Last time, in preparation for the next encounter with The Phantom Renegade, Ranma began pranda-bindu training. Later on, Ryoga revealed his cursed form, not knowing that Akane was right behind him. Akane forgave Ryoga, but was outraged at Ranma for concealing the truth from her. They both broke up. Meanwhile Washu located the next Stone of Power on Layla's home world of Tides. Layla then said that a wizard from her home could find a cure for Ranma, Ryoga, Mousse and Shampoo. On with the show!

Chapter 25: The Tides That Bind part 1

"How much longer is it to Tides?" asked Akane. "Shouldn't be much longer," said Lucinda, "Assuming the hyper-drive doesn't break down again. "Bite your tongue," snapped Amanda, "The engine is barely holding together as it is. What we need is a major space port so I can do a complete overhaul on the hyper-drive and at least a day to do it in."

"Once we find the stone," said Layla, "I'll make sure The Night Rider gets the best care Tides can provide." "Not only are thou beautiful, Miss Layla," said Tatewaki, "Thou art most generous to your peers, a perfect quality for someone of thy royal stature." This comment caused Layla to blush three shades red.

"There's no doubt about it," said Stella to Flora, "Tatewaki is the man for Layla. 'By the power of Greyskull!'© I'll make it my mission to get those two together!" "Remember what happened what happened to Layla the last time you made such a promise?" asked Musa, "We all nearly got killed by an incubus."

"That's not going to happen this time," said Stella, "I guarantee it!" "What do you think, Bloom," said Tecna, "Is Tatewaki the man for Layla?" "It seems that they do like each other," said Bloom, "They would make a good couple, but we should let things play out as they should."

"But I want to be their matchmaker," whined Stella. "You already played matchmaker with Sasami and Roderick," said Musa, "It's Bloom's turn now."

"I'm not worried about Layla and Tatewaki getting together," said Bloom, "I'm more concerned about Ranma and Akane. When I told Shampoo to leave Ranma alone because his heart was damaged, I lied, his heart was shattered, and so was Akane's. Stella, if you should focus your matchmaking prowess on anyone, it's Ranma and Akane."

"Coming out of hyperspace!" announced Beauregard as The Night Rider emerged into normal space. Bloom looked out the window to see the blue sphere that was Tides. "Layla," said Bloom, "Welcome home."

The Night Rider landed outside the Tides royal palace where a large welcome committee was waiting. "Looks like someone's expecting you," said Musa to Layla. "The tall man in the front of the crowd," said Layla, "The one with the short brown hair and one green eye, that's Lord Bryant, Prime Minister and my father's best friend."

Our heroes exited the ship to much applause from the crowd, all of which was directed to Layla. "And I thought I was popular," said Stella.

"Welcome home, Princess," said Lord Bryant to Layla, "We received your message; everything has been prepared as you asked." "Thank you, Lord Bryant," said Layla, "How are my parents doing?" "You mother and father," said Lord Bryant, "Are fine and happily enjoying their second honeymoon. They send you their love."

"That means we've got the palace to ourselves," said Stella to Bloom, "Perfect for a party." "Now's not the time for a party, Stella," said Riven, "We've got a stone to find." "I know," said Stella, "But a party is the perfect atmosphere to get Ranma and Akane back together."

"First thing's first," said Carmen, "We find that stone before the enemy comes looking for it. Then you pixies can have your 'get the Earthlings back together' party." "I think a party would be the best thing for you, Carmen," said Ryoko, "You sound like you need to unwind and cut lose."

"The last thing I need," snapped Carmen, "Is to get infected by all the sugar-coated, disgustingly cuteness that is love. Trust me, Ryoko, love stinks." "What's her problem?" asked Musa. "There's a full moon on Carmen's home world," said Elise.

"Okay, Washu," said Tenchi a few minutes later up at the palace, "Where on Tides is the stone?" "If I could have a map of the planet, please?" said Washu. A large holographic map of the planet was displayed on the large table everyone was gathered around. "Thank you," said Washu, "Now, according to the scanners onboard The Night Rider, the next stone is near an island 230 miles south-west of the palace, and about 85 feet underwater."

"That could be a problem," said Akane, "I can't swim, remember?" "You don't have to go underwater and get the stone," said Ranma without looking at her, "You know that."

"I knew that," said Akane, her back turned towards Ranma, "I just thought I'd say it." "We really need to get them back together," said Flora. "Leave it to me," said Stella, "I'll take care of everything."

Meanwhile, Lord Bryant was speaking to Layla, "Your parents would be very proud of your choice of a suitor," he said, "This Earthman, though from an ordinary background, would make a find husband for her highness."

Layla was naturally taken aback at this statement. "No, we're just friends," said Layla, "I mean, Tatewaki is a powerful swordsman, and he does have a way with words, but I wouldn't go as far as to say that I want to marry him." "A pity," said Lord Bryant, "He would make a fine husband for you, worthy to be King of Tides." This caused Layla to think a bit more, yes; he would make a fine king.

One hour later our heroes had reached the island. "So," said Sky as he looked down into the water, "Who's going down after the stone?" "I'll go," said Tenchi, "I want to go." "Same here," said Riven. "Count me us in as well," said Flora and Helia.

"No thanks," said Ryoga, "even though I can swim, one drop of that cold water and I'll be in a world of sh$t." "A world of pig-sh$t to be exact," said Ranma.

"Just for that," said Akane, "You can go in for Ryoga." Without hesitation, she pushed Ranma into the water. "What did you do that for!" exclaimed female Ranma. "I felt like it," said Akane.

All in all it was decided who would go into the water and retrieve the stone: Layla would lead, followed by Ranma, Riven, Flora, Helia, Tatewaki and Tenchi. "Just how deep are we talking about here?" asked Ranma after drying off. "85 feet down to the sea-floor," said Washu, "And another two feet of digging."

"And how are we supposed to breathe underwater?" asked Ranma. "That's where these come in," said Elise as she displayed several advanced-looking wetsuits, "I made these to be completely watertight and insulated so you can stay in cold water and not get cold. I also installed radios in the helmets to we can talk to each other. They have adjustable buoyancy controls and the helmets have radio links so you can talk to each other."

"I don't like this much," said Musa to Riven, "I mean, how can you trust anything invented by a witch?" "Look, Musa," said Elise, "I understand you don't like witches. I don't especially like fairies myself, but that doesn't stop me from working with you. Now, it's either my wetsuits, or a spell that allows one to breathe underwater."

"No thank you," said Ranma, "One curse on me is enough. I don't need to be breathing like a fish. I'll take the suit." That settled the argument. Minutes later those going in the water were suited up and ready to dive. Layla wasn't wearing a wetsuit, just a green one-piece swimsuit.

"Surely thou cannot hold thy breath long enough to reach the bottom and retrieve the stone," said Tatewaki as he watched Layla stretch for the swim ahead, "Can thou?" "Believe it or not," said Layla, "But I have my own way of breathing underwater." She held her long hair to one side to reveal a pair of gills on the back of her neck.

"I didn't know she had gills," said a surprised and slightly disturbed Stella. "Neither did I," said Musa. "She's still Layla," said Bloom, "No matter what features she has." "Darn right," said Brandon.

"Are we gonna gab all day about who has what?" said Ranma, "Or are we going to get that stone?" Without any further words Layla dived into the water.

"What are we waiting for?" asked Tenchi once his helmet was secured and everyone else had his or hers attached, "Let's go!" With that he, Riven, Flora, Helia and Tatewaki jumped into the water.

They found the stone just where Washu said it would be; eighty-five feet to the seafloor and buried two feet beneath the sand. Flora was the one who dug it up. This time the stone was colored green. "And now we have three," said Tenchi.

They started back towards the surface when Tatewaki stopped. "You coming?" asked Ranma. "You go on ahead, Saotome," said Tatewaki, "I wish to look around for a few minutes." "It's your oxygen," said Ranma as he and the others continued back up.

Tatewaki hovered in the water gazing as far as he could see. He then noticed that Layla had stayed behind as well. "It's beautiful down here," said Layla, "I used to swim in these waters when I was little. Just being down here makes one feel at peace."

"I am at peace," said Tatewaki, "But it is not from the water. Even though my sister is still in the clutches of the enemy, for some reason I am content. Perhaps it is because I am with you, Miss Layla."

Just as Layla was blushing at this complement, they both heard a loud noise coming from the surface. "What was that?" asked Layla. "It sounds to me like trouble," said Tatewaki, "We'd better got up there." Yet before either of them could swim back up, a fierce shockwave rippled through the water and impacted them both, scrambling their equilibrium.

Layla was worse off due to her being exposed to the water directly. Tatewaki managed to recover his sense of which direction was up and tried to help her, yet found he was falling away from Layla. The shockwave had damaged his adjustable buoyancy controls and was being dragged towards the bottom by his own weight. He landed on the seafloor facedown, his helmet faceplate banging onto a rock.

Tatewaki watched as his faceplate cracked; water then began to pour into his helmet. Instinctively he took a deep breath and removed his helmet. He then removed his weight belt and kicked towards the surface. He was only halfway to the surface when a second shockwave hit him. The sudden impact forced him to release the air that was in his lungs.

He tried his best not to succumb to panic as water began to pour into his lungs. This cannot be! he thought, I cannot die here! I have to save Kodatchi! Fortunately, fate has a strange way of making things turn out alright, for Layla had recovered her balance, swam over to Tatewaki and kissed him right on the lips.

Tatewaki felt a mixture of surprise, relief and pleasure as Layla kissed him: Surprise and pleasure that the girl that he couldn't stop thinking about was kissing him, and relief that oxygen was flowing into his lungs. Layla, with her gills, was breathing for both of them.

After about two minutes of double breathing, Layla broke the kiss and signaled to Tatewaki to go up. He nodded in agreement and they both headed for the surface. (Please note that, being extraordinary people, Layla and Tatewaki weren't affected by The Bends, thank you).

They reached open air and inhaled deeply the fresh wind. "That was an exhilarating experience," said Tatewaki. "What was?" asked Layla, "Finding the stone, getting blasted by two shockwaves or me kissing you?" "All three," said Tatewaki, "But the latter one the most." "I also liked that part the best," said Layla.

Before either one could say anything further, a sudden explosion from the island erupted through the air. "There's the source of the shockwaves," said Layla. They both swam ashore where Tatewaki found his sword and got out of his wetsuit. Meanwhile, Layla had transformed into her Winx outfit.

"We'll continue our conversation later," said Tatewaki, "There's dirty work ahead." They both headed inland to where our heroes were engaging the forces of The Shadow Riders. Ranma, Tenchi and the other martial artists were contending with Toro, who had already transformed into his monstrous cursed form, while Sky and the Red Fountain boys were slaughtering biots. Up in the air Stella, Flora, Musa and Tecna were contending with Icy and Darcy.

Layla and Tatewaki were about to head into the battle when something horrible stopped them both in their tracks, something so shocking that it nearly froze Tatewaki's heart. "No!" he exclaimed, "Impossible!" Ten yards from Tatewaki was Kodatchi; a dull expression on her face, her eyes glazed over. Behind her was Stormy, who was egging her on while Kodatchi strangled Bloom with her ribbon.

To be continued. Next chapter it's do or die as Tatewaki tries to free Kodatchi form Stormy's control. Will he succeed? Reviews will be rewarded with cherry pie. See you next time!