Last time Tatewaki and Layla watched in horror as Stormy urged Kodatchi to strangle Bloom. Tatewaki stopped the strangulation and tried to free Kodatchi, yet Stormy's control was too strong. As luck would have it, Ukyo knocked Stormy out and that freed Kodatchi's mind. She fell under the witch's sway again and teleported out with The Shadow Riders, along with the green stone. Yet things turned for the better when Kodatchi found that she was free from Stormy's control. She then paralyzed the evil witch and escaped via a planetary transporter. On with the show!
Chapter 27: No Need For Self Sacrifice
That night our heroes were resting up from the day's battle up at Layla's palace. "Forgive me for stating the obvious," said Riven. "But this situation sucks. I mean, we only have two of the stones. The Phantom Renegade has at least one and The Shadow Riders have at least two."
"You've got a point," said Brandon, "Who knows how many the enemy has or how many are still out there waiting to be found." "We still don't know if The Phantom Renegade can be trusted," said Tecna, "The book is still open on him."
"There's also the fact that that Stormy bitch still has Tatewaki's sister," said Mousse, "Who knows what that whore is doing to Kodatchi." "I have the distinct feeling that Kodatchi isn't worried about Stormy at this time," said Tatewaki, "Me thinks she's finding her own path to freedom."
"Well if your feelings are correct," said Bloom, "And Kodatchi has managed to escape from The Shadow Riders, then we'd better find her before the enemy does."
Just then Amanda came in the room everyone was in. "Well, we've got The Night Rider overhauled," she said, "As best as can be done here. Yet I still need to replace two essential parts that can't be purchased on Tides." "Can't you just order the parts?" asked Stella. "I could," said Amanda, "But we'd be stuck for at least a week waiting for the parts to be shipped."
"Which parts are needed?" asked Timmy, "'Cause maybe we could improvise them." "I need a level-8 magnetic condenser for the anti-matter storage pods," said Amanda, "Without that the anti-matter would come in contact with the sides of the storage pods and we all know what happens when matter and anti-mater touch. I've got a backup in place, but it's only a temporary one."
"A level-8 magnetic condenser," said Elise, "I can't make that. I could probably whip up a level-4 condenser, but…" "If one were to plug a level-4 condenser into a level-8 socket," said Washu, "It'll overload the nanosecond we tried to go into hyperspace."
"I also need a type-5 gravi-metric inducer," said Amanda, "For the gravity plating. The one we have now is about to give out. Without it we'd be no better off than Earth astronauts, no offence, Bloom." "None taken," said Bloom.
"We can easily get those two parts on Eraklyon," said Sky, "Can we get to my home planet with what we have?" "Oh we can get to Eraklyon," said Amanda, "Getting to the planet is no problem. Landing, that might be a problem. The real problem is taking off again."
"Leave the landing part to me," said Beauregard, "I can set The Night Rider down on a Earth coin any day of the week." "Then it's settled," said Tenchi, "We leave for Eraklyon first thing in the morning."
Just then Lord Bryant came into the room. "Glad you are all here," he said, "I just spoken with the head wizard of Tides, he has a potion that can cure those who are afflicted with a water based curse." "He can!" exclaimed Ranma. He, Shampoo, Mousse and Ryoga were all ears.
"Indeed," said Lord Bryant as a servant brought in a medium sized glass container filled with a bright purple liquid and three ceramic mugs, "Yet there is only enough for three." "Only three?" asked Mousse.
"Yes," said Lord Bryant, "More can be made, but the one essential ingredient for the potion to work grows only on Tides and won't be available for at least another two years. You must choose who will take the antidote and who will not."
"You can have my share," said Ryoga, "My life has been one downward spiral after another, so what's another two years waiting for a cure?"
"No," said Mousse, "I'll give up my share. I'm 'legally blind' as a human, and I'm 'legally blind' as a duck, so what's the difference?" "Mousse boy is stupid in giving up antidote," said Shampoo, "Shampoo be one who make sacrifice!"
"If anyone's making a sacrifice," said Ranma, "It's me. You three deserve to be cured more than I do, your cursed forms aren't human like mine. And if you don't take the antidote, I'll force open your mouths and make you take it."
"He can do it," said Brandon, "With all the pranda-bindu training he's been doing, he can take on all of you at the same time and win."
"Ranma is sure this be what he want?" asked Shampoo. "Positive," said Ranma. "You won't get any argument from me," said Ryoga as he took one of the mugs full of the antidote, "Here's mud in my eye!" he drank the contents in one gulp. Mousse and Shampoo then drank their share of the antidote.
Nothing happened for five minutes. "How do we know if it worked?" asked Flora. "Only one way to find out," said Morgan as she lifted a bucket of ice water over her head and splashed Mousse, Ryoga and Shampoo. All three stayed human.
"Am I still me?" asked Ryoga as he felt his face, "I'm still human, right?" "You're sure you," said Stella as she held out a mirror. All three could hardly believe that they were finally cured; yet the evidence was right in front of them.
"I'm finally going to do something I haven't done in a long time," said Ryoga, "I'm going for a swim in cold water." He then left the room for the ocean. "Do you suppose we should tell him he's heading for the kitchens instead of the waters?" asked Flora. "I'm sure he'll figure it out soon enough," said Carmen.
Meanwhile Shampoo and Mousse had embraced in joy of having been cured. It was then that Mousse did something that, to Bloom's eyes, was completely stupid; Mousse kissed Shampoo. Shampoo's eyes widened in shock; yet she relaxed and enjoyed Mousse's affections.
Mousse then realized what he'd done and pulled away form the embrace. "Forgive me, Shampoo," said Mousse, his face blushing three shades red, "I shouldn't have done that." "Shampoo not angry with Mousse," said the purple-haired Amazon as she wrapped her arms around Mousse's neck, "Shampoo angry with herself for not realizing her feelings," she then kissed Mousse.
"Well, Ranma," said Akane, "Looks like you're off the hook. And since Ukyo decided to let you go a while ago, all you need to do is convince Kodatchi to let you go." "I thought you weren't speaking to Ranma," said Ukyo, "What changed your mind?"
"It just slipped out," said Akane, "It won't happen again." "Akane Tendo!" exclaimed Ukyo, "You are by far the most uncaring woman from planet Earth! You never consider other people's feelings! You just assume the worst and ignore other possibilities! You claim to act all nice and sweet, but you're just a hypocritical bitch!"
"Is that a challenge for a fight!" demanded Akane as she readied her war-hammer. "You bet your scrawny, mediocre ass it is!" said Ukyo as she readied her giant metal spatula.
"There will be no fighting here!" exclaimed Layla, "Not in my parent's house. If you two wreck the palace in your petty squabbling, who's going to get in trouble when my mom and dad get back? Me, that's who, so knock it off!"
This caused Ukyo and Akane to calm down somewhat. "I'm sorry," said Ukyo, "It was wrong for me to say what I said." "I'm sorry too," said Akane, "And you're right, I should be more considerate to other people's feelings. But my ass isn't mediocre." "You're right," said Ukyo, "But it is a bit scrawny." "Is not!" shouted Akane.
All this time Ranma had walked out of the room out onto the balcony. Bloom then noticed that Akane was staring at him from inside. "Here's my chance to get them back together," said Stella, "Wish me luck." "Good luck," said Brandon, "We're all counting on you."
Stella walked up to Akane and started talking, "You know, despite your differences, I've sensed that you care deeply for Ranma." "I thought I did, once," said Akane, "But I just don't know now. He's so uncaring sometimes, he has little if no respect for women; yet he always pulls through for me in the end."
"From what I heard about Ranma," said Bloom, she decided to help out in this venture, "Ranma never had much of a female role-model growing up."
"That's true," said Akane, "His father said that his mother would hold Ranma back as a warrior if she was there in his life. A pact was made that Ranma's father would make him a man among men. If not, then they would both commit ritual suicide. That pact has been dissolved, but not before several embarrassing moments between Ranma and his parents. I guess not having a mom for most of his life is why Ranma doesn't do well with women."
"Well despite his lack of respect for women," said Bloom, "I've sensed that he cares for you more deeply than you realize. I've gotten he impression that he would gladly trade his life for yours if you were in danger."
"He did risk his life for me more times than I'd care to count," said Akane, "And what he did tonight for Ryoga, Shampoo and Mousse, I guess he does care about others. I've been such an ass; he promised Ryoga to keep his secret, he keeps his word and values honor. For all his faults, I do love him."
"Then why are you just standing here watching him?" asked Stella, "Go tell him how you really feel." "I'll do that!" said Akane as she headed for the balcony. Bloom and Stella then listened in on the following conversation:
"Ranma," said Akane nervously, "I, uh, well, what I mean to say is, what you did for Mousse and Shampoo, that was really noble of you."
"It wasn't that noble," said Ranma, "I just thought it was the right thing to do. Besides, with my cursed form I can still lead a somewhat normal life. It would be different if I were to turn into an animal when splashed with cold water."
"Still," said Akane, "It was nice of you to do that for them. I'm sure we'll find a cure for you someday." "Someday," said Ranma, "I've been hoping for that day for so long, I'm starting to think it'll never come. I might as well get used to it; I'm cursed for life."
"No you're not," said Akane, "We'll find a cure, if not on Earth then somewhere else. It's a big galaxy; I'm sure there's a cure for you out there somewhere." "You know what," said Ranma, "I believe you, we'll find a cure. Friends?"
"More then friends," said Akane, "I understand you kept Ryoga's secret as a matter of honor; I shouldn't have gotten as mad at you as I did." With that the two earthlings embraces, tears streaming down Akane's face, "I just wish things could have happen differently between us. I just wish I weren't so stubborn to admit out loud that I love you."
"You just did," said Ranma, "I was stubborn and afraid to admit my feelings, but I also love you." They kissed, "I guess our engagement is back on," said Akane, "And this time we'll see it through to the end, for better or worse."
"I've got a swell idea," said Ranma, "Let's get married as soon as we get back home; no fancy ceremony, no long guest list, let's just elope once we're back on Earth." "That's sounds like a great idea," said Akane, "The last time we tried to get married it was total chaos. I think the best thing is to just do it, quickly and quietly."
Meanwhile, Bloom and Stella had heard the whole thing. "Mission accomplished," said Stella as she wiped back a few happy tears, "Those two are meant to be together." "Darn right," said Bloom, "I can sense that they're soul mates." "Now all we need to do is figure out how to get Layla and Tatewaki together," said Stella, "And we'd be in pretty good shape."
Yet Layla and Tatewaki were nowhere in sight. "You don't suppose," said Stella, "That they went somewhere to be alone? I mean really alone?" "I don't know," said Bloom, "But I'm sure we'll find out in the morning."
The answer came the next morning as our heroes prepared to leave for Eraklyon. While Sky, Brandon, Ranma, Ryoga and Mousse were loading the girl's luggage, Bloom noticed Tatewaki and Layla walking together towards the ship, their hands clasped together.
"Where were you last night?" Stella asked Layla. "Been doing something you shouldn't have been doing, Kuno?" asked Ranma.
"Shove it, Saotome!" said Tatewaki, "Miss Layla and I have not done anything that would have gotten us in trouble." "Then what were you doing last night?" asked Riven.
"We were fixing his sword," said Layla, "Now it's better than it was before." Tatewaki then drew his sword from its sheath; the newly forged steel gleaming in the early morning sunlight, the handle polished and rewrapped for better gripping.
"Now that's what I call a sword," said Brandon. "It gets better," said Layla, "While the metal was being forged, I had several spells and charms infused with the blade. It can now deflect and cut through spells and curses."
"Really," said Elise, "Care to test your new weapon?" "Gladly," said Tatewaki as he took up a defensive stance, "Whenever thou art ready." "You'll know when I'm ready," said Elise as she aimed her had at Tatewaki, "Zaker!" A bright yellow lightning bolt shot from her hand at Tatewaki, who blocked the bold with his sword, sending the yellow energy to the ground to his left.
"Not bad," said Morgan, "But try blocking this! Saisu!" Morgan then sent a gold colored energy boomerang at Tatewaki. He sliced through the attack with one swing of his sword. "Okay," said Morgan, "Now I'm impressed."
"Time's wasting, people," said Tenchi, "We should be going now." They all boarded The Night Rider and took off from the planet. "So far," said Amanda, "So good. As long as the magnetic condenser backup doesn't fail, we'll be alright."
"This is going to sound stupid," sad Stella, "But remind me what would happen if the backup does fail?" "If it does fail," said Amanda, "Then we all die in a giant burst of annihilation."
"You see, Stella," said Tecna, "Anti-matter must be stored in a vacuum chamber and be magnetically suspended in the center of that chamber so it won't touch the sides. If the anti-matter comes in contact with the sides of the storage pods, if just one air molecule touches the antimatter, a huge release of energy will occur when the anti-matter annihilates the matter it touches."
"And by annihilation," said Stella, "Does that mean destroyed?" "You bet your life it does," said Elise." "Okay people," said Beauregard, "We're all set for Eraklyon. Hold on to something!" With a jolt, The Night Rider accelerated into hyperspace.
The end of chapter 27. Next chapter, Bloom and co. have a run-in with a familiar and unpleasant character. Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you next time!
