone book as well. Did she really want to know why some things existed and other did not? She stared at the door for a good minute before deciding that Hotaru's health was important and that if it meant finding out bad things, then so be it. Ranma opened the door and walked into the office.
Once inside Ranma was greeted by tall brown haired girl she said, "Hello, and welcome to the Tofu clinic."
Ranma was startled by the voice and mannerisms the person could only be, "Kasumi?" said Ranma incredulously.
The girl looked at the Red haired elven girl and said, "Do I know you?"
Ranma was flustered and said, "I uhm don't think so but I uhm." Ranma thought fast and said, "I'm a friend of the Tendo Family, I was trained by the same master as Soun Tendo and Genma Saotome."
Kasumi looked on sadly and said, "Oh you must have been looking for daddy and the dojo? I'm sorry, but he passed away years ago and mommy had to sell the property. My family and I live in an apartment now."
Ranma realized why there was no entry for the Tendo Dojo in the phone book now and then he said, "Oh, I'm sorry."
Kasumi smiled and said, "Don't be you couldn't have known." Then she looked a bit more business like and said, "Is there anything else I can help you with miss?"
Ranma said, "Ranm, Ranko I go by Ranko." She looked to Hotaru and whispered, "I'll tell you more later okay?" Hotaru nodded and Ranma continued saying, "I'm Rank and this here is my friend Hotaru. She's not well, I tried a healing technique on her, but it didn't seem to work, so I was hoping that Dr. Tofu might look at her."
Kasumi said, "Oh, well let's get you some forms for your friend." Then, Kasumi had Hotaru fill out some forms and then she got the doctor. Hotaru was shown to the examination room and, Tofu examined her and while Kasumi watched on and Ranma was just plain confused by the fact that Tofu was coherent at all. The examination finally ended and Tofu said, "Well from what I can tell your chi is a little low and you seem to be malnourished. My advice would be to eat plenty of healthy foods and take some vitamins as well as some mild exercise every day."
Hotaru smiled at the Doctor and said, "Yes sir."
Then Tofu took Ranma's arm and pulled her aside saying, "Can we talk for a minute Ranko?"
Ranma said, "I'll be right with you okay Hotaru?" Then he followed the doctor into his office.
In the office Tofu turned towards Ranma and said, "Ranko, Kasumi here tells me that you know her family."
Ranma said, "Well not really I just saw some pictures of them when I was training with Soun Tendo's master."
Tofu looked at Ranma again and said, "You trained with Soun and Genma's master?"
Ranma said, "Yes, for awhile, until I realized what type of evil and harm he was afflicting on myself and others."
Tofu then said, "I see. You know your name is similar to that of Genma's child?"
Ranma replied, "Oh, well I don't think we're related. Besides I'm a Hibiki."
Tofu said, "Well that's good, because he's a bad sort of fellow." Then he got a look in his eyes and said, "Say Ranma, I don't suppose you'd be willing to help the Tendo family out?"
Ranma said, "I don't know doc. My friend and I are going to have a hard enough time affording a place to stay and your fee."
Tofu said, "Forget my fee Ranko. Plus, you can stay in the efficiency above the clinic if you like; I'll only charge 2,000 yen a week."
Ranma looked perplexed and said, "Why would you do that?"
Tofu replied, "Look I can tell you're a great martial artist. I can easily sense a great amount of Chi coming from you; I'm just a dabbler comparatively. Look her family could use your help miss."
"What do they need?" said Ranma guardedly.
"They need a martial artist, one capable of defeating the Saotome style so that they can get rid of two freeloading and evil scum. Can you do that?" asked Tofu.
Ranma smiled and said, "I think I could do that, but why haven't you tried yet or called the police?"
Tofu said, "I can't just call the police the Saotome's have done nothing that can be proven and it is a matter of family honor. Plus, both of the Saotome's have shown that they are easily capable of defeating me."
Ranma said, "Capable of defeating you? Really doctor, are you sure you can't call the police or something."
Tofu replied, "Ranko san, they are very powerful people. You don't have to do this, but trust me the regular police could not handle this."
Ranma looked at him and said, "You think I can though?"
Tofu looked at the Girl and said, "I don't know why, but I have this feeling inside me that tells me that you can Ranko."
Ranma smiled at the doctor and said, "Alright Doc, I'll see what I can do okay?"
Tofu nodded and said, "That's all I can ask, but be careful okay and don't underestimate them."
"Alright will do" She said and walked out of the room. She passed a sad looking Kasumi on the way out and said, "Hey cheer up okay? Good things will come to you soon. I know it." Then Hotaru grabbed her arm and whispered, "That explanation now?" they walked out of the clinic as Ranma started to explain.
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Ryouga was at school again just enjoying the fact that he hadn't gotten lost along the way. Well, that and the fact that he was sitting close to Makoto in his classes. He smiled a big smile once again and listened to the teacher as she droned on about the English language. The he heard, "Hibiki!" He looked up and saw that the teacher was calling on him. He then said, "Could you uhm repeat the question?"
The teacher tried to trip Ryouga up by saying, "For you it is page 163. Now it is your turn to read."
She smiled a knowing smile waiting for him to trip up, but Ryouga took the book and quickly flipped to the correct page and started to read in a quiet but powerful voice, "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore. While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. ''Tis some visiter,' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door -- Only this, and nothing more.'"
The class grew hushed and silent as he read the poem in almost flawless English and chills ran up people's spines. Ryouga read the full text of the poem and infused it with some of his own remnant feelings of gloom and depression. It seemed to overtake the rooms itself as Ryouga ending the poem with a dark and sinister, "And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted -- nevermore!"
The entire class was silent after that, all in an awed and somewhat scared fashion, until finally the teacher snapped out of it and said, "Very good Hibiki you can sit down now."
Then the bell rang and everyone went out to eat lunch. Ryouga followed Makoto and sat down with her and the other girls. That was when the questioning began they wanted to know where he learned English, how he got to be so good at martial arts, and so much more. Ryouga was flabbergasted by the attention, but he tried to answer each question as honestly as possible without revealing the fact that he was from another dimension.
Finally lunch time ended and Ryouga was back in class with everyone else. The school day wore on and finally ended. Ryouga started to walk off by himself towards work at the arcade when he saw Makoto and the other girls being approached by a red haired girl with three pony tails, red eyes, and a red and black outfit. The woman pulled out a gun and pointed it at Rei and said, "I am Eudial one of the witches five. You are a shrine maiden and must have a pure heart indeed!" Then she fired the gun and made a heart crystal come out from the girl's chest.
Rei fell to the ground and the rest of the girls screamed out, "Rei!"
Ryouga ran towards the witch and said, "I was foolish enough to go easy on the other witch it won't happen again. Not with someone's life on the line." Then he pulled back his hands and shouted, "Kinjin Rashu Dan!" sending a vacuum blade towards the witch.
Eudial watched the blade come towards her and seemingly shrugged it off. Then she summoned a grey amorphous blob of a daimon and said, "Kill the boy for his interference."
Ryouga tried to leap over the grey blob in an attempt to get to Eudial and Rei's heart crystal, sadly at the height of his jump the daimon sent out a grey psudopod and pulled Ryouga into the center of its mass.
That was when the inner scouts joined the battle. Jupiter and Venus shot the creature with their attacks, but the creature seemed to send that energy straight into the body of its captive. Shocking and scorching Ryouga very badly.
The other sailor girls Moon, and Mercury were fighting against the witch, but it seemed that she was able to avoid their attacks or ignore them respectively, that was when Neptune and Uranus arrived to add their powers to the fray.
Two separate battles were being waged on the street one where the combatants were unable to hit their opponent and another where the combatants were unwilling to hit their opponent for fear of hurting their friend. Lacking air and hardly able to move much at all Ryouga was running out of options until he remembered his lightsabre. Pulling with all of his might Ryouga was able to grab the weapon from his pack and ignite it from within the Daimon and started hacking his way out.
Jupiter and Venus watched and waited until Ryouga was free of the Daimon and then they scoured it with 'Supreme Lightning' and 'Crescent beam Smash' destroying it utterly. Once the Daimon was destroyed they were able to see Tuxedo mask arrive and hit Eudial with one of his roses knocking the heart crystal from her hand. After that the witch disappeared and Neptune grabbed the crystal and started to examine it.
Sailor Moon said, "Please give her heart crystal back, she will die without it."
"Some sacrifices must be made," Sailor Uranus replied.
"It is our mission to find the talismans," Sailor Neptune Added.
Ryouga looked at them extinguished his blue lightsabre and said, "You would sacrifice an innocent life for your mission? "
Neptune looked at him and said, "We would."
Ryouga said, "Then you stand against all that I have come to understand. You stand against the ways of the Jedi and much like another that I faced you embrace the way of the sith." Ryouga spat out the last syllable and walked towards them reigniting his blade and saying, "This last time I will ask you to return that heart crystal and if you do not then I will take it from you."
Uranus whispered to Neptune and said, "Keep him busy while I examine it. It might be a talisman."
The rest of the scouts were watching the scene until Neptune looked at Ryouga and fired off a 'Deep Submerge' which slammed into him and sent him flying backwards. Ryouga stood up and ran towards the girls and as he pulled up his hands and fired off a 'Kinjin Rashu Dan' Jupiter joined in and attacked Neptune with her 'supreme thunder' as well. Neptune was able to dodge Ryouga's attack, but the electricity of Jupiter's attack slammed into her and almost sent her sprawling. She shook it off and then leaped to the air in attack mode. In the air it seemed as if she fired off her attack with abandon and sent Jupiter and Ryouga dodging this way and that to avoid all of the high pressure water blasts. She landed and continued her assault on the two teens.
Sailor Moon decided that enough was enough and walked right up to Uranus and this time she demanded the heart crystal. However, she received a 'world shaking' in reply and went down hard. Tuxedo Mask arrived in time to see Sailor Moon go down and seeing the turn of events quickly threw a rose right at Uranus knocking the heart crystal from her hand. Then he interposed himself between Uranus and the crystal saying, "Sailor Moon be quick and retrieve the crystal. Mercury, provide her some assistance." Mask then glared at Uranus holding a rose in his hand and said, "Be careful that you do not make enemies of the moon kingdom today."
Sailor Moon got up woozily and ran towards the heart crystal. Then, Sailor Mercury used her shabon spray to mist over the area and give Sailor Moon enough cover to retrieve the heart crystal and place it in Rei's heart. Rei came to life again and watched with Sailor Moon as Tuxedo Mask was standing next to Uranus waiting for her attack when instead she said, "It didn't have a heart crystal."
Then she ran to Neptune and said, "There was no Talisman. Come on let us go!"
The two sailor girls fled the scene; leaving the rest to watch and wonder what they would do the next time they met.
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Hotaru and Ranma were slowly walking along and she said, "Will I really get better with rest and exercise Ranma-san?"
Ranma said, "I guess so. That's what the Doc said and I trust him."
The small black haired girl said, "How long will it take? Maybe we should just transform and do it now?"
Ranma said, "You passed out as we ran away remember? I think we need to get you healthy enough in this form so that your magical form will likewise be powerful okay?"
Hotaru nodded and said, "So, why were you calling yourself Ranko in there?"
Ranma looked sheepish and said, "I'm sorry Hotaru, I never got the chance to tell you did I?"
Hotaru looked at her and said, "Tell me what?"
Ranma said, "Com on we'll get some hot water and I'll explain it all."
Finding some hot water Ranma explained the curse and then splashed herself and transformed into her male half. Hotaru stared at him and then she said, "I see. That must be very confusing for you Ranma-San. Which are you?"
Ranma said, "Mostly, I'm a guy."
Hotaru replied, "Mostly? What do you mean?"
He continued and said, "I was born a guy and I think like a guy, but I'm comfortable with my female form now. It's become more of a part of me. In addition I have the memories of a girl named Taya who was the Sol Guardian before I was."
Hotaru said, "I remember being someone in a past life, but it's very vague. I feel like everyone was afraid of me though and I understand why. I have enough power to destroy the world. Why would I need that? What purpose did I serve?"
Ranma said, "In Taya's life Saturn was a planet of loners. They avoided most of the solar system politics and kept to themselves. From what I can recall they were often on the brunt of attacks from other places. Places of noise, chaos, and destruction. They created their princess to be a counter to that, a silence that was enough to end the noise. It worked, but it always kept them and her at a distance from the rest of the Solar System."
Hotaru looked sad and said, "I don't want to be alone Ranma."
Ranma smiled and said, "Maybe I'm here because you need me."
The little girl replied, "I do Ranma-San I need you to be here and help me. Please stay with me."
He looked at her and then he said, "I want to Hotaru, but there's some other things you should know." That was when he told her the whole story, he told her everything.
When he was done Hotaru looked at him longingly and said, "You're here for me. I just know it Ranma-San. You go where you are needed and I need you. Please stay and help me become well. We will fight the witch and whatever other evil people are out there and save the world just like magical girls in the manga." Then she giggled and looked at the boy and said, "Well almost anyway. Still you'll stay with me won't you?"
"For as long as I'm able to." said Ranma as he looked at the poor young girl. He looked at her and saw in her eyes an almost ancient ache of loneliness and need. He couldn't think of anything else to say and so he hugged her. After some time he said, "Uhm maybe we ought to go help out the Tendo's now?"
Hotaru smiled at his nervousness and said, "That's an excellent idea Ranma-San let's do that."
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A grayish pink haired young lady named Beryl was looking for Ranma Hibiki and had been for almost a day, but there was no clue as to his whereabouts. She was getting tired of searching the city when she heard the name or at least part of it being uttered by a Kendo practitioner.
She approached the man and said, "You know Ranma?"
The man looked at her and said, "I do indeed know of a foul fiend called Ranma. It is he who lives with the beauteous Akane Tendo and keeps her enslaved to his whim. He practices his dark sorceries and keeps the girls from my grasp, but it shall not be. I, Tatewaki Kunou, the mighty Black Thunder of Furinkan high schools will defeat him utterly. Now, stop bothering mine glorious practice and go someplace yonder."
Beryl stared at him and wondered. Then, thinking that Ranma could indeed be a dark sorcerer she said, "I'll go, but you must tell me where this evil sorcerer Ranma resides."
Kunou looked at her again and said, "Pah the foul beast lives at the Kabeko apartments. Sharing a roof with my beloved Akane Tendo. Forcing his attentions on her and her sisters as well as the Pig Tailed goddess." He continued on in that vein, but now that Beryl had a location she walked off and allowed the boy to rave and rant his lunacy with abandon.
Beryl arrived at the small three story building and walked up to the door. She read through the nameplates and buzzers for the residences, but didn't see one with either Ranma or Hibiki on it so she decided to wait outside. While waiting she decided to try sensing energy sources and once she did she found one coming towards her. It was very large and seemed to be aligned with light. She was about to hide herself when she saw a Black pigtailed boy and a smaller girl with long dark hair come towards the building. From the girl she sensed a powerful, but dormant evil so she decided that instead of hiding she would watch them and see what they were doing.
Ranma and Hotaru reached the doorway of the apartment complex and he looked at what amounted to a video buzzer system. He was about to hit the buzzer when he realized that if his counterpart existed here, then he would look a lot like him. So he sighed and looked for cold water. Unable to find any he decided to try and concentrate on becoming sailor sun. That did it, once he concentrated on it the henshin rod appeared and he was female. Hotaru gasped and said, "I thought it was only water?"
Ranma replied, "It used to be, but now I guess I can trigger the change just by concentratin' on bein a girl."
Hotaru smiled and said, "It must be so you can help save people."
Ranma just said, "Maybe, but anyway, we both know that my counterpart might be here. Plus, this form is the one Tofu talked to so, this form is the one I should use right?"
Hotaru said, "Good idea Ranma, er Ranko-San."
Ranma smiled and said, "I guess so" Then she pressed the buzzer. The answer came from the box it was an almost mechanical voice that said, "We don't have money for you today. Come back soon and we can pay you."
Ranma replied, "We're not looking for money."
The voice said, "Alright I'll send Ranma down. There's an empty lot two blocks over, please use that. Thank you."
The lower door opened and there staring at Ranko was her counterpart in this world. He was the same height and build of her male form, but something was different. This one seemed to stand in an almost animalistic fashion. He looked at her and said, "You picked a bad day, but I'll work you over girly. I'll work you over and have my way with you."
Ranko heard what he said and looked almost sick and said, "Fine, the voice on the buzzer said to take it to the abandoned lot nearby."
Ranma sneered and said, "Yeah Biki's always concerned 'bout property damage and all that. Stupid whore has some dream that she can scrimp and save enough so that my pop and I don't eat her outa house and home. More the fool her says I, but she is a decent lay once you tie her up and hurt her a few times ya know?" Then he looked at Ranko and said, "You're probably pretty good too, now come on let's get it over with." The young pig tailed boy walked off and Ranko followed with anger and sadness in her demeanor.
The two Ranma's reached the empty lot with Hotaru in tow. Before the fight began Ranma said, "Hey when I knock you out and take you by force, can I have your friend too?"
Ranko just looked at him and seethed. Then she said, "Let's end this now, boy." Then, the fight began, it was high stakes and Ranko almost lost when Ranma shouted, "Don't Move!" and attacked. It was a mixture of luck and skill that allowed her to avoid the blow. Still, she launched her own counter attack using the Kinjin Rashu Dan and avoided his counter attack this time with a bit more ease. Then he launched a chestnut fist at her, but she used her own to block and get in a few hits with her extra speed. He went reeling from those blows and tried to play it cool insulting her and more as he tried for a spiral pattern. Ranko smiled at this, but kept her own aura cool.
Realizing that wouldn't work Ranma slowly faded from her view as he used the Umi Ken Sen. She realized then that her counterpart was probably as well trained as she had been before Phoenix Mountain. Still she just smiled and tapped into her own Amazon training, feeling the ki all around her and the absence that was Ranma trying to sneak up behind her. She waited for him to attack and when he did she turned right towards him and used the chestnut fist again, this time she pulled out all the stops and pummeled her counterpart, sending him flying out of the lot and into a brick wall.
Ranma was flattened and then a dark energy seemed to coruscate around him as he stood up and smiled. Then he said, "Well now, you are powerful indeed. It's been a long time since I found someone I couldn't beat with in martial arts alone."
Ranko looked at him and with her enhanced senses she could practically feel evil and magic radiating off him as she said, "Magic? You know magic?"
The boy smiled evilly and said, "Yes, I do." He motioned with his hand and shot out a dark energy ray. The red haired girl barely blocked it barely keeping it from hitting her heart. Ranma said, "Come now, it's just your heart crystal. Why don't you let me remove it and take your power for my own?"
Ranko said, "I don't think so." Then she attacked again, but this time the boy's speed was faster. Her chestnut fist was being blocked and his was getting through. It smashed into her again and again until she leapt free.
Ranma said, "The magic enhances my powers ten fold girl." Then he fired off another black blast that she leapt to avoid. She avoided that one and another as Ranma fired blast after blast at her making her dodge and weave around and around in a circle. Then she stopped and leaped into the air as she realized that it wasn't a circle. It was a spiral, he was firing at her to lead her into the spiral and she had almost fallen for it.
She landed from her jump and blocked another blast with her arm, but this time it made her arm go numb. She leaped again to avoid another blast, but the magic hit her again sending her sprawling.
She landed on the ground injured and saw her counterpart heading right towards her with death in his eyes. She realized that that she was outclassed by this Ranma because of his magic; she started to pull out her pen to transform, but realized it was in vain when she saw the black ray head right towards her. She closed her eyes and felt nothing.
When Ranko opened her eyes again she saw little Hotaru in her guise as Saturn standing next to her with her polearm outstretched. The black energy was ablating itself against an invisible wall all around the two of them. Ranko smiled at her friend and Transformed.
A revived Sailor Sol smiled at her friend and said, "Alright drop the wall and get out of the way okay? This punk is mine."
Saturn dropped her silence wall and Sol remembering her attack against Ryouga used the speed of the chestnut fist to add to her foot speed and she ran towards Ranma. She bolted towards him her speed was beyond what she had reckoned as she slammed into him and caught him in the gut with her shoulder, knocking him into a wall once again. She stopped as waited to see if he was getting up again and when he did she was on him again. This time she landed on him and when she used the chestnut fist there was a series a crackling booms filling the air. The force of the punches and the booms decimated Ranma and he lapsed into unconsciousness.
The fight was over, chi, magic and the fists had flown, but in the end it had been quick and brutal. Ranko's mind caught up with her as she realized for the first time the extent of her transformation and what it had done to her abilities. She stared at herself and for the first time she realized that as herself without a power boost she had lost, but as Sailor Sol there had been no doubt of the outcome.
She realized that Saturn was standing next to her and she said, "Thanks Hota er Saturn. You were a great help."
Saturn replied, "No problem Ran er uhm Sol-San it was my pleasure."
Then they stood in front of the beaten and unconscious form of Ranma Saotome and Ranko almost felt the urge to throw up. She wanted to hit him a few more times for good measure. The very idea of this person and his personality was revolting and yet here it was evidence that the son of Genma Saotome could be a very bad person indeed.
Hotaru looked at her and said, "What now?"
Ranko was about to respond when Ranma's unconscious form disappeared in front of them. Then Ranko growled and said, "We go back to the Tendo's and see what we can do to help them."
Beryl had seen the whole fight and smiled to herself. Then she said to herself, "Well Ranma Hibiki or is it Ranko? Either way it looks like you are indeed quite powerful and so is companion Mistress Nine or is it Hotaru?"
Beryl followed the two girls as they transformed back in their civilian guises and Hotaru was looking very tired. Ranko carried her as they walked back to the apartment complex and rang the bell again. This time the other end gasped in surprise and a loud unlocking buzz sounded as the intercom said, "Come on up."
Ranko took her burden to the door of the Tendo apartment and was met by Nabiki Tendo who said, "Who are you?"
Ranko replied, "Ranko Hibiki, I studied with the man who trained your father. I'm here to help you out."
Nabiki said, "How much will this help cost?"
The red haired girl said, "It's basically free. Call it a favor for Dr. Tofu."
Nabiki then said, "Helping us out is no ordinary favor. Ranma and his father are very powerful. If I said this before they arrived I wouldn't believe it, but they know magic."
Ranko just said, "Yeah, I found that out, but we can handle it."
Nabiki looked at Ranko and her tired and almost sleeping burden and said, "You and the sleeping girl can help us"
Ranko said, "Look Nabiki, we just finished our little fight with Ranma Saotome and we're still here ain't we? Damn it all if the guy didn't disappear after I beat him, but I did beat him okay?"
The girl with a pageboy haircut looked at Ranko and said, "Alright if this is what you want to do, but it's your funeral Ranko."
Ranko just sighed and said, "Fine my funeral, now can my friend and I have a seat or somethin'?"
Nabiki escorted them into a living room where a middle aged lady with long blue black hair sat in a wheel chair sleeping in front of the TV. Nabiki woke the woman up and said, "Mom, I have some friends here who say they can help us. You want to talk to them while I get Akane?"
The Woman looked sad and said, "Not again Biki-chan, please don't tell me you've started again."
Nabiki said, "I didn't get them mom, they came her by themselves."
The woman said, "Alright try and get your sister and bring out some tea. It's the least we can do."
Nabiki walked off and the woman looked at Ranko and Hotaru. Then she said, "I am Sakura Tendo, my husband used to train with Genma Saotome. Why are you two looking to help us out?"
Ranko said, "I trained with the man who taught your husband." Then thinking about it she added, "I've made it my life's work to go where I am needed and help others out."
Sakura smiled a sad smile and said, "Well Ranko that is a noble goal. I will help you by telling you what I can of our situation and the Saotomes."
She continued on saying, "My Husband and Genma Saotome trained together under the master. The two of them made an honor arrangement that Genma's son would marry one of my daughters and combine their schools of martial arts. However, my husband died and I was forced to sell the dojo to make ends meet. My daughters and I lived quite happily by ourselves until Genma came to fulfill the promise. His anger was great at finding out that there was no dojo that was when he caused this."
Sakura gestured at her well chair and continued on saying, "After that we thought he and his son would leave, but they did not. They stayed and said that the promise would be fulfilled one way or another. I was going to refuse and call the police when the two used magic on my daughters removing strange crystals from their hearts that made them lapse into unconsciousness. They told us that if we tried to make them leave they would kill us and no evidence of it would be left."
The bluish black haired lady shuddered and started to cry as she said, "What were we to do? We allowed them to stay and have been living in hell ever since."
A girl who looked like a younger version of Sakura came into the room and hugged her saying, "Mother, please don't cry." Then she added, "You know my beloved Tatewaki will save us all. The noble samurai will come for his lady love and dispatch the dark sorcerer."
Sakura hugged back and her eyes dried as she said, "Of course he will dear Akane-chan, of course he will."
Ranko saw this and was taken aback wondering what type of world she was in now. That was when Nabiki came into the room and served some tea saying, "As you can see Ranko the Saotomes have done quite a bit of harm to this family. Now that you've seen it you will know why I'm going to tell you everything I know."
Ranko just shook her head trying to clear it as she said, "Right, you tell us what you know and we'll go from there, right Hotaru?"
Hotaru nodded and said, "Right."
Nabiki started and said, "Ranma and Genma weren't always so powerful, that I now for a fact. I've investigated them and found out that they were once regular martial artists like everyone else. From what I can tell the two met up with a group of people who call themselves the witches five. I think it happened after the two went to a place called Jusenkyo. There is a map to it in their stuff and there was a news story about an entire village in China that was destroyed by what people say was blasts of dark energy. The story only appeared briefly and it was later reported that the Chinese government had moved the villagers to make way for a dam. Still after what I have seen Ranma and his father do, after seeing them use black energy blasts and take shiny crystals from people's hearts, I'm thinking that there was some truth to the original story. Ranma and his father became part of this group and for whatever reason destroyed an entire village full of people."
Ranko stared at Nabiki and said, "I thought the sailor scouts stopped this sort of thing?"
Nabiki replied, "They've been careful to avoid Juuban and they haven't been doing it on a very big scale at all. I'm guessing that because they aren't so flashy and spectacular or because they are fighting martial arts duels it just isn't noticed by them."
Hotaru said, "But why don't you tell someone?"
Nabiki snorted and said, "You want me to get my family killed? My sister Akane told a friend of hers named Ryouga and he wound up dead. Then she was tortured by those two until they broke her mind. A girl named Ukyo came looking for them and she isn't alive anymore either. I told Dr. Tofu and he was hospitalized twice for his attempts to help. Then they threatened Kasumi and broke his will to fight back. I told Tatewaki and Kodachi Kunou and now Kodachi is dead, Kunou is insane and I barely made it out of my torture session with my mind intact."
Then Nabiki motioned over to where her mother and sister were looking on and said, "Look at them. Look at what has been done to them. Do you see that?"
Nabiki looked angry and scared and said, "Tell someone. No, I don't think so."
Ranko shuddered as she saw Akane and Sakura and said, "Alright, I understand, but I just defeated Ranma and he disappeared somewhere. Can you tell me where he might have gone? Where his father is? Or what the witches five are?"
Nabiki looked back at Ranko and said, "Look all I know is that this guy named Professor Tomoe Souichi or a lady named Kaolinite calls them from time to time to do certain jobs for her."
Hotaru gasped when she heard the names and Ranko just sat there stunned.
Just then there was a knock on the door. Ranko looked at Hotaru and whispered, "Get ready." Then she motioned for Nabiki to go answer it. Nabiki stood and went to the door and opened it.
Standing in the doorway was a grayish pink haired lady who said, "Hi, my name is Beryl. I though I saw a friend of mine come this way."
Then she glanced over to Ranko and barged in saying, "Ranko dear it's been so long. I bet you hardly even know me, but not to worry I know you."
Then she walked right over to Ranko and hugged her tightly and looked at Hotaru and said, "Why if it isn't Hotaru." She smiled and gathered Hotaru into a hug as well and said, "I never would have expected to find you and Ranko together dear. It must be fate that brought us together."
Nabiki said, "You know each other?"
Hotaru looked blank, but Ranko looked at Beryl and the piece of her that was Taya rejoiced. Suddenly it clicked her erstwhile ally had somehow been reincarnated just like the sailor girls and was here to help her again. She smiled and said, "Kinda, but it's been a long time since we've seen each other."
Beryl said, "I know it feels like we haven't been together in a millennium hasn't it darling."
Ranko said, "Something like that." While Hotaru still looked at Beryl blankly.
Then Beryl said, "Why Hotaru-chan you just don't remember me because you spent so much time staring at Saturn when you were younger."
Then it clicked for Hotaru that this lady had known her in the past as well and apparently wasn't afraid of her either. She smiled and said, "Now I think I remember you Beryl-San and I hope you'll help us in our quest."
Beryl said, "Why absolutely darling, now what is it that you need my help with?"
The situation was explained to Beryl who smiled and agreed to help saying that evil doers should be stopped and stripped of their powers. Neglecting of course to mention that those powers should rightfully belong to her she just went along with Ranko and Hotaru and smiled a little smile knowing that she could manipulate the situation to her own benefit.