By RankoSaotome
Disclaimer on first chapter. The song in this chapter, 'Forever', is used in Erementar Gerad. Some scenes were inspired by X-Change 2 and my own scary imagination. Please try not to be offended.
- - - - - - -
The wind-like melody that's moving within our hearts Vibrantly leads us towards the yet-unseen tomorrow If we create the future with each thing we think Could we grasp the "moment" the miracle smiles upon?
I feel 'I need you'
... I just miss you in my life.
Please don't let go
Ah, Let's join hands
Heading toward a sparkling place in the wide-open future
Open up your heart And turn this pain and loneliness into kindness Don't get lost along my way Both at the moment we met and now, you surpassed time Shine together with me forever...
The pledge that echoes in this dreary night is fleetingly falling apart My heart beats to the fate of the stars that pass each other At the meeting place of the broad sky, our pulses raced What is there behind those tears you held back?
I will never leave you.
I want to promise you!
Don't forget
Ah, You gave me the courage to move forward
Let's hold on to it and fly
If we were bonded together Embrace and don't ever lose the strength of Protecting the people you can't replace At the moment I learn my weaknesses, I will become stronger again Yes, forever...
I feel 'I need you'
... I just miss you in my life.
Please don't let go
Ah, Let's join hands
Heading toward a sparkling place in the wide-open future
Open up your heart If we share the seemingly broken affection As it keeps overflowing from our hearts, it will be like Heaven At times when we're bewildered, let's keep building our unending dream Yes, forever...
Open up your heart And turn this pain and loneliness into kindness Don't get lost along my way Both at the moment we met and now, you surpassed time Shine together with me forever...
- - - - - - -
Chapter 5 - Victimism
- - - - - - -
Ranma was dreaming. She was dreaming terrible, terrible things as darkness came over the Volcanic Island. The group had landed earlier, but rather than staying in town, they decided to camp out. And Ranma was experiencing terrible nightmares.
In her dream, she was still in girl form, Schmidt standing across from her. She had been about to attack, when he pulled back two curtains, showing Wyna and Kasumi in the buff and tied up. Each were conscious, and cried for help.
Ranma herself was dumbfounded. 'Release them!' She'd cried, drawing her sword.
'Why would I release such lovely maidens when I can have so much fun with them...?' Ranma's eyes widened as she slowly realized his implications. 'Of course, you could save them, but... One girl isn't leaving!' Schmidt said, grinning.
Ranma was surprised, but she immediately attacked. After all, how powerful could he be?
Powerful enough to deflect her casually and knock her weapon from her hands.
Her hands...
'Make a choice, Ranma! Who will you save!'
'Both of them! Because...'
'Heh, this I have the hear...'
'Let them go! I'll gladly give myself up for their sake! Do... Do what you wish with me...'
'Ranma, no!' Came the calls of both girls. But neither was heeded by either combatant, as Ranma made her decision and Schmidt thought it over.
'You used my own wording against me. So be it. Strip, girl.'
She did without hesitation, her face showing disgust and embarassment, but more over, her eyes showed determination. She wouldn't let him win. Not in her lifetime...
What followed, was the most disturbing thing ever, as the embodiment of Schmidt began to rape her.
Ranma awoke with a cry, surprisingly none of her companions showing, in any way, that she disturbed their sleep. Slowly, she looked down, covering her face with her hands as she could not stop the tears. It had just been so horrifying... But...
She would gladly do it again and again if it protected those she cared about.
"Ranma, you okay?" She heard, from the very awake, very male Ryouga. At first, she pulled back when he touched her, being understandably, to her, squeamish about a man touching her.
To this, Ryouga was confused. Ranma was never the timid, scared type. If she was this scared of him, she must really be shaken from her dream. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Ranma shook her head slightly in a 'no'. She knew it would eat her apart from the inside, but Ryouga wouldn't understand. No one would, how it would feel to be able to be raped and not have the mental capacity to deal with the shock. Heck, she didn't know if any girl there could claim such mental capacity, maybe no girl in the world could.
"Okay... But if you ever feel like talking... Tell someone, okay? No one here wants to see you hurting. Not even me." Ranma had to think on that for a few moments, but did not dwell on the fact. Nodding, she slowly lay back down, trying to get back to sleep.
The next morning came, and the group ate, then set off to the top of the mountains. The trip was uneventful, as they merely hiked the mountain range. Everyone could tell by Ranma's morose mood that something was bothering her, but she refused to say what.
Finally, when they reached the caverns, Ranma scowled and set off inside. The others followed quickly. This area was hot, so hot that Ranma packed away her cloak. Looking about, the group crossed the bridge, over the molten lava, and set off inside.
Lava Giants and the like flaming creatures had assaulted them at points, but Ranma's sword tore through them like they were made of the thinnest of paper. But Kasumi could tell, whatever was on Ranma's mind was making her sloppy and leaving openings.
They moved through the caves, Ranma in the lead and cutting beasts down, often placing herself in danger. Thankfully, Kasumi was there to heal Ranma when necessary. Otherwise, the others found themself in the wake, just watching all the bodies.
Only, at one point, Ranma had almost been turned into a pancake by a boulder, but Ryouga had gotten her out of the way. Then, the girls were treated to see Ranma's ire for the first time. She had hit Ryouga under the chin, and wanted to strangle him. He knew she didn't want to be touched, but he was doing it anyways!
"RANMA! That's no way to treat someone that just saved your life!" To this, Ranma stopped and looked over as the boulder that almost squished her fell into the lava, opening a new path. Stammering, she apologized, but still looked disturbed.
Ryouga, however, was understanding. "Remember, we're always here for you." Ryouga said, followed by nods from Wyna and Kasumi. Ranma, feeling touched, nodded her head and got up after Ryouga got off her. Slowly, she followed them. She was still not quite alert, much to the group's chagrin, but at least she wasn't being reckless now.
They came upon the familiar smithy near the back, Ranma sighing with relief when he saw no one else there from the entrance. Wyna had been the only one to notice, but she said nothing. Slowly, Ranma moved over to the smithy.
She quickly sharpened their weapons, then each of them set over for the torch. Ranma then, upon their arrival at the torch, she heard gasps from Wyna and Kasumi, then turned.
Ryouga grunted as he found himself on his knees, weapon taken and a knife at his throat. Wyna and Kasumi were in the same position, only the girls were being stripped of their clothing.
'N-No... It's like my dream...' She thought with shock entering her once again. She pulled her sword, but was stopped from her summoning by a person striking her from behind. It knocked her sword clear away, into the light that would send them back to their own world. The sword vanished. Ranma, cursing, faced her assaulant.
"Schmidt! What's with you?"
"Heh, I was once known by that name. That name has no meaning for me... I am now the Dark Master." He said with a grin. Then, a girl made herself known from behind him. Her appearance made Ranma stop her thoughts.
"U-Ukyou...?"
"No, I am Jeala. I am the loyal servant of the Dark Master."
"I have learned many secrets since our last meeting. See this? This is just one of them. Behold, girl!"
With that, Ranma watched helplessly as Schmidt, no, Dark Master stole the Holy Flame as if it were nothing. This made her eyes widen, as the power he seemed to hold seemed to be limitless if he could simply drain the Holy Flame.
"NO!" She heard, turning the Kasumi quickly to watch the girl getting felt up. Wyna was in much the same position, but she was too proud to scream.
"Let them go!" Ranma cried, rising and about to rush in when Dark Master formed once again in front of her. But Ranma didn't care, she WOULD get passed him! And so, she attacked.
But Ranma stood no chance. One burst of dark light nearly knocked her off the platform, but she grabbed the edge at the last moment, dangling over the abyss of darkness. Looking down once, she swallowed and looked up. Dark Master was there, grinning down at her.
"Ah, so much power. Too bad you could never become a match for me... However, you have gotten stronger, if your sword was any indication." And so, Ranma thoughts her death was at hand, when Dark Master grabbed her arm and pulled her up. He slowly walked away from her, then looked back. Something formed in his hands... Her sword! He tossed it to her.
"Fight me, girl."
"With pleasure!" She cried out, grabbing her sword, and leaping to her feet. The two traded blows for a bit, Dark Master's sword, with an even darker aura than before that made her shudder when she saw it. Naturally, he was a stronger swordsman, but she had speed on her side.
"Let's make this interesting!" He yelled, shooting his dark light at her again, but she managed to avoid it this time. She noticed something. When he unleshed that attack, he regrips his sword... That means it takes a few moments for him to do it again, in which his defence would be down.
He shot another dark light at her.
She avoided and countered. "AHHHHHHHHHH! AQUOON!"
And the Water Beast assaulted Dark Master, sending him back a bit before he shot forward in estimation. As soon as Ranma reformed, she was surprised, and extremely shocked, to find Dark Master's blade plunge into the middle of her chest.
"RANMA!"
"NO!"
"SAOTOME!"
The blade came out, the blood spilling from Ranma's still body as she dropped to the floor. Her eyes looked lifelessly off to the side, away from the group. But, before she could let darkness claim her, she heard one thing. "You're extremely lucky I'm merciful, girl."
Darkness claimed her.
- - - - - - -
But she didn't leave that plane of existence. Light could not fade in that realm. Instead, she was spared from death, as her body vanished. Then, Dark Master and Jeala vanished as well as their cronies. Kasumi and Wyna were taken with the cronies, leaving Ryouga alone. With a saddened look, he entered the portal back to their realm.
When Wyna and Kasumi could see again, they were in somewhat the same realm, only without the Holy Flame there to greet them. Where were they?
Ranma's lifeless body appeared. They tried to go to her, but were shocked to find shackles on them, holding them down. They instead looked to Ranma, watching her lifeless body. She looked so serene, so peaceful in death...
Wait, when did she close her eyes? And where did the skewering holes go?
Not to mention...
She was breathing!
Then, Dark Master appeared. He moved over to Ranma, and kicked her. This brought a groan from the downed girl. She was alive!
"Well, girl. What do you say?"
"Damn you..."
"Heh, amusing. No amount of pain I inflict on you will crush your spirit... So, I had an idea."
"Go to hell..."
"Your friends might do that if you don't cooperate, girl."
Ranma, her eyes opening, looked at Kasumi and Wyna, as if for the first time. Then, swallowing, she spoke. "Let them go and I'll cooperate..."
"Done."
And both girls in question vanished.
- - - - - - -
Ryouga was surprised in the smithy, when both girls appeared, fully clothed. He looked at them both, before speaking. "Where's Ranma?"
No answer.
- - - - - - -
"GET OFF OF ME!"
"No, girl! Not as long as you live and breathe, I will not stop!"
"Then kill me! Don't prolong my suffering, you sick fuck!"
"Once again, denied, girl! Only a being of light can bring forth the ultimate creation of life! That cannot happen if you die!"
"AGH! You ARE a sick bastard!"
"Call me what you want, but YOU..."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! No... Don't!"
A cry of anguish flowed from Ranma's mouth.
"... Are going to be the mother of my children..."
And with that, Ranma vanished.
When she appeared before the others, stark naked with her clothes ripped to shreds around her, the others rushed over to her. All three were shooting questions, but no answers came.
Then, Wyna noticed it. The smell all over Ranma... It smelled like...
And she nearly threw up when she realized what it was. Slowly, she dropped down next to Ranma, picking her up and holding her. Ranma held onto Wyna with all her strength, trying her hardest to stop the tears.
The other two looked stumped, until Kasumi gasped. Ryouga looked over to see what she saw, but Kasumi was looking below Ranma's waist... He dared not look, least Ranma kill him for it later.
"Oh my god... She..."
"She what?"
There was an awkward silence.
It didn't last long.
"Ranma... she's been raped by the Dark Master..."
- - - - - - -
TO BE CONTINUED...
- - - - - - -
Yeah, I know. How can I be so cruel to the main character in my own story, right? Well... I don't know why. I was slightly inspired by a game called X-Change 2, and, as such, wanted to see what I could do. It, sort of, came out as natural for Ranma to become a victim of the Dark Master in this story. And, as a victim, there will be changes to Ranma. She may become darker natured, may become more timid, any number of things. This was intended, as I wrote it, to be a chance for Ranma to grow and change. She may become stronger for all this, maybe she'll become weaker-willed. Not sure at this point.
Anyways, hoped you enjoyed. Now, I leave you reviewers a choice. Should the next chapter revolve around an original adventure to help Ranma recover? Or should the story go on? Your choice. What I write, will be decided by you all for the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed. Ja ne!