Last time The Phantom Renegade arrived on the scene and thrashed The Shadow Riders, forcing then to retreat. He then took the violet Stone of Power and left. Meanwhile Stormy showed off that she had Kodatchi under her control, yet Kodatchi's mind was still free. On with the show!
Chapter 24: No Need For Curses
Following the fiasco on Hykyrian 5, Bloom said that it would be a good idea to head back to Alfea and rest up before finding the next stone. There was very little conversation as The Night Rider traveled through hyperspace to Magicx. It was Brandon who broke the ice: "That Phantom Renegade, he was something else."
"You got that right," said Ryoga, "He barely touched Darcy and Pantyhose Toro, yet he did a lot of damage to them." "The way he plucked out that warlock's eye," said Tenchi, "such a strike takes precise coordination and reflex control."
"And the way he moved," said Ranma, "Even I could barely keep up with him." "Why Saotome," said Tatewaki, "It sounds like thou has 'fighter envy.'" "No," said Ranma defensively, "I just want to know how The Phantom Renegade could move that fast."
"I once heard about a training regime," said Sky, "That focuses on faster reaction time in the nerves and muscles. It's called pranda-bindu; whoever can master it can run faster than ever dreamed possible. One can also deliver incredible striking force with minimal physical contact."
It was then that a gleam entered Ranma's eye that was all too familiar to Akane. "I know what you're thinking," said Akane, "It's the same old, same old." "You gonna try and stop me?" asked Ranma. "Since when have I ever tried to stop you?" asked Akane.
"What are they talking about?" asked Stella. "If I were to venture a guess," said Tecna, "I'd say that Ranma wants to learn pranda-bindu." "You got that right," said Ranma, "So where do I start?"
"The basics of pranda-bindu are on file at Red Fountain," said Timmy, "Yet it may be for nothing. People have started pranda-bindu when they're barely old enough to walk; most spend their whole lives trying to get the hand of the basics. Only a few have ever fully mastered it. So it may just be a waste of time."
"I'll be the judge of that," said Ranma, "Just give me the information, and I'll master pranda-bindu." "That's what I love about Ranma," said Akane to Bloom, "No matter the challenge, no matter how hopeless the odds are against him, he always sees the situation through to the end."
The girls arrived back at school just after dark. There was a highly unpleasant smell coming from Griselda's office. "Look's like our stink bomb is a hit," said Morgan. "It is indeed, Ms. Rogers," said a very angry Griselda, "You three witches have gone too far this time! If I had my way, I'd turn you into toadstools for life!"
"Still think 'The El Bongo stink bomb' was a good idea?" Elise asked Carmen. Carmen only gulped. "However," said Griselda, "I've spoken to your headmistress. Professor Griffin was both impressed by the level of 'nastiness' you three have displayed, and annoyed that you got caught. As punishment for ruining my office, you three are going to clean the stink out of it, without magic."
"I don't envy you three," said Musa as Carmen, Morgan and Elise headed off to clean up after their prank. "How did Griselda know you did it?" asked Bloom.
"We autographed the bomb before we planted it," said Carmen, "And now, in retrospect, that was probably the dumbest thing we've ever done." "Amen sister," said Morgan. "After all," said Elise, "'you reap what you sow.'"
The next day at Alfea smelled much better. Bloom and the other girls saw Carmen, Morgan and Elise leaving the main building and heading back to Cloud Tower. "My hands feel like they're gonna fall off," complained Morgan, "The next time we plant a stink bomb, let's not autograph it." "You said it," said Elise, "Let's just go back to the dorm and sleep."
"Don't you have class today?" asked Flora. "Someone will cover for us," said Carmen, "So goodnight, or good morning or whatever." As the witches left the campus, Bloom and the others stared up at the roof of the school. Ranma was up there; his movements looking similar to yoga and tai chi. Riven and Timmy were taking turns spotting him.
"Why is he on the roof?" asked Musa. "He prefers high places to think," said Akane. "Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Tecna, "We have so much schoolwork to catch up on, and class is ten minutes!"
Every spare minute of that day Bloom and her friends spent catching up on all the work they missed while offworld. The next morning, a Saturday, was also spent catching up. They finally finished after lunch. They walked out into the courtyard, their eyes blinking in the bright sunlight, except Stella's of course.
Bloom looked up to see Ranma still up on the roof. "How long has he been at this?" asked Bloom to Riven and Akane were watching, while Timmy was up with Ranma. "He came down for lunch," said Riven, "Dinner, for two hours of sleep, and for breakfast. Otherwise he's been at it nonstop."
"I told you," said Akane, "Once Ranma starts something, he won't stop until he's done." It was then that Timmy and Ranma came down from the roof. "I didn't think it was possible," said an amazed Timmy, "But you're really making progress. I estimate you'll have the basics covered inside a week."
"Sounds great," said Ranma, "If we have to fight that Phantom Renegade, I'll be ready for him." Just then Ranma's stomach growled like a Siberian Tiger. "I think your stomach speaks for us all," said Akane as she checked her watch." "I think we all deserve a treat," said Stella as she pulled out her credit card, "Pizza time! I'm buying!"
Meanwhile at a pizza parlor in downtown Magicx, Elise and Washu had finally gotten Ryoga, Shampoo and Mousse to talk to her about their curses. "Elise girl asked Shampoo how she got cursed," said Shampoo, "Shampoo tell her; When Shampoo and Great-grandmother were on training mission at Jusenkyo, Shampoo trip and fall into 'Spring of Drowned Cat.' Now whenever Shampoo touches cold water, she turns into cat. Hot water turns Shampoo back."
"It's slightly different with me," said Mousse, "I followed Shampoo and Grandmaster Cologne to Jusenkyo. I just wanted to talk to Shampoo, try to convince her to stop pursuing Ranma as a husband, when I tripped and fell into 'The spring of Drowned Duck.' Now I turn into a duck whenever I get hit with cold water."
"What about you, Ryoga?" asked Elise, "What do you turn into when you're hit with cold water?" "It's not something I like to talk about," said Ryoga, "But if this will help you find a cure for my curse, I fell into 'The Spring of Drowned Piglet.' Whenever I'm hit with cold water, I turn into a black piglet."
"And such cute piglet Ryoga boy turn into," said Shampoo. "You would say that," snapped Ryoga, "Especially since you tried to eat me once while I was in my cursed form." "There's more to your cursed form," said Mousse, "Why don't you tell these nice ladies about your double life."
"You shut up!" exclaimed Ryoga, "They don't need to know about that!" "About what?" asked Washu. "When Ryoga boy in cursed form," said Shampoo, "He go by name 'P-Chan.' Akane girl adopt P-Chan as pet, Ryoga fall in love with Akane."
"Juicy," said Elise slyly, "So, you're in love with Akane Tendo." "I thought it was love," said Ryoga, "But upon retrospect, it was just a heavy crush. I still feel for Akane, which is why she must never, ever know that P-Chan and I are one and the same."
It was then that Ryoga noticed that Elise, Washu, Mousse and Shampoo were staring wide-eyed at something behind him. "Let me guess," he said in a slightly nervous tone, "Akane is standing right behind me." He turned around to see Akane, Bloom, Ranma and the others standing there, a look of shock on Akane's face.
"Akane," started Ryoga, "I…" "Tell me you were joking," said Akane, "Look me in the eye and say what you just told Washy and Elise was a joke." "I wasn't," said Ryoga, "I wanted to tell you the truth so many times, yet fear of rejection held me back. Now that I've overcame my crush, I can finally tell you the truth, I am P-Chan."
He picked up a glass of cold water and splashed his face with it. Immediately, he was transformed into a black piglet with a yellow bandanna around his neck. Elise then produced some hot water and turned Ryoga back to normal. "Akane," said Ryoga as he got down on his knees in submission, "What I did to you was inexcusable, yet I only wish for your forgiveness so we can get on with our lives."
A look of absolute rage has been building on Akane's face since Ryoga confessed the truth, now that rage was boiling over. "I LET YOU SLEEP WITH ME!" shouted Akane as she hefted her war hammer, "IN MY ROOM! IN MY BED!" She brought the hammer down onto his head with tremendous force, yet the blow did nothing except produce a large bump on Ryoga's head.
Akane then hefted her hammer again and glared at Ranma, "You knew," she accused, "You knew about this yet said nothing!" "We all knew," said Ranma, "But Ryoga made us promises not to tell you. He wanted to tell you the truth himself."
To Bloom, Akane seemed to be on the verge of exploding with wrath, yet her next words were surprisingly calm. "Ranma Saotome," said Akane, "Consider our engagement permanently canceled. Aside from matters concerning the mission of rescuing Kodatchi, finding the remaining Stones of Power and stopping The Shadow Riders, I'm never speaking to you again, period. And when we gat back to Tokyo, you and your freeloading father can find somewhere else to squat."
She started walking back to Alfea when Ranma shouted after her, "Well thank you, Akane! I never wanted to marry you in the first place. I just never figured out how to break up with you politely, so thanks for doing it for me. And you know what, I never want to speak to you again either!"
"At last we agree on something," said Akane, her back still turned towards Ranma. She continued walking away, then paused as if remembering something, "Ryoga," she said, "I forgive you." Akane then resumed her way back to the school.
"She handled that rather well," said Ukyo, "Considering her previous outbursts." "She wasn't serious about breaking up with you, Ranma?" asked Stella, "Was she?" "Don't worry," said Mousse, "Once Akane has calmed down she'll come back to him like clockwork." "No," said Ranma in a distant tone, "She was serious this time, it's over between us."
"Then there be hope for Shampoo after all!" exclaimed Shampoo as she prepared to leap into Ranma's arms, yet Bloom held her back. "Leave him alone," demanded Bloom, "Ranma's heart may not be broken, but I can tell it was heavily damaged just now. So give him a break."
"If Honored Friend say Shampoo give Ranma breathing room," said Shampoo, "Then Shampoo wait." Meanwhile, Ryoga had recovered from Akane's hammer strike, a bright smile on his face. "What are you so happy about?" asked Sky.
"I've been hiding the truth from Akane for so long," said Ryoga, "I've felt that a huge weight was attached to by soul. Now that I've confessed, I feel better than I've been in a long time." "Well good for you, Ryoga," said Ranma, "At least you're happy."
Over the rest of the weekend Bloom noticed that Ranma and Akane avoided each other whenever possible, and would only speak to each other on matters concerning the mission. Ranma would totally absorb himself in his pranda-bindu training, while Akane was holed up in the school kitchen, trying to get anyone she found to taste her cooking. Stella was the only one who liked what Akane made.
"I had so see it to believe it," said Ukyo, "Somebody actually likes Akane's cooking, and hasn't thrown up yet." "I don't know how Stella can keep it down," said Musa, "My stomach is still tossing a wicked beat."
"I really think this is good," said Stella as she finished another plate of Akane's cooking, "Is there more, please?" "Have as much as you want," said Akane brightly as she handed Stella a plate full of what looked to Bloom like level 4 industrial waste.
"Shampoo think she be sick," said Shampoo as Stella chewed and swallowed. "That's our Stella for you," said Flora, "She has an iron constitution, except when traveling through rough patches of hyperspace."
Just then Layla and Washu burst into the kitchen. "There you kids are!" exclaimed Washu, "Pack your bags! We're going to Tides!" "Why are we going to Layla's home planet?" asked Flora. "Two reasons," said Washu, "One, there's a Stone of Power on Tides." "That's a good reason," said Akane.
"Two," said Layla, "I happen to know a wizard on my home who just might have the cure to the curses that affect Ranma, Ryoga, Shampoo and Mousse." "There be cure for curse!" exclaimed Shampoo, "What we wait for? We go!"
"We'll go when we're ready to go," said Stella, "I'll call Beauregard and tell him to get The Night Rider ready to fly." "I'll go collect the others," said Bloom, "I think Sky is spotting Ranma up on the roof."
"Ranma can fall off the roof and break his neck for all I care," said Akane. "You're still mad at him for not telling you the truth about Ryoga?" asked Flora. "Unless something drastic happens," said Akane, "I'll be mad at Ranma until the day I die." "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," said Bloom, "Right now we have a stone to find and some curses to break."
Meanwhile…
"So the next stone is on the home world of that Layla bitch," said Darcy, "excellent, we get to take the stone and destroy the little princess on her home planet." "And when we run into Bloom," said Stormy, "My new mind-slave will kill her for us, right, slave?"
"As you command, mistress," said Kodatchi in a dull tone. Just you wait, you goat-sucking whore, thought Kodatchi, My brother fights alongside with Bloom. He'll cut you in half from bottom to top. That is, unless my darling Ranma doesn't vivisect you first.
The end of chapter 24. Next chapter, it on to Tides. Reviews will be rewarded with Mango ice cream. See you next time!
