Last time our heroes arrived on Layla's home planet, Tides. Stella made it her mission to get Layla and Tatewaki together, since she thinks the two are meant for each other. Bloom thought Layla and Tatewaki would get together naturally, and suggested to Stella to focus on getting Ranma and Akane back together. After locating the stone on the ocean floor, Tatewaki and Layla had a minute alone underwater. Two sudden shockwaves nearly caused Tatewaki to drown, but Layla saved him with the help of her natural gills. It seems that Stella didn't need to help them get together after all. The minute was spoiled when they arrived on the scene to find that The Shadow Riders had attacked, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. On with the show!

Chapter 26: The Tides That Bind part 2

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 she strangled Bloom with her ribbon.

"Yes!" cried Stormy, "Choke the life from the pixy! Make her suffer!" "As you command, mistress," said Kodatchi in a dull tone as she increased the tension on the ribbon. Bloom could only look in shock as she began to collapse form lack of air. No! raged Kodatchi's inner mind, I don't want to kill anyone, let alone Bloom! She's my friend!

"She's my friend," said Kodatchi in a slightly less dull tone. She reduced the tension in the ribbon, allowing Bloom to take a much-needed gasp of air. "You don't have any friends!" snapped Stormy, "She's your enemy! Now kill her!" "I don't have any friends," said Kodatchi as she tightened her strangle hold on Bloom.

"Sister!" raged Tatewaki as she charged forward, his sword drawn and ready. With one swing he sliced through the ribbon, releasing Bloom. She fell to the ground, coughing for air. "Kodatchi!" exclaimed Tatewaki as she held her by the shoulders, "It's me, your brother!"

"Brother?" said Kodatchi in a dull tone. Yes! Shouted inner Kodatchi, I knew you'd save me, brother! "You don't have a brother!" snapped Stormy, "You only have me, your mistress! So stop wasting time and kill the Earthman!"

"Kill the Earthman," said Kodatchi as she pulled out a pair of gymnastic clubs and began swinging them at Tatewaki.

"What have you done to her!" raged Tatewaki at Stormy as he dodged the swinging clubs. "She belongs to me," said Stormy, "Oh I'm going to enjoy watching your beloved sister take your life."

"Enjoy this, bitch!" exclaimed Ukyo as she swung her giant spatula into Stormy's face, knocking the witch out. At the same time, Kodatchi fell to her knees, her eyes clearing and returning to normal. She blinked then looked at Tatewaki.

"Brother?" she said, her voice a bit shaky from having it controlled from the outside, "Brother! I knew you'd find me!" The two siblings embraced. "Sister!" said Tatewaki, "I knew you were alive!"

"Back away from the psycho-bitch, Kuno!" exclaimed Ranma. The battle was all but over: The biots were all destroyed; Toro had been knocked to the ground and turned back to normal with some hot water. Flora, Musa, Stella and Tecna were still fighting Icy and Darcy, but they seemed to have the two witches covered.

Ranma, Brandon, and the others who weren't fighting had surrounded Tatewaki and Kodatchi. Sky was kneeling by Bloom, making sure she was okay. "I won't say it again, Kuno," said Ranma, "Back away from the mind-slave and we'll finish it for you." "What are you talking about, Saotome?" asked Tatewaki, "This is my sister!"

"She's not your sister!" exclaimed Ryoga, "Not anymore." "Kodatchi girl have mark of Shadow Riders on her face," said Shampoo, "She evil now." "She's under he control of the witches," said Akane, "She can't be trusted."

"If thou wishes to harm my sister," said Tatewaki, his sword ready for trouble, "Thou must kill me first." "Nobody's harming anyone," said Layla as she stood next to the siblings, "It's obvious that Stormy was controlling Kodatchi. But when Ukyo knocked her out, Kodatchi regained her freedom." "Thank you," said Kodatchi, "At least someone here agrees with my brother."

"Oh, she doth more agree with me, sister," said Tatewaki as he held Layla's hand, "Me thinks Miss Layla and I could have a relationship, a most enjoyable one to be exact." Oh great, thought Kodatchi, I'm gone for a week or so, and my brother gets another stupid crush. Yet this was no ordinary crush that her brother had. This is different, thought Kodatchi, could my brother truly be in love?

Just then Trabon arrived, a red eye patch with The Shadow Rider's crest on it. He wasn't alone; a tall bald man with pitch-black eyes and a huge sword at his side was with Trabon. "It appears we're just in time," said Trabon, "Wouldn't you agree, Zaboth?" "We are indeed right where we should be at the right time," said the swordsman named Zaboth.

"Earthman!" exclaimed Trabon at Tatewaki, "That girl is the property of The Shadow Riders! Hand her over at once!" "Never!" raged Tatewaki, his sword ready for the kill, "Thy evil claws shall never again touch my sister!" "Well we're gonna get her anyway," said Trabon, "Zaboth, kill the earthman."

"With pleasure!" exclaimed Zaboth as he unsheathed his huge sword and charged at Tatewaki. Tatewaki stood his ground and blocked the blow that was aimed at his head. The two swordsmen exchanged blows and blocks, neither one expecting mercy from the other

Four minutes into the fight Tatewaki's sword broke just above the handle. Both Zaboth and Trabon laughed at him as Tatewaki stared at his ruined family heirloom. "What's a warrior without a weapon?" asked Zaboth as he prepared to cut Tatewaki's head off. "Still a warrior," said Tatewaki as he gazed death in the eye, "And it's not the weapon that makes the warrior, it's the warrior who wields the weapon that counts."

"Whatever," said Zaboth, "Now die!" Yet Tatewaki wasn't supposed to die that day, for Layla, using her fairy magic over water had formed a sword made out of water that was still as sharp as a real one. She tossed the sword over to Tatewaki. He caught it by the handle and stabbed Zaboth through the heart. The Shadow Rider stood still for a second, and then fell to the ground, dead as a doornail.

Meanwhile, Stormy had regained consciousness. "I am so sick of being bashed in the head!" she raged. "You're a natural target," said Tenchi, "Your head is so full of hot air that it's a wonder you haven't floated away yet."

"You think this is funny!" snapped Stormy, "Well laugh at this! Kodatchi! Obey!" Kodatchi suddenly cried out in pain, her hands clutching at the forced stamp on her forehead. "No!" exclaimed Tatewaki as he grabbed her hands, "Sister! Fight back! Fight Back!"

"Forgive me, brother," said Kodatchi, her eyes on the verge of tears of both pain and sadness, "I must obey." "That's right," said Stormy, a nasty grin on her face as Kodatchi walked over to her, "You are mine and you will obey me."

"Quick!" shouted Ranma, "somebody bash Stormy in the head again!" "Not this time," said Stormy as she tossed several Dark Lightning bolts at Ranma. He easily dodged them, all the while trying to get to Kodatchi.

"Forget him!" shouted Trabon, the green stone in his hands, "We have what we came here for, so let's go!" With that he teleported out, followed by Icy, Darcy and Toro. "This isn't over," said Stormy to Ranma. She and Kodatchi then teleported out. "Damn you, Stormy Trix!" exclaimed Tatewaki after the witch, "I shall kill thee!"

Meanwhile…

"Excellent!" exclaimed Malaketh as he held up the green stone, "Most excellent indeed!" "It would have been better," said Darcy, "If someone were able to keep their hold on their mind-slave."

"It's not my fault!" protested Stormy, "I keep getting bashed in the head!" "It's a wonder you haven't had brain damage by now," said Icy. "Who says she hasn't?" asked Toro.

"Don't laugh at me!" raged Stormy, large static-bolts emanating from her, "I don't like it when people make fun of me!" "Nobody's making fun at you," said Trabon, his one eye full of sympathy, "You just need to be a bit more strict with your mind-slave." "That I can do," said Stormy, "That little Earth-bitch will never have another free thought when I'm done with her."

Elsewhere…

Kodatchi lay sobbing on her bed, a look of utter hopelessness on her tear-streaked face. She was finally reunited with her friends and loved ones, only to be taken away from them again. The full reality of the situation hit her that she might never see her home, her friends or her brother again.

Thoughts of suicide crept into her head, better to kill herself than to be a servant of evil. Kodatchi stood up to tear the bed sheets into strips to make a hanging rope, when she felt something in her pocket that wasn't there before. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, square packet made of white paper. Tatewaki must have slipped me this when he embraced me, she thought, a strong smile growing in her face, wait a second, how is it that I'm able to move on my own? My brother! He truly is in love! Now I have a real reason to fight back, I maybe a sister-in law soon.

Just then Stormy came charging into the room. "Thought was funny, didn't you?" demanded Stormy, "Thought you could humiliate me? Well get this, slave, you're about to get the beating of your mortal life!"

"Beat this, bitch!" exclaimed Kodatchi as she threw the packet at Stormy's face. It broke open between her eyes and a gray power covered her face. She sneezed twice as the powder flew up her nose.

"What the f#ck was that?" demanded Stormy as she tried to clear the powder from her eyes. "You'll find out in about five seconds," said Kodatchi, a crazy grin on her face. Cold rage filled Stormy's face as she made to strangle Kodatchi, but stopped dead in her tracks.

"What is this?" she asked, "I can't move!" "That was stun-powder I hit you with, that I did," said Kodatchi as she stood up from the bed, "I'm an expert on plants back home, especially the kind of plants that have paralyzing properties. I used to use such powders to help me get my way in varied situations, but this situation is a better one." She then pushed the paralyzed Stormy onto the floor.

"As soon as I'm able to move again," said Stormy, "I'll rip your eyes out and make you eat them!" "I believe you would," said Kodatchi as she stood over the immobilized witch, "But I'll be long gone by then. I noticed that this place as a transporter of sorts. I don't know where it'll take me, but any place is better than here."

Kodatchi then ripped part of the bed sheet to make a gag. "One more thing before I take my leave," said Kodatchi as she gagged Stormy as to prevent her for calling for help, "You tried to make me kill my friend today. For that I ought to kill you; but I won't. I may be insane somewhat, but I'm no murderer. I'll leave the honor of destroying you to my brother. I'm sure he'll take particular enjoyment in taking your life." With that she left the paralyzed and gagged Stormy in the room and locked the door from the outside.

She held in her elation until she reached the transporter. Having seen Darcy use it, Kodatchi entered coordinates for a random destination into the transporter computer. "Any place is better than here," she said as she activated the transporter. She made it to the transporter pad as the machine activated. A bright flash later and Kodatchi found herself on the outskirts of a large village. She looked above and saw a huge glass dome; the village was on an asteroid with a self-contained environment.

She breathed in the fresh air (well, as fresh as air can be on a space colony) and started towards the village. A sudden burst of joy filled her body and she began to skip towards the village, giggling like a schoolgirl. She had no money, no identification papers and only the clothes on her back, yet she was happy. She had broken Stormy's control over her mind and had escaped from the clutches of The Shadow Riders. Kodatchi knew that her brother and friends were looking for her, and for that she was happy.

The end of chapter 26. Next chapter we switch back to Tides as Ranma is forced to make a difficult choice. Reviews will be rewarded with peach cobbler and ice cream. See you next time!