Ranma and Akane were sitting at the grill in Ukyo's restaurant while Ukyo and Konatsu cooked lunch for them,
"So the old ghoul tells me that you guys were able to hold down the fort pretty well while we were gone," said Ranma.
Akane added, "She said Keima had one of the masks of darkness."
Ukyo and Konatsu sighed.
"You know how Keima is usually annoying just being herself?" said Ukyo.
"The mask added to it," said Konatsu.
"So what happened?" asked Ranma.
(Several Days Ago)
"A spontaneous training trip?" said Kasumi.
Ukyo, Konatsu, and Kodachi sat around the table in the Tendo house to make up a cover story for Ranma and Akane's disappearance.
"So, our kids went on a trip together," responded Soun.
"Hey Tendo, do you think they may have finally realized their feelings for each other and eloped?" asked Genma.
Suddenly, confetti was thrown in the air and fresh bottles of sake were opened.
"Our schools are finally going to be joined," cheered the two fathers.
"Oh my," said Kasumi.
"I'm sure that's not the case," said Nabiki.
"IT MOST CERTAINLY IS NOT," shouted Ukyo and Kodachi.
Kasumi and Nabiki looked over Konatsu who said, "I'm sorry for the confusion. But like Miss Ukyo and Kodachi said, that's not the case. They simply wanted to get away. They even invited Shampoo, Mousse, and Ryoga to go with them."
"See, I told you," said Nabiki.
Then Soun and Genma's celebration turned to disappointment. The two silently left the room and went to the porch to play a game of shogi.
Then another sad face entered the room.
"What will I ever do without the beauty of Akane, Ranma, or even Shampoo to light up my day," cried Happosai before noticing Ukyo and Kodachi.
"Well, hello ladies. Please hold me in my hour need," said Happosai as he leapt towards the girls. Seconds later, Konatsu kicked him through the roof.
"That's no way to treat Miss Ukyo," said Konatsu.
"What a horrid creature," said Kodachi
"Well, we should be going," said Ukyo.
"Oh, won't you stay for dinner. I wasn't expecting Ranma and Akane to be gone so we have plenty of extra food," said Kasumi as she held a pot of rice and several bowls.
"Oh such an extravagant meal," said Konatsu.
"There's plenty more in the kitchen," said Kasumi.
"Looks like we're staying for dinner," said Ukyo.
"The rangers are gone and he hasn't done a thing," said Taro to Keima.
The two looked on at the dark warrior who sat in his throne as though he didn't have care in the world.
"With the rangers gone, I have all the time in the world," said Kage who overheard Taro.
Saffron looked over to them, "If you really want something to do, get this working."
Saffron then tossed over a chunk of wood that looked like a masquerade type mask. Keima caught the mask and looked over at Kage.
"It's one of the masks of darkness. It's called the brigands mask and was carved from the hull of Davy Jones' ship. The only problem is that over time the mask has been completely drained of its power," said Kage.
"Why don't you recharge it with your power," asked Taro.
"My power would be wasted on this hunk of wood," said Kage.
"So despite being able to make a bunch of demons grow only for them to be destroyed, you won't bring an evil mask back to life," asked Koruma.
Seconds later, Koruma was punched into orbit.
"Good distance," commented Masara.
Keima then took to mask and went to Megumi's room.
"What do you want hag?" asked Megumi.
"I need you to get this working witch," said Keima as she tossed the mask to Megumi.
Megumi examined it, "Sorry but I don't think this mask is sufficient enough to cover your face and hide your wrinkles."
Keima tried hard to resist the urge to draw her sword and attack, "At least I never betrayed people who actually cared about me. So can you help me or not?"
"Well if it's what our fearless leader wants."
Megumi and Keima walked over to a cauldron and Megumi began waving her hands over. Soon a rainbow colored liquid began swirling around inside the cauldron.
Megumi began, "The problem is that the other masks have been inhabited by the residual dark energy of whatever they were carved out of. This mask is not. It's basically an empty shell. So all we have to do is find some particularly strong energy to inhabit it and soon you'll have a working mask."
"How long will that take?" asked Keima.
"Several days more or less," said Megumi. An ulterior motive already formed in her head. While whoever decided to wear the mask battled the remaining rangers and kept the Kage distracted, Megumi would send Cologne the way to get Ranma and the others home.
Several days later, Kodachi went over to Ukyo's restaurant.
"So why are you not over at the Cat Café helping the old woman and good doctor find a way to bring my darling Ranma home?" asked Kodachi.
Kodachi was sitting at the counter while Ukyo and Konatsu were busy filling dinner orders.
"Hey, with Shampoo gone, the Cat Café has no cute waitress and I'm cashing in," smiled Ukyo.
"We still have to make a living," said Konatsu.
Kodachi sighed, "Alas, I do forget that commoners have so many troubles."
Ukyo's eyebrow twitched. Not wanting to cause a scene, she continued, "Doctor Tofu and Cologne don't need our help. Just be patient, they'll find a way to bring Ranchan and the others back."
"I guess you're right. I just wish they'd hurry up. I'm sure Ranma darling misses me dreadfully."
"He's not the only one gone you know," said Konatsu. Even though the kunoichi did wish for the safe return of his friends, he didn't mind that their absence left him alone with Ukyo.
Keima walked into Megumi's room, "Is the mask ready yet Witch?"
"Yes. You know when your impatient, you're forehead gets wrinkly," said Megumi.
Megumi walked over to her cauldron and reached into the swirling magic waters. A minute later, she pulled out the mask. Keima could already feel the dark aura coming off of it.
Megumi took out a piece of paper and began reading, "From my notes, I can tell you that the aura inhabiting the mask once belong to a pirate that came close to ruling the world. However the pirate was purged of evil and the residual evil energy is not what inhabits the mask."
"Like I care," said Keima.
"It never hurts to know what you're dealing with."
Keima ignoring her said, "Shut it. With the mask power I will destroy the remaining rangers and lord Kage will once again take his rightful place as the ruler of the world."
Keima placed the mask on her face. Keima let out a very high pitched scream as the mask' dark powers began to transform her body. Her hair grew all the way down past her shoulders and took on a purple tint. A red cape, black elbow length gloves, black boots, and a black and red armor like dress appeared replaced her normal cloths. Keima's wings also took on a purple tint and finnaly the mask turned gold and morphed so that it framed Keimas' face and completely covered one of her eyes.
Keima began to laugh as two small blades appeared on her wrist.
"Yay it worked," said Megumi in monotone.
As Keima walked towards the throne room, Megumi quickly retrieved the side project she had been working on. In all truth, the mask had been finished within several hours. The days spent in her room were spent growing the time crystals. She knew the recipe for them was in one of the books her parents left her. All she needed was time and no interference from the dark warriors' slaves.
Once Keima was in the throne room she shoved Koruma and Masara away from the magic mirror while shouting, "Move it bird brains."
Once she got a look at her new form, Keima commented "Well, don't I look lovely". Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a fly go past. Suddenly she opened her mouth and her tongue shot out and snatched the fly out of the air. As Keima swallowed the fly, she commented, "Yummy."
"Not much of an improvement," said Masara while Koruma snickered.
Keima turned her attention to them and her eye began to glow bright red. Suddenly, a powerful energy blast erupted from her eye and blasted both Koruma and Masara through the palace walls.
"That'll teach you idiots to mock me," said Keima.
"I still fail to see improvement," said Taro.
"Then would you care to test her strength," said Kage.
"Gladly," said Taro as he dumped a glass of water on himself and transformed into his monster form.
Keima looked up at Taro who roared at her. Without flinching and before Taro could even act, Keima leaped up and kicked upside the head. Then Before Taro could fall back, Keima appeared over him and kicked him forward, sending him flying unconscious into Koruma and Masara.
"Keima, you know what you must do now," said Saffron.
Keima looked over at Taro, Koruma and Masara and said, "If either of you have any more objections to my new look, SHUT UP!" Then she took to the air and flew through the magic mirror.
Ukyo, Konatsu and Kodachi walked into the Cat Café to find hundreds of books scattered over the counter.
"Any luck," asked Ukyo.
"None whatsoever," said Cologne.
"You must keep looking. Who knows what kind of danger my darling Ranma could be in without me there to help."
Cologne dismissed Kodachi's lunacy when suddenly a spell tag on the wall began to glow.
"What's that?" asked Konatsu.
Cologne looked at the tag and said, "That tag detects the presence of strong dark energies. Since we're a little shorthanded, I placed thousands of them around the city so we'll know when the dark warrior makes a move."
"You've been busy," said Kodachi.
Cologne nodded, "I may be old but I'm not dead, plus I had Tofu's help. Now you three get going. I'll call Tofu."
Konatsu, Kodachi, and Ukyo strapped on their morphers and shouted, "Sheng Xiao, Power UP!"
Once Keima had left, Megumi quickly took out a jar of blue powder from her shelves. She walked over to her cauldron and threw a pinch of the powder in. There was more than one way to get where she wanted to go.
After thinking thoughts of Nerima, Megumi's cauldron showed her an image of Tofu's clinic. Megumi grabbed the time crystals and quickly jumped through the cauldron.
In the blink of an eye, Megumi was transported to the roof of Tofu's clinic. All she had to do now was leave the box containing the time crystals at his doorstep. However before she could do so, Megumi heard an interesting conversation. Megumi quickly leaped down and peered through a window to see Tofu on the phone. Then he suddenly began to sweep the floor with his skeleton Betty.
"Hello Kasumi, what brings you here today?" said Tofu.
Megumi saw that Tofu was beginning to sing his conversation and as talented as he was a doctor, he was equally untalented as a singer.
"Kasumi, your sister and Ranma will be fine on their trip. All they need is love because Ranma is the walrus," sand Tofu.
"I can't take any more of this," said Megumi. She waved a hand in the air and whispered some magic words. Suddenly, the fog that covered Tofu's glasses faded and Tofu began talking to Kasumi like a normal person.
"So anyway like I said, Ryoga Shampoo and Mousse are with them so you don't need to worry. Of course I'll join your family for dinner tomorrow night. I'll see you then."
As Tofu hung up the phone, Megumi went to deliver her package when Tofu's voice became urgent.
"A demon, I'm on my way. Sheng Xiao, Power UP!" called Tofu.
Then Megumi saw a violet light teleport away from the clinic. She would have to deliver her package later rather than leave it and risk it falling into the wrong hands.
The four rangers' teleported in the middle of a parking lot.
"Where's the demon," asked Konatsu. The area was bare like a ghost town.
"All we can do is be ready for when it comes," said Tofu.
Just then, twin beams of energy sliced through the ground from the sky. Ukyo and Konatsu dived to the left and Tofu and Kodachi dived to the right avoiding the blast.
"Hello power pukes. How do you like my new look," said Keima as she descended from the sky.
"It's not what I'd call an improvement," said Ukyo.
"Positively hideous," said Kodachi.
Keima growled as the blades on her wrist sprung out. She swooped down like a bolt of lightning, slashing the rangers and sending them staggering back. Then as she landed, Keima used her new striength to pick up a parked car and hurl it at the rangers.
"Look out," shouted Tofu.
As the car flew towards them, Konatsu quickly summoned his daggers and five of his clones. The six green rangers charged towards the car and sliced it into hundreds of harmless pieces.
"I sure hope that guy has insurance," said Konatsu as his clones disappeared
Before he could regroup with the others, Konatsu was lifted off the ground by Keima. Then with all her might, Keima tossed the green ranger towards the ground.
"I got him," said Tofu as he ran to catch Kontasu. When he was only inches away, Keima appeared in front of him and punched him away. Konatsu hit the ground hard. As Keima gracefully landed on the ground, she caught her reflection in a shard of broken glass.
For the split second she stopped to admire herself, Ukyo and Kodachi attacked. Kodachi threw her chakram which Keima narrowly avoided. However as she dodged Kodachi's attack, Ukyo followed up by hitting Keima with her spatula.
"How dare you hit someone with my perfect complexion," shouted Keima.
"You and I have different definition of perfect lady," said Ukyo.
Keima's eye began to glow red as the rangers regrouped.
"Get ready," said Konatsu.
As Keima fired her eye beam, the ranger's dodged and attacked her from different directions. At the last second, Keima took to the sky, avoiding them.
"You'll have to do better than that rangers," laughed Keima.
Then Keima began flapping her wings and unleashed her "One thousand bird wing slice" onto the rangers, hitting all of them.
"She's too strong," said Konatsu.
"We need the others," said Kodachi.
"I don't like it but we need to fall back," said Ukyo
"Agreed," said Tofu.
As Keima charged at them again, the rangers hit the teleport button on their morphers and retreated back to the Cat Café.
Keima stamped her foot on the ground, "Just when things were getting good."
"Please tell me you've had some luck getting the others back," said Ukyo as she and the others rested.
"None at all," said Cologne
"What are we going to do about Keima," said Konatsu.
"If only I could get my hands on that woman," said Kodachi.
"We can't even touch her with that mask amplifying her powers. Hey Dr. Tofu, do you have any ideas," asked Ukyo.
Tofu replayed the battle in his mind and something came to mind. "We actually did manage to land an attack."
"That's right," said Kodachi remembering when Ukyo hit Keima with her spatula.
"But how," said Konatsu.
"Remember. She was looking at her reflection in the glass," said Tofu.
"Before, Keima would never have done that," said Ukyo.
Cologne spoke up, "If Keima's using one of the mask of darkness then it must be effecting her personality."
"Come to think of it, she was jibber jabbering about her perfect new form throughout the battle," said Kodachi.
"The mask had to have amplified her vanity along with the rest of her powers," said Tofu.
"In that case I have the perfect solution," said Cologne as she went to the closet. "While searching for a way to bring back the others, I dug these out of storage."
Cologne then pulled out two large shields with polished silver on the front of them that acted like a mirror.
"Where did you get these," asked Ukyo as she took one of the shields from Cologne.
"The amazons made these as a precaution should anyone fall into the Jusenkyo spring of drowned gorgon," said Cologne.
"Hopefully this works," said Tofu.
"Back to action," said Ukyo as she and the others morphed once more.
The rangers found Keima terrorizing a clothing store. She had chased out the clerks and began looking through the cloths for something she liked. As soon as the rangers were in her vicinity, she turned to face them.
"You power brats just couldn't stay away from me could you," said Keima.
"You're going down hag," shouted Ukyo.
After hearing her most hated word, Keima tossed the cloths she held aside and charged the rangers.
"Konatsu, Kodachi, now," shouted Tofu.
Konatsu and Kodachi quickly leapt forward holding the mirror shields and Keima suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Why hello there," said Keima as she saw her reflection.
Then Ukyo and Tofu summoned their weapons and attacked. Ukyo quickly smacked Keima with her spatula and while Keima was recovering, Tofu scratched her several times with his claws.
"I cannot believe that worked," said Kodachi.
"I'm not complaining," said Konatsu.
"That wasn't nice," said Keima.
Keima's wrist blades sprang out and she began to fly towards Ukyo.
"Miss Ukyo, catch," called Konatsu as he tossed his mirror shield to Ukyo who caught it. Once again the sight of her reflection caused Keima to hesitate.
"An opening," said Kodachi. The navy ranger then tossed her shield to Tofu, summoned her chakram and tossed it at Keima, striking her shoulder.
Keima took several steps back, clutching her shoulder. "Don't think you've gotten the best of me yet rangers. You've been lucky so far."
Keima then plucked one of her own feathers out and her mask transferred dark energy to it. Keima then planted the feather into her chest and let the dark energy consume her.
"Oh no," said Ukyo.
With every step, Keima grew in size. She quickly fired an eye beam at the rangers who ran for their lives as the beam carved up the street behind them.
"Don't suppose we have a really big one of these," said Tofu while holding up a shield
"I don't think the Amazons anticipated gorgons getting that big," said Konatsu.
"I do not care. That she demon knows where my Ranma is and I won't give up the fight until takes me to him," said Kodachi.
"He's not your Ranma," yelled Ukyo.
"You two can fight later we have job to do," said Tofu.
"Right," said Ukyo
"We need Zodiac Zord power now," called the rangers.
As the zords appeared, Keima began to laugh.
"You're five zords short rangers," laughed Keima.
Ukyo and Konatsu quickly combined the monkey and dog zords to form the wushu megazord.
"Firing shoulder cannons," said Konatsu before launching two missiles at Keima.
Keima was about to move when she was distracted by the snake zord's energy blast and the dragon zords' lightning. However, at the last second, Keima twisted around, using her wings to push the missiles out of the way and toward the dragon and snake zords.
"Nice try rangers," said Keima, mockingly as the missiles blasted the zords away.
"It's not over yet," said Tofu as he activated the dragon zord's warrior mode.
The wushu megazord summoned its spade and charged Keima alongside the dragon zord.
The wushu megazord jabbed with its weapon with Keima easily avoiding each strike. Then the dragon zord quickly ran up and attempted the Jump kick Keima who blocked the attack and kicked both zords away.
"One thousand bird wing slice" shouted Keima.
"Brace for impact," shouted Ukyo as the air blades hit the zords.
"Leave them alone," shouted Kodachi as the snake zord slithered up and bit Keima's leg.
"You'll wish you hadn't done that," said Keima as she pulled the snake zord off of her and began to swing around like a lasso before slamming it to the ground.
"You alright Kodachi," shouted Tofu.
"I'm feeling very dizzy. I don't know how much more I can withstand," said Kodachi.
Then something caught Konatsu's eye.
"Miss Ukyo, look over there," said Konatsu pointed out a glimmer of hope to Ukyo.
"Konatsu, you're a genius," said Ukyo. Ukyo then shouted to the others, "Quick, we need to get her to chase us," said Ukyo.
"How are we going to accomplish that," said Kodachi.
"Isn't it obvious," said Tofu.
"As much as I love trashing your zords rangers, I'm getting bored. I think I'll just destroy you now so I can shrink down and finish my shopping spree. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps," said Keima.
"You know we have word for people like you," said Konatsu.
"Gorgeous," laughed Keima.
"Ugly," said Ukyo with an obvious grin showing through her helmet.
Keima gasped dramatically, and then her face became contorted with anger as her wrist blades sprang out. Instantly, she charged the wushu megazord.
"Perfect," said Ukyo as she and Konatsu barely moved out of the way only for Keima's blades to slice into the megazords' shoulder.
The wushu megazord quickly ran from Keima with the snake and dragon zords following it.
"This isn't even in the same universe as over," shouted Keima as she ran after them.
"Just a little farther," said Konatsu.
However before they could reach their goal, the zords were tripped by one of Keima's eye blast. Keima then leaped into the air dive kicked the wushu Megazord as it was trying to get up.
"I've let you power pukes live long enough," said Keima as she grinded her boot into the megazord. She then reached down and pried the megazords' spade from its hands and tossed it away.
"Get away from them," shouted Tofu. Then the dragon zord charged its final attack, the Thunder Cannon.
The blast of electricity came roaring towards Keima who simply smiled and leaped out of the way.
"Missed me," laughed Keima.
"I wasn't planning on hitting you," said Tofu.
It was then that Keima looked up to find the snake zord coiled on the roof of a building. Then it leapted towards her and wrapped itself around Keima.
As Keima struggled to get the snake zord off, she didn't realize that she had moved exactly where Konatsu had wanted.
"Kodachi, you can let go," said Konatsu.
"Time to look in the mirror she-demon," said Kodachi as she uncoiled the snake zord and moved out of the way.
Keima looked around to see herself reflected on the shiny windows of a skyscraper. In that moment she let her guard down just long enough for the wushu megazord to reclaim its weapon.
Ukyo and Konatsu then shouted, "Activating Final Strike: Wushu Fire Spinner." The megazord then began to spin its spade until it became a spinning wheel of fire which it tossed at Keima.
Keima broke away from her reflection long enough to see the spinning wheel of fire as it was only inches away from her.
As it hit her, Keima suddenly felt drained. The mask on her face cracked to pieces and the aura that inhabited it disappeared in an anguished scream.
Keima later shrunk down to her regular size and passed out.
That night, Megumi waited outside the Cat Café on the roof for the customers to leave so she wouldn't be discovered. Once everyone was gone and only Tofu and Cologne were inside, she leapt down from where she had been waiting. Placing the box containing the time crystals down, Megumi opened the door making sure Tofu and Cologne could hear the bells above the frame ring.
"Don't make me wait too long," she muttered.
Then Megumi ran to the nearest pond she could find. She sprinkled her blue powder into the pond and transported herself back to the dark warrior's palace.
An hour later Keima stumbled into the palace through the magic mirror.
"Why doesn't it surprise me that you lost," said Megumi.
Keima growled, "This is your fault. You didn't make the mask strong enough."
Megumi laughed, "The mask was plenty strong. You just weren't the right person to use it."
"That's enough you two. As far as I'm concerned, you both failed me. Now get out of my sight," yelled Kage.
Megumi and Keima quickly left the throne room. Eventually, the dark warrior ordered everyone out. Once he was alone, the magic mirror replayed an image of Megumi leaving the time crystals for Tofu to find.
Then the sword of darkness began to pulsate as Kage laughed to himself.
"I knew she would help them. It doesn't matter though. It's all part of the plan. Megumi just better hope she stays useful."
After she finished her story, Ukyo took Ranma and Akane's plates to clean while she closed up shop.
"Good to know you guys were able to keep the peace while we were gone," said Ranma.
"It was no problem," said Ukyo.
"Ranma, it's late. We should head home for dinner. Besides, Kasumi said that Dr. Tofu was coming over tonight," said Akane
"Yeah, we should make sure he doesn't accidently hurt himself," said Ranma.
"Good night you two," said Konatsu as they left. Konatsu was quick to notice Ukyo's face grow sad as she watched the two leave together.
Konatsu then went up to his room and grabbed what little money he was able to save.
"Miss Ukyo, would you care to join me for a movie," said Konatsu.
Ukyo thought for a moment. Considering how much money she usually paid Konatsu, the theater would probably be cheap and rundown. However, if it wasn't for Konatsu pointing out the skyscraper, they might not have been able to defeat Keima. Also, it didn't hurt that from certain angles, Kontasu was kind of attractive.
"Ok, I'll join you. But this isn't a date, I have a fiancé after all," said Ukyo
Konatsus' face lit up with joy, "Of course. I would never do anything to dishonor you Miss Ukyo."
"Oh and from now you can just call me Ukyo. You are a friend after all," said Ukyo.
"Thank you Miss, I mean, Ukyo."
The Konatsu took Ukyo's hand and ran with her out of the restaurant.
(Author's notes)
If anyone is wondering about the things Ukyo wasn't there for such as the subplot involving Megumi. All I can say is don't think about it and just enjoy the story. Also incase anyone was wondering, I based Keima's look and new personality off of Divatox from PR: Turbo. So, technically, the mask was possesed by Divatox's remaining evil aura from when she was turned good at the end of PR: in Space. Hope that clears some things up.
Wow, it took me a long time to update. Anyway for the moment I'm in those golden weeks between regular school and summer school so I'll see what I can get done. I figure I'll do one more regular story and then move into another 2-3 part story.
Anyway as usual, thanks for reading and staying with me for the really long time that I've been writing this story. Oh and I've added some character artwork for the story. You should be able to get to them through the deviant art links on my account.