The Road to Freedom
By The Senshi of Valis
Chapter 29
I don't own W.I.T.C.H. or Ranma 1/2
Ranma grumbled to herself as the trio made their way deeper into the castle's dungeons. It had been going pretty well until the had to cross through some puddles of water that must have leaked through the stones from heavy rains or something. They had gotten pretty close to one when a few loose stones from the ceiling fell into it splashing only Ranma with enough cold water to activate the curse which left her female and pretty annoyed at the curious looks she noticed Elyon constantly giving her.
"Are we almost there?" Will asked softly as the three made their way into a large cavernous room with torches lit randomly along the wall. Ranma had to sigh when they spotted Shampoo standing in the center holding a large scimitar.
"Shampoo…what are you doing here?" Ranma demanded stepping out in front of Will and Elyon to protect them from any sneak attacks.
"That's rich you little whelp…Me…My granddaughter…" Shampoo laughed then glared at Ranma with a sneer, "No you little fool, I'm Cologne and you are going to bow before me one way or another and pay for all of the humiliation that you have caused me."
"How can you be Cologne…You sure aren't a shriveled up old ghoul." Ranma said hoping to get her a little angry.
"I know your tricks Ranma and they won't work." Shampoo said then her voice changed to a softer, more seductive tone. "It is nice that you noticed though…Then again with a wife like her why wouldn't you notice. Come with me now Ranma and maybe I'll show you what a real woman is like."
"How dare you?" Ranma growled, more angry than she could ever remember being. Her entire being felt like it was on fire as she stared down Cologne. "No one talks about Will in that way and there is no way in hell I'm leaving her for some shriveled up monkey."
"Ranma…" Will asked nervously backing away a little.
"Will, take Elyon and find my mother and get out of here…I have unfinished business." Ranma growled while cracking her knuckles.
"I want to stay and help Ranma." Will said.
"Please Will, I need to do this and I need to know my mom is safe…I trust you to look after her." Ranma said.
"O-Okay, Ranma, just be careful." Will said kissing Ranma's cheek before taking Elyon's hand and hurrying out of the room.
"Just you and me now boy, think you're man enough to handle a real woman?" Cologne smirked.
"Oh…I don't know seeing how I don't see any real women whata do you think?" Ranma smirked back.
"DIE YOU INSOLENT WHELP!" Cologne shrieked as she rushed at Ranma intent to decapitate him with one strike.
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"I think she's being held in there." Elyon whispered while peering around the corner at two guards in front of a sturdy door.
"I'll handle them, you wait here." Will said before changing to her guardian form before walking out before them. She could handle these two jokers easily. The two rushed her though she remained calm while quickly knocking the two out.
"Wow." Elyon said in astonishment as she came around the corner to the cell and took the keys from one of the guards and opened the cell to find an older woman sitting on a bench along the wall.
"What do you want?" the woman snarled.
"Nodoka?" Will asked softly while walking up close to Elyon.
"You know my name…that…thing told all of you…If you or Cologne thinks I'll cooperate with you ten your completely insane." Nodoka growled.
"I'm Will…Ranma's wife…We're here to rescue you." Will said softly.
"W-Wife…" Nodoka asked in shock.
"Yes…We have to go before the guards find us." Will said.
"Come on, I know an easy way out of here." Elyon said motioning for them to follow. Will wasn't too sure if she really should trust Elyon completely but at the moment she probably didn't have much of a choice. Right now she just wanted to get out of here and find Ranma.
"Why did you come for me?" Nodoka asked in confusion as they followed Elyon through several tunnels, the light dimming more and more as they went making it a little hard to see. "I…I hurt Ranma so much…You should have just left me behind."
"No…Ranma…I think Ranma is confused about you but I know he loves you and would never leave you here where Phobos could do god knows what to you." Will said, "I bet Ranma would save his worst enemy from suffering if he could."
"I-I'm really sorry for everything that I caused…" Nodoka sighed.
"Lets not worry about that now, we have to get out of here." Elyon said as they came to the end of the tunnel and pushed against a heavy door which gave way after a little bit of effort from the three. They emerged below the castle, well below the dungeons and any post that any of the guards might spot them from.
"Where is Ranma?" Nodoka asked before a loud crash could be heard from up above while rock exploded out from the face of the mountain and rain down around them a long with Cologne who was bruised and bleeding and crashed into the ground casing a large crater around her. A quick check proved that she was breathing though she was most certainly out of it. Looking up they saw a red haired woman glowing brightly in a halo of pure power, its energy whipping her hair back and forth wildly like some unseen gale of wind as she lowered herself slowly towards them with angelic looking wings.
"Always have to make an entrance, don't you?" Will asked jokingly, relieved Ranma was okay.
"Of course…How else would you notice me?" Ranma laughed a little.
"R-Ranma?" Nodoka asked stunned, her face clearly giving away how much in awe she was at the creature before her who Will claimed was her son. Will could understand the confusion, she had never seen Ranma look like this and she had to admit herself that Ranma was breathtaking.
"Come on…lets go home." Ranma said with a smile as her toes touced down on the ground, her wings wrapping around herself before changing back to normal.
