Suikoden One Half
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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here that belong to Ranma 1/2. The Ranma 1/2 cast belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own Suikoden 3 or any other characters that I put into this story except for my own OCs. Neither do I own any of the character in any of the crossovers I do. I'm just using them in this fanfiction and I have no money so don't bother suing me. You'll just lose money instead of gaining any.
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Chapter 24 – Raise of the Two Castles
Looking around the landscape surrounding Brass Castle Geddoe signed. Bodies of the fallen of both sides were littered across the battlefield. But the Harmonian dead numbered more on their side. As the dead of their side the ones that still had their heads and had been dead less then an hour had been raise from the dead by the magic of Ranma's True Rune. He still couldn't believe what power that True Rune of Chaos has. The power to bring the freshly dead back to life is a power to fear, as an army that unless you cut off the heads or they been dead more then an hour would be very hard to defeat. The Grassland clans and the Zexen Knights were healing the wounded and gathering up their dead. Looking closely Geddoe could see people picking the Hamonian soldiers clean of their armor and weapons. (1) They're also gathering up the equipment that they had left behind as they had retreated after he had appeared…
Geddoe shuddered as he though of him…. In all of his years of being alive he has never came across someone like him before no one came even close to the power he felt coming from Dark Hat. He took down Blight as if he was just a weak child. Blight had beaten Ranma making them retreat only to be totally defeated by Fight Hats brother. He thought that he had gotten rid of most of his fears but Dark Hat gave him fears that were more primal and instinctive in nature. The fear he felt when he saw Dark Hats attack that was more terrible then when Kanin had lost control of the Fire Rune. That kind of power that Dark Hat has is something that should never be challenge as he had said that not even Oriharucon or Mithril armor can withstand it. And he knows that when someone reaches that kind of level in power that they no longer need to lie as it wouldn't gain them anything else in power.
"So what did you think of Dark Hat?" Jimba said as he stood next to his old friend.
"He should never be cross as I have a feeling that what we saw was just a small hint of his true power," Geddoe said.
"That's what, I gathered too," Jimba said.
"Yes he is one that one shouldn't anger," Piccolo said walking up to them.
"Hello Piccolo been awhile you look just the same after all of these years," Jimba said to their old friend.
"Well what Ranma is putting me through takes me back to how you two and Kanin were when, I first met you three," Piccolo said.
"Well a lot of things have happened to us since then," Jimba said remembering things that happened to them years ago.
"How's Ranma and your granddaughter?" Geddoe asks looking at Jimba.
"Ranma is sleeping in Chris room with Reni beside him both haven't woken up yet. Chris hasn't left their side and Iris is with them as well," Jimba said. He still couldn't get the thought of being a grandfather of two out of his mind.
"Yes Ranma is a fast healer from the things that, I have seen him go through," Piccolo said.
"Isn't it about time that you introduce yourself to them?" Geddoe said.
"Geddoe is right Iris and Reni should know their grandfather," Piccolo said as they had already gotten to know Dr. Jones well in the other world.
"I have been thinking about it but how can I just walk into her life after, I had left her all of those years ago and now that she has two children that she had bared in that other world," Jimba said.
"Well don't wait too long or it will be too late to do anything," Geddoe said.
"Take it from someone that knows about doing something before it's too late or you regret it for the rest of your life," Piccolo said who had gone through things like this before.
"Yes I know but as Kanin use to say you have to wait till the timing is right," Jimba said. Unknown to them Watari was standing near them listening in on them. Knowing that once Ranma wakes up he should hear this information as soon as he could. Piccolo knew about it but Jimba is an old friend so he kept that knowledge about Chris's father a secret.
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Elsewhere –
Top Hat walked into the forge that's her little brother's workshop. Standing next to her is Pan as she likes to see what new kind of weapons and armor that Brute Hat has come up with. Brute Hat was currently working on the project that she had ask him to work on when Mind had teleported them back to their home and had showed the temple that she and the others had stayed at in Ranma's home world.
"Brother how is it going?" Top Hat shouted up to her big (little) brother.
Brute is working on the temple scaled down to fit his massive worktable. Top had shrunk the temple down to a miniature of it. Even if Brute had huge hands they were graceful enough to make some changes to the temple making it into a castle temple. Also he had remove some of the modern items from the temple as it wouldn't do them any good as they would wear out and there's no way to replace them afterward.
The temple and its surroundings were from a bird's eye view of what it will look like after it would be brought back to its original size. The temple has been built up to an eight story building that can house over 400 people at a time. Many add on buildings had been built adding room and places to store stuff in. The temple now looked more like a Japanese castle now as it's been made to be a defensive position on the battle field. A twenty story high wall surrounded the temple as a much longer and thicker wall surrounded it. Barracks to house trains troops along with archery ranges to train archers with watchtowers lining the walls so that either part of the wall will have a strong force to withstand attackers. Brute had already made the house's for a small village to be inside the outer walls as well as making some work shops as well. A school that is model after the schools that are in this world where that Ms. Hinako could teach at as well as Jeane who Top Hat knows well as they both had enjoyed each others company in the past. Brute also made an armory, a large market place, a forge, and some small farms along with stables inside the walls to provide resources to the castles. In the end it would be able to house over 2,000 people inside of its walls. Outside the wall near where the small river would be is a lumber yard with a water powered saw to make work go faster and a water mill. These would help things out when people start moving into the area.
Two main gates are the only ways to get into the walled town and only one gate to enter the inner sanctum of the temple fortress. Every part of the temple and the town inside the outer wall were designed for defense against attack. Taking the best defense's that castles of the past had making the walls very hard to overtake or break down. Everything had to be right to make sure that the temple wouldn't be overtaken during a siege. Top Hat also had Brute make the temple on a tall hill so that it would be hard to scale up from the back of the temple walls. And making some underground chambers underneath the temple also building from the room that Mind had made under the temple. There would be eleven basements of different sizes underneath the temple to help house the items as well as people living inside the temple. Top also had Brute create a room to house the memories of what has happen and what will happen later as she knows that years from now all of this would just be a story and nothing more unless they leave something behind to tell what really happen. Besides she does have to live up to her name as someone that can plan things out years ahead of time. As two love birds would fine out way into the future.
"Brute is it almost done?" Top yelled again as when Brute is working on something he usually becomes lost to everything but on what he's working on.
"Oh you're here sis," Brute said as he stopped working on the roof of one of the houses of village, "Just making sure that the houses would be able to stand up to the test of time for a good while before having to be rebuilt again."
"Good you were always good with miniatures and you are following my blueprints right?" Top ask.
"Of course and, I'm making some improvements in its defenses in the lay out as well like making the walls lean inward to allow the archers to shoot any target along the walls," Brute said. (2)
"Good make sure you have it done soon it needs to be set up before Ranma wakes up," Top said.
"And how's that lance you're making me coming?" Pan asks.
"You'll find it on the racks to your left," Brute said who started working again while listening to them.
"Thanks," Pan said looking through the rack of lances for the one that she asks Brute to make for her.
"When are you going to go against Ranma sis?" Brute asked still working.
"I'm still making up my mind on how to do it maybe, I'll just wing it," Top said, "How's the improvements on my weapon?"
"You're chain sword?" Brute said as he was almost done with the temple, "It's all ready for action sis just have to wait for the parts of it to stabilize together before it can be use in a fight."
"Good and it doesn't have that limitation it uses to have?" Top asks.
"Don't worry about it since it can extend farther and faster then it use to be able too and won't break when it's expended, I made it out of Qarten metal you know that same kind of metal that makes up Darks stabbing axes. Almost unbreakable to anything thrown at it and can't be effected by magic of any kind," Brute said.
"Nice work as always," Top said.
"Yeah he did quite a job on my lance," Pan said looking at the brand new lance that Brute made for her. It's much stronger then her old one that was melted down to make this new one.
"Well, I'll give this to Mind now to make it into its full sizes now," Brute said lifting the desk top up.
"Good, Mind should be done by now," Top said, "Pan when we get back make sure that everyone gets their orders."
"I'll tell everyone when, I get back to the house," Pan said taking her leave carrying her new lance along with her.
"Now to see the other part of my plan?" Top said to herself as she made a doorway in midair and walking threw it.
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Back in Brass Castle –
Ranma was laying on Chris bed resting from his transformation into a werecat. His transformation had taken it's toll on his body. Laying next to him was Reni who was still recovering from her fight with Blight and next to her is Iris who was all tried out from all what has happened today. Chris looked over them as she was the only one in the room right now. All of the other girls were helping out with the wounded and the fallen. There were so many things that she wanted to ask why did it had to happen. When she saw Ranma eyes while in his beast form she didn't see anything of the person she loves in them just a wild beast wanting nothing but bloodshed.
"There has to be a way for Ranma to control his beast form," Chris thought to herself. So many thoughts ran threw her mind as she watch over the three sleeping forms on her bed that she didn't heard her door opening and Louis coming into the room.
"Lady Chris are you ready to go into the meeting room?" Louis asks.
"Yes, I'm ready to meet with them," Chris said to him.
"I go to," Chris and Louis turned to the bed seeing the Ranma was carefully making sure that he didn't wake either Reni or Iris as he got off the bed.
"Ranma are you sure that you should be up?" Chris asks as she rushed to his side helping him up while making sure she didn't wake her daughters up.
"Yes, I should be there," Ranma said then turn his eyes to hers, "I couldn't control myself in my beast form. If it wasn't for Dark Hat, I would had… you and the girls."
Chris embraced him. "We all know that Piccolo told us about transforming into a were-beast does to a person," Chris turned to Louis, "Tell the other that, I'll be there soon."
"Alright my lady," Louis said to her before taking his leave. As Chris tries to comfort a shaking Ranma.
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In Leknaat keep –
"Things are really shaping up," Chaos the blue winged cat said to Leknaat.
"Yes but why did Ranma have to become a berserker like that he almost killed the people he cares about when he transformed," Leknaat said.
"Yes the bloodlust of were-beast is overwhelming to some depending on what kind of lycanthrope transformation you're talking about. Some are safer then others," Chaos said thinking of the lycanthropes in the Gold Digger's world.
"So there's a way that Ranma can control his beast form?" Leknaat asks.
"I got something planed for that," Top Hat said as she walked up to them.
"Hi Top," Chaos said to his owners sister.
"What are you doing here?" Leknaat asks.
"Oh, I came to ask Chaos here to do something for me," Top said.
"And that is what?" Chaos asks.
"Go and get me some of those Mist berries that only grow in that Pokegirl world. I would send one of my servants but you know what would happen if they go there people would try to catch them or they get distracted with the girls there," Top said.
"Then why don't you go then?" Chaos asks.
"Well, I would get all caught up in catching some of those girls and taming them later," Top said remembering what fun she had in those worlds.
"Pokegirl?" Leknaat asks not knowing what the two are talking about, "What are you planning?"
"Well, I be more then glad to tell you be there is a price to pay," Top said leering at the blind woman.
"Well, I…" Leknaat said as she leaned back as Top started to press her impressive chest into her face.
"Now, now I know that you have learned the art of womanly love from Jeane when she got you drunk and she showed you her skills," Top said as she has also seen Jeane's skills first hand.
"I leave you two then," Chaos said as he left the women as he opened a gateway into another world. In the back Top was getting a blushing red Leknaat to open up to her big time.
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Back at Brass Castle –
The meeting room of the fortress was much more crowded this time around. Salome was saving a seat for Chris and Ranma when they finally get here. Next to him are Dupa and Lucia with Hugo sitting near his mother. Geddoe and Queen were also there along with Mua. Thomas was looking nervous with Cecile besides him. Piccolo was calmly drinking tea next to Tina and Sakura who was talking for her group. Yumi and Yuiri were sitting next to the Duck Chief. Apple and Caesar are there next to Lexx and Jowy who were there as well as Pesmerga who is standing at the back. Jeane and Hinako were there as well as Milia who's talking for the Dragon Knights. Lilly is talking for the Tinto Republic, with her two servants Samus and Reed there who both are standing behind her.
She had made quite the scene when she found out that Hugo was the Flame Champion. When Lilly got into the castle asking where the Flame Champion is. Hugo went and told her that he's the Flame Champion and then the sparks flew. Lilly had jump onto Hugo's back then started to wail on him big time shouting out how he couldn't have told her about it before she left for home. Hugo was still sore for that and Lilly was still fuming about it. Lucia said that a girl shouldn't do that that was until Piccolo step in and said that she was exactly the same at that age. Making Lucia blush a very red color.
The door of the room suddenly open this got the attention of the people inside. Turning they see Chris helping Ranma into the room. From the looks of things Ranma was still weak from that transformation.
"So how are you feeling?" Milia ask as her daughter has been worried sick about his health.
"Yeah, I'm fine I have taken worse," Ranma said.
"Are you sure?" Thomas asks worried for his friend.
"Yeah don't worry about it I heal quickly," Ranma said taking a seat next to Chris, "So let's get down to the business at hand."
"Yes, I think we all here agree that joining forces is the only way we'll be able to hold off the Harmonian army," Apple said, "As they will be sending messages for reinforcements."
"And also my brother Albert is also going to be at any upcoming battles," Caesar said, "We were lucky that he wasn't there at the battle or things could have gone differently."
"Yes he is a Silverberg after all," Joey said.
"They probably thought that with Ranma out of the way we would fall," the Duck Chief said.
"And they really didn't need a strategists to lead the battle as Blight had proven more then once that he can break threw even the most well laid out plans of Shu during the war," Lexx said remembering how easy it was for Blight to overpower Shu's plan's. Thinking about it he wonder how he was now as it's been years since any of them had seen him. Shu was a student under Mathiu Silverberg when he was a child. Under Mathiu, he learned everything about military strategy. Mathiu had saw great potential in this young pupil. However, Shu used his knowledge for personal gain and was cast out from Mathiu's school. Since then, Shu became a trader before they had met him. With his uncanny grasp of the movements in the world, he quickly became rich through trading. During the Zero Unification War, he, Apple and some of the others had asks Shu to join them. He initially refused, but with persistent of begging by Apple and himself. Shu agreed and quickly whipped the Allied Forces into shape by scoring an initial victory against the Highland Army, resulting in the execution of Solon Jhee. He quickly devised cunning strategies to rally support from other city-states and established an alliance with the Toran Republic. Who since then had a close friendship with them as Rand McDohl (3) the holder of the 'Soul Eater' had help them in their fight. However, Leon Silverberg suddenly sides with the Highland Army and causes disruption to Shu's plans. However, Leon helped Shu defeat Blight by informing him of a planned night raid and Shu didn't let that chance go by.
Throughout the war, Shu's attitude towards military strategy had transformed. Originally, his philosophy was identical to Leon Silverberg's philosophy, where soldiers were pawns and strategists were never supposed to risk themselves. However, with the influence of Apple and his sister Nanami, he started to see that it is sometimes necessary to put himself on the line in order to truly win. In the end, he leads the Allied Forces to victory after he defeats Leon Silverberg. After the war, after he had left to face off with Joey but ended up saving him instead. Shu became the Chancellor for the new Allied Nation while awaiting the return of himself to his rightful post. He heard that Shu later retired, but then was brought out of retirement by the Higheast Rebellion, in which Shu had secretly planned a plot to cause internal discord within Harmonia, which caused them to withdraw from the Highland territory.
"Shu you mean that long haired old guy?" Lilly asks, "He's real annoying just to be with. I don't know how you manage to stand him throughout the war."
"It wasn't easy," Apple said.
"So, I guess in the next battle we should be careful," Mua said.
"Well at least he's not that good of a strategists," Jeane said, "I seen many Silverberg's and Albert isn't that great of one yet any ways."
"How is it that you haven't age in all of this time?" Milia ask, "I mean it's been years since, I saw you 18 years in fact and your look just the same as, I last saw you."
"Well that's not real important now," Jeane said waving her off.
"So what's the plan for the alliance of the Grassland forces?" Chris asks.
"Well first thing is that we must all agree that the soldiers of both Zexen and Grassland tribes need a single leader to look up to," Salome said. Everyone eyes turned to Ranma.
"So you guys want me to lead the combine forces," Ranma said giving out a deep sigh, "I do the best as I can then."
"Yes you should," Hugo said, "I know now that, I still don't have the strength that's needed to lead. Not the kind that you have."
"Few people have seen hardships as he has," Pesmerga said as he saw in Ranma eyes the same hardships that made him who he is today.
"Besides Hugo there's still much to be done before this war is over," Ranma said, "There's a warrior in you that's just waiting to be let out."
"Also what about the Free Knights Camaro and the Tinto Army?" Dupa asks.
"Well me and my knights will fight along side with all of you," Mua said.
"There's no way we're going to let Harmonian take over the Grasslands it would ruin our trade routes. And having Harmonian so close to our boarders wouldn't do at all," Lilly said.
"The Alma Kinan is also going to fight as we have done before," Yuiri said.
"And besides Yun is Ranma's sister now," Yumi said.
"I still got a score to settle with Yuber," Pesmerga said.
"I guess, I can go to Muse and ask Shu to send us some help," Lexx said.
"Well you can ask Viki to teleport you there," Sakura said.
"Doesn't she teleport people around at random?" Joey asks.
"She has gotten better in using her rune," Tina said.
"I beg to differ," Piccolo said remembering what happen in the other world.
"Well if she didn't fell on top of you Ranko wouldn't be here now would she," Hinako said to him. Piccolo just grunted in response.
"Also there's the matter with Blight," Tina said.
"What didn't your brother killed him?" Lilly asks, "I mean Blights strong and all but your brother is on a whole other level of power."
"No he's still alive, I overheard what Dark Hat said to Sasarai and he's still alive," Piccolo said.
"Well at least we won't have to worry about him for a good while," Reed said.
"That kind of damage isn't something that someone can just walk away from," Samus said.
"Well Zomba the one that brought him back to life would patch him back together soon," Piccolo said, "He's not the type that will let his work that he put a lot of time and energy into go to waste."
"Wait you know the person that brought him back to life?" Lucia asks.
"Yes you see, I heard of him from Crowley awhile back," Piccolo said.
"So Zomba train under him too?" Salome asks.
"No he was never a student of Crowley. Instead they're rivals in the field of magic even greater then Mazus is," Piccolo said.
"Yes Zomba was already much older then he look before he joined Harmonian and was transformed into a zombie," Jeane said, "Zomba unlike Crowley use gadgets along with magic to create magical items or monsters. While Crowley on the other hand uses mainly magic to create things. Those two have been at odds with each other ever since they met when they study together with Master Rem all of those years ago. Crowley followed closely in his footsteps while Zomba went the other path."
"Master Rem?" Piccolo asks looking at Jeane along with the others in the room.
"Yes Master Rem was Crowley's teacher and mentor long before he became the master wizard he is today," Jeane said.
"Also what about Dark Hat can't you have him fight with us?" Caesar asks Tina.
"Sorry but there's no way big brother is going to interfere with this unless something like what Blight did to me to make him angry again," Tina said.
"And in all of my past meetings with him," Pesmerga spoke up, "He's not the kind of person that will just change his mind at the drop of a hat."
"Ranma about your transformation?" MIlia ask as it was on everyone's mind.
"Well that was cause by the magic of the Beast Rune and also because during the time, I was recovering. Inside of my mind, I met the spirit of the Chaos Rune and it told me it unleashed something that's been lock away in my mind. That, I have been trying to hold back ever since I got here."
"Does it have to do with your training?" Hugo asks.
"If you don't mind, I think it would be easier if I tell them," Hinako said looking to Ranma who nodded. Everyone who knows about Ranma's past nodded as they all knew it's hard for him to talk about it. The others who didn't know listened in, "Ranma was trained nearly every waking hour since he could stand unaided. Almost sixteen years of intensive martial arts training. No breaks, no off days, no vacations. No mercy was shown, or asked for, because mercy did not exist in the training, or the trainer's heart that is the kind of man that brought him into the world."
"His father?" Lucia asks. She only got a harden look from Ranma seeing it was true.
"Ranma's primary teacher in the Art was his so called father. To call that man an idiot is an understatement. The words simply do not exist to convey the pure stupidity of that...thing." Disgust dripped from her voice. "He cared about nothing but making his child into the best Martial Artist on the planet. He succeeded, but screwed Ranma's life over as a result." Hinako paused and took a deep breath. "You need to understand, he was a wonderfully effective teacher, but his teaching methods were...deplorable. Some of the training that he put Ranma through are only meant to be taught to students that have already been taught the basics of the art before even attempting to learn it. All before Ranma was even past the age of seven. One of the methods he decided to use to teach his child was a technique known as the Neko-ken."
As Hinako calmly described the training for the Neko-ken, the people in the room that didn't already know faces grew progressively paler. As Hinako began to describe the side effects, Reed's legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor. His mind was overcome with what happened to Ranma at such a young age. As Hinako explained how the Neko-ken actually worked, Apple dashed out of the room to the nearest bathroom and became violently ill. Pesmerga the only one that didn't know about was the only one that didn't become ill hearing it. After what seemed like years, Hinako finally fell silent just as Apple returned to the room.
"How could you have lived through that?" Queen asks looking at Ranma her eyes wide open as she tried to gasp how he could still be alive after going through that kind if life.
"Those things that he did to you Ranma are the same things that happens to the recruits in the Howling Voice Guild," Geddoe said as he had heard of the training that happens there from Joker who trained there when he went by the name of Wang. He was a martial artist who was a special ops agent for the Harmonain Southern Frontier Defense Force. Before he went and changed his name to Joker.
"No wonder Clive is all cold all of the time," Lexx said thinking of the Gun Knight.
"Yes Nash told me about the Howling Voice Guild," Ranma said.
"What about your mother why didn't she try to stop him?" Lucia asks.
"Who you think let him have me?" Ranma said causing the people who were just finding out eyes widen even more.
"She just wanted Ranma to be what she wanted him, to be a tool that's only purpose is to be used for her desire's and honor," Hinako said, "All she cared about was her family name and honor nothing else."
"So that's why you told me to live the life that's been given to me," Hugo said looking at Ranma.
"Yes, I'm this way because I never had the chance to be anything else but a fighter. The only one that I think as my family is my grandfather he's the only one that wanted to help me," Ranma said then looking to his left palm staring at the scar he still had on it, "This scar I gave it to myself. I cut it with the broken sword that was my old family blade that, I use to carry around and threw my blood into her face to break all my connection to her and her family name that she cares about."
"Also when you were a were-cat you had no control over yourself," Mua said as he had seen berserkers before.
"It's the bloodlust that's in my beast form it over powered me and, I couldn't stop myself even when, I saw that I would have kill everyone that was in the way of my attack," Ranma said, "The only thing that stop me was Dark Hat."
"The bloodlust of the werebeast is powerful. The Village of Werebeasts inhabitants since childhood learned to control the bloodlust before it overcomes them as they get older," Piccolo said, "Blight is now worse as he was already hungry for blood while he was still human. Ranma that limiter that Dark Hat put on you will help you control yourself when you transform. I'm guessing that the Chimera Rune that you never took off should allow you to transform like it did before." As he's one of the only few people that are left that still remember about the lost Grassland Clan.
"Maybe Bob can help you learn to control it?" Apple said remembering the were-wolf that Lexx recruited into the Zero Army.
"Yes Bob should be able to help Ranma," Piccolo said.
"Also there's something that I have been wondering," Hugo said, "I notice that while Reni takes after you and Chris, Iris your youngest doesn't take after Chris as her hair is blonde."
"Well you see, I only told you guys that both Reni and Iris are my daughters because of what Tina's sister said for us to do to get the Knights and the Grassland Clans to fight together," Chris said.
"What you mean that you told everyone that you and Ranma were married just so that we would fight together?" Dupa asks.
"Yes your people respect Ranma as a warrior while my Knights are fearful of him. Top Hat Tina's older sister said that by telling everyone that he and I were married we would be able to get the two sides to trust each other," Chris said.
"Wait does that mean that Ranma isn't their father?" Lilly asks.
"They are my daughters and even if they are adopted. Reni has closely bonded with Chris and thinks of her as her mother while Iris is still making up her mind and who she feels closest too as her mother. All that matters to me is that they find the mother they're looking for," Ranma said.
"Wait mother's as in more then one?" the Duck Chief asks.
"Well Chris and Tina here are just two of Ranma's six fiancées along with many other girls at the castle," Thomas spoke up.
"Six fiancées?" said the people who just found out as one.
"Well let's say that something's will never change with Ranma around," Hinako smiled as she began to tell them about Ranma's life. The fireplace that had a small fire going in it burn brightly. Thanks to the five logs place in it. By the time Hinako was done the logs would be nothing but a pile of ash.
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Elsewhere –
In the command tent of the Harmonian Army a meeting was taking place. Sasarai, Dios Albert and the Mask Bishop were talking about what happened during the battle. What was left of the soldiers that attack Base Castle were all recovering from the battle. This was a massive blow to their moral as they all saw what happen to Blight who was the strongest fighter that Harmonian ever had. They all knew what would happen if Dark Hat decided to fight on the Grassland side.
"This is bad the troops moral is at a all time low and we lost about a third of the troops in that attack leaving us with around 6000 troops left," Albert said looking over the reports.
"Where, were you during the battle you could have turn the tide of battle," Dios said angry that Ablert hadn't been there when they needed him.
"No it wouldn't have matter if he was there or not once Blight insulted Fight Hat in that manner there would be nothing that would have stop Dark Hat once he appeared," the Mask Bishop said.
"That 'Ruin Nation' spell he used, not even that 'Dragon Slave' spell that Ranma used during his battle with Brute Hat comes even close to it," Sasarai said.
"Yes and those fighters that are with Ranma they only did most of the damage to our forces," Dios said.
"From now on you should be leading our forces unless you don't live up to your family name that is," Sasarai said to Albert.
"Don't worry, I'll handle them," Albert said.
"But be sure that no harm is done to Fight Hat or Dark Hat will show up again. I have already sent out some messages for reinforcements they should arrive in two weeks at the most," Sasarai said.
"Did you also inform the Howling Voice Guild about those girls that were using guns?" Dios asks.
"Yes they will be sending us some of their top gunners to help us in our campaign now," Sasarai said.
"I also receive some news from the one that brought Blight back to life," the Mask Bishop said, "Blight has been picked up and is now being put back together again and he's planning on building some help for us too."
"Who did bring Blight back to life?" Dios asks.
"Someone that you Sasarai should remember, does the name Zomba ring a bell?" Albert said.
"What he's still alive?" Sasarai said remembering the mage that work for Harmonian 400 years ago. He had only met the mage once before the accident in his lab that he heard killed him.
"Well he's not alive anymore as the accident with one of his experiments has turned him into a zombie," Albert said, "But he still retain his mind unlike other zombies and has been working on bringing the dead back to life as well as other things for the pass 400 years that has bear fruit as you saw with Blight."
"So what is he planning?" Sasarai asks.
"Well he didn't get into any details but he said that we should check up on him in a week for him to get things prepared. He has met someone that he said is helping him in his research and creating some monsters that will help us in battling Ranma and his forces," the Mask Bishop said.
"Yes if we get Ranma out of the way we would have an easier time fighting the Grassland forces," Sasarai said.
"Yes and his home base Lake Castle also going to cause us some trouble as well. You know those new items mangas, card games, gadgets, and medical items that have been appearing in trade shops well they're all coming from Lake Castle. Turns out that Ranma's the one that has given the young Master of the castle the knowledge for making those items making a lot of money in doing so," Albert said.
"Yes, I heard about that castle in how the library of that castle contains knowledge that rivals that of 'The One Temple' (4) for one that's smaller then it. I sent some agents in looking around the castle after Ranma appeared again and the knowledge that are in those books are way more advance then the ones in the temple both in medical and science field. And those items that Ranma brought with him are things that they have never seen before," Sasarai said.
"What you mean that those Duel Monster cards come from there?" Dios asks as he had gotten into playing the game. As a traveling trader had stop by the camp and had his cart filled with mangas and those cards in packs. They quickly got popular with the troops and the trader sold everything that he had in his cart before he left their camp.
"Yes as, I said there's a lot of money they're making in selling those items. At the rate they're selling those items they'll soon have the funding that's needed to fund the entire war for the Grassland forcers," Albert said, "And they even used a Rune Cannon that as I have heard are all but disappeared from the Island Nations where they were built ever since the one that created them was killed for making them in the first place. In other words they will be a lot harder to fight now as they have those reinforcements that came to their aid."
"So we're going to have to go all out on this aren't we," Sasarai said.
"Yes and that True Rune that Ranma has will be a great gain in taking control of the Grassland when we win this war," the Mask Bishop said as he knows that if he gets a hold of the Chaos Rune then he wouldn't have to collect all of the Element True Runes and it would be all he needed to rid himself of his chain that binds him.
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Back in Brass Castle –
"There you have it the true story behind Ranma," Hinako said to the group.
"So that's what happened to you before you met up with Master Thomas," Cecile said then looking to him, "Did you know about this Thomas?"
"Yes Ranma told me everything about himself a few days before he left the castle and what happened to him after he returned," Thomas said to the group.
"Wait you knew that Ranma came from another word?" Sakura asks.
"Yes, I told Thomas all about myself and then ask him to not tell anyone about it till I found the right time to tell it," Ranma said.
"You have a lot of trust in him," Mua said.
"When, I first traveled to this world, I was full of darkness that Neclord saw inside of me before he died. I would have been consumed by it since I left the only ones that I cared about in my home world. If it wasn't for Thomas having the driver to stop and offer me a ride, I wouldn't be the person sitting here now. In you Thomas, I saw someone that, I could put my trust in without filling regret afterward for giving it to you," Ranma said.
"Thanks for putting your trust in me," Thomas said.
"Coming from another world would explain a lot of things about you," Milia said not really shock of finding out that Ranma comes from another world. As dragons come from another world so it was easy for her to handle that he wasn't from her world.
"So are you going to tell the others about you're not from this world?" Salome asks.
"Might as well, I just have Arthur put it in his paper that's the quickest way," Ranma said.
"Also, I have been wondering where did you get that Rune Cannon from?" Samus asks looking at Jeane and Hinako, "I came from the Island Nation and all but a very few of them are left and even fewer people know how to use them anymore."
"Oh you see 150 years before, I took part in the Gate Rune War I fought in The Strikes (5) to being back the freedom for the islands under the rule of Kooluk that was where I learn how to use one. There, I met some people who either show up again or their descendents meet up with me again. I saw Viki for the first time also the great grandmother of Meg, Rita who Belle takes after also I met Elenor Silverbergs who, I must say was one of the most brilliant minds, I have ever come across. Also I met up with two True Rune users there also. There was Jack (6) the holder of the Rune of Punishment and also Ted holder of the SoulEater before he went to Scarlet Moon," Jeane said.
"Wait you knew Ted before you met up with us?" Apple asks.
"Yes, I did but as I was saying the Rune Cannon came from the ship that's stuck at the back of the castle. Seems like it had a few cannon and Rune Shells were left in its hulls that have been kept in the basement of the castle for years," then she look at Piccolo, "How come you didn't tell anyone about them? I mean Warlock was a student under Crowley like yourself and knowing the old man he would have told you about the students that he had over the years."
"Well Warlock never did learn to use magic like the rest of us but he was the strongest earth user that, I have ever met. So instead he went on to create objects out of magic and created the Rune Cannons and the Rune Shells by summoning objects from the 'World of Nothingness' for the items that are needed to make them. But afterward he became disgusted with himself for creating them so he locked himself away in a deep cave till Jack came for his help. Afterward he was killed by a group of people for creating the cannons in the first place," Piccolo explained to them.
"So you guys only have a few Rune Shells left then?" Caesar said.
"Well my sister Mind would be able to figure out how to create more of them," Tina said.
"Well, I hope that she doesn't there's a reason why Warlock never told anyone but Crowley how he created them," Piccolo said.
"So Warlock was the strongest earth user, I thought it was Sasarai with his True Earth Rune?" Lucia said as she had seen what kind of damage that rune can do.
"Just because he has the True Earth Rune doesn't mean he's the strongest in earth magic true he has the power but not the skill to use it," Piccolo said, "Like Geddoe and Hugo here both of them have True element runes of fire and lighting but not the skill to use them to their full power."
"Really?" Hugo asks.
"Yes Hugo both of you have the raw power but not the skill to use it," Piccolo said.
"Well, I think that I have gotten the hang of using the Lighting Rune in all of these years," Geddoe said.
"That what you said to Kanin when you first got it and you still haven't drawn its full power out let," Piccolo said.
"Yes he hasn't Piccolo here is the strongest Lighting user that you will ever meet. I'm powerful in lighting in my own right but that doesn't come close to the skill that he has with just a plain old Lighting Rune while I use a Thunder Rune," Jeane said, "In fact most of the students that Crowley had over the years are the strongest in one type of rune then anyone else. Like Mazus that you Lexx found in that cave is the strongest Fire user in the world."
"So what ever happened to Jack?" Queen asks.
"Well he disappeared from the Island Nations after the final battle with Kooluk. And I haven't heard of him after that. Besides Jack, myself and Viki the only ones left from that war are the two elves that fought along side with us. Paula the half elf and Selma a full one since elves have the normal lifespan of 500 to 700 years," Jeane said.
"Wait you know how long elves live?" Dupa asks.
"Yes, I have already out lived some elves that I met before I came to the Island Nation," Jeane said.
"Wait how can you look like that and be that old? And also why are you dress like that for?" Lilly asks still not easy that Jeane was wearing that dress that was little more then a loin cloth and two strips of white cloth that was barely held in check her oversize chest and it was all held together by belts warp around her body.
"Why are you jealous that, I'm way older then you are and still have a body in much better shape then most women would ever hope to have?" Jeane said laughing doing some interesting things to her chest. The only ones that weren't bothered by seeing that amount of jiggling fleash was Dupa, the duck chief since both of them aren't humans, Piccolo whose use to Jeanes odd ways along with Hinako and Pesmerga who didn't care about that kind of thing anymore.
"You know you don't have to rub in our faces you know!" Milia huffed. Lilly on the other hand was fuming red.
"Jeane you know that not all fully mature women are gifted as we are and at least they don't have guys ogling them all of the time," Hinako said as she had drained a lot of guys at the castle already. This cause Apple, Lucia and Milia to growled angry at the two shapely women who just rub into their faces that they had better mature bodies then they do. Both Lucia and Milia took great pride in the fact that they had gotten their figures back after they had given birth to their kids.
"Well back to the matter at hand," Salome said wanting to break this up before anything got started, "Now that its out in the open that you're not married to Lady Chris some of the troops will question what side you're fighting on and where your loyalty rest at Ranma."
"Wouldn't that just goes to Chris since Reni thinks of her has her mother?" Hugo asks the grownups all gave him an odd look.
"Loyalty in marriage and loyalty in what side you fight for are two completely different things," Lexx said.
"Really how?' Lilly asks.
"Well let's just say you two will find that out when you guys get married to someone," Joey said.
"Well if, I need to give my loyalty to someone to put the troops at ease," Ranma said, "Then, I give my loyalty to Thomas."
"What me?" Thomas asks as everyone else are blinking at what Ranma had just said.
"You gave a complete stranger your trust so, I'm giving you mine in return," Ranma said.
"Also there's the trouble in the home base for the Grassland Army," Salome said, "Brass Castle can't house this many soldiers inside its walls for long. And our home base is too far away from the battle field."
"And Duck Village is mostly on the boat houses," the duck chief said.
"The Great Hollow isn't really meant for non humans to stay at either," Dupa said.
"Our forest village is too close to the enemy's camp to be much use," Yuiri said.
"How about Lake Castle?" Cecile spoke up.
"Yes there's room for the troops there and is far enough away from the Brass Castle while close enough to come to its defense," Thomas said.
Before anyone could speak Kuriboh flew into the room holding a letter in its hands. It landed on top of Caesar head. He tried to shake him off but Kuriboh just landed back on top of his head.
"What kind of monster is that?" Mua asks as it reminded him of those furball monsters that he seen now and then.
"Oh its just Reni's pet monster called a Kuriboh. Piccolo here summoned it from its card using a spell he learned," Ranma said.
"You can summon monsters from that card game?" Lexx asks as he and his group had stumbled onto that card game when Rina brought some since she was running low on cards that she uses as throwing weapons. But she had gotten into that game quickly.
"Yes but, I don't have the mental control that is needed to summon them and just summoning Kuriboh from its card gave me the worse headache that I ever had," Piccolo said rubbing his head remembering that headache.
"What you got there?" Apple said taking the letter that it held in its hands. Looking at it she saw the name on it, "It from someone called Top Hat."
"Oh that's my older sister the strategists of the family," Tina said, "And before you asks she's on a whole other level in tactics then any Silverberg have ever gotten. Besides she leads by example taking part in battles instead of staying on the sidelines."
"What?" Caesar said as he does have great pride in his family name. He's still trying to shake Kuriboh from the top of his head.
"Yes she plays strategy games all the time and can plan ahead of time by years in advance," Jeane said as she had sample what Top Hat had to offer and she loved every moment of it.
"What does the letter say?" Yumi asks.
"Let's see," Apple said opening the letter, "Dear sister and future brother in law. I hope that you like the plan that I gave you to use even if I had Chris say that she's the wife of Ranma. But as I said before it was the only way to get the two sides to start to trust each other. As Hugo hasn't found the thing he needs to become the next Flame Champion. Before you Hugo go and say something you have the power inside of you but you need something to bring it out."
"How did she know that he would be in the room?" Queen asks.
"Well Queen as Jeane just said I can plan ahead of time easily," Apple said reading the rest of the letter, "The reason why, I sent this letter is that the temple that you Ranma and the others stayed at in your home world. Well, I had Brute Hat work on it making it into a castle town since it's going to come in handy later. Also he made you some new armor better then the one that you had before. And to let you know Blight is being put back together by Zomba so it won't be the last you see of him. Brute is setting it up and he should be done by tomorrow morning so you should get some rest. The spot that the new castle is being place at is the Yaza Plains boarders. It will serve as the gateway to Lake Castle and protects the villages that are around it also as an attacking force needs to take out the castle first before they can attack Lake Castle."
"Wow she does plan ahead," Reed said.
"Who is Brute Hat?" Lilly asks.
"Yes, I do Reed thanks for saying so and Lilly, Brute is the giant that help Harmonian out in the attack on Chisha Village only because he had nothing better to do is me and Tina's little brother. And yes he's little in his age to us but not in size," Apple said reading the letter, "Also Ranma I said in a letter that I gave Tina that you needed to beat Blight but since big brother step in to stop you in your beast form that doesn't count. I have already sent out one of my servants to find the werewolf Bob since he can help you gain control over your weretiger form. That limiter that you're wearing will allow you to control yourself for a time in your beast form so the longer you're in the form the chances of you turning into a berserker is more likely. And what Piccolo said about the Chimera Rune you wear will let you transform from your two forms. And you're going to need to learn to control it since you still have to beat us the oldest of the Hats still and I'm going to fight you soon. So sister you need to train him harder then before since after me there is still our crazy brother Mad Hat then Dark Hat after him. Ranma if you thought that the younger Hat's were strong well that's not real true since Magic just played tag and Mind not really being a fighter had a shoot out with you. The only two that you really had to fight were Brute and Fight and to let you know both of them were wearing their limiters at that time. But little sister underestimated you Ranma and Brute needs to wear his or he ends up destroying everything he touches since he still hasn't learn to control his power like Dark can. And just to let you know fighting Dark is going to be ten times worse then fighting Blight."
"Wait you're going to have to fight Dark Hat?" Lexx said as he and the others all gave Ranma a shock look.
"Yes I need to pass all of Tina's siblings test to see if I'm strong enough to be her husband," Ranma said.
"Wait you mean that almost all of the unmarried women at Lake Castle are after you?" Salome asks still not getting why so many girls had fallen for him.
"Well it's easy for me to see why," Lucia said seeing some of the things that she saw in Hugo's father in Ranma.
"He's quite the catch," Queen said, "Too bad most of the guys that, I know aren't like that."
"What does that mean?" Geddoe asks looking at her.
"The same reason that you're the only one of the three True Rune holders from fifty years ago that never had a love life," Piccolo said.
"What about you?" Geddoe said looking at his old friend who was still like he was fifty years ago.
"I was too busy in studying under Crowley to get into a relationship in my younger days for any of that unlike you," Piccolo said.
"Wow from what, I have heard I never want to go through that," Hugo said thinking of girls fighting over him.
"That kind of thinking won't last long," Jeane said knowing he'll be seeing girls in a whole other light very soon.
"Besides you got Lilly for that Hugo the new Flame Champion," Apple said reading the find print of the letter. Everyone was looking at her, "It said to wait for Jeane to say her line before reading it."
"How does she do that?" Dupa asks.
"It's so easy to read people for me that, I can write in advance my part of what you guys are talking about as long as they're read in order," Apple said flipping the page to the back.
"Well that doesn't prove she's wise smart yes wise no," Caesar said, "And why won't this thing get off my head?" Kuriboh was still on top of his head.
"Caesar your hair to Kuriboh looks like a nest so it likes sitting on it you nest head," Apple said reading the last part of the letter and started to giggle at that.
"Well, I think we should rest up for tomorrow it's going to be a long day," Ranma said to the group. They all nodded as there was much to do to get everything ready for the march to the new home base for the combine forces of the Grassland Army.
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Meanwhile in Harmonian –
A meeting was taking place in the home base of the Howling Voice Guild in the Tower. In the chamber the Guild Master who had rose to the rank a few years ago along with the elders of the guild were all in the chamber. They were all talking in what to do with the message that they had received from the Grasslands. It looks like there were people in the Grasslands that know that secret of gun powder and using them in the war that is going on there. Also there were reports that they're using even stronger more powerful guns and bullets then the ones that they use.
"It's been confirmed there are two girls that know the secret of creating guns and gun powders in the Grasslands," Clive said to the elders of the Guild. Clive is a hard faced blond with cold blue eyes. He was still dressed in the same in tan pants with a green shirt and green boots. Over them he wore a long grey hooded cloak.
He was born in the Howling Voice Guild and trained there from birth. Of those children in the Guild being trained at the same time, he was one of only three to survive until the "day of adulthood", which was when he turned fifteen years old. The other two, Elza and Kelly, were his best friends, and all managed to pass the test to become Knight Class Gunners. However, the Guild Elders wished to be rid of the other two, and made Kelly duel with Elza. The duel was rigged, with Kelly's gun, Mond, not firing. The elders wished to frame Elza for tampering with Mond, which she realized and escaped. However, he was obligated to hunt her down and kill her. He joined the Toran Liberation Army to try and find Elza, but he didn't find her until the Zero Unification War, where he finally caught up with her at the port town of Radat. They dueled, but he missed, and was injured by her bullet. After recovering, he soon again began to track her down, and caught up with her at the Sajah Village in Highland where she was born at. This time, he won the duel, killing her, and was subsequently chosen as the new Guild Master. There he started to make changes in the Guild showing the Elders that he won't be a puppet like Kelly was to them.
"They need to be killed off before the knowledge they know spreads," one of the elders said.
"Contact all of the Guild members that are currently out on missions that are close to the Grasslands we need to stop this before it's too late to stop it," another one of the elders said.
"Yes but the two girls that use the guns are going to be trouble to try to get too," Clive said, "In the message that Sasarai sent use the girls with the girls are under the protection of a young man named Ranma who has a True Rune on him the Rune of Chaos the 28th True Rune."
"What there's a 28th Rune?" one of the elders asks.
"Yes according to the reports the Seven Star Dragon Sword that is the True Night Rune said that it is the 28th rune," Clive said, "And what more is the one of the girls is his daughter which means killing her will bring her father to attack us."
"We can handle him as we have dealt with these things before," one of the elders said.
"Yes but the Rune has the power that matches the power that the True Fire Rune let out when it went out of control fifty years ago. And when Yuber got that giant Brute Hat of the Hat family to attack a village Ranma fought him off. Beating him with a powerful spell called 'Dragon Slave' that blew him away."
"What the Hat's are in the Grasslands?" one of the female elders said knowing what that meant as she had seen what the oldest Hat has done once he was hired for a job.
"Yes and Fight Hat is with Ranma so if we attack we might run into her and if she's gets hurt or killed by us well what happened to Blight will be nothing when Dark Hat is through with us," Clive had read the report of what happened during the battle. He had during the Zero War shot Blight 3 times when they had surrounded him but all that did was make him mad. And now he was brought back to life stronger then ever before. Only to be beaten down by the overwhelming power of Dark Hat.
"So what will you have us do then let these girls spread the knowledge that we have kept for years?" one of the elders said.
"A duel between the other girl named Maria is what I'm thinking of. If we attack Ranma's daughter named Reni he will strike us hard before we know what hit us. And Fight Hat according to the report is protective of Ranma's daughter and might get her brother Dark Hat to attack us and you all know what that would mean. In the duel the stakes will be the knowledge of the guns that they have in their hands. The report did say that their weapons are more powerful then ours so we should try to get our hands on them. And if this Maria comes out on top then we let them keep their guns as long as they become Guild members so that they won't spread the knowledge of guns around," Clive said.
"What but that goes against all of our rules!" one of the elders shouted.
"Well it's either that or fight the end of the Howling Voice Guild from either the hands of Ranma or Dark Hat," Clive said, "Ranma has the power to fight Luca Blight head on by himself which no person had never been able to do before and lived afterward to talk about it. And Dark Hat is even stronger then Blight is."
"We have to put much thought into this," one of the elders said many of them agreed.
"Just make sure that none of our members try anything before you elders make up your mind we don't need either Ranma or Dark Hat on us," Clive said.
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Meanwhile in Brass Castle –
Ranma and Chris dress themselves for bed as the meeting with the other leaders of the Grassland forcers was done with. Tomorrow they would go to the new base of operations that Brute Hat is setting up for them. Looking down to the bed Ranma look down on his two daughters Reni and Iris sleeping since they flop on Chris bed.
"So have any idea on where we go from here?" Ranma asks looking to Chris as she dressed herself in a long shirt.
"Well the others will know sooner or later that you and I aren't married. Or that Reni or Iris aren't my natural daughters," Chris said, "And how it still means you're going to kill me sooner or later."
"I know," Ranma said looking at her with sad eyes, "But I know that you will be able to find the atonement that you need for forgiveness. And with Reni and Iris all that matters is that you love them that's what matters in the end."
"Just make sure that Reni or Iris won't see what happens if I fail okay. They mean too much to me to see what must be done," Chris said to Ranma.
"I promise Chris," Ranma said giving her a kiss before they slide into the bed with the kids. Ranma took Iris into his arms and Chris took Reni in hers. Using their bodies to give them protection from the night.
When they finally fall asleep Reni opened her eyes. Looking up at the sleeping form of Chris as her arms held her. Reni smiled a sad smile as she heard what Chris and Ranma said. In all of the time that she has spent with Chris she began to think of her as her mother. It been years since her mother died all she can remember of her is a smiling face and the photos that were left behind of her. Looking at Iris snug up to their father Reni felt for the first time in years of having a real family. She knows that her new mother Chris will be able to atone for her past sins. Because she doesn't want to loss another mother again her final thought before she fell back to sleep.
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Deep underground in Zomba's lab –
Work on a grand scale was taking place. Much needed to be done before the new equipment could be brought in. Stacks of boxes full of equipment were along the cave walls waiting to be unloaded. Carts of construction materials were being wheeled in as teams of workers being building up the cavern into a working base. The workers that are crawling around the vast cavern were short looking men that were covered from head to toe in suits made of brown leather. And their heads were covered by the mask that they wore along with their hoods. (7) Some of them had digging tools and were expanding the cave and tunnels. Also they were mining the rich veins of iron that Zomba had located his lab at since all of the metal does help hide his lab from prying eyes using magic. They were all busy as there was much work to be done.
Up on the surface that was located on the boarder of the Grasslands and the Nameless lands the workers were taking up the dirt they had dug from below. All around the main entrance of the cave workers were taking in materials and taking out carts full of rocks and dirt. Lumberyards were being set up as teams of workers were clearing away the surrounding forest for building materials as well as for fuel for the furnaces being built underground. Smoke could be seen coming out from the vents of the furnaces that are already in working order. Water was being drawn from the nearest river by some aqua ducks to give the base a steady water supply. Wagons of supplies were being ship in along with beast of burden to pull carts or to be sent into the slaughter houses to feed the workers and the army that was to come. Wild boars that have been rounded up were being set into pens or pits for future use both for food and for leather from their skins.
On the catwalks of Zombas hanging lab he was watching as the workers that he had mass produce building up his base. The plans that his new partner had given him had advance his work by years. His partner Anarchy can create portals leading into other worlds was where he was getting the blueprints for the new breeding pits that were being made as well as other stuffs. New equipments were being set up old and new ones that needed power of lighting to be run. But it was easily taken care of by some Lightning Runes as they made the work go a lot faster. Now it was time to create an army that this world had never seen before.
Stream engines that were brought in turned wheels and pumping water through pipes as well as the bellows for the furnaces. Molten steel were being poured into molds for weapons and armor. Workers were busy running the smelters through another few tons of raw iron ore and rubbish-heap scrap metals. The poundings of hammers on metal could be heard throughout the cavern as the workers pounded the armor and weapons into shape on anvils. Workers were quickly sharpening the weapons with the machine sharpeners that Anarchy had brought back from one of the worlds; he's been to giving all of the weapons a razor sharp edge to all of them very quickly so that their victims would see first hand how sharp they are. That helps to speed up the mass production of weapons and armor in the assembly lines to speed production up. Crossbows to their larger counter parts the ballistas were being built as will as trebuchets, catapults and other siege weapons.
In warfare, mechanize warfare that is. Zomba really began liking the sound of the word mechanize as he has been using machines to help with his experiments for years but never on this kind of scale before. It's the side that could produce more then the other side that would win. Breeding soldiers and mass producing weapons once the base was fully operational they would be able to overcome any army that comes against them in overwhelming numbers. Also once the base was ready they could begin on the real project.
Looking at the completed heavy armor and standard forge weapons that all of the new troops would be carrying into the battlefield. Anarchy had taken the designs from that wizard from that other world when he had created an army to destroy the world of men. Dark grey steel plated armor and helmets that shielded the wearer from most attacks and unlike that fool wizard it was armored from front and back. The blade looks like a giant meat cleaver with a spike at the top of the backside of the blade to hook onto the opponent. The blade was heavy to hold but given the strength that the ones that would be carrying it to battle it was nothing. The large metal shields had two spikes at the end of it for locking shields together as well as stabbing someone. Both the sword and shield both are heavy to help balance out the soldier holding them both at the same time. And the eighteen foot pikes being produces are to stop horse riders as well to stop a charging enemy force in their tracks. (8)
"So how's the work going?" Anarchy asks standing by Zombas side.
"Everything is going as plan and how's the others getting use to their new body enhancements?" Zomba asks.
"Well asks them yourself," Anarchy said pointing to them.
Jestbomb, Spindrive, Fangface and Grasper were walking over to them change from what they look like in Ranma's home world. Jestbomb whose body was intact thanks to Fangface being on top of her when her bombs blew up in that elevator they were trap in. She looks just the same but for the fact that her left hand was now a metal orb the sizes of a bowling ball.
Spindrive was now wearing a metal chest plate where Mind had blown a hole threw him that has a gun barrel on the middle of it. His two drill tentacles have been replace with new ones.
Fangface was just the same but his upper and lower jaws have been replaced with metal ones. Giving him a more powerful bite then ever before.
As for Grasper who was recovered from a government storage room. He was being stored there so that people could study his body till Fangface had the people for dinner. Both of his massive arms were replaces by metal ones making him stronger then before. (9)
"Well we're much stronger then we were before," Jestbomb said looking down at the workers.
"Me hungry," Fangface said.
"Go to the pig pens and get something to eat then," Spindrive said to the walking dino/human hybrid who was always hungry. Fangface growled as he went to the surface for a meal.
"So we're the only ones left then?" Grasper asks getting everyone's attention as he rarely ever speaks.
"Well I have some new teammates in the holding tanks as well as the commanders of the new army I'm building up," Zomba said leading them to the area of the walkway where the tanks were kept.
Walking to the tanks they saw that the monsters were all completed only waiting to be woken up. In one of the tanks was a large monster that looks like its cross between a bull and a bat. It had the head and horns of a bull along with its body mass. But it has the wing arms and legs of a bat. In another tank was a young woman that look normal but for the large leathery wings of a dragon on her back. There was a man size bamboo in the one next to it. Then a frogman next to it and a young girl was in another one. In the last one was a dark hair man resting in the one at the end. Off to the side they could see Blight still healing from his fight with Dark Hat.
Then they came to the two tanks holding the two prototypes of the new army being built. One was male and the other female both had ashy gray skin and long black hair. Both of them were heavily built in muscle their skins look like their barely holding them in and height of over six feet for both of them. The male had on a pair of black shorts as did the female with shorts and a top. The male look more like it's forbearers with small tusks coming from its lower jaws from where Zomba had modeled them after. The female on the other hand look like a butch woman. They were bred to be a warrior race and unlike that fool wizard in the other world there would be males and female fighters.
"Now let's see how they turned out," Zomba said as he had two of the workers open up the tanks. The liquid inside of the tanks rush out as the new monsters of a new race came out of them. The workers went to their side to help them up but suddenly both of them grab the worker close to them and began to choke them. The other workers on the catwalk rush to the scene but were stop by Anarchy. Both the male and female rose to their feet both of them still choking the two workers till they stop moving. Then as one they threw the lifeless bodies down into the cave floor below the workers bodies landing into the pits where the rest of the new monster race would spawn out of.
"Well now Zomba you really out did yourself on these two. The forbearers of the new race of Urukkins. I can't wait to see how the rest of them will be like," Anarchy said looking at the two natural born killers. The workers close by step away from the two Urukkins as they could feel the bloodlust in them, "I dub them Ruk, and Zest the new generals of the future Urukkin army." Anarchy single eye that could be seen gleamed as plans quickly formed in his head for what was coming. And to deal with Ranma Jones as there was a connection to them that only he knew. And as long as Ranma was alive there was no way they could ever stop from fighting against each other.
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In the Yaza Plains –
A long column of soldiers were marching towards their new headquarters. The troops were made up of Lizard, Duck, Karaya, Alma Kinan, Zexen, Free Knights of Camaro and Tinto Army soldiers made up the column. Leading the column was Ranma riding on Brego Iris was sitting in front of him. Chris rode next to him with Reni riding with her. Thomas was ridding along with them with Cecile ridding next to him. The others of their group were behind them as they made their way to the new castle.
As they came over the hill they had been riding across they saw a large castle resting an the level part of the landscape. High stone walls protecting it from attack along with high towers and it was on a higher level then the surrounding land giving it a good view of the surrounding area. Ranma could see it was a mixer of western and eastern castle design. It was a walled town as he could see that Brute had really expanded on the temple as well as the house that Sakura and the others stayed at in his home world.
"Wow bro really out did himself on this one," Tina said as she stop besides Ranma and Chris.
"So got a name for it papa?" Iris asks her father as a strong wind sweep across the plain.
"Welcome to Windia Castle Iris our new home," Ranma said. Then they started marching to the gates of the castle. Half of the column followed Ranma's as the rest followed Thomas to Lake Castle to set up a base there. Up on one of the towers of the castle a young woman with long light brown hair smiled as she watch the person she came to this world to see coming. A large metal spatula was strap to her back.
"This time it will be different between you and me Ranma-chan," the young woman said as she wouldn't lose him for a second time.
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Next Time – As armies are gathered and built across the lands. Two new forcers come to light. Two powerful figures leading them. What is the connection of Anarchy and Ranma? And what does she know that Ranma doesn't? Next time in 'Gearing Up'.
Help Wanted!
Ilikesecret has lost his writing muse. Till he get it back I be needing a new co-writer to help me with this fic. Anyone that wants to help keep good fics on the web email me for the job. Also you must have internet connection at home so there won't be days that I can't email you. And it also helps if you have knowledge of anime and manga.
Author's Notes
1 – On old battle sites you won't find any weapons or armor as they had been gather up. As metal was a valuable thing in the days before factories that could mass produces items and mining could gather iron ore faster then one cart full at a time.
2 – In the 'Two Towers' they change the Helms Deep walls from the book as the wall in the book lean outwards while it's more defensive to make them go inwards so they can shoot any incoming enemy attacking the walls.
3 – The name of the hero in my game
4 – The "One Temple" is a huge library, where it is said most all of the knowledge and wisdom of mankind is stored for all to see. Many scholars dream to visit this megalithic library in search of knowledge.
5 – The name of the army in my game in Suikoden 4
6 – Name of the hero in my game
7 – Think of those little creatures that work for Dracula in Van Helsing
8 – Do I really need to tell you guys where I got this from?
9 – Saw Puppet Master Vs the Demonic Toys
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