By RankoSaotome
Disclaimer on first chapter. Theme song of the fic is 'Forever' from Erementar Gerad (Elemental Gelade in the US).
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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...
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Chapter 13 - Promises
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When Ranma awoke, she awoke to darkness. Literal darkness. She was in a cave, and the lights were dimmed, leaving her to wonder how much time had passed. She tried sitting up, but groaned as she looked down to see what weight was holding her down.
Her tummy was bulging a lot more now. Her eyes widened. She looked five months pregnant now! Something was wrong with her body! She started to want to ask why, when she felt something. Like something... moving inside of her. Slowly, shakily, she brought a hand to her tummy. And immediately felt something hit her hand. She was surprised, but kept her hand there, before, unconsciously, a small smile formed on her face.
'My baby... is moving... Oh wow, it feels so strange, yet so... wonderful, to know my baby is okay...' She thought, still smiling as she slowly leaned back onto the bed she was in. She let sleep take her, as dreams assailed her. Pleasant ones...
She dreamt of her and Wyna, happily married in a peaceful world. And her whole world revolving around the love of her life, Wyna, and... her darling child... She wouldn't care how her child was born, who her child's father was... Nothing could change the love she had for her baby...
Before she knew it, those images were taken from her, as she felt someone shaking her. She slowly opened one eye, looking up at her waker and smiling.
"Good morning, sleepy head. How do you feel?"
"I love you, Wyna." She said, with a large smile plastered on her face. She was treated to a light blush on Wyna's face, before the other woman smiled as well.
"And I love you, but you're dodging the question."
"I feel like I was struck by a meteor dead on... My senses are all screaming at me, wanting to know why I hurt so much... But I imagine getting thrown from the top of a train does that..."
"I'm just glad you're alive, Ranma. I don't know what I'd do if you had died saving us all."
This made Ranma sadden, as her face took on a disturbed look. Seriously, she spoke. "If I die, Wyna... Please, move on."
"But, Ranma..."
"No buts, my love. You know I'll always love you, before and after my death... But I won't have you dying if I die. Please, promise me... Promise me you'll move on, if I die..."
"Would you do the same if I were to die?"
"Wyna, it would hurt... It would hurt me bad to move on, but I would, because I know you wouldn't want me to hurt all the time... You'd want me to find new love, to move on... right?" Wyna's silence was answer enough. "That's why I ask you this, Wyna... I wouldn't want you to be in pain if I were to lose my life... So please, promise me..."
Wyna softly took hold of Ranma's hand. "I promise... It's hard for me to say, but I'll do this for you... Do you promise to do the same should I die?"
"I promise, Wyna, my love... I promise as well."
Then, there was silence, as those that had listened to Ranma and Wyna's words slowly moved over to them. Ranma's strength was diminishing at a rapid rate with her pregnancy, and anyone could see that her previously proud and lively stride had started to dull down. And there was little they could do about it...
Unless...
No... that might bring pain and unneeded suffering. Plus, who was to say Ranma would settle down, and let them fight for her?
Slowly, the group made their way outside the inn of the little, unnamed settlement, and headed into the caverns above. Ranma was slow in her movements, so the group had to keep pace with her, but, thankfully, her stamina wasn't any lower.
They found a familiar man going through a mound of dirt and jewels. Or, at least, he was familiar to Ranma. 'God dammit, not him again...' She thought, with a scowl. Why, oh why, did she not kill him if he was just going to get in the way with his thievery?
"Hey, you! Why are you sneaking around?" Soushi exclaimed at the intruder.
Then, Wyna noticed something. He looked familiar, and... "Wait a second, those are diamonds! You thief!"
"Diamonds are so captivating. Their sparkle is so devestating. Your treasures must be irritating. Therefore, I must be confiscating. In my hands, the empty sparkle of a diamond can be changed into dust that can save the world. For the sake of the world, give me your jewelry!"
"Why don't you just go die, you sickening bandit?" Ranma yelled, before unleashing her elemental power, unwilling to let this thief get away this time. She unleashed Aquoon three times, followed by Fiednod twice before she felt a bit tired. Her friends kept her protected while she unleashed all her elemental power.
Then, the group, following suit, unleashed all their own abilities, from Twister Blades to Deadly Knife attacks. Everything flew at Bandiger. He managed to get a few strange attacks in, like singing with his horrible voice before smacking them while distracted. He tried for Bandiger Spin a few times, but he stood no chance.
"Do you believe in true love?" He said upon defeat. "Please, God, punish these greedy people!" He said, before he ran like hell. But before he got far, a large rock, more like a little boulder, flew from Ranma's hand to hit the thief in the head. He ran faster.
"And stay out, you lousy bandit!" Ranma yelled, as she panted, trying to get her energy back. She was slow to get that energy back, but eventually did. The place was like another maze, and Ranma was getting sick of those. They had to move all across the place, at one point Wyna and Kyleen nearly falling in a gorge, but they eventually found their goal.
The Sacred Altar. Ranma quickly sharpened and repaired everyone's weapons, though it was a large stamina test on her part, and she needed Wyna to help her concentrate her energies, but she eventually did it. She was a bit exhausted after doing it, but the group quickly moved up to the Altar, and teleported.
The Holy Flame was, thankfully, still there. Ranma moved up, and raised her hammer.
"The power of Flame is upon you... I am Flareniel, the Elemental Beast of the Flame." Ranma quickly nodded, then absorbed the Elemental Beast, then the Holy Flame in following. Wyna voiced a concern about Mounthand, and they set off for the nearest Point.
When they got there, Ranma was quite tired from the hike back. She barely heard Kasumi inquire to Marion about Mounthand.
"All done, of course! I was able to fix up Mounthand as good as new! Oh, and the Langoud's good to go as well! You can find it on the coast near Weino Point!"
The trip back to the Langoud was uneventful, except for meeting Grapple at the entrance. "Hahahaha! Thanks, Ranma! That girl... Marion is a weirdo, but she sure is a good mechanic. The Langoud is back to her old self." Of course, Ranma was near the back of the group, to hide her physical condition. "Hey, Ranma, do you know of a place called Myscatonia?"
"Never heard of it."
"I figured you'd be surprised! I've been around long enough to know that the ancient ruins to the west of us is Myscatonia."
"Ancient ruins? There's probably a Sacred Altar there! Oh, but we need a ship..."
"Don't you all worry none, Wyna. You can use the Langoud! Aye! For a big job, you might as well use a big ship! Wyna knows how to pilot it, so you all just relax and leave things to her. Arr!"
The trip west had to be done by going around the southern continent, which took a few days. With Wyna piloting most of the day, and coming back to the room she shared with Ranma late at night, the two spent little time together. Ranma understood why, but it didn't make her heart ache any less.
After a few days, though, a rat was found in the ship. A big rat named Bandiger, who was trying to steal a few things, and steal a ride. Ranma had been too pleased to watch him get thrown into the sea from her window.
That was another thing. Ranma was having trouble getting around now. She felt greatly weakened from her pregnancy. She found she could hardly protect herself in sparing matches with Ryouga, which she used to win quite handily. It depressed her to no end. They would be landing soon, possibly tonight. She just wished she could end this pain soon... Despite she loved her child, this was a real bad time to be with child... Especially when on the frontlines...
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Meanwhile...
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"Finally, it is complete. I have waited for this day since coming to this land. It has been too long. I was forced to turn my body into a machine to live this long. But it was worth it. Death Crimson, the ultimate weapon that turns the power of the Light into the Flame of Darkness.
I will destroy all who oppose me, with the power of Light. I have made a huge step toward realizing my dream."
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Ranma and group stumbled upon a town as soon as they reached land. It was a spooky place, with all kinds of weird noises coming from it. It actually had all the girls, even Ranma, a little scared.
"AHHH!" A scream of terror, and Ranma nearly screamed herself. The place was so empty, that voice had sounded so scared...
Soushi stepped forward. "Huh? Did you hear that? It's a girl screaming!"
"Yeah!" Came Ryouga's reply. "Let's go help!"
'Men... always thinking with the wrong head...' Ranma thought, despite she herself had been male once. Despite that, everyone went to try and help, but Ranma stopped when she saw the perpetrator.
And she wasn't the only one. Kasumi and Wyna had both stopped, as they all looked at...
A ghost. An actual ghost.
A... GHOST...
Ranma wanted to scream, as she had hated ghosts all her life, but something about the situation stopped her.
She heard the girl begging for her bag back. But, the ghost merely flew off with it. Then, she spotted the group. She partially recognized only one person there...
"Ranma, is that you?"
Ranma looked at the girl, and immediately went rigid.
"H-Hinako-sensei!"
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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How's that for new? No one, and I mean no one, would have thought of Hinako being cast as Nelsha. Heh, I must be either insane or getting more... Well, insane. Oh well. Well, hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Oh yeah, I apologize for the length of the last chapter and this one. I'm having trouble with ideas and, as I get further in the game, finding midpoints to end chapters at is getting harder. Anyways, hopefully, the next chapter will be much longer. Ja ne!